Madame is Pretending to be an Academic Slacker Again!

The Second Elder’s sigh carried a trace of sorrow.

Because the Time Key is not just any ordinary little key.

It is a soul artifact possessed only by the purest bloodline of Time Mages.

The Time Key can indeed open the Time Gate at any moment, allowing one to travel through time and space at will, but it is solely for the Time Mage’s personal use.

If it is given to someone else, the giver must pay an extremely heavy price—he will forever lose his love, unable to have romantic love for a lifetime, and live a lonely existence until old age.

The Second Elder himself gave the Time Key to the girl in his heart back then; now, Jing Zhichen, in the end, follows in his footsteps and makes the same choice.

Moreover, he smiled as he sent the girl away.

Just like he did back then, he would never let the girl know what he sacrificed, what profound affection and heavy price it represented, and never let the girl feel any burden in her heart.

”So be it, so be it, it really is... destiny...”

He closed his eyes; his spiritual power exhausted, he was finally defeated by the combined efforts of the Ten Elders, falling to the ground.

The Ten Elders, eyes red, went after Qin Xin and Nalan Ye Jue: ”We can’t let them get away! Since she destroyed the Blood Pool, let her leave her blood behind!”

They chased after Jing Zhichen’s car.

＝＝

The dense forest behind the Divine Academy.

Jing Zhichen led Qin Xin and Nalan Ye Jue to the place where the Second Elder chose to open the Time Gate.

”The spiritual energy here is abundant, suitable for spellcasting.”

Jing Zhichen began to draw a hexagram array on the ground. In his haste, sweat covered his forehead, and his black robes were a bit messy, no longer resembling the leisurely, elegant appearance of the rich young master he once was.

Qin Xin handed him a handkerchief: ”Don’t rush.”

Jing Zhichen, under the ice-cold gaze of Nalan Ye Jue, took the handkerchief but couldn’t bring himself to use her floral, herbal-scented handkerchief to wipe his sweat.

He mumbled, ”Almost done, when you enter the Time Gate later, make sure to hold hands tightly, don’t get separated, your consciousness must be firmly fixed on the place you want to return to, and cast to the same place, otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll lose each other.”

Qin Xin and Nalan Ye Jue exchanged a glance.

Both spoke simultaneously:

”Your backyard.”

”My backyard.”

The place where she once disappeared during the wedding is the place they both want to return to.

Jing Zhichen pressed his lips together.

Indeed, they had known each other for a very long time, and he, he had met her too late.

”I’m ready.” His throat felt sore as he spoke, ”Miss Lan, can I have a word with you alone?”

Qin Xin: ”Alright.”

Nalan Ye Jue: ”No!”

Uh, Mr. Vinegar makes an appearance again.

Qin Xin had to first soothe a certain man: ”Can we just say a word? He’s even giving us the Time Key, helping us go home, isn’t he? Moreover, after this parting, I’m afraid we won’t meet again in this lifetime.”

Nalan Ye Jue snorted.

Perhaps the last words, ”won’t meet again in this lifetime” softened him a bit, reluctantly allowing it.

Qin Xin and Jing Zhichen walked a few steps away, speaking for less than half a minute.

Nalan Ye Jue was already using a branch to knock on a stone, making banging noises: ”Agreed on one sentence, are you taking breaths with that one? So long?”

Like a spiteful husband.

Qin Xin: ”...”

Jing Zhichen: ”...”

So be it, so be it, a farewell must come.

Jing Zhichen took a deep breath: ”Miss Lan, remember what I said earlier, hmm?”

Qin Xin gently nodded: ”Take care.”

Jing Zhichen: ”You too.”

He knew he could hold onto her for half a minute, but not for a lifetime, so he painfully let her go.

Bracing himself, holding back the tears in his eyes, he handed the Time Key to her: ”The array is activated, you and he... go!”

The brilliant light of the Time Gate slowly opened, and Nalan Ye Jue pulled Qin Xin as they stepped inside.

At this very moment.

An arrow, wrapped in black fire, shot towards Nalan Ye Jue’s back!

[Master Yun: Goodnight kiss! Guess what Young Master Jing confessed? Also, I noticed some of you are up to mischief with monthly tickets and support, spending a lot of silver, aren’t you! Seems like I must save up manuscripts to give you a blast, so you won’t have the strength to cause trouble again]