Chapter 275: I Don't Want Him to Lose Anything More Because of Me
The moment Yan Ling spoke, the entire room fell silent.
The situation was completely different from what everyone had imagined.
After a brief moment of surprise, Qi Han took a good look at the resolute yet delicate girl before softly asking, "Why?"
Yes, why?
Although the other diners didn't say anything, their eyes were filled with the same question.
With such a promising boyfriend who had been admitted to Shrek Academy's inner court, why would Yan Ling choose to leave him?
"Because…" Yan Ling pressed her lips together. After hesitating for a long time, she finally whispered, "Because I don't want to hold him back…"
"No, Ling, you're not holding me back!" Before Yan Ling could finish, Song Qiluo interrupted her urgently.
"...Let me finish." Yan Ling quietly looked at Song Qiluo. Only when he nodded did she continue, "We've known each other since we were children. Our families were neighbors. Before our martial spirits awakened, we were just childhood playmates. After our martial spirits awakened, we became the only two kids in the village with innate spirit power, which made us even more special."
"My innate spirit power wasn't high—only level 4. After entering the primary spirit master academy, I was often bullied because of it. Every time, Qiluo would step in and drive those bullies away," Yan Ling said with a faint, nostalgic smile. "At the time, I thought how wonderful it would be if Qiluo could protect me like that for the rest of my life…"
"Then, a year after we started at the primary spirit master academy, Qiluo broke through to level 10 and obtained his first spirit ring, meeting the graduation requirements of the primary academy." She gave a bitter smile. "I worked very hard to cultivate, but by then, I was only at level 6 and couldn't go to the intermediate spirit master academy with him."
"There was an intermediate spirit master academy next to ours, and a teacher there with a martial spirit similar to Qiluo's took a liking to him. That teacher came to our academy and tried to recruit Qiluo," Yan Ling said, her face growing more bitter. "That day, I happened to overhear their conversation."
"It turned out Qiluo didn't want to go to the intermediate academy yet. He wanted to wait until I reached level 10 and go with me. The teacher got very angry and gave up on taking Qiluo as his student."
"I didn't understand much at the time and just thought Qiluo was so kind to me. It wasn't until later…" Yan Ling shook her head, "Until later, when I learned that the teacher was a highly skilled level 70 agility-type spirit master, one of the strongest in our small town. Only then did I realize what Qiluo had given up for me."
"Ling, don't say that. Most Shrek teachers are above level 70, with even deeper knowledge. Missing out on that teacher wasn't a big deal," Song Qiluo said quickly. As Yan Ling's words brought back memories, he realized he had forgotten about this incident. He didn't expect her to remember it so vividly.
"But at the time, having a Spirit Sage mentor would have laid a much better foundation for you," Yan Ling said earnestly, staring at Song Qiluo. "Qiluo, I'm not that naive little girl anymore. I can see things clearly now."
Hearing this, Song Qiluo fell silent.
"After that…" Yan Ling looked deeply at Song Qiluo before continuing her story. "After that, Qiluo didn't graduate early. He stayed in the primary academy for two more years to wait for me, and only then did we enter the intermediate spirit master academy together."
"Everything seemed to be in the past until we turned twelve…"
"With Qiluo's talent, getting into Shrek Academy wasn't a problem. But I barely met the minimum requirements, so it was nearly impossible for me to get in." Yan Ling's eyes reddened further. "I was unwilling to give up. So I insisted on taking the entrance exam with him, trying my hardest to get in. But…"
"Sometimes, it just doesn't work. No matter how hard I pushed myself, even getting injured during the exam, I still couldn't get in."
"Qiluo was so foolish. When he saw I was eliminated, he wanted to quit the exam to go home with me…" Yan Ling closed her eyes slowly. "That was the first time in my life I yelled at him."
"I just… didn't want him to lose anything more because of me."
"After that, I chose Tiancang Academy, which was closer to home, and worked hard to try and catch up to Qiluo."
"Because I knew how outstanding Qiluo was and that he would eventually be admitted to Shrek's inner court. Shrek's inner court allows external admissions as long as you reach the five-ring level before turning twenty."
"For this goal, I've spent these past years training day and night. But…" Yan Ling's voice carried a hint of grievance. "But I just can't do it. Now, at eighteen, I'm only at level 41. Reaching the Spirit King level within two years is almost impossible."
"So now that Qiluo has been admitted to the inner court, I've finally lost hope. Can you imagine the feeling of giving everything you have, yet never being able to catch up to the one you love most, watching him get further and further ahead, while the gap between you only grows larger?"
At this point, Yan Ling could no longer hold back her emotions and burst into tears.
"I... I want to catch up to him. I don't want to be his... burden. But I... I really can't do it. So I have no choice but to leave him, watching him grow more and more outstanding from afar."
Song Qiluo's eyes turned red as he clenched his fists tightly, looking at Yan Ling with deep concern, yet unable to find the right words.
Each time they met, Yan Ling always wore a smile. He never imagined that behind that smile lay so much grievance and struggle.
The room fell into silence.
Even Ping Xinyan, who had just returned from delivering food, found herself with teary eyes. Yan Ling's story resonated deeply with her.
Ping Xinyan, too, was separated from her boyfriend Qin Yuezhu due to a difference in talent.
But Ping Xinyan was fortunate. The gap in talent between her and Qin Yuezhu wasn't as vast. While she hadn't yet made it into Shrek's inner court, at eighteen, her spirit power had already reached level 48. Breaking through to the Spirit King level and entering the inner court before turning twenty didn't seem out of reach.
As for Qi Han, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Strictly speaking, the issues between Yan Ling and Song Qiluo stemmed from the vast difference in their innate talent, which inevitably led to an ever-widening gap in their spirit power cultivation.
This disparity had become a barrier between them.
Yan Ling wanted to stay by Song Qiluo's side, but her cultivation fell short, creating an obstacle. She couldn't ask Song Qiluo to delay his own progress for her. It was a deadlock.
However, to Qi Han, this problem didn't seem insurmountable.
Soon, an idea formed in his mind. He turned to Song Qiluo. "You're an inner court disciple, so you must be relatively well-off, right?"
"Huh? Uh… I guess so…" Startled by the sudden question, Song Qiluo was momentarily at a loss. "My family runs a business, so we're fairly wealthy. And since I'm already at the five-ring level, I've saved up a bit."
"'Boiled Cabbage in Clear Water' can increase innate spirit power by one level. It works up to three times per person, which could boost Yan Ling's innate spirit power to level 7 and greatly enhance her talent," Qi Han said earnestly. "Although there are only two years left, it's not completely impossible for her to reach five rings."
This…
Song Qiluo's eyes widened, and Yan Ling was visibly stunned, her gaze filled with disbelief.
Innate spirit power of level 6 was a critical threshold.
Those with innate spirit power above level 6 were generally considered to have high talent, while those below were seen as less gifted.
Though every level of innate spirit power brought better talent, level 6 was a particularly significant dividing line. This threshold provided a major boost to one's potential.
If Boiled Cabbage in Clear Water truly had the miraculous effect Qi Han described, it would be a transformative opportunity for Yan Ling.
The other diners were equally shocked.
The dish Boiled Cabbage in Clear Water had been launched by Shrek just a week ago. Diners who had tried it reported feeling their cultivation flow more smoothly afterward. Rumors had also begun to circulate that the dish could improve a spirit master's aptitude.
However, rumors were just that—rumors. Many diners dismissed them, believing the claims were likely exaggerated or that any benefits would be temporary or negligible.
But now, Qi Han himself had openly confirmed it.
The implications were entirely different.
After a moment of silence, the number of diners ordering Boiled Cabbage in Clear Water suddenly surged.
Qi Han paid no attention to the others. He simply smiled faintly and spoke softly.
"Would you two mind staying after business hours?"
"I have a gift I'd like to give you."
<+>
if you want to see more chapters of this story and don't mind playing $5 per month to see my latest update, please go to my Patreon[1]
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed[2]
Latest Chapter in Patreon: Chapter 362: The Special Effect of Dinghu Shangsu[3]
Link to the latest chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/133891194?collection=67255[4]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/133891194?collection=67255
[4] https://www.patreon.com/posts/133891194?collection=67255