Xu Fang shuddered as the weight of his father's words echoed in his mind. He had barely had time to process everything—his new life, his new family, the new world—and now, to top it all off, he was expected to attend an academy.
Not just any academy, but the Azure Flame Academy, a prestigious institution known for churning out the most promising talents in the city. Students were groomed to be the future pillars of society, with access to not only martial arts but also knowledge of cultivation and the esoteric arts.
But for Xu Fang, none of that mattered. All he could think about was the fact that he'd spent 15 years of his previous life trapped in the rigid confines of academia. The long hours spent studying, the exams, the endless cycle of learning and testing—it all flooded back to him with a shudder.
Why me? he inwardly groaned. I didn't ask for this. I didn't even want this!
The thought of being thrust back into a structured learning environment made him feel a sense of dread, but for now, he had no choice. His father had already made the arrangements. All he had to do was prepare.
Thankfully, there were still two months before the academy year began, which meant Xu Fang had some time to mentally prepare himself for the upcoming ordeal. At least, that's what he told himself.
His mind was a jumbled mess as he walked through the grand halls of the Xu family estate. It was a sprawling, impressive mansion, and while the family had already ensured that everything for his academy life would be ready—clothing, supplies, and even travel arrangements—Xu Fang knew that his true preparation needed to come from within.
It wasn't about acquiring the physical gear or supplies; it was about mentally preparing himself for the life that awaited him.
I can't let this get to me, Xu Fang thought, walking toward the family library. I can do this. It's just books, knowledge. I've studied before, I can study again.
The Xu family estate had one of the largest libraries in the city, a place filled with ancient tomes, scrolls, and all kinds of knowledge from different schools of thought. A haven for scholars, philosophers, and the like, the library had an impressive collection of books on everything from history to cultivation theory, martial tactics, and even the esoteric arts.
But for Xu Fang, this library was a haunted place but he had no choice but to rely on it now.
He cursed the world under his breath as he crossed the threshold into the library.
Back in my previous world, all I had to do was press a button and have instant access to any information I wanted, he grumbled, looking around at the hundreds of books lining the shelves. But here... I actually have to read these things. Manually. One by one.
He could already feel a headache coming on. The thought of sitting down and poring over pages of dense text made his mind spin. Back in his old life, all he had to do was search the internet, read articles, and skim through what he needed. Now, it felt like he was being forced back into a time before the internet—a time where knowledge was painstakingly recorded by hand, and finding the answers he needed would take far longer.
But, at least there was one small mercy. The academy he would be attending was a scholar academy, not a martial one. That was something he could be thankful for.
He sighed in relief, the weight on his shoulders slightly lifting.
Thank God. He wasn't being sent to a martial school where he would have to train with swords or cultivate whatever. That would have been a nightmare—especially with his introverted personality.
Even his father, though stern and sometimes demanding, seemed to recognize Xu Fang's limitations. He'd opted for a scholar's academy, which would focus on education rather than martial prowess. It was a small mercy, and Xu Fang couldn't help but feel a flicker of gratitude for his father's consideration.
As he walked deeper into the library, scanning the shelves for any relevant texts, he noticed someone trailing behind him. He turned his head to see Xu Yin skipping along in her usual energetic manner.
"Are you coming too?" Xu Fang asked, raising an eyebrow.
Xu Yin nodded enthusiastically. "I wanted to see what you're doing! I've never been to the library before. It looks so big and cool!"
Xu Fang chuckled at her enthusiasm. "It's not as cool as it seems. Just a lot of books to read."
But Xu Yin wasn't deterred. She skipped up to his side and grabbed his sleeve. "Are you going to read all these books? Can I read too?"
Xu Fang smiled at her innocence. "Sure, if you want to. But you might not understand everything. Some of these books are... pretty complicated."
Xu Yin shrugged. "I can try! I'm smart for my age, you know!"
Xu Fang couldn't help but chuckle again. "Alright, alright. You can try. But no running around or making noise, okay?"
Xu Yin nodded solemnly, her eyes gleaming. "I'll be quiet like a mouse!"
The two siblings began scanning the shelves, Xu Fang pulling books down at random to see if they had anything to do with the academy's curriculum. Most of the books seemed to be focused on martial arts, cultivation, or ancient history, but there were also sections dedicated to literature, philosophy, and various schools of thought. It was a bit overwhelming, but Xu Fang did his best to stay focused.
He needed to gather as much information as he could. After all, in two months, he would be heading to the academy, and it wouldn't do to go in completely unprepared.
Hours passed as he sifted through the books, occasionally making small talk with Xu Yin, who insisted on sitting next to him and "reading" her own pile of books. She didn't understand much, but she seemed content to just turn the pages and look at the pictures.
Xu Fang mind was already heavy with the task ahead. Two months was hardly enough time to read everything he needed, but at least he had a starting point.
And with Xu Yin by his side, chatting excitedly about some story she was reading, he felt—just for a moment—like he could maybe, just maybe, make it through this without completely losing his mind.
But only time would tell if his preparation was enough.
For now, all he could do was keep going forward.