Chapter 57: New Shoes, Old Rumors, and a New Challenge

The melodious chimes of the crystal clock echoed through the early morning.

Su Liyue and Ye Xingchen simultaneously opened their sleepy eyes, the ethereal vision of a starlit river of spiritual energy still flickering in their minds.

“Liyue, you’re up so early today~” Mu Wanqing rubbed her eyes as she sat up, her sky-blue hair a disheveled mess, sticking out in every direction.

She glanced at Qizai, who was curled up by her pillow, having drifted off to sleep sometime last night while listening to their stories.

“Not really, I just woke up with the chimes,” Su Liyue replied, stretching languidly before casually shedding her nightgown to change into her school uniform. “Perhaps it’s because I went to bed early; my internal clock is quite precise.”

“Hmm… we have practical combat class today,” Mu Wanqing mused, slowly pulling on her magic uniform as she prepared to wash up. “I heard we’ll be having lunch outdoors.”

“Lunch outdoors?” Su Liyue commented, tying her shoelaces.

“It seems our curriculum is becoming more geared towards real combat situations.”

The moment she slipped on the pink sneakers, she couldn’t help but let out a comfortable sigh.

These shoes were infinitely more comfortable than the ‘pig’s kidney’ black leather shoes issued by the academy. What’s more, Ye Xingchen had even engraved a wind-element magic array into the soles, making them not only breathable and odor-resistant but also capable of boosting her movement speed in crucial moments.

“Liyue, did you get new shoes?” Mu Wanqing suddenly leaned closer, scrutinizing them curiously. “The style is so unique; is it a new release from the academy?”

“You could call them custom-made,” Su Liyue replied, rotating her ankle, the magical patterns on the shoe’s surface faintly visible.

“Ye Xingchen heard I couldn’t get used to those ugly leather shoes, so he specifically made this pair. They really are comfortable. If they prove effective, I’ll have him make a pair for you too.”

Without a change in expression, she deftly shifted the blame to her other self.

“Really?” Mu Wanqing’s eyes sparkled.

“I never knew your Xingchen was so amazing! His craftsmanship, his aesthetic — it’s practically overflowing with ‘boyfriend power’ (TL Note: A Chinese slang term referring to a man’s charm, protective nature, and capability, often in a romantic context)! He doesn’t seem like an academic underachiever at all~”

“Uh…” Su Liyue’s mouth twitched. “I’m not sure if you’re praising him or insulting him with that remark.” After all, she was essentially talking about herself, and it felt like she was inexplicably caught in the crossfire.

At that very moment, in the boys’ dormitory, Ye Xingchen suddenly sneezed three times in quick succession.

Liu Yuxuan cheekily leaned closer: “Brother Xingchen, could it be that School Beauty Su is thinking of you?”

“Shut up and tie your shoelaces!”

Ye Xingchen retorted, kicking him. Yet, as he noticed the male version of the ‘pig’s kidney’ leather shoes on Liu Yuxuan’s feet, he suddenly wondered how the magic students of this world managed to adapt to such footwear. Could it be innate?

***

Mornings at Star-Dome Magic Academy invariably began with morning exercises.

Students lined up neatly on the sports field, commencing their morning jog under the guidance of their instructors.

This was an unshakeable tradition of the academy, for even the most powerful mages required a healthy physique.

Otherwise, they would end up like those elderly scholars, daunted by the lengthy staircases of the imperial palace.

“Haa… haa… Liyue, I can’t go on…” Mu Wanqing gasped, stopping after just one lap, her hands braced on her knees.

“Your stamina… it’s just too incredible!”

“It’s alright,” Su Liyue replied, easily circling back. With practiced movements, she began to massage Mu Wanqing’s slightly aching calves and arms.

Aside from a few beads of sweat on her forehead, she appeared completely at ease.

“Honestly, I’m genuinely impressed by both you all and the academy for managing to run in these abominable leather shoes.”

“Huh?” Mu Wanqing tilted her head, explaining as she enjoyed the massage.

“But both the uniform and shoes are enchanted with magic inscriptions. The uniform has defensive and self-cleaning functions, and the shoes even have cleaning magic and arrays that conform to your foot shape…”

“What good are just cleaning and conforming features?” Su Liyue pursed her lips. “They’re neither comfortable nor breathable. If a real emergency arose, anyone without teleportation magic would probably have to ditch them and run barefoot.”

“Run while carrying them?” Mu Wanqing couldn’t help but vividly imagine herself running barefoot, clutching two shoes in her hands – a sight that was anything but graceful.

“Liyue, your ideas are truly unique. But the instructors always say that once a mage is caught in close quarters, they’ve essentially lost half the battle.”

“The instructors are right, but not entirely,” Su Liyue said, helping Mu Wanqing up as they slowly made their way towards the assembly point.

She lowered her voice:

“Mages generally have weaker physiques, and high-level spells require incantation time. While maintaining distance in actual combat is undoubtedly wise, one will always encounter unforeseen situations that defy theory…”

***

Meanwhile, at the other end of the sports field, Ye Xingchen was being persistently questioned by Liu Yuxuan:

“Brother Xingchen, why wasn’t giving matching couple’s shoes included in your ‘Eighteen Moves to Pick Up Girls’?”

“Shut up and run!” Ye Xingchen barked, kicking him in the backside, yet his gaze unconsciously drifted towards the girls’ formation.

Those pink sneakers stood out conspicuously in the morning light, and when compared to the dark-colored pair on his own feet, they looked undeniably like couple’s shoes.

“Brother Xingchen, you’ve already given her the shoes, so why are you still kicking me?” Liu Yuxuan chuckled mischievously, rubbing his backside.

“With your ‘couple’s combat shoes’ making their debut, who in the entire academy wouldn’t know about your relationship?”

Ye Xingchen looked down at his own sneakers, forced to admit that Liu Yuxuan had a point.

Among the sea of ‘pig’s kidney’ black leather shoes, these two specially crafted pairs of sneakers were indeed excessively conspicuous.

On second thought, however, the rumors from yesterday were already rampant. He might be able to silence one person, but he couldn’t possibly stop the entire academy’s faculty and students from indulging in their own imaginations.

“Think what you will,” Ye Xingchen shrugged, quickening his pace towards the assembly point.

The morning breeze brushed over the wind-element magic arrays on his shoes, providing a comfortable, buoyant sensation. Compared to those fleeting rumors, the tangible comfort and practicality beneath his feet were far more important.

When the two of them arrived at the assembly point, Ye Xingchen distinctly felt the various gazes directed their way:

Some suggestive, some curious, and a few girls huddled together, whispering and occasionally letting out soft giggles, murmuring phrases like ‘I’m shipping it’.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Su Liyue’s aura as the ‘genius school beauty’ was simply too dazzling. Standing beside him, a mere ‘underachiever’ at the bottom of the class, they were the living embodiment of a ‘white, rich, and beautiful’ woman falling for a ‘male commoner’.

This stark contrast alone made it impossible not to attract attention.

“Attention, everyone! Begin your cool-down exercises!” the instructor’s resonant voice boomed. Students promptly began stretching their limbs, performing various relaxation movements.

This routine was clearly meticulously designed; timely muscle relaxation after exercise not only relieved tension but also prevented soreness the following day.

As they followed along with the stretches, Ye Xingchen and Su Liyue exchanged subtle nods. This magical world’s educational system was surprisingly scientific, even accounting for post-exercise muscle relaxation.

“Everyone, listen up!” the instructor suddenly announced, raising his voice as his magic staff traced a flash of light in the air.

“Today’s practical combat class will take place in the Trial Forest. You are permitted to form teams freely, but each team must not exceed four members. Remember, safety first!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the scene erupted in a flurry of excited chatter. Ye Xingchen and Su Liyue exchanged a knowing glance.

It seemed that today, the ‘rumored couple’ was destined to form a team.

Meanwhile, Liu Yuxuan, standing not far away, was desperately winking and making faces at Ye Xingchen, his expression clearly conveying: ‘Brother Xingchen, your chance has arrived!’

Just then, Mu Wanqing jogged over, affectionately linking arms with Su Liyue. “Liyue, shall we team up?”

Su Liyue was about to agree when, as if remembering something, her gaze unconsciously drifted towards Ye Xingchen.

The atmosphere between the three of them instantly grew subtle…