Chapter 6: A New Path Unveiled

“Alright, Xiao Yu, since you now understand your current situation, I’ll take you to the academy tomorrow. For today, you can just stay at my house.”

Lu Xingyao, making a decision for them both, promptly scooped Bai Yu into her arms.

“Hey, what academy? Don’t hold me! Where are you touching?!”

Bai Yu vehemently protested Lu Xingyao’s abrupt act of “abducting” her straight to her home.

‘What exactly was she doing just now?’

Standing on the ground, her face flushed crimson, Bai Yu glared indignantly at Lu Xingyao.

“What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that? I was just checking your body to see if there were any changes.”

Lu Xingyao, maintaining a perfectly serious expression, offered her explanation; however, these very words unexpectedly brought fresh tears to Bai Yu’s eyes.

“Are you satisfied now? I’ve truly changed completely, and I can never go back!”

Wiping away her tears, Bai Yu’s signature white cowlick drooped visibly. The mere thought of having to live like this for the rest of her life caused her tears to stream down uncontrollably.

Though she was inherently a man, she simply couldn’t hold back the tears.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry, I didn’t mean it. Xiao Yu, please don’t be like this.”

Lu Xingyao quickly moved to console Bai Yu, understanding that this recent transformation necessitated a period of adjustment, and she had perhaps been a touch too eager.

Yet, she found herself powerless to resist; an inexplicable feeling emanating from Bai Yu’s presence overwhelmed her, making her intensely desire to cling to her.

Even before Bai Yu had become a girl, this sensation had existed, but now, with Bai Yu’s transformation, it had not merely persisted but had intensified dramatically.

Nevertheless, Bai Yu’s remarkable obliviousness meant she never grasped Lu Xingyao’s true intentions, leaving Lu Xingyao feeling utterly helpless.

Seizing such a fortuitous opportunity, she naturally had no intention of letting it slip away; she needed to swiftly “guide” Bai Yu to her own home.

Moreover, with Bai Yu now being a girl, sleeping together would be nothing short of entirely natural.

By then, any desire she harbored would be effortlessly fulfilled.

Lu Xingyao mused inwardly, meticulously planning her mischievous scheme, as one hand gently caressed Bai Yu’s long, silver-white hair, offering comfort.

‘So utterly adorable, I yearn to hold her completely within my embrace.’

At this moment, Bai Yu continued to dab at her tears, resting her head against Lu Xingyao’s chest.

The warmth radiating from the girl’s body made her feel a blush creep onto her cheeks, tingeing them a soft crimson.

She was actually leaning so intimately against a girl’s chest, even feeling the gentle softness of her bosom.

Previously, as a “mother’s womb single” otaku, devoid of any romantic experience, such a scenario had been utterly unimaginable.

From this perspective, perhaps becoming a girl wasn’t without its benefits.

She lifted her head, only to find Lu Xingyao also observing her, prompting her to swiftly avert her gaze.

“By the way, Xingyao, what is this academy you speak of?”

Bai Yu attempted to pivot the conversation, hoping to alleviate the awkwardness; after all, she truly had no idea how to navigate this current situation.

She had only just transformed into a girl, and even after becoming a girl, how could she still feel… such sensations towards these kinds of things?

“You mean the academy, Xiao Yu? It’s the school we attend, Xishi International High School. It’s not just a high school; secretly, it’s also an institution that cultivates Secret Practitioners. On the surface, it educates normal students, but in reality, 10% of them are Secret Practitioners.”

“That many?!”

Bai Yu was utterly astounded, considering the total awakening probability for a Secret Practitioner was a mere one in ten thousand, and their school alone boasted a thousand students.

“Naturally,” Lu Xingyao affirmed, “after all, it’s the only legitimate Secret Practitioner educational institution in our area. Aside from certain families and organizations, it’s virtually the only option for ordinary Secret Practitioners.”

Lu Xingyao’s words conveyed a wealth of information, yet Bai Yu sensed that she was not yet ready to engage with such matters, feeling far too weak at present.

“So, Xiao Yu, will you come stay at my place? I damaged your door, and it won’t be fixed anytime soon. To prevent you from encountering any danger, it would be best if you stayed with me.”

Lu Xingyao pleaded earnestly.

“And whose fault do you think that is?!”

Bai Yu retorted with a touch of exasperation, though she ultimately conceded to Lu Xingyao’s request.

“Wait for me a moment; I need to pack some things.”

Bai Yu gently extricated herself from Lu Xingyao’s embrace, first hurrying back to the basement to retrieve the wordless book and the necklace, then gathering a few essential personal items from her room.

“Alright, I’m ready.”

Bai Yu returned to where Lu Xingyao patiently awaited her.

“These are… the things from the basement?”

Lu Xingyao’s gaze fell upon the book and necklace Bai Yu carried. These two items were clearly extraordinary; she surmised they had indirectly triggered Bai Yu’s awakening.

‘Perhaps this was also one of the reasons for her successful awakening.’

“Xiao Yu, you mentioned your Mother brought these back?”

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“Nothing in particular. If that’s the case, then these items shouldn’t pose any danger. Keep them safe. You awakened, in a sense, through this book, and retaining it might assist you in constructing your inherent Secret Art in the future.”

“Inherent Secret Art?” Bai Yu inquired.

“The Secret Arts learned by Secret Practitioners are divided into two categories: generic Secret Arts, which anyone can learn, and inherent Secret Arts, which are formed from one’s unique insights and spiritual core.”

“I see. What’s required to learn a Secret Art?”

Lu Xingyao lowered her head, contemplating for a moment.

“Generic Secret Arts can be acquired through numerous methods: using elixirs, performing rituals, or simply by studying knowledge.”

“Inherent Secret Arts, however, can only be obtained by advancing one’s Secret Practitioner rank or by encountering certain unique events.”

Lu Xingyao offered a concise explanation to Bai Yu.

“Furthermore, Xiao Yu, you must remember that advancing a Secret Practitioner’s rank requires three indispensable elements: sufficient personal spirituality, a profound understanding of arcane knowledge within the mind, and a unique ascension ritual.”

“Mm, I understand.”

Bai Yu nodded slowly, realizing that it was far more complex than she had initially imagined. Each stage of a Secret Practitioner’s journey appeared to be a formidable, almost insurmountable, threshold.

“Don’t worry, Xiao Yu, you’ll be perfectly fine. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the academy to learn your first Secret Art, and then you’ll officially become a true Secret Practitioner!”

Lu Xingyao gently ruffled Bai Yu’s hair before leading her back to the adjacent room.

At least until Bai Yu’s front door was repaired, she would be residing here.

Seated on the sofa in the living room, guided there by Lu Xingyao, Bai Yu was still wearing her school uniform, which now hung ludicrously large on her transformed body.

Indeed, she hadn’t had the chance to change clothes since returning from school before this whole ordeal began.

The layout of Lu Xingyao’s home closely mirrored Bai Yu’s, both being houses within the same villa district, each boasting a small courtyard beyond its front door.

On a side note, Lu Xingyao’s parents weren’t home.

Bai Yu felt a flicker of confusion; she hadn’t spotted anyone else in the house. She had even intended to offer her greetings, given that she was staying in someone else’s abode.

Truth be told, she had been a rather irresponsible childhood friend, not even knowing if Lu Xingyao’s parents actually resided there.

After all, apart from a brief period in their early childhood, she hadn’t maintained much contact with Lu Xingyao.

Despite Lu Xingyao’s evident concern for her, a small pang of guilt stirred within Bai Yu at this realization.

Just then, Lu Xingyao approached stealthily.

She enveloped Bai Yu’s delicate form in a sudden embrace.

“Xiao Yu, you can take a shower now. I’ll go make dinner for you; you haven’t eaten all day, have you?”

Lu Xingyao smiled warmly at Bai Yu, her soft black bangs gently swaying across her face, completing the image of perfect tenderness.

Bai Yu was momentarily spellbound, oblivious to the girl’s embrace, her gaze fixed intently on Lu Xingyao’s beautiful face, unable to blink.

“What is it, Xiao Yu? Why are you looking at me like that?” Lu Xingyao asked, a touch of bewilderment in her voice, as Bai Yu’s peculiar stare unsettled her slightly.