Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

"Jiang Ning, I heard from the senior students that we'll be split into arts and science tracks in our second year of high school."

Geng Lu poked Jiang Ning's back.

"Yes." Jiang Ning turned around.

A few strands of airy bangs fell across Geng Lu's forehead, a hairstyle she pulled off quite well, adding a touch of girlish sweetness.

"Are you going to choose the sciences or the arts?" Geng Lu awaited Jiang Ning's answer eagerly.

"Sciences, I suppose." While Jiang Ning was actually stronger in the arts, better suited to his exceptional memory,

the fact was that 80% of the students at Fourth Middle School chose the sciences, and in Yuzhou, not many opted for the arts program. He remembered that in the second year, out of twelve classes, only three were arts classes.

If Jiang Ning chose the arts track, he would have to be split from class eight, losing contact with many of his classmates.

Geng Lu happily said, "I'm choosing sciences too!"

"I plan to study fine arts in my second year."

When Geng Lu first began high school, her grades were average, and there was some risk of only making it into a third-tier college.

She had decided to study fine arts then to score better on the college entrance exam.

At that time, third-tier colleges had not been phased out yet; though their tuition was a lot higher than that of first- and second-tier colleges, they were still considered undergraduate degrees.

Now, under Jiang Ning's tutelage, she was just able to qualify for a second-tier college, but she still insisted on following the art student path.

Because during this time, Jiang Ning had her draw all sorts of strange patterns and symbols.

Her keen sense of a young woman made her realize that these things seemed very important to Jiang Ning.

Geng Lu usually focused on Jiang Ning, often discussing with him, and she sensed that he seemed indifferent to most things around him, caring about very few things.

So the things he asked her to draw must be very important.

If she became an art student and went through professional training, her drawing skills would definitely improve, and she could be of better help to Jiang Ning in the future.

"Fine arts is quite good, you have broad job prospects after graduation, like designing, with pretty decent pay," Jiang Ning analyzed seriously.

He believed that among art students, those studying fine arts were the better option.

Compared to music and sports students, fine arts students had a somewhat broader future.

Jiang Ning remembered that there weren't many sports students in his class; the sports representative, Zhang Chi, had repeated a year and then managed to get into a second-tier college in Su City as a sports student.

After graduating, he went on to work in a gym as a coach, though he spent most of his time selling memberships, often promoting their gym's memberships among friends.

"Mm-hm, once I become an art student, I'll draw for you for free," Geng Lu said with a smile.

Jiang Ning thought Geng Lu's smile was very pure; it wasn't like Bai Yuxia's dimpled smile when she laughed, nor like Xue Yuantong's sly and lively ones, and it was different from Xue Chuchu's cold-turned-sweet smile.

Geng Lu's smile was simply pure, or you could say, pristine.

Jiang Ning found it very comforting.

"Good, once you graduate, I indeed have many things for you to draw."

He wasn't joking; recently, he had taught Geng Lu many talisman and array patterns; her talent wasn't top-notch, but she learned very diligently.

Those symbols, if a mundane person without spiritual power were to draw them, they'd just be scraps of paper; they need to be outlined and connected with spiritual power to function.

In the future, he might not teach Geng Lu the cultivation technique, but he could make a type of spirit pen and then have Changqing Liquid Company disguise it with high technology.

At that time, he would give her the pen, teach her the basic ways of connecting spiritual power, and have her draw talismans or array runes.

At present, it was only an idea, but by that time, he definitely wouldn't treat Geng Lu unfairly.

"Jiang Ning, let me treat you to a meal this afternoon!"

"I took on two small jobs online, helping people draw pictures, and earned 30 yuan!" Geng Lu said excitedly.

She took out her phone and showed Jiang Ning the WeChat red packet page.

"This is my first time earning money, you can't refuse!"

"I'm thanking you for teaching me English."

Jiang Ning was surprised; he hadn't expected that Geng Lu would be able to make money online. Generally, it was good enough if high school students didn't get scammed online.

"Sure."

"There's a noodle shop that just opened outside, they also have fried skewers, and it looks very clean. Let's go together after school."

"No problem."

"Then it's happily decided!"

...

"Ah, I don't want to wash the apple, but I want to eat an apple."

Xue Yuantong held her apple, sighing deeply.

"It's so hard to just want an apple. Is there a kind soul who would wash an apple for me?"

"As a token of gratitude, I would definitely share half with them."

Xue Yuantong used her peripheral vision to monitor Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning sat at his seat, completely unresponsive.

Xue Yuantong felt ignored; having had a bun from Jiang Ning that morning, she decided not to share her apple with him and to keep one all to herself.

But she really didn't want to wash the apple; it was cold and she didn't want to move.

However, Jiang Ning was no longer effective.

People change; Xue Yuantong lamented the harsh ways of the world.

She went off with her apple to find a water faucet.

Bai Yuxia held a test paper, turned around to discuss a question with Jiang Ning, and Chen Siyu listened in.

The twins switched places again in the afternoon because Chen Siqing had PE class today, and she didn't want to give such a beautiful opportunity to her sister.

Unlike Bai Yuxia, who was fully concentrated on the lecture, Chen Siyu's gaze wandered restlessly, observing the movements around her.

"You explain it really well, I didn't know there was such a method," Bai Yuxia said, surprised as she looked at the physics problem.

Jiang Ning said, "The law of conservation of mechanical energy is relatively simple. Just memorize the formula. When you encounter such a problem, first determine if only gravity or elastic force is doing work, then look at how to solve the problem."

Bai Yuxia: "Yeah, thank you Jiang Ning, you really know a lot."

Xue Yuantong, holding an apple, came over and said boastfully, "Jiang Ning is quite talented, but he's still inferior to me."

Jiang Ning: "Eat your apple."

Bai Yuxia pulled out a red bag from the desk hole: "I brought candied walnuts, everyone try some."

She poured a handful for each of the few people present.

Xue Yuantong also got a handful.

Seeing Bai Yuxia being so generous, Xue Yuantong felt it wouldn't be right to keep the apple to herself; she pushed the apple towards Jiang Ning, stretching out four fingers.

Jiang Ning glanced at it: "Alright, I'll take half of your walnuts."

Cornered, Xue Yuantong sighed reluctantly, gritted her teeth, and moved half the walnuts over.

"Crack," Jiang Ning split the apple.

"Jiang Ning, you're so cool!" Dan Kaiquan exclaimed from across the river, feeling incredibly impressed every time he witnessed this scene.

During New Year's visit to home, Dan Kaiquan tried many times but couldn't split an apple.

Jiang Ning used his spiritual power to slightly heat the apple, then shared it with Xue Yuantong.

The small group of four began to enjoy snacks.

Suddenly, Dan Kaiquan across the river felt a pang of sadness; he used to have a place among them.

He turned his sadness into motivation, burying himself in his studies. He was determined to make it into the top ten of his class!

Biting into the warm apple, Chen Siyu's mood sweetened up. She leaned in and whispered:

"Have you guys noticed, Huang Yuzhu is really strange."

She looked towards Jiang Ning's back, skipping a few seats to where Huang Yuzhu was chatting with some classmates.

Huang Yuzhu looked mature and honest, usually not very noticeable in class.

Bai Yuxia said, "Yes, he's strange. Someone said last time, um I forget who, roughly that Huang Yuzhu never troubles anyone. We always interact with others in school, like borrowing a piece of paper, a pen, some money, or asking for help to clean, or to use a stapler."

"Huang Yuzhu is different. He has everything he needs and never asks for help."

Jiang Ning didn't speak; the school was a small society, inevitably involving interactions with others, but Huang Yuzhu rarely did.

Chen Siyu observed Huang Yuzhu, who was now talking about some events from the winter vacation. He started speaking loudly.

But it seemed that no one was listening. Realizing this, he slowly lowered his volume until he finally shut his mouth.

Chen Siyu was embarrassed. That was too awkward.

She forced a laugh but avoided discussing Huang Yuzhu further, feeling a bit sorry for him.

Just then, a boy in a Nike outfit walked past the window outside.

He was Deng Xiang, who had fought Dan Kaiquan in class 8 and had been beaten by Jiang Ning.

Deng Xiang was a significant figure at Fourth Middle School, but the only person he didn't dare to provoke was Jiang Ning, having developed a psychological trauma from the beating.

After several months, Deng Xiang was standing outside the door of class 8 again.

Not many students in class 8 remembered him now, and his legend had diminished.

Bai Yuxia looked at Deng Xiang, recognized him, then glanced at Jiang Ning.

Even now, Bai Yuxia found it incredible. Jiang Ning was quite tall but not broadly built, yet he was formidable in fights.

Moreover, he never bullied the weak. Bai Yuxia had never seen a guy who was good at studying, handsome, and strong in fights.

"Wu Xiaoqi!" Deng Xiang called out.

Surrounded by Jin Hua, Wu Xiaoqi immediately looked toward the door.

Deng Xiang was his close friend and Basketball buddy. Wu Xiaoqi had a good relationship with him.

Upon hearing his friend's call, Wu Xiaoqi, holding a basketball, headed outside; the middle of the classroom had two desks pushed together with four people sitting connected.

Wu Xiaoqi was flanked by the chubby Song Sheng on the left and Pang Jiao on the right, who had him sandwiched in.

He initially wanted to jump over the desk to get out, but having bumped into Pang Jiao's books yesterday, he got a faceful of her spit.

Very puzzled, Wu Xiaoqi honestly squeezed through the narrow gap behind Pang Jiao, and, halfway through it, Pang Jiao purposefully bumped him, making Wu Xiaoqi gasp for air, nearly having the life squeezed out of him.

He struggled out of the narrow gap, feeling like his soul had flown away.

He regretted it and wished he could slap himself, unable to understand why he had to sit at the front.

Wu Xiaoqi reached the corridor at the classroom entrance.

"What's up, Xiang Xiang?" he asked.

Deng Xiang threw a cigarette over, looking like a gangster.

Wu Xiaoqi didn't accept it: "I never smoke while playing basketball; it affects my performance."

"Alright," Deng Xiang knew Wu Xiaoqi's personality.

"There's a fight tonight, I heard you got a tattoo, come help me make a statement," Deng Xiang smoked and exhaled, looking like a gang leader.

He knew that despite Wu Xiaoqi's small frame, he was fierce in fights and importantly, Wu Xiaoqi was wealthy.

Wu Xiaoqi shook his head: "I got a basketball tattoo, should I tell them I play basketball?"

Deng Xiang: "..."