Chapter 19

Chapter 19

At this moment, Li Qingzhi was utterly unaware of the implications his question held in Ludwig's perspective.

At this moment, entrusted jointly by Master Ling Shen and Headmaster Augustus to Ludwig, he knew that from now on, he would seemingly spend his evenings with Ludwig.

In truth, before visiting Augustus's office, Li Qingzhi was still grappling with the disappointment of losing his sources of joy. However, at this moment, upon learning that he would be studying magic with Ludwig in the evening, his mood didn't feel as bleak.

After all, this was a novel experience for him, and after the events of the past few days, having befriended Ludwig, he found this blond youth as affable as his own senior brothers.

Unlike others, Li Qingzhi, who took delight in teasing his fellow senior disciples on Three Silent Mountains, didn't harbor any fear towards Ludwig. Instead, he was now looking forward to the upcoming journey.

He wondered how the night would unfold.

Lost in thought, Li Qingzhi pondered carefully before earnestly engaging Ludwig in conversation:

"I recall that the bed next to mine in the dormitory was assigned to you. It would be quite convenient if we were to stay there."

He felt somewhat awkward about going to Ludwig's residence, but it also didn't seem appropriate to have Ludwig suddenly stay in the dormitory.

Considering this, Li Qingzhi couldn't help but mutter, "But would you be uncomfortable living in the dorms? We could go to your place too, it's up to you."

With a slightly embarrassed smile, Li Qingzhi looked at Ludwig and said, "After all, I'm the one causing you trouble."

Upon reflection, Ludwig should have been enjoying his free time. But now, due to Principal Augustus's request, those leisure hours were dedicated to teaching him magic.

It must be because Master Ling Shen was worried that he would be too playful, leading to such an arrangement with Principal Augustus.

Li Qingzhi, who had recently been thriving at the Botanical Academy, couldn't help but stick out his tongue secretly in his heart when he thought of his strict master. He felt a sense of guilt, as if he had been caught slacking off by his master even in a foreign land.

While Li Qingzhi was lost in thought, Ludwig, sitting across from him, remained silent for several seconds before reluctantly responding, "Let's go to my place."

At least there would be a butler and servants at home, making it less likely for uncontrollable situations to arise.

This was Ludwig's temporary plan. His thoughts were on a completely different plane from Li Qingzhi's, which explained the pressure he was feeling at the moment.

On the other side, Li Qingzhi quickly nodded and said, "Alright, I'll just pack a few things then!"

It was only now, upon hearing Li Qingzhi's mention of gathering his belongings, that Ludwig truly felt the reality of spending every evening with Qingzhi.

The black-haired youth hurried away, only to swiftly return, carrying an assortment of odds and ends, as he flew on his sword to the side of the other, seemingly anxious not to keep him waiting. Despite being slightly out of breath from rushing, he lifted his bright eyes to meet the other's gaze, a smile inexplicably dancing within them.

"Shall we depart now?"

It was already past school hours in Elmont, and the student council's tasks were nearly completed. Indeed, it was time for some "tutoring."

Perhaps because the person she was tutoring was Ludwig, Li Qingzhi, who subconsciously felt a sense of familiarity, didn't feel any resentment about her leisure time being occupied; instead, she was rather delighted.

Noticing Ludwig's nod, Li Qingzhi drew the Chengying Sword from behind him. Used to horsing around with his classmates and accustomed to flying with Bruce at his side, he instinctively looked in Ludwig's direction and asked, "Shall we...?"

Mid-sentence, as Li Qingzhi gazed at Ludwig, whose demeanor was always exceptionally graceful, he suddenly realized that the other might not wish to share the same sword with him. Moreover, Ludwig had previously sent him a warning letter concerning his act of sword-riding with someone else.

Ludwig, aware that Li Qingzhi hadn't finished speaking, quickly lifted his gaze. "What?"

Thus, Li Qingzhi quickly cleared his throat, pretending nothing had happened, and directed his gaze toward the grassy area on the other side. "Ahem, nothing much. I was just wondering if there's anything else the student council might have overlooked."

Unbeknownst to Li Qingzhi, who had already averted his gaze, Ludwig's eyes gently lingered on the Shadowbearing Sword. As swirling thoughts filled his eyes, it seemed as though he was reminded of many unforgettable memories. After a moment's hesitation, the blond youth spoke up:

"That's it. Let's go."

"My butler will be here to pick me up. You can just come along with me."

Only after Ludwig managed to reluctantly tear his gaze away from the Shadow Inheritor did he find himself involuntarily looking into Li Qingzhi's eyes, harboring a small expectation in his heart:

"But if you'd like to fly back, that's also an option..."

After all, Li Qingzhi often flew with that brown-haired boy before. He might just extend the same invitation to him this time as well.

If invited, I might reluctantly consent to join in.

With this in mind, Ludwig slightly lowered his eyes, adopting an expression that was both restrained yet clearly open to an invitation.

To everyone's surprise, just as Ludwig finished speaking, the dark-haired youth promptly shook his head without even lifting it, and said,

"No need, no need. I'll just accompany you on your way."

Li Qingzhi was reluctant to burden Ludwig, and it seemed that returning together would be the most convenient option for him.

The blond youth was taken aback, his words stuck in his throat. In the end, he could only watch helplessly as Li Qingzhi firmly sheathed the shimmering Chingyin Sword back into its scabbard on his back.

Ten minutes later.

Inside the luxurious carriage, Li Qingzhi, with wide-eyed wonder, marveled at the opulent and soft furnishings:

"Wow... everything is gleaming with gold..."

With the demeanor of a country bumpkin entering the city for the first time, Li Qingzhi couldn't help but marvel. He had previously only seen wooden carriages when he descended the mountain, and this was his first encounter with one adorned with so much gold. The dazzling precious gems were embedded lavishly everywhere, their sizes exaggerated to the point that they seemed almost fake.

However, Li Qingzhi was unaware that compared to the sight of Leo's Castle, all of that was merely an appetizer.

As the kindly old butler descended to greet them and gently opened the grand doors with magic, Li Qingzhi, stepping down from the carriage, stood transfixed by the scene before him:

"Woah—"

Struck dumb by the castle's opulence and enormity right before his eyes, Li Qingzhi, after a few seconds, couldn't help turning to Ludwig and pointing at the castle:

"Do you live in places like this all the time?"

With a sparkle in his dark eyes, the young man murmured to himself, "No wonder you didn't want to stay in the dorms."

This is practically living in a palace...

At this moment, as Ludwig observed Li Qingzhi's expression of astonishment and admiration, a subtle smile, barely perceptible, grazed the corner of his lips while a gentle stirring took place in his heart.

"It's not because of that reason that I don't live in the dormitory."

The elderly butler, having seen to all the arrangements, slightly bowed as he ushered Li Qingzhi in. "Please, do come in. The tea has been heated and is ready."

Ludwig didn't lead Li Qingzhi to his usual study but opted for the more spacious hall with a broader view, which was more conducive to their magic practice. After all, Headmaster Augusta's primary intention in having him accompany Li Qingzhi was to help him catch up on magic studies.

Upon settling at a refined round table in the hall, the old butler promptly brought Li Qingzhi a steaming cup of black tea and an assortment of freshly baked pastries. For a moment, Li Qingzhi momentarily forgot that he was there to learn magic. Savoring a delicious cookie that the butler had personally baked, followed by a sip of the aromatic tea, the flavors danced upon his tongue, soothing his taste buds alongside the treats.

"Mmm, so delicious!"

The freshly baked pastries were so delectable that they stirred a sense of gratitude in Li Qingzhi. Although he ate well at Almont, he had never quite taken a liking to the school's food and often cooked secretly for himself. However, these pastries hit the spot perfectly.

On the other side, Ludwig watched as Li Qingzhi's cheeks puffed slightly with contentment, his eyes brimming with happiness. For a moment, Ludwig found himself unable to tear his gaze away.

Yet in the next second, Li Qingzhi seemed to sense his gaze and, blushing slightly after taking just one bite of the pastry, put it down rather embarrassedly. After wiping his hands meticulously, he said with a reddened face,

"Cough, sorry... Should we start now?"

In truth, Ludwig felt no discomfort at all. He even enjoyed watching Li Qingzhi eat with concentration. Now, feeling a bit disappointed that their session had been interrupted, he reluctantly withdrew his gaze, but maintained a composed expression on his face. "Mm-hmm."

Li Qingzhi was still wondering where they would begin, when Ludwig promptly pulled out a scroll filled with plans, which revolved entirely around their nocturnal "make-up lessons."

Startled, Li Qingzhi asked, "When did you write this?"

Ludwig appeared unfazed. "Just now, in the carriage. It didn't take long."

With just a few strokes, Ludwig had outlined their schedule for the next few days. Li Qingzhi had been preoccupied with the carriage ride back then, so he hadn't noticed.

According to the plan's first step, Ludwig intended to learn what magic courses Li Qingzhi had taken since enrollment, then tailor-make the tutoring accordingly. After all, he wasn't a teacher, and two years had passed since Li Qingzhi started. It was necessary to understand the basics first.

Promptly complying, Li Qingzhi listed all the fundamental magic classes he had attended before Ludwig: "First, there was Flying class, followed by Potions, Summoning, Beast Mastery, Spellcasting, and Magic History..."

"Right!" Recalling another subject, Li Qingzhi added quickly, "I also started a new course on Magical Plants just a couple of days ago."

There was an inexplicable similarity between Elmont's magical flora class and the Wood Spirit Root course on Three Silent Mountains. However, the magical plants they cultivated were related to the magic beasts they summoned. Amelia nurtured flowers from elves, while Bruce cared for magical moss atop goblins' heads. As for Li Qingzhi, he tended to green vines that had grown on a stone lion at some point.

Ludwig, after hearing Li Qingzhi's response, asked again, "Which subjects do you find challenging?"

Li Qingzhi promptly replied, "The incantation class and the history of magic! There are just too many incantations, and I'm still memorizing them..."

The history of magic was filled with unique terminologies and obscure anecdotes specific to Western magic, not to mention religious elements that could be perplexing. As a native little Daoist priest, Li Qingzhi found it somewhat difficult to grasp.

However, tutoring should focus on areas of weakness. After getting a general understanding of the situation, Ludwig gently tapped his index finger on the table.

With a mere gentle touch, before long, several hefty tomes gracefully flew out from the distant study and landed neatly by Ludwig's side. The entire sequence unfolded as smoothly as flowing water. Li Qingzhi couldn't help but marvel at the scene.

"Wonderful... Why don't you need to chant a spell to retrieve objects?"

One must remember that in a Charms class, the spell for Accio requires a full two lines of peculiar incantation, with precise mention of the object's location and its very name.

But Ludwig merely tapped his fingers lightly.

Upon hearing his curious inquiry, the blond teenager casually flipped through the tome of spells he had brought along and nonchalantly explained,

"When you advance to third year, you'll learn how to cast spells without incantations. The more proficient a mage becomes, the less they rely on external aids. Everything is there to facilitate your magic usage, and once you've mastered it thoroughly and can wield it flexibly, you can dispense with those aids."

"However, as a foundation for beginners, you still need to master incantations now."

"Midterm evaluations are approaching soon, and your performance in both Spellcasting and Magical History will be factored into your ranking. If you don't wish to remain a lowly First Rank Mage, you should start taking your studies seriously."

As Ludwig spoke, he glanced subconsciously in Li Qingzhi's direction. He had fully immersed himself in his focused state, usually reserved for serious matters. His tone was detached, and he gradually pushed aside the initial complications in his heart. Ludwig, who had initially felt flustered and at a loss due to Li Qingzhi's visit, found himself unexpectedly composed while laying out a study plan for the other.

Yet, when their eyes met unexpectedly, he couldn't help but be momentarily startled.

The black-haired youth promptly nodded, his expression earnest as he declared, "Alright, then I will surely learn diligently!"

Merely gazing into those dark, exquisite deer-like eyes, Ludwig's heartbeat inexplicably quickened. After a brief cough, he withdrew his disobedient gaze and once again lowered his head, attempting to concentrate on the book in his hands.

"I assume you've grasped the basic spells; it's merely a matter of memorization and proficient application. Magic History might require some assistance for comprehension. Start with this one; it covers the most essential events. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."

Li Qingzhi obediently nodded. For some reason, despite having become friends with Ludwig, there was still an inexplicable sense of intimidation and leadership whenever the latter became serious. As such, Li Qingzhi's playful mischief vanished, and he found himself wanting to obediently finish reading the book on magical history first.

As Li Qingzhi began reading, the great hall swiftly fell into a hush, with only the faint sounds of maids tending to vases in the nearby corridor breaking the silence. Qingzhi felt the stillness so profoundly that he could almost hear his own heartbeat.

The castle was enormous, yet strangely sparsely populated. Apart from Ludwig, Li Qingzhi had only encountered the butler and cleaning maid since arriving. He hadn't seen anyone else.

As Li Qingzhi quietly perused the book on magical history that Ludwig had given him, Ludwig also remained still, sitting across from him and reading his own book in silence.

Li Qingzhi soon found many familiar passages from his classes within the pages. However, there were still sections he struggled to comprehend. Even with the Language Charm's assistance, the obscure technical terms and religious elements left him grasping for clarity.

After a few minutes, he turned to Ludwig for help, "In the moment when the continent was on the brink of being devoured, Ai Ken descended like a solar deity, offering salvation to all. With his flesh and blood, he nourished the World Tree, and his demise brought blessings to the people as if they partook in a sacred feast. Thus, elemental magic reached the masses." He asked, "Who is the solar deity mentioned here, and what does the 'sacred feast' signify?"

Though he understood the general idea, the unfamiliar words hindered his full comprehension of the historical account.

Ludwig lifted his gaze from his book, his deep blue eyes meeting Li Qingzhi's, "This speaks of the first Elemental Mage, Ai Ken, who sacrificed himself to save the Elemental Continent. The solar deity symbolizes selfless devotion, and the sacred feast can be interpreted as the divine grace shared with the people."

"At that time, Ai Ken gave up his life to prevent the exhaustion of magic on the Elemental Continent. After his death, his immense magical power began to flow to every corner of the land, revitalizing elemental magic, and enabling more people to learn it."

"Is that clearer now?"

After Ludwig's explanation, Li Qingzhi nodded promptly, a look of enlightenment on his face, "I wasn't quite sure about the specifics before, but with your clarification, Ludwig, it suddenly makes much more sense..."

Looking at the text in the book, Li Qingzhi then looked up at Ludwig, "Was Ai Ken truly that powerful, and did he really make the ultimate sacrifice?"

Ludwig hummed in response, "Though powerful, he could only unleash his full magic potential at the cost of his vessel's life. Thus, he renounced all his power, choosing to die beneath the World Tree that hosted elemental magic."

Curiosity piqued, Li Qingzhi asked, "Where is that World Tree?"

To his surprise, Ludwig shook his head. "In the sealing battle fifty years ago, the World Tree was destroyed. Now, another entity carries the flow of magical elements."

"That part of history will be covered in your studies next semester," Ludwig informed him.

Li Qingzhi nodded, a tinge of regret welling up within him. "If Ai Ken were still alive, he would have been the most powerful mage, wouldn't he?"

After all, the books described Ai Ken as virtually godlike in his creative power, capable of shaping the fabric of space with a mere gesture. Not only was he an adept in high-level magic of all elements, but he had also delved into the forbidden art of stopping time itself.

Ludwig, however, said nonchalantly, "Since he chose to sacrifice himself, his magical cultivation has come to a halt. There's no point in further discussion."

"Like that day." The blond teenager suddenly lifted his indifferent eyes to look at him. His handsome eyebrows and eyes were so calm that it was impossible to discern his true emotions. However, his words clearly implied something:

"When that monstrous attacker assaulted the academy, you chose to stand in front of all the students and pulled me behind you. Had that explosion been any more devastating, no words could have made a difference."

Upon hearing Ludwig's words, Li Qingzhi couldn't help but scratch his head. "I was just worried about you getting hurt. Plus, I have protective charms on me, but you don't, that's why I acted that way."

Unexpectedly, the usually aloof Ludwig frowned and said, "Your own life is the most important. I know you want to protect others, but they get injured because they lack strength. Injury is part of growth. The weak need to become strong enough to protect themselves; it's not your duty."

"Even if it were me, if I got hurt, it would be because my reaction was too slow to evade."

"In any case, I wouldn't risk death to save someone. From any perspective, that would be foolish."

Ludwig's words sounded cold and almost accusatory, but Li Qingzhi quickly realized that Ludwig disapproved of his self-sacrificing behavior to protect others. In fact, it was because he cared about him that Ludwig spoke thus.

This stirred something in Li Qingzhi's heart, prompting him to look at Ludwig and voice his truest thoughts:

"Yet, Ludwig, despite your claim of inability, you were the first to confront that malevolent spirit that day."

Throughout his life prior, whenever trouble arose, it was always senior classmates who stepped forward. Li Qingzhi disliked shouldering responsibility or seeking the limelight. That day was the first time Qingzhi found himself in a situation where he needed to step up; everyone seemed to be counting on him.

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Li Qingzhi couldn't help but continue to Ludwig, "Actually, I felt quite at a loss after casting the protective charms. It wasn't until I saw you arrive that I felt much reassured, even gathering the courage to fight alongside you."

"Your sense of responsibility far exceeds mine, both in everyday life and during that incident. Seeing you so resolutely protect everyone, it instilled an unexplainable surge of confidence and determination within me." Those were things he had never dared to imagine before.

As they spoke, Li Qingzhi couldn't help but smile at the blond youth before him. "Furthermore, even if I were the one in danger, I believe you would undoubtedly come to my rescue as well!"

At this moment, Ludwig, upon hearing Li Qingzhi's earnest words, was evidently touched.

Gazing into Li Qingzhi's eyes, brimming with sincere mirth, Ludwig, who was accustomed to his pride, felt his cheeks warm as he was about to refute. Yet, before he could, the black-haired youth earnestly exclaimed once more, his words blunt to the point of inducing embarrassment:

"Ludwig, you're truly a remarkable person, and I genuinely adore you..." These virtues of yours might be overlooked even by yourself.

Yet, before Li Qingzhi could finish his sentence, Ludwig interjected suddenly, "That's enough!"

The blond teenager, whose ears had already started to burn fiercely, turned his face away, not wanting to reveal the fact that he was already blushing. He strained to keep his tone even as he said, "We don't have much time; let's focus on the book for now."

Perceiving a hint of bashfulness in Ludwig's demeanor, Li Qingzhi couldn't help but nod with a smile. "Alright, then."

Only after Li Qingzhi lowered his head and began to read attentively did Ludwig dare to direct his gaze upon the black-haired youth. As he looked at the other's delicate profile, Ludwig's emotions became unusually tumultuous; his heart raced abnormally fast, and he couldn't help but think to himself:

How could you so casually and directly express your liking towards me?

So who exactly said that Eastern people are all reserved?

Approximately half an hour had passed when Li Qingzhi, who had nearly finished reviewing the material he had studied, lifted his eyes. Before him, the blond youth was quietly turning the pages of a book, his long, slender fingers with distinct joints gliding gently over the pages. His handsome profile, while profound, still exuded an aura of unapproachability.

Yet Li Qingzhi couldn't help but muse inwardly: Despite his cold and aloof appearance, Ludwig was actually quite bashful when you got to know him!

Just then, the elderly butler, who had been standing at a distance, suddenly stepped forward and whispered something respectfully to Ludwig.

Ludwig nodded calmly and, as he rose, looked at Li Qingzhi. "I have some matters to attend to. You can rest for now."

Li Qingzhi acknowledged the instruction. Before long, Ludwig returned and resumed his seat across from him.

Suddenly, Li Qingzhi heard faint footsteps approaching from the nearby corridor. He turned to look but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

The break clearly wasn't over yet. Ludwig made no mention of their next activity, and Li Qingzhi, having finished his book, found himself sitting there, attempting to catch Ludwig's gaze, only to realize that the prince's eyes were fixed on the book in his hands, seemingly uninterested in conversation.

During this rare respite, Li Qingzhi genuinely wished to foster a connection with Ludwig.

Of course, a friendly one.

Swiftly, Li Qingzhi recalled an entertainment trend that he had initiated and that had recently taken the Botanical Academy by storm.

After a few seconds, Ludwig, who had been discreetly observing Li Qingzhi, watched as the latter pulled out a massive, oversized gossip wheel from his sidepack – one that was several times larger than his own face. Li Qingzhi then looked at him expectantly.

"Would you like to give it a try?"

"It's incredibly amusing!"

Chess is a more serious form of amusement; Ludwig might find it intriguing.

Though it's Tic-Tac-Toe, it's still a form of chess, isn't it?

Li Qingzhi made a rather optimistic assumption.

Faced with Li Qingzhi's fervent gaze filled with anticipation, Ludwig eventually gave in and nodded. "Fine, but just for the next game."

After promising Li Qing, Ludwig became aware of a serious issue – whenever Li Qingzhi made requests with those expectant, puppy-like eyes, he found it strangely difficult to refuse.

Ludwig might have attributed it to some Eastern hex.

And the moment he agreed, the black-haired youth visibly brightened, exclaiming, "Yay!"

Observing closely, Li Qingzhi swiftly placed the Eight Trigram Plate on the table and unfolded it. As he retrieved the Checkers from the other side, he began his explanation.

"Given that it's on the Eight Trigrams Board, the rules are slightly altered, but they're still easy to grasp. Take this, for example."

After setting up the pieces, Li Qingzhi began to explain and demonstrate with a few illustrative moves.

Ludwig, who was usually quick to grasp concepts, soon figured out the game after just one explanation. Picking up one of the pieces, he moved it along the patterns on the abacus-like board. "Is it something like this?" It was quite straightforward.

Li Qingzhi nodded promptly. "Yes, yes." With that, the youth picked up a chess piece and demonstrated, moving it toward another direction. "Once you reach this square, you can proceed straight in."

Yet, as Li Qingzhi was demonstrating, her hand seemed to brush against the back of his hand almost by accident.

In the moment their skin unexpectedly brushed, Ludwig couldn't help but freeze, whereas Li Qingzhi seemed entirely oblivious, maintaining the position and continuing to elucidate the rules with unwavering focus. His long eyelashes fluttered gently as his slightly downcast eyes never met Ludwig's gaze.

Yet at that moment, Ludwig was deaf to all else. The small patch of skin where their wrists touched seemed to spread a warmth that he couldn't overlook, a slow heat that infiltrated his senses. The subtle herbal scent emanating from Li Qingzhi soon reached his nostrils.

As Ludwig's unease grew, his mind almost instantaneously recalled the book he had been reading lately, titled "On Eastern Etiquette." In its second chapter, there was a passage that had left an indelible impression on him:

"This is my initial impression of Eastern etiquette, and from these observations, I can confidently say that in the subtle East, among its reserved people, a gentle touch on the hand carries the same weight as a kiss."

"When an Eastern person is willing to engage with you to such an extent, it signifies a great deal of trust and affirmation in you, indicating that you hold an incredibly intimate position in their heart."

Meanwhile, Li Qingzhi, who was still occupied with explaining the rules to Ludwig, subconsciously looked up as he neared the end of his explanation, expecting to gauge Ludwig's response. He was about to inquire if there were any points that remained unclear when something caught his attention.

Perplexed, Li Qingzhi blinked in confusion:

Why was Ludwig's face suddenly so flushed?