Life in Nodding Academy was simple and peaceful. In the morning, Liu Yan would have his classes.
In the afternoon, he would have lunch and sometimes visiting the library to read books about other things he didn't know about in Soul Land.
In the evening, he would be training and tempering his body. His martial soul was 108 jin per gauntlet, it was thanks to his constant training before getting his first soul ring that he could lift it naturally and punch with a force of 108 jin.
At night, he would practice dual cultivation with Ying Xuan. He had grown close to Ying Xuan and he wasn't rejecting the fact that he might have feelings for Ying Xuan.
He had lived long enough in his past life to know what falling in love feels like. He wasn't going to rush though, he didn't know whether she would reciprocate.
Plus, they were still quite young and even if he was old enough mentally, she wasn't.
A year had already passed, everyone was packing up and getting ready to leave. It was the annual holiday.
In dorm seven, Xiao Wu, Tang San, Liu Yan, Ying Xuan and Fu Tian were packing their essentials.
"Are you sure you want to come to my house, Ying Ying? What about your parents?" Liu Yan asked, this was odd, this was the exact thing that happened to Tang San.
"Don't worry, they won't mind. I've already sent a letter to them" she replied while smiling.
"Oh, alright." Liu Yan said awkwardly before turning to Tang San and Fu Tian "are you guys ready to head home?"
"Just a few more minutes" Tang San said while packing up the money he has made and some of the books Grandmaster gave him and putting them in his belt.
"I'm always ready to head home" Fu Tian shrugged while saying so. He had barely brought anything to Nodding Academy and having not bought anything as well, he was just returning with nothing but a toothbrush,and some other essentials.
The carriage ride was long, Liu Yan and Fu Tian and Tang San had felt a bit homesick after staying in the academy for so long.
It was the afternoon by the time they reached back. Grandpa Jack being the village chief was naturally informed the moment the carriage passed the threshold into Soul Saint village.
"Fu Tian, Xiao San, Liu Yan, you three have come back" Grandpa Jack was happy to see them after a year.
"You three have grown taller, and who are these two girls?" Grandpa Jack seeing Ying Xuan and Xiao Wu couldn't help but ask.
Grandpa Jack thought to himself "These kids, they couldn't already started to date girls, right?"
"They're our friends, Grandpa Jack. Xiao Wu, is going to be staying Tang San. While Ying Xuan is staying with me" Liu Yan explained while gesturing to whoever he mentions.
"Ah, alright alright. Since you three have returned, why don't we have a small feast? I heard you three have become soul masters officially." Grandpa Jack said while smiling, thinking of what to prepare for the feast.
Before they could say anything, "Sure, I've been missing our feast food" said Fu Tian who was already licking his lips just thinking about the delecious food he had before.
They all seperated after talking for a bit more.
With Liu Yan, he was walking with Ying Xuan to his house. Wondering how he was gonna survive this one month worth of teasing from his parents when they see he brought a girl home.
"Mom, Dad. I'm home!" He said the moment he entered his house.
"You're back, Xiao Liu!" his mother appeared round the corner, in the midst of cooking.
"Finally came to pay your old man a visit?" his dad turned around and said. It was a happy and calm reunion.
Suddenly, both of them noticed Ying Xuan, who was behind Liu Yan. They both looked at each other before looking back with small smirks.
"Xiao Liu, you've only been away from us at school for a year and you've already found a girl? Don't you think you're rushing things?" Mei Ling said dramatically.
They both teased Liu Yan, Ying Xuan couldn't help but chuckle softly at this.
Liu Yan feeling increasingly embarrassed at this said "I-I'll be showing Ying Ying around the village now!" holding Ying Xuan's hand and leaving the house.
"Ying Ying? They even have pet names now, how adorable" said the mom.
Liu Yan shower Ying Xuan around, Soul Saint village, being a relatively small village, was shown to Ying Xuan.
At night, the feast came. Everyone was having a good time. A lot of the kids took the opportunity to stay up late outside.
The food was delicious, nothing could beat homemade cooking in Liu Yan's opinion. Liu Yan saw that Tang San and Xiao Wu had just came back from the flower area after promising to protect each other.
During the feast, Ying Xuan suddenly called for him.
"Liu Yan, why don't we go somewhere alone? Is there a flower field by any chance?" she asked with interest.
"There should be one over there… yeah, sure. Let's go." he had just finished his dinner, might as well walk around to have it digest quicker.
When they made it to the flower fields, Yong Xuan couldn't hell but run around in it. It was a beautiful sight for both her and Liu Yan.
They sat near the cliff, looking at the moon. It was a full moon, a very round one.
"Liu Yan, I have a question" she asked, she wanted to know something.
"What is it?"
"If you were given a choice, would you rather to have one short but fulfilling life? Or immortality" she asked the moment she heard he gave the approval.
"I… I think I would choose a short but fulfilling life. Why do you ask this?" Liu Yan was confused to why she would ask this.
"Just a thought I had in my head for a while now." Ying Xuan explained. Liu Yan thought about it and it made sense to sometimes have these thoughts.
"Liu Yan… This past year, I have been happy. I felt safe and at peace with you. I… would like to keep it like that. Can you promise me? To always be together… until the end?" Ying Xuan asked while looking into his eyes.
"Those eyes… so… beautiful" Liu Yan thought to himself.
"I promise, no matter what happens, I'll be with you forever, never letting you go!" he proudly claimed.
"That's two promises, silly" she laughed lightly.
"You better keep your promise then… pinky promise" she extended her pinky out.
It was childish but they were children still, it was normal.
"Pinky promise" he entwined his pinky with hers while smiling.
He silently vowed to protect her at all times.
They continued to stare at the moon before finally returning to the village. They made their way back to Liu Yan's house.
Liu Yan's bed could fit two people, and they were used to sleeping together. So they climbed in and slept in each other's embrace…