Stepping outside, Jianwei saw a vast expanse of lush greenery and fresh and crisp air. He took a deep breath, his mind at ease. Thomas followed him outside, the breeze blowing softly. The sunlight gleaming off the lush leaves, Liang Jianwei began to explore the academy.

"So, where do you want to go?" Jianwei asked Thomas. Thomas shrugged his shoulders and took out a compass.

With a click of a button, the compass showed a hologram map of the Cerulean Academy. Jianwei raised a brow at the tool in his hand, impressed by its capabilities.

"Alright, it seems like there's a pub not too far away from us." Thomas started showing Jianwei the map. Jianwei nodded his head, but his lips twitched slightly.

"Why are you looking for a pub?" Jianwei asked. They’re at school now, and doing such indecent things would make them look like bad students.

“Why else would you go to a pub? To have fun and get hammered.” Thomas said, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and putting the cigarette on his lips. Then he took out his soul essence and shot it at the ground and then put the tip of it on the cigarette, lighting it up.

Jianwei shook his head. He didn't like such messy things as in his previous life; they were mainly used to sell women, which made his stomach turn and fire slowly burn in his heart.

Thomas noticed his reaction and puffed his cigarette, coughing slightly as the smoke filled the air.

“I ain’t going there for free sex, man. I’m just going there to get drunk and flirt with a few girls and beat the shit out of their boyfriends.”

Saying that he flicked the bud of his cigarette and put it back on his lips.

“We have class tomorrow at 6. Getting drunk isn’t the greatest idea.” Jianwei said.

“You don’t have to get drunk, but I will definitely get myself hammered,” Thomas said, walking through the crowd of people.

Jianwei could only sigh helplessly and hurried to chase after Thomas. The streets were filled with new students exploring the academy. Some seniors even had setups that new students could pay for and get a tour around.

Luckily, Thomas had a full holographic map of the academy, so he did not need to join one of these groups.

The two walked side by side, taking in the scenery of the school. Everything was noble and elegant and had a blue and golden colour scheme.

Soon, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes filled their nostrils as they approached a giant building with a sign that had the words - Blue Rose Pub.

The pub was packed to the brim, with countless people drinking and having a good time. Thomas walked into the pub, Jianwei following behind him.

The inside of the pub was just as busy as the outside, with numerous Ceruleans drinking and chatting. Some were playing cards, while others were gambling with chips. Thomas made his way through the crowd, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Jianwei was also looking around and saw a lot of girls wearing loose clothing and revealing outfits. They seemed to be serving the ceruleans. Thomas soon reached the bar and sat on one of the stools, Jianwei sitting beside him.

The bartender made his way towards them, his movements fluid and practised.

"What can I get for you boys?" He asked, his voice deep and commanding. Thomas looked around and spoke.

"Give me a shot of blood-rose," Thomas said, ordering. Jianwei didn’t know what blood-rose was, but the bartender's body trembled hearing Thomas say that.

"Boy, that is a very potent drink. Are you sure you can handle it?" He asked while preparing the drink. Thomas scoffed and spoke.

"Of course, I can. Quite talking nonsense." Thomas said, flicking his wrist, and a platinum coin came out. The bartender chuckled and nodded his head before handing Thomas his blood-rose drink.

The liquid in the shot glass was thick and dense, like blood mixed with rose petals. Thomas picked up the glass and took a small sip, his face remaining neutral.

The bartender turned to Jianwei, and Jianwei shook his head.

"Just water is fine," Jianwei ordered. The bartender nodded his head and handed him a cup of water. Thomas scoffed and looked at him.

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"You ain't going to have any fun? What a pussy.” Thomas commented before finishing his blood-rose shot.

Jianwei ignored Thomas and sipped his water, his mind clear and calm. Thomas didn’t care and was scanning the room, and his eyes stopped on one person.

It was a girl, roughly the same age as them, in a private room alone. She had dark blue hair that framed her face and had a light purple rose on the left of her hair. Her eyes were piercingly blue, and her skin was like porcelain. Her outfit didn’t match the place: a blue and purple turtleneck cloak with a yellow silk cloth that ran down underneath blocked her nose and covered her hands.

“Tch didn’t expect her to be here. Well, I should’ve invited it from the name.” He muttered. Jianwei had no clue who she was. He knew Thomas didn’t like her because of his tone.

Thomas walked towards the private room and knocked on the door. The girl looked up and rolled her eyes, seeing who it was.

“I didn’t think I’d see you here? Get forced into it by your parents?” The girl asked while sipping her tea. Thomas scoffed and spoke.

“Something like that. How about you?”

The girl didn’t speak, moved the ask tray to the other side, and pointed for him to sit. Thomas obliged, sat down, and started to smoke.

Jianwei sat down next to Thomas, wondering what the situation was. Thomas lit the cigarette and took a puff, the smoke billowing in the air. Thomas motioned for the waitress and ordered.

"Give me the strongest drink you got. Also, don't bother telling me to pay. I'll cover it with the coin." Thomas said, waving his hand. The waitress bowed her head and left to get the drink. Thomas and the girl continued to stare at each other, their gazes intense. Jianwei didn't dare speak and could only sip on his water.

Time slowly ticked by, the air heavy with tension. Finally, the waitress returned with a strange drink that was pitch black with a tinge of red. Thomas picked up the drink and drank it, the smell strong and intense.

"So, what brings you here, Elaine? You rarely come to this place unless something is wrong." Thomas asked, finishing his drink. Elaine rolled her eyes and spoke.

"I had to run some errands for my family. Nothing more." Elaine responded, sipping on her tea. Thomas scoffed, seeing through the lie immediately and spoke.

"Does that errand happen to be being a new student here? At the cerulean academy?" Thomas questioned, lighting a new cigarette. Elaine sighed and shook her head.

"Nothing escapes your eyes, does it? Yes, I had to come here and become a new student. Even I, a princess, have to go and fight. How pitiful.." Elaine said with a bitter voice, but her eyes had a red glow.

Princess?! Liang Jianwei's voice cried out in his mind. Jianwei couldn't believe his ears. A princess at the Cerulean Academy? Things sure have changed compared to his previous life.

Thomas rolled his eyes and took a drag from his cigarette.

"Why are you talking so pitifully?” Thomas scoffed. Elaine didn't answer and sipped her tea. Time slowly ticked by, the alcohol slowly filling Thomas' system.

A few men who broke into their private room would break the silent atmosphere. The smell of alcohol was strong as these men drunkenly stumbled inside. Elaine frowned and spoke.

"Why the hell are you fools disturbing us?" Elaine demanded. The men didn't speak and approached her.

Thomas, on the side, didn’t even hesitate and summoned his soul essence and shot the men in the chest three times.

Each shot rang out in the private room but was completely silent to the outside world.

The men took the bullets but stumbled back and fell to the ground.

“What are you fuckers doing in here and approaching her like that?” Thomas said, the smoke of the cigarette blocking his face.

Jianwei also stood up, the room slowly being covered in mist. Thomas didn’t give them time to speak and kicked one of the men, the impact rattling his body. Elaine also stood up, her eyes filled with anger.

She waved her hand, and a purple rose with ten petals appeared. It started to spin and shot out the petals at the men. Each petal landed on their body and started to poison them over time.

“Say, if it’s what I think it is. I will kill you.” Elaine said, driving the petals deeper into their bodies.

The men screamed, but one of them spoke in a trembling voice.

“We don’t mean anything. We just walked into the wrong room. Please, let us go.”

Thomas rolled his eyes and punched the man unconscious while Elaine flicked her hand and made her soul essence disappear.

Liang Jianwe quickly dissipated the mist as the cerulean from the bar came rushing over. They dragged the men out of the private room, and one cerulean spoke.

"My apologies for that. These drunk bastards are from the military base. I'll make sure they get punished." The cerulean said, bowing his head. Elaine waved her hand and spoke.

"Enough with the formalities. Just get rid of those idiots." Elaine said. The cerulean bowed his head and left, dragging the men away. Thomas scoffed and sat down, lighting another cigarette.

Liang Jianwei removed the poison from their bodies before they were taken away, which was noticed by Elaine.

"Hey, what's your name? I didn't catch it." Elaine asked Jianwei. Thomas was wondering when she would ask for his name.

"My name is Liang Jainwei," Jianwei said. Elaine nodded her head and muttered under her breath.

Celestial empire?

"Liang Jianwei. Hmph, it's nice to meet you. I'm Elaine Victorium." Elaine said, sitting back down. Thomas sat back down and put out his cigarette. Elaine didn't say anything and drank her tea. Time slowly ticked by in awkward silence.

Thomas finished his cigarette, put it out and spoke.

"Well, we're done here. Jianwei, let's go." Thomas said, leaving the private room. Jianwei stood up and bowed his head towards Elaine before leaving as well. Elaine didn't say anything. The room was silent. Thomas and Jianwei left the pub and returned to the dorms.