Early the next morning.
A slightly bleak autumn wind brushed past the gently yellowing leaves, sweeping over the somewhat quiet campus of Southland University.
Rustle.
Andrew Han woke up early, casually drew back the pale yellow curtains, and looked out the window.
It was just dawn; the campus was empty, and he could even see stray cats and dogs quietly strolling about, as well as the crystal-clear dew on the leaves, painting a fresh scene.
Plop.
A drop of dew hit the ground.
As if heralding the start of a brand new day.
"The air is really nice."
Andrew Han murmured leisurely, a relaxed smile on his face as his gaze seemed to recall scenes from yesterday's autumn outing.
Bumper cars, swinging on the swings, and bungee jumping over the lake.
Rowing wooden boats, eating snacks, and a sunset barbecue.
Before, he could use not knowing Monica Zhang as an excuse to deliberately avoid her. But now, all those excuses had been shattered.
"Hmm."
"Actually, her eyes are quite clear, and her fair skin is even more delicate and smooth than mine—even as a Peerless Martial Artist."
Recalling the scene during the bungee jump, Andrew Han shook his head and smiled.
The memory was especially vivid.
Yesterday, back at the outing spot, he went bungee jumping with Monica Zhang in the afternoon. As they plunged toward the lake below, Monica's beautiful eyes widened, trembling, her heartbeat fluttering with fear, yet she still bravely kept her gaze fixed forward.
Her strength moved him to his core.
"It's just bungee jumping."
"What's there to be afraid of? After all, below is Clearview Lake. Even if I fall in, I can always rely on my extraordinary martial power," Andrew mused.
If the bungee cord were to snap, he could, with perfect justification, hold Monica Zhang close as they fell, and neither of them would be hurt upon hitting the water—at worst, they'd end up soaked.
In fact,
With his strength, snapping the cord would be effortless.
But considering Monica was in a special period... no, considering his own pure character, Andrew had never acted on that idea.
"Life really is beautiful."
"This is how my life should be."
Andrew Han murmured to himself twice, a look of absolute certainty appearing on his face.
First, he would face the Martial Arts Student Ranking Battle, then thoroughly unravel all the key mysteries from his past-life memories, and finally step onto his own Peerless Path.
"Enough."
"Thinking too much is useless—better to train first."
Andrew Han drew the curtains shut and stood quietly in his dorm room.
It was still early morning, the dorm dimly lit, with only the occasional birdsong drifting in through the window and flickers of faint light.
Crack! Crack!
His blood surged through his right fist, bones and tendons resonating with movement, like heavy machinery operating alone, infused with unfathomable Presented Liquid Internal Power—a colossal hammer rarely seen in the world.
Boom!
Andrew Han smashed his right fist into empty air.
In an instant, the air exploded with a deep, powerful sound, scattering the surroundings, whipping up chaotic winds, and even making the thin quilt on his bed tremble.
It was like a muffled explosion, echoing through the room.
His blood-boiling right fist shone with a faint Presented Liquid Internal Power, illuminating Andrew Han's calm face.