Chapter 245: Departure
“Qualification for the Lost Lands?”
“You really dare to ask.”
The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes, looking directly at Xu Zhi for the first time.
“Even within the Inner Court, the qualification for the Lost Lands is something only the top few students in each cohort, ranked by GPA, are eligible to compete for.”
The implication was clear—on what grounds did Xu Zhi think she could get a “guaranteed” slot for free? The Light Institute had already offered generous enough conditions. Adding a guaranteed qualification for the Lost Lands would be far too much.
Though the man’s words were tactful, his stance was firm. Such a promise was impossible.
Xu Zhi felt a little regretful and took a step back. “Then can you at least guarantee that when I enter the Inner Court, I’ll have the qualification to compete for a place in the Lost Lands?”
From his words, she could tell that even participating in the competition required certain conditions. Since she couldn’t get a free pass, she might as well secure the entry ticket first.
Besides, this would better demonstrate her desire for the Lost Lands.
The man didn’t answer immediately. He hesitated for a while, seemingly contacting someone, and only then said, “Yes. We agree.”
“But it’s only the qualification to compete. Whether you obtain it or not will depend entirely on you.”
To be honest, although the qualification to compete was important, he didn’t think Xu Zhi could truly stand out. Therefore, this ticket didn’t seem particularly significant.
“Since we’ve reached an agreement, Miss Xu, from this moment on, you are a student of our Light Institute.”
“Pack your things. Tomorrow morning, follow me to the Upper District.”
After he finished speaking, Xu Zhi immediately asked, “Can my sister come with me?”
“Of course. As promised, I will arrange accommodation for you. She can live with you. The Light Institute will also handle the household registration for both of you.”
Compared to the Lost Lands qualification Xu Zhi had mentioned earlier, bringing along an ordinary person was a trivial request. And even if Xu Zhi hadn’t brought it up, they wouldn’t have simply left this “sister” alone.
If Xu Zhi were to return to the slums at that moment, she would find that the scavengers who had witnessed the tragic scene on the street that morning had almost all quietly disappeared.
People from the Upper District were conducting a “cleanup” of the Lower District. Soon, everything would return to how it had been before—except that some insignificant scavengers would vanish.
The man discussed a few more arrangements for after arriving in the Upper District, and then the two parted ways.
Xu Zhi knew that news of her joining the Light Institute would likely spread immediately after her departure. That didn’t matter. Whichever faction she joined was the same to her—it was merely a stepping stone, a matter of mutual exploitation. As long as she kept a low profile for now. The resources Light Institute had promised would only be available after enrollment. With sufficient resources, she would recover quickly.
After returning to the tent, she told Qi Yanxin the “good news.” Compared to moving from their home to this place, this trip to the Upper District required even fewer belongings.
At least Qi Yanxin’s scavenging equipment and factory items no longer needed to be brought along. There was no need to say goodbye to anyone, nor much property to pack. In just an hour, everything was more or less ready.
When it came time to leave, Xu Zhi felt nothing. Qi Yanxin, however, looked somewhat dazed. She had never imagined that one day she would truly leave the Lower District for the Upper District—and that it would all stem from picking up a severely injured girl on a rainy night.
Outside, a light drizzle continued under a gloomy sky. But because the massive aircraft hovered above the camp, the rain did not fall here. Only the industrial scent unique to the Lower District, mixed with the smell of rain-soaked earth, drifted in through the window. Qi Yanxin gazed outward in a daze, wondering blankly in her heart—would this be the last time she ever smelled this scent?
Early the next morning, someone knocked on the tent door. Outside stood a soldier in Upper District military uniform. After stating his purpose, he urged them, “We will soon depart for the Upper District. Please follow me at once.”
Xu Zhi felt no attachment to this place. Qi Yanxin felt more melancholy than reluctant. After all, the Lower District was not a place that inspired nostalgia.
They didn’t keep the soldier waiting long. Qi Yanxin slung the packed bag over her shoulder and pushed Xu Zhi out of the tent.
Back in their slum home, though cramped and dilapidated, there had been many belongings she had accumulated bit by bit. Now that they were leaving, everything they needed fit into a single backpack.
They followed the soldier into the massive aircraft. Since it was Qi Yanxin’s first time inside, despite her efforts not to look around, traces of curiosity and amazement still flickered in her eyes. Xu Zhi, by contrast, appeared much calmer.
Their room was arranged on the second level. On the way there, they happened to pass the medical bay.
The doctor seemed quite free at the moment. The door to the medical room was wide open, and as Xu Zhi passed by, she looked at her and offered a friendly smile.
It seemed she wasn’t affected at all by Xu Zhi’s decision not to choose the faction behind her.
That made sense. Even if Xu Zhi hadn’t chosen them in the end, the doctor had already made an arrangement with her—they would meet again.
“Your fingerprints have already been registered for the room. It will take about two hours to return to the Fifth Layer. After arrival, I will come to escort you again. During these two hours, please do not move about freely or leave the room. If you need anything, you may use the room’s phone.”
After giving these instructions and watching the two enter the room, the soldier left.
Their fingerprints had been registered in advance, yet there had been no visible action of collecting them. Silently, their information and fingerprints had been obtained. Now it was being plainly stated to them—a clear message for them to behave.
“This room is really spacious,” Qi Yanxin remarked with emotion after setting down the backpack and looking around.
“Yes,” Xu Zhi nodded. A temporary room here was more than twice the size of their house in the slums, and it was clean and bright.
“I wonder what kind of place we’ll live in after we get up there?”
Qi Yanxin clearly felt uncertain about the future, but she wasn’t afraid. The only thing that truly frightened her now was being abandoned by Xu Zhi. As long as that didn’t happen—as long as she stayed with Xu Zhi—she felt anywhere would be fine.
“The Light Institute probably isn’t that stingy. No matter what, it should be bigger than this room, right?”
Xu Zhi casually responded while examining the equipment in the room.
Not only the exterior of the aircraft, but even the interior rooms contained many things she had never seen back in the Federation. The technological feel was intense. There were numerous devices neither she nor Qi Yanxin knew how to use. Xu Zhi, unable to sit still, poked around curiously, fiddling with unfamiliar objects. Qi Yanxin, on the other hand, sat cautiously to the side, not daring to be overly curious.
“But we’re going directly to the Fifth Layer?” Qi Yanxin remarked with emotion.
Xu Zhi’s hands paused for a moment.
“Yes.”
They were skipping the Sixth Layer entirely and heading straight to the Fifth. She wondered what the city of the Upper District would be like.
Watched the match, so I ended up writing a bit late.
