"Whether we can solve this or not, I don’t hold much hope. No matter what, I’ve come this far, and I’ll keep going this way until the day I fall." Ning Luoxi’s gaze was very determined, but amidst the setting sun, there was an indescribable sense of tragic heroism and melancholy.

Even if the path ahead is full of thorns, even if there’s a mountain of knives and a sea of flames, I will forge ahead, relentless like a War God, knowing life and death without regret. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Xiao Manxuan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately couldn’t bring herself to speak words of consolation, because she too was someone who persevered to the end once she focused on something or someone.

"Don’t be so pessimistic. The word ’give up’ isn’t in my dictionary. Even if there’s no way, I will create one. Let’s go; maybe Senior Sister Xiuluo can surprise us," Lin Tian said calmly.

The four left the Ning Family and got into Lin Tian’s car, heading to Jinghua University.

"Wen Bin, call Xiuluo," Lin Tian reminded as they were nearing the school.

"Me... I should call?" Upon hearing the suggestion to call the Goddess, Ning Wenbin suddenly felt nervous.

"Nonsense, you don’t even dare to make a call? Where’s that usual bravado of yours?" Lin Tian said disdainfully, feeling a sense of frustration, while Ning Luoxi also shook her head helplessly.

Hearing Lin Tian describe him as having bravado, Ning Wenbin glared and retorted, "Bro, that’s not bravado, that’s carefreeness, that’s being unrestrained, got it?"

"Hehe, Ning Wenbin, why do I feel like you’re describing Lin Tian instead of yourself," Xiao Manxuan laughed.

Lin Tian didn’t laugh at him, but instead praised, "Yes, that’s the tone. Be yourself, don’t disguise, don’t humbly flatter. To love someone is to be generous; the one who loves humbly will lose eventually."

"Bro, I think you could join the psychology club and host an emotional segment, you’d surely be a popular life coach, hehe," Ning Wenbin joked.

"Oh please, I’m still single, who’s going to listen to a single person talk about love, coach indeed," Lin Tian said nonchalantly, while Ning Luoxi and Xiao Manxuan’s eyes flickered slightly at his words.

After this interruption, Ning Wenbin finally mustered the courage to take out his phone and dialed Wu Xiuluo’s number. When he first joined the Mysterious Society, he at least gained the benefit of obtaining Wu Xiuluo’s private phone number.

"Hello, Ning, what’s up?" Wu Xiuluo’s voice came through the phone, but Ning Wenbin found the neutral term "Ning" frustrating, devoid of even a hint of intimacy.

"I..." Ning Wenbin stopped short, then changed his sentence, "Oh, Lin Tian and Mr. Xiao are looking for you..."

Darn it, this guy, where’s the courage he usually has? Lin Tian and the others all felt like giving him a beating.

"Alright, come to my dorm," Wu Xiuluo said calmly, seemingly unaware of Ning Wenbin’s awkwardness.

"Your... your dorm?" Ning Wenbin was surprised, and then delighted, imagining being invited to Xiuluo’s dorm as the first man there, haha...

Feeling smug, he automatically ignored the word "them" in her sentence. Lin Tian and the others looked at him with disdain, this guy was so delighted he’d forgotten himself, and after ending the call, he began to direct them.

"The target is Xiuluo’s dorm, head straight, turn left ahead, then straight, then left again..."

Lin Tian didn’t undermine him, and just let him "direct" like a live GPS, leading them to a building in front of the apartment dormitory. As Lin Tian got out of the car and surveyed the surroundings, he realized this was a different apartment dormitory from the one he lived in.

"No need to look, this is the PhD students’ apartment dormitory; Xiuluo lives on the top floor," Ning Wenbin said with pride, gesturing grandly as if he was very familiar with the place.

"Are you here often?" Xiao Manxuan asked curiously.

Ning Wenbin’s pride turned to awkwardness, feigned a cough, "Ahem, let’s head up."

Obviously, while he knew where Wu Xiuluo lived, he hadn’t been invited by her, not that Wu Xiuluo would invite him anyway.

The apartment dormitory has eight floors; Wu Xiuluo lives on the eighth. There’s only a staircase, no elevator, but it posed no challenge to Lin Tian and his group.

Despite Ning Wenbin’s aversion to martial arts, his physical condition is quite impressive, allowing him to persist through his cousin’s training back in the day.

In front of Room 801, as Lin Tian reached to press the doorbell, the door creaked open, revealing Wu Xiuluo behind it.

Wu Xiuluo wore a black dress without any extra adornment, no necklace, no earrings, no bracelet, and her face was void of makeup.

Yet her simple and natural look was stunningly beautiful, exuding a mysterious aura.

Wu Xiuluo was unsurprised to see Lin Tian and the others, but was slightly astonished upon noticing Ning Luoxi.

"Please come in," Wu Xiuluo said, slightly stepping aside to make way, but her eyes kept surveying Ning Luoxi.

Her scrutiny was overt, unhidden, occasionally showing surprise and confusion. Conversely, Ning Luoxi also observed Wu Xiuluo, but apart from detecting an unusual aura, she couldn’t discern other information.

In other words, Ning Luoxi couldn’t see through Wu Xiuluo, yet Wu Xiuluo seemed to see through Ning Luoxi.

Inside, Lin Tian was surprised to find Wu Xiuluo’s apartment cleaner than those he and Xiao Manxuan lived in, truly spotless, echoing Wu Xiuluo’s own pristine demeanor.

Moreover, the furniture in her living room was distinctive, featuring bamboo stools and tables, imparting a fresh and natural vibe. Outside on the balcony stood a green porcelain tub, containing clear water, floating lotus leaves, and three water lilies.

The evening breeze wafted across the balcony, causing the lilies to slightly sway, as if Lin Tian could smell the faint fragrance of lilies in the wind. If he were to describe one thing, Wu Xiuluo resembled those water lilies.

Standing tall, yet detached from worldly matters, like water lilies, silently blooming.

"Please sit," Wu Xiuluo said mildly, then turned to prepare tea, soon serving tea to Lin Tian and the group.

The entire process was calm and serene, even entrancing, causing Ning Wenbin to be dumbstruck until he drank scalding tea, burning his mouth and awakening him. Yet he dared not cry out and endured it silently.

"What brings you here?" Wu Xiuluo asked directly after serving tea, attesting to her straightforwardness.

Lin Tian exchanged a glance with Ning Luoxi, then stated directly, "This is Wen Bin’s cousin, Ning Luoxi, she’s also an Ancient Martial Artist and practices Ancient Body Technique..."

"Ancient Body Technique?" Wu Xiuluo’s gaze flickered slightly, then said calmly, "To my knowledge, Ancient Body Technique focuses on training the flesh, but training a mere shell is ultimately inferior."