Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 5 5: First Day of School

Two days had passed.

Under the cover of night, beside the river embankment.

Jiang Ning pedaled his mountain bike into the evening wind, which fluttered his Adidas outfit and dispelled the shadows weighing on his mind.

The bike came from Jiang Junlong as a present to ease his everyday trips to school. Junlong wouldn't take no for an answer, and Ning simply accepted. He intended to return the favor with several Elixir Pills down the line.

His Adidas attire and Nike footwear were purchases from his uncle, who shelled out more than two thousand yuan for a pair of outfits. His uncle always looked out for him, previously handing over pocket money. But later, concerned that his folks might see it as squandering, they chatted with the uncle, prompting him to start gifting clothes instead.

Over these last couple of days, meals at his uncle's place had drawn him closer, fostering a warmer bond with the whole family.

In his former life, staying with his uncle had bred conflicts from routine clashes, turning blood ties into distant acquaintance over time.

Viewing them now through fresh eyes, he discovered far greater ease.

History offered its teachings, yet reborn with the ripple of changes, folks and happenings had shifted. Jiang Ning refused to cling to outdated views on it all.

This marked a fresh start in life.

Jiang Ning squeezed the brakes, halting by an electrical cabinet, then launched into his Cultivation Technique.

With his bodily power steadily rising, absorbing electrical flows grew smoother for him. Following two days of refinement, his lean frame concealed might matching a grown man's—not merely raw force, but total vitality.

In today's world, plenty of desk-bound folks boasted muscle yet suffered subpar health, plagued by troubles such as sore backs and subtle or concealed woes.

Jiang Ning's form, forged relentlessly by electric surges, achieved flawless harmony. Sustaining this practice, even shy of realm breakthroughs, promised a notable boost to his years.

Still, from tomorrow onward, evenings would likely be his sole window to visit here.

August 30th fell today, leaving the 31st as the kickoff for new students at Yuzhou Fourth Middle School.

Homerooms would get sorted, drill outfits handed out, kicking off a full week of military drills.

As his physique adjusted to the currents, another push forward lay within reach after seven days.

Yet ignoring his Cultivation Method wouldn't do; after all, mana was essential for claiming the Golden Altar on the sly later.

Body Cultivation demanded more than technique alone; fueling with nutrients proved vital too, lest his frame collapse.

Lately, his hunger had surged dramatically. Feasting at his uncle's could work briefly, but not forever.

Jiang Ning required funds for boosts like milk, ribs, and fresh produce. Devouring heaps of them would surely drain his allowance dry.

Jiang Ning mulled over these matters deep into the wee hours before finally riding back.

Xue Yuantong stayed up late as a habit. Her summer had been a blast, bedtime often slipping past midnight. The door's creak from next door piqued her interest, leading her to wonder:

"Jiang Ning's been out and about the whole day, getting back at 11 p.m. Is he hitting up net cafes?"

Yuzhou City brimmed with net spots these days; kids could snag cards and surf freely. Hits like CrossFire and Dungeon ruled, with League of Legends gaining steam, and while phones trended, cafes held strong.

"Whatever!" Xue Yuantong switched on her fan and dove back into mobile gaming.

...

August 31, school reopening day.

At 7 a.m., Jiang Ning wheeled his mountain bike to the entrance and gently pressed his temples.

The prior night, he'd drilled the Divine Sense Secret Skill till 3 a.m., crashing from sheer exhaustion.

A mere few hours of effort already yielded encouraging progress.

His vision sharpened remarkably. Far off, the pole linked to wires hosted sparrows grooming their tawny plumage with bills. At the big official Yang Tree's leaf forks upfront, a dark insect lounged flat. Every bit registered in his gaze, sharp and vivid.

Back in ninth grade, smartphone fixation had jacked his prescription to about 50 degrees, blurring the world's edges. Now, honing Divine Sense had supercharged his Five Senses, restoring sight to peak and beyond.

The old neighbor dude just wrapped his jog, clutching a mug of oil tea whose zesty scent wafted over. The trailing yellow pup lolled its tongue in heavy breaths.

All around, the world unfolded in his grasp, wondrous beyond measure. Such was the boon of bolstered Divine Sense.

Should Jiang Ning advance his Cultivation Method to the Fourth Level of the Qi Cultivation, Divine Sense perks would amplify further.

Biking the Huishui River Dam on his mountain steed, summer's grip lingered, yet dawn air chilled refreshingly.

Midway along, Jiang Ning eyed a petite shape up front. Xue Yuantong, the girl next door, headed to class too.

"Xue Yuantong, hop on, I'll take you!"

Jiang Ning nudged his toe to the ground, extending the offer.

Standard mountain bikes lack back seats, but his cousin Jiang Junlong's gift featured guards fore and aft, plus a rock-solid padded rear rack, ideal for a passenger.

Xue Yuantong eyed the bike, tempted somewhat, but her nature balked at sharing a ride with a guy:

"Nah, I'm fine walking, it's my routine."

Jiang Ning replied, "Hop on already, we'll be tardy otherwise."

Soon he'd be poking around her home and owed a twinge of remorse; this lift served as minor amends, easing things a touch.

Faced with his persistence, Xue Yuantong nearly caved. Fourth Middle School sat three kilometers off, a forty-plus minute trek on foot that left her wiped before the midpoint.

Still, lacking closeness with Jiang Ning—and him being their tenant with rent paid—she balked at the favor.

Xue Yuantong, chin dipped and tone subdued, muttered:

"You head out first, bikes make me queasy."

Jiang Ning nearly burst into laughter, the oddest excuse of bicycle motion sickness he'd ever caught.

"Fine, see you around."

Jiang Ning pumped the pedals twice, smoothly overtaking Xue Yuantong with flair.

As Jiang Ning vanished from view, Xue Yuantong's shoulders slumped; their home owned an electric scooter perfect for school runs.

But her debut spin had her barreling down the dam's incline, terror gripping her tight. A tree's intervention spared her the ditch plunge, though scrapes on limbs ached for ages.

After that scare, the scooter gathered dust; Mom tagged along for rides.

Middle school days saw Mom ferrying her to and fro, but as a high schooler now—a grown-up, no less—she'd brushed off the offer to chauffeur her.

What a laugh—Xue Yuantong needing escorts like a kid?

Now staring down the endless path, Xue Yuantong heaved a weary sigh, bearing the load solo.

She'd eyed summer gigs at first, but her youthful look and unfinished growth screamed grade-schooler, blocking job hunts.

Eventually, Mom urged book focus, so Xue Yuantong lounged and gamed through vacation. Blissful times erased school dread entirely.

With classes resuming, a tide of toil crashed in, stirring deep reluctance.

Why did school starts even plague existence?

No brag intended, but home study would've snagged her the top spot effortlessly.