【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 337 [Empire] Thank you, Nightingale

The afternoon sun streamed into the classroom through the schoolyard windows. It was clearly an ordinary afternoon, but my mind was no longer on the madly growing mung beans. I was speechless at the sight of those one-meter-tall, fruiting mung beans.

The teacher's face was as dark as the speed at which my mung beans were sprouting. I really didn't want to stay in that depressing classroom any longer, so I naturally chose to skip class.

In truth, I had no particular destination in mind. I simply wandered aimlessly through the shopping streets near the school, like a lost soul, completely empty of myself. The streets were lined with bustling shops, antique stores, and bustling fast-food stalls. The air was filled with the aroma of fried snacks and the clamor of the crowds, but I felt utterly empty, as if nothing around me had any bearing on me.

Occasionally, I see some pedestrians walking hurriedly on the street, looking down at their laptops, or chatting and laughing with friends. I even feel like a bystander, standing on the edge of this bustling world, quietly watching others live so confidently and with such purpose.

I took a deep breath, a touch of warmth lingering in the air, but it couldn't dispel the gloom within me. Why had my life become such a mess? Why did I always avoid facing my fears and anxieties?

Before I knew it, I had walked into a small, unassuming shop. An old bell hung outside, chiming softly as I entered. The air was filled with a unique aroma, a blend of wood and herbs. The shop was simply decorated, displaying exotic plants and decorative items, each one shimmering with mystery.

The shop owner, a young woman with fair skin and a gentle smile, seemed to have noticed me and put down her work and walked over.

"What do you need?" Her voice was gentle and calm, as if she was used to seeing all kinds of customers.

I looked around, my eyes finally settling on a small plant on the counter. It looked ordinary, yet it exuded a distinctly unique quality. Its leaves had a faint golden sheen, as if kissed by the sun. On some strange impulse, I pointed at the plant. "What is this?"

The shop owner smiled, a hint of mystery flashing in his eyes. "This is 'Starlight Grass'. It only blooms under certain circumstances. Its flowers are very rare and can absorb negative energy from the surrounding environment, helping people eliminate inner troubles."

I was stunned for a moment, as if I understood what she meant. Negative energy? Eliminating troubles? Could it also eliminate the inescapable haze in my heart?

I unconsciously reached out and touched the backpack around my waist. The seedlings inside seemed to have noticed something and sent out a faint fluctuation.

"How much?" I couldn't help but ask.

"It depends on how you use it." Her eyes were still gentle.

I smiled slightly, and the confusion in my heart seemed to be slightly relieved. Perhaps I also need to find a new way to sort out my emotions and face those lingering troubles.

The clerk's smile was faint, but her eyes seemed to gleam with an inexplicable brilliance. I was stunned for a moment, feeling that she saw through some emotion in me, perhaps my uneasiness, perhaps my inner confusion, but her eyes contained no judgment, only a calm understanding.

"It seems that you no longer need it." Her tone was gentle, but full of some inexplicable meaning.

I couldn't help but smile, waved my hand gently to express my gratitude, and then walked out of the store. I didn't take the matter of the pot of "Starlight Grass" to heart. Perhaps my troubles could not be solved by a pot of plants.

Walking to the street, I took a deep breath and felt that the sunlight outside seemed to be much warmer. I looked up at the sky, and everything in front of me suddenly became clearer - perhaps it is really time for me to sort out my inner thoughts.

However, when I reached the corner, I saw a familiar hovercar parked on the side of the road, its reflective mirrors gleaming coldly in the sunlight. I paused, my gaze subconsciously focused on the figure beside the car.

nightingale.

He stood by the car, seemingly waiting for me, his lips curled slightly, his expression still defiant and playful. It was clear he hadn't been waiting for me for very long, as if he'd already guessed I'd show up. It was like he always knew when I needed him most, appearing before me at just the right moment.

"Leaving so fast?" Nightingale chuckled, her voice tinged with a hint of provocation and frivolity. "Weren't you just 'cultivating' yourself? Why are you here again now?"

I didn't answer immediately, but just stared at him silently, a trace of unease rising in my heart. My intuition told me that Nightingale's appearance was no accident, that he seemed to be watching me, and perhaps even knew that I had just been to that shop.

He seemed to have sensed my hesitation. His tone slowed down, and his gaze sharpened. "Don't worry, I mean no harm. I just wanted to ask if you're feeling better. You know, interstellar 'games' aren't that simple. It won't be easy for anyone from the start."

I didn't expect Nightingale to say such a thing, and I was stunned for a moment. Yes, his tone still carried that fearless challenge, but this time there was something different about it.

He took a step closer, lowered his head slightly, his eyes deep and filled with a hint of gentle concern: "You don't have to hide anymore. Tell me what you're thinking. You can escape your confusion for a while, but you can't escape it forever."

I was struck by his casual words, and a complex wave of emotions welled up inside me. I knew he saw through me, and I also knew he didn't really care about me. But no matter what he said, it always touched my soft spot, making me unable to help but think about things I didn't want to face.

"You might be right," I said suddenly, my tone less relaxed, but also less defensive than before. "I've been avoiding something, hiding behind a mask of indifference. Maybe it's time to stop."

Nightingale didn't say anything, just smiled slightly, as if he understood the meaning behind my words. He patted my shoulder and said, "You're already better than many people for realizing this. Remember, avoiding it only prolongs the pain. The best way is to face it head-on, like a man."

I know his words weren't meant to encourage me to do anything big, but rather to remind me to face my inner truth. Perhaps his approach wasn't entirely appropriate, but I have to admit that some of his words, like a sharp knife, sometimes pierced the seal deep within my heart, revealing the emotions I'd been hiding.

I took a deep breath and let go of the tension. "Thank you, Nightingale."

Nightingale raised an eyebrow, clearly dissatisfied with my politeness. "Don't thank me, thank yourself. You're not running away now, and that's the most fortunate thing."

I smiled slightly, and suddenly felt that the confusion and uneasiness in my heart seemed to be finally relieved a little.

"Let's go," Nightingale shook her head and walked towards me, "Let's go meet the 'green bean' in your 'homework'."

I couldn't help but be stunned, then I smiled helplessly: "Don't remind me, that 'green bean' has already given me enough headaches."

Nightingale laughed loudly and turned to walk towards the hovercraft. The door opened automatically at the tap of his finger, waiting for me to go back together.

But I didn't intend to care about Green Bean anymore: "Nightingale, let's go take the mission. I need to quickly accumulate enough merits and become an adult."