Palace of Longevity (Remake)

Zixin tried to act like he was searching for a book–browsing with nothing in mind.

Jinhua gave Zixin a blank look, clearly finding Zixin's act quite charming. She commented rhetorically, "And who would exactly fall for this little act of yours? I believe only children would."

She added, placing a finger to her lips–pondering, "From what I could tell, you are a bad actor–no–a bad liar."

Zixin smiled dryly, not even surprised to hear Jinhua's words. He sighed, turning to give her a deep yet indescribable expression. He asked, his confident tone wavering, "I… no, how did we… become friends?"

Jinhua gave Zixin an irritated look, sighing as she commented, "I assume you have not forgotten because if you did, I shall make you remember myself."

Zixin laughed dryly, not sure how to respond.

Jinhua stood up, walking closer to Zixin. Once she was a meter away, she kindly explained, "Are you asking me because you have made a 'friend?' If so, I would only give you a warning and not speak further."

She waved her hand as golden flower petals began falling from wherever her hands moved. She smiled, beginning to tell Zixin her warning, "You are a person who seems to lack trust but that could be no further from the truth you hold so dearly, a truth even you do not know."

She took Zixin's hands, pulling him in for a dance. Zixin sighed internally, remembering one of Jinhua's hobbies: dancing.

She would often take Zixin's hands and dance as she pleased. Zixin would do nothing to stop her, enjoying the moment but never telling anyone–especially her.

Jinhua continued her words, "It's not difficult to gain your trust. Someone really only needs to stick close to you and you shall slowly open to them. It doesn't take long for all this to bear the fruit called trust."

As Zixin and Jinhua danced, she began humming a long-forgotten song. The song was soft yet held emotions of past nostalgia. Each hum softened Zixin's defences, making him frown, and then sigh in deep sadness.

Jinhua spoke her last words as the dance came to a spectacular end, "I hope you will never regret your actions."

…

While resting on his bed, Zixin pondered over Jinhua's warning. He thought, feeling uncertain, Her words were genuinely so sincere that I now start to doubt my own choices. That warning… it seems rather accurate, perhaps more accurate than the divinations themselves.

Zixin shook his head, continuing to ponder, Even though her words hold value, I simply can't change my mind now. Well, based on my personal judgement, Cael doesn't seem too bad.

Zixin continued to think about these thoughts for a few more minutes before heading to rest for the night. He tucked himself in under his blanket and slept peacefully like a dove.

Days passed by in the blink of an eye and the long-awaited task in Alchemy class has now started.

Each group was given a small room to carefully create a single potion.

Zixin meticulously added a drop of dew from the leaf of disaster into a small glass tube.

Cael on the other hand was refining the materials using a refinement module given to them to use for the task.

Zixin took his time, never rushing the process. After a few minutes, he reached the final step. He braced himself for the probable failure as he let a drop of light dew fall into the incomplete potion.

When the drop entered the incomplete potion, a flash of brilliant light illuminated the room, making Zixin fall to his back despite having his eyes closed.

He sighed, wiping off his sweats. He apologized, "The first attempt was a failure, I'm sorry."

Cael replied while grabbing onto Zixin's arm to help him stand up, "I don't mind it. We still have quite a bit of time. Failure has always been a factor so there's no need to be so rough on yourself."

"I appreciate your words but we have to get back to work."

"You got it!" Cael smiled, ready to start again.

This time Zixin increased his level of carefulness, hoping not to fail. He made sure to double-check whenever he started a step of the recipe. Because of this, his confidence greatly rose, and he felt hopeful for their second attempt.

But the outcome remained the same–failure.

He began to wonder, trying to understand his failures, Did I remember the recipe correctly? Yes, I definitely did, after all, I memorised every basic potion formula. Could it be the processing? Hmm… that doesn't seem to be the case either, otherwise, I would have changed the plan. Sigh, what an absolute pain.

Cael then asked Zixin–interrupting his thoughts, "Are you fine? We only have about thirty minutes left."

"I just thought about what might be wrong. I'll get back to work now." Zixin replied calmly.

His confidence continued to waver as his failed attempts continued to pile up. Failure after failure after failure after failure continued to stack upon one another, eventually, Zixin's hands started going numb. His once steady hands started to shake uncontrollably but he continued, never stopping–never letting his failures become a setback.

Once again, at the final steps of the recipe, his thoughts began to interrupt his concentration. What went wrong? There must be something.

But Cael's words made him act, "Come on, we're at the final steps now!"

And before Zixin knew it, the potion came to completion. When he realized this, he let out a deep sigh of relief, causing his grip on it to relax. And because of this, it fell.

He felt his heart beat like his life was on the line, almost falling unconscious from seeing it fall. But fortunately for him, Cael managed to catch the potion.

He placed his right hand to his head, only to shake it–genuinely smiling in relief.

Cael then grabbed Zixin by his hand, leading him to Professor Ceylon.

Professor Ceylon was sitting down, reading a book regarding Alchemy.

Professor Ceylon then cast his gaze upon the two of them, taking notice of the flash potion.

He stood up, taking the potion and inspecting it thoroughly. He spoke, stern as ever, "Not bad. Passing grades for you two."

Zixin didn't pay much attention to Professor Ceylon's words as his thoughts began to wander. What happened to my eighty-two percent success rate from all those previous times? Why did it fail me this time? Are you telling me it was all a fluke when I made flash potions before?

He shook his head, I'm already too tired to keep thinking. I should go take a rest.

Cael then invited Zixin, "Since we have a week ahead of us, why not go mountain climbing?"

Zixin pondered over the offer. I don't know how to climb a mountain but I suppose I can learn if I need to. We do have a free week since the Academy has a weird rule about giving free time to students. The only good thing about this is that the Professors don't give us any homework at all.

The thought of how to spend his time soon came to his mind, Cael probably has a plan right?

Zixin replied, not hiding his exhaustion, "I suppose."

Cael smiled warmly, the happiest Zixin has ever seen him be.

…

At a carriage, Zixin watched as Dawn Heart slowly became smaller and smaller, eventually disappearing from his view.

The forest terrain that came into view was stunning, to say the least. For someone like Zixin who has barely left his hometown, the trees and breeze of the cold forest instead felt warm and exciting. He looked forward to his mountain climbing. His eyes drooped down, closing themselves and falling asleep.

Cael who sat opposite Zixin muttered his thoughts out loud, clearly unconcerned after seeing Zixin fall asleep, "Is this path truly the right one to take? I will now lose two friends, one of them being my closest friend, while the other, an acquaintance who may have become my greatest ally. But this cruel plan only allows us to be enemies."

He laughed dryly, losing his mind, "Master, isn't this plan no crueler than fate itself?"