Night fell. Inside the Han residence, in the living room.
Andrew Han sipped his kelp and pork rib soup, his gaze tinged with contemplation.
Helping Monica Zhang resolve her troubles was but a trivial matter. What he urgently needed now was to elevate his Martial Arts Rank as quickly as possible.
This was beyond doubt, and he could not afford to slack off.
It was not only for the college entrance exam, to gain admission to an Elite University, but also to come into contact with the incredible power of martial arts, to seek help from master cultivators... or perhaps to possess such power independently!
Up to now,
With the experiences gained since his rebirth, Andrew Han’s ambitions gradually grew higher and further.
For example, at first he only wanted to get into a Regular University. But now, with his Martial Arts Rank already at Seventh Rank, entering a Regular University was nothing more than a simple feat.
So his goal shifted to qualifying for an Elite University.
Likewise, his initial reason for practicing martial arts was to find out whether martial arts truly possessed incredible power. But now, he had witnessed that power with his own eyes.
Thus, an indistinct sense of hope arose within him.
Could he, without relying on the help of master cultivators, train tirelessly and acquire incredible power himself?
"Hmm."
"I’m thinking too far ahead... Walk steadily, step by step. As long as I never slack off, there will come a day when the light shines upon me." Andrew Han gazed at the deep green kelp floating atop the soup, taking a deep breath.
Where there is hope, there is motivation.
He saw hope, glimpsed the light, and truly felt the profound changes martial arts had brought to his life. His passion for the martial path burned ever brighter, like a raging fire.
Suddenly,
His thoughts drifted further away, and his resolve gradually took root in his heart.
"Brother, big brother."
Lucy Han gazed at him with wide, expectant eyes. Standing on tiptoe, her chubby, fair little hands barely reached the edge of the dining table, her eyes sparkling: "Lucy wants some too..."
It was obvious she still didn’t understand the difference between eating and drinking soup.
Andrew Han lowered his head, cupping Lucy’s soft cheeks in his hands. "Lucy, it’s too late... Do you want to turn into a little chubby girl?"
"Hmph."
Lucy Han pouted, ignoring her brother Andrew, turning her head to stare at the porcelain-white soup bowl.
She was quietly sulking.
"Haha." Andrew couldn’t help but laugh. "Lucy, always so focused on snatching food... If your brother doesn’t eat enough and starves, you’ll be left without a brother."
"Here!"
Lucy Han froze.
Her big eyes darted about, clearly startled.
Her fair, silky cheeks suddenly filled with fear. She clung tightly to Andrew’s right arm and hurriedly cried, "Brother, eat quickly, Lucy won’t take any more. Eat, eat!"
Andrew’s face softened with a loving smile as he patted his sister Lucy’s small head.
Lucy wouldn’t give up. Her little face full of anxiety, she shook Andrew’s right arm. "Eat quickly, Lucy doesn’t want brother to starve."
"Mm."
Andrew nodded and lowered his head to drink his kelp and pork rib soup.
As the kelp floated on the surface of the soup and he swallowed, his delicate profile and eyes filled with quiet determination were revealed.
The living room was quiet and still.
Gulp.
Lucy Han stared nervously at her brother Andrew, pursing her lips and finally relaxing, resting her little head against him.
Tasting the familiar pork rib soup, Andrew felt warmth in his heart and silently made a vow.
Lucy, no one will ever harm you. No matter how many demons or monsters there are, I will always stand before you, shielding you from every storm.
In a daze,
A gentle, water-like silhouette flashed through his mind, stirring up waves of emotion within his heart.
In his previous life, he owed Lucy Han, failing to fulfill his duties as her brother. He also owed her happiness and joy.
"This life."
"I, Andrew Han, will protect you all, ensuring a lifetime of peace and happiness."
As he thought about this, a faint smile curved his lips.
Andrew’s gaze grew even softer and warmer. His right hand rested gently on his sister Lucy’s little head. Lucy lifted her small face, watching her brother savor his food, secretly swallowing her saliva.
The entire living room seemed enveloped in a tranquil atmosphere, filled with warmth and anticipation.
Creak.
The bedroom door opened.
William Han walked out of the bedroom, frowning.
"Andrew, how’s your studying going? There’s less than eighty days until the college entrance exam, right?" William Han smoothed his worried expression and asked with a gentle smile, "Do you need tutoring?"
Andrew turned and replied, "Dad, getting into a Regular University is no problem for me. As for qualifying for an Elite University, I’ll need to work a bit harder, but I think I have a good chance."
It should be noted,
Seventh Rank qualifies for Regular University, and he already had that qualification. That’s why some martial arts students at Seventh and Sixth Rank grew more relaxed as the exam approached.
After all, Martial Arts Rank can’t suddenly drop, so there’s no need to worry.
Besides, Andrew believed he could reach Fifth Rank before the exam, allowing him to take the Elite University martial arts test and get in smoothly.
William Han was deeply gratified and nodded repeatedly. "Good! My son is truly accomplished. If you get into Elite University, I’ll buy you a car."
Andrew shook his head. "That’s not necessary. No matter how I do, I’ll definitely choose a university within Southvale Province. After all, going to another province is too much trouble."
William Han nodded.
Sinovera has corresponding laws: if you want to leave your province, you must travel by high-speed rail, special passenger buses, or airplanes. Private cars can hardly leave the province—approval is required, and sometimes travel is allowed, sometimes it’s forbidden.
This indirectly limits Sinovera’s economic prosperity.
If provinces could connect freely, the economy would at least double!
However,
This also makes local chain businesses within the province extremely prosperous.
Even national industry giants find it difficult to fully dominate markets in other provinces.
"Sigh."
William Han sat down in his chair and sighed, "Going to university is the way out. For my supermarket, there are only one or two channels for stocking goods. Suppliers from outside the province offer lower prices, but with shipping costs, it’s even more expensive than local suppliers."
"It’s really confusing."
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"Restricting cities from expanding beyond the province, and limiting inter-provincial exchange... Yet there are barren regions between provinces that could be developed."
He didn’t understand.
But Andrew Han vaguely understood.
Between provinces, there are likely those strange and terrifying things—the very demons and monsters he witnessed in his previous life!
However,
If that’s truly the case, then Sinovera’s handling and response is a policy worthy of praise for generations—able to maintain economic prosperity, keep the online world stable, and let ordinary people live in peace, completely unaware of the dangers.
A moment later,
"Alright."
William Han doted on his daughter Lucy, then looked at Andrew and said seriously, "Son, you must get into university."
His eyes were filled with hope.