By the lake, Bing Huan was throwing pebbles at the fish. He hadn't noticed Yu Zhen standing behind him.
"What are you doing?"
"Fishing."
"There's no one else here."
Bing Huan stopped what he was doing. "That's strange. I feel like I suddenly forgot how to talk." Yu Zhen didn't say anything more. He walked over and stood beside his junior fellow apprentice, handing him a bottle of Coke. Bing Huan took it and gulped down half the bottle. "Burp~~~~~~~~ Speaking of which, shouldn't you be giving me a bottle of liquor right about now?"
Yu Zhen shot Bing Huan a sidelong glance. "Dream on. Minors aren't allowed to drink."
"What about her?"
"We made it look like she'd been abducted by human traffickers. Her parents have already been notified to come pick her up."
"Senior Brother, you said..."
"Whatever you're meant to encounter, you'll encounter. Whatever you want to do, be bold and do it. I'm your senior brother, and I'll always have your back."
After finishing the last of his Coke, Bing Huan stood up. "Phew~ All right, time to go home."
Yu Zhen brushed the fallen leaves off his clothes. "Yeah, let's go home."
Elsewhere, Hermione had been brought home. Worried that she might have been frightened, the Grangers stayed by her side all day. It wasn't until evening that they remembered it was Hermione's birthday.
"Sorry, Hermione. We forgot to celebrate your birthday."
Hermione furrowed her brow, as if trying to remember something. "But I feel like someone already celebrated it with me."
Mrs. Granger assumed Hermione was only trying to comfort her. She gazed at her daughter lovingly. "I promise we'll throw you a proper party for your tenth birthday. Now it's time for bed. Good night, sweetheart."
"Good night, Mum."
Huaxia Daoist Sect
Senior Sister had gone to report to Mistress Liu Yan.
Master and Senior Brother had gone straight into the Chamber of Secrets. Looking at the divination on the table, Zhang Tianhao showed a rare flash of excitement.
"It was the right decision to go to England."
"Yes, Master. Since the day we foresaw Little Huan's death tribulation eight years ago, this is the first time a Path to Survival has appeared. At last, Junior Brother can be saved."
Meanwhile, the youngest had thrown himself into a frenzied state of self-improvement. In addition to advancing his cultivation, he temporarily set aside spells and the Talisman Path, and systematically studied Body Techniques, alchemy, and swordsmanship.
Two years later, after enduring several Lightning Tribulations and reaching the Golden Core Stage, Bing Huan was ordered by his master to stop. "Why, Master? It took so much effort for me to finally get motivated. Besides, I'm not even progressing that quickly. Isn't that Martial Uncle from the Kunlun Sect advancing even faster?"
Zhang Haotian slapped the back of Bing Huan's head. "What's the point of cultivating so quickly? He's at the Nascent Soul stage and I'm at the Golden Core stage, but I can pin him down with my bare hands. Are you trying to compete with others for resources, or are you about to go off to war? The most important thing right now is to take every step solidly."
Knowing his master only had his best interests at heart, Bing Huan didn't argue. "Then what should I do now?"
"Let things settle."
"How do I do that?"
"Let things settle..."
"...You cryptic weirdo, get lost!" ಠ_ಠ
Diu~~~~
That's right. Bing Huan had been tossed out.
Some time later, Bing Huan was lying in bed beside a large, yellow, squirrel-like creature. He glanced at the calendar, where September 19 had been circled.
"Pika, what do you think she's doing right now?"
"Pikachu?"
After returning from England last time, the palace in his sea of consciousness had given him something new: a red-and-white ball. He'd thought it was some kind of mechanical contraption, but when he opened it, a living creature had jumped out. Oh, and it could also shoot electricity.
"By my calculations... she should be starting at Hogwarts in September." Bing Huan rolled over and continued sunbathing. "Who knows how much longer I'll have to settle down in the mountains?"
"Why not settle down somewhere else, then?"
At some point, his master and mistress had appeared at the window. Zhang Haotian was holding an envelope.
"Hey, whose letter is that? You came all the way here to deliver it yourselves?" We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
"Huh?! Me?"
"If you're not willing, I can ask Albus to go back."
"No, I'll pack right now." Bing Huan had just climbed out of bed when he spotted a problem. "Wait, isn't it only the end of June? Why am I going so early?"
"To get used to life in the Wizarding World ahead of time. Before, you were only a guest. From now on, you'll be a member of the Wizarding World, so don't go breaking its rules. You should follow them." With that, his master transformed into a streak of light and returned to the main peak.
"Master..."
Liu Yan walked over and patted her little disciple's head to comfort him. "There are some things your master can't say outright in his position. Take care of yourself while you're away. Don't worry too much about the consequences. Even the worst that could happen is that you'd have to deal with the Wizarding World. Also, you can use the Daoist Sect's Gringotts account as you please."
Bing Huan took the Gringotts credentials and a string of keys. "Are these spare keys?"
"No. We have five vaults."
Bing Huan: O_o "Doesn't the Wizarding World only get its raw materials from us?"
Liu Yan nodded. "That's right. We supply nearly eighty percent of the raw materials for Potions in the Wizarding World."
"Shouldn't that be Medicine King Valley's business?"
"They don't even have enough space to grow their own spirit herbs. Mostly, they export finished medicines—the first- and second-grade pills. All right, get your things packed. Once we arrive in England, Albus said he wanted to introduce you to a few friends."
In the Daoist Sect's reception hall, Yu Zhen was hosting Dumbledore and his companion.
"Professor McGonagall, I believe this is your first time in China. I hope you won't feel out of place."
Professor McGonagall was a tall, lively-looking witch in emerald-green robes, with a pointed hat tilted to one side. She accepted the tea Yu Zhen had brewed and said with a smile, "The Daoist Sect and Hogwarts have completely different styles, but there's no doubt your sect's management and teaching methods are both exceptionally well developed. It's also clear that you and Sect Leader Haotian have truly devoted yourselves to your sect."
"You're too kind. The children trust us enough to come and study here, so naturally we have to live up to that trust. It's only right." Faced with Professor McGonagall's praise, Yu Zhen merely smiled and poured tea for Dumbledore as well.
Dumbledore chuckled. "You're too modest, Yu Zhen. Professor McGonagall is very strict, and that's precisely why she never hesitates to praise talented children. Sometimes I really envy your master. If I had a disciple like you, I wouldn't have to worry about retiring."
"If you keep praising me, my tail will be in the clouds. Master and Mistress have treated me like their own child since I was little. Now that I've grown up a bit, it's only right that I take some of the pressure off them. We're also looking forward to further cooperation with Hogwarts." He raised his teacup in place of a wine cup and bowed to the two professors.
"Speaking of which, Little Huan should be arriving soon, shouldn't he?" Dumbledore checked the time and asked. Professor McGonagall took a sip of tea. With Yu Zhen setting such an example, she was already looking forward to this student who'd be starting early, and kept glancing toward the door. "Will he be a little version of Yu Zhen?"
"Cough~ Cough... Ahem." x2
"What's wrong with you two?"
Yu Zhen set down his teacup. "Nothing, nothing. Everyone has their own way of doing things; there's no need for us all to be alike. My junior brother, for example, is quite a bit more lively than I am. I hope you'll both... be understanding over the next few years."
Professor McGonagall waved a hand, unconcerned. "He's a child. A little liveliness is fine. With a senior brother like you, how outrageous could he be?"
"Ha... ha... ha... ha." Yu Zhen could only laugh awkwardly, using his tea to hide his embarrassment. He kept praying that his junior brother would check his messages and not make another outrageous entrance.
Unfortunately, it seemed his prayers wouldn't be answered today.
Outside, Bing Huan, thinking Dumbledore was alone, kicked the door open. "Senior Brother! Old Dumbledore! I'm here!"
"Pika!"
McGonagall: (ꐦಠ ಠ)!
Yu Zhen: "..."
Dumbledore: "We're doomed."
Half an hour later, after kneeling and listening to Professor McGonagall's lecture, Bing Huan and Pikachu meekly took their seats at the table. Yu Zhen sidled over. "Why did you come in like that? Didn't I message you?"
"Don't ask. I got so excited that I threw my communicator away. It's still in my Storage Ring, repairing itself."
"..."
Dumbledore stood and called Fawkes over from nearby. "Then let's be off." A flash of fire, and the three of them and one bird vanished from the spot. Yu Zhen looked toward Hogwarts. "Junior Brother, take care."
The next moment, an Eastern visitor arrived in Hogwarts' Headmaster's Office, where the portraits of former headmasters hung. Bing Huan had only ever met Dumbledore outside before; this was his first time inside. After looking around, he turned to Dumbledore. "Old Dumbledore..."
"Ahem!" (cat warning)
"...Headmaster, which class am I joining?" (well-behaved)
Dumbledore took a sip of tea. "You don't have to join one right away. Get settled in for a few days, then start alongside this year's new students."
Bing Huan: (‧_‧?) "Me? First year?"
Before you continue