Meeting Gift

"Right!"

Bailing suddenly thought of something. With a giggle, she left her seat, skipped over to the hall entrance, and, under everyone's watchful eyes, took out the Scare Bottle she had just bought from her pocket.

"Little Junior Brother, starting today, I'm your Senior Sister. Hurry up and call me Senior Sister!"

Bailing had been urging him all day.

Reilo looked at Bailing. She was like a carefree, cheerful Elf, giving to him without asking for anything in return. An indescribable warmth rose in his heart as he said sincerely, "Senior Sister!"

First Orn, then Bailing—their character was utterly different from the Clerics in the town. Compared with the oppression he had once felt in The Church, Reilo's favorable impression of scholars had begun with these two.

"Hahaha, Little Junior Brother, you have to obediently listen to your Senior Sister from now on!"

Bailing laughed happily as she played with the Scare Bottle in her hand. "Come on, Junior Brother, I'll demonstrate the Scare Bottle for you."

Everyone present seemed to have known about the Scare Bottle already. They exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.

The Black Cat humanely spat out a fishbone, licked its paw, and muttered to itself, "It's still that little trick Wushuang made for fun back then. Time passes so quickly."

Bailing pulled out the wooden stopper, gave the bottle a slight shake, and a large cloud of white smoke immediately burst forth, swallowing her figure. An indescribable pressure suddenly emerged from within the smoke. Terror welled up from the depths of Reilo's heart, as though he were being stared down by the vertical pupils of some dreadful beast. His body involuntarily tensed!

Roar!

All at once, a terrifying roar came from within the smoke.

Reilo could not help rising nervously from his seat. When he saw everyone smiling at him, he realized he had made a fool of himself. He tried his best to remain calm and sat back down, while Bailing's mischievous laughter drifted out from the mist.

"Hehehe, how was it? Fun, right?"

The white mist gradually dispersed, revealing Bailing's smiling figure, still holding the Scare Bottle.

"This is for you!"

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Reilo accepted the Small Vial with thanks.

When Shatuo saw Reilo accept Bailing's gift, his dark skin made his white teeth stand out all the more. His smile faded slightly as he said awkwardly, "Little Junior Brother, you came so suddenly that your Senior Brother didn't have time to prepare anything. Fortunately, I happen to have a set of experimental tools I just bought. I'll give them to you along with this Space Box. You'll need them for your studies later!"

His Second Senior Brother, looking shy, took out a palm-sized Space Box and handed it to Reilo.

"Ah!"

Delight filled Reilo's face.

It was a little box more than ten centimeters long. He had no idea what material it was made of, but it seemed weightless in his hand. When he opened it, a huge space appeared before his eyes. Inside were all sorts of exquisite glass beakers, test tubes, scalpels, alcohol lamps, and more. There were so many that Reilo did not yet know the specific use of these tools.

Back in Demon Eagle Forest, Reilo had been amazed and envious when he saw Orn take out a Space Box. He had imagined how wonderful it would be to own one himself, yet his wish had come true so quickly!

"Thank you, Senior Brother Shatuo!"

Shatuo merely grinned, exposing his white teeth. Looking bashful, he had no idea what else to say.

Next was Wushuang.

His black cloak lent him a hint of mystery. He sat upright among the others, and his composed bearing naturally revealed itself. Even though he restrained it, he still exuded an effortless pressure. Gubo's proud, pleased expression only further emphasized Wushuang's central position in the family.

A thoughtful look appeared on Wushuang's face.

As if suddenly remembering something, Wushuang took a Space Box from his sleeve and pulled out an exquisite Magic Folding Fan. He smiled as he looked at Reilo.

"I seized this Magic Folding Fan from an enemy mercenary group during a mission in Xilan Duchy. Although it has been damaged and can now only display a small portion of its power, it still has countless uses. It is very suitable for you during your Academy Enlightenment."

"Wow!"

Looking at the Magic Folding Fan in Wushuang's hand, Bailing's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Senior Brother, did you take part in another war mission between the Duchy and Xilan? The situation in the Duchy should be clear by now, right?"

At that, Wushuang looked at Bailing and shook his head slightly.

"Both sides have many concerns. I heard that the Duchy's royal princes are fiercely fighting over power, which has greatly affected the front lines. Meanwhile, Xilan Duchy has recently been pushing to abolish slavery. Some major slaveholders and gladiatorial arenas refuse to compromise, so the situation is very complicated."

Though he said that, Reilo could sense a confident vitality in Wushuang's eyes, as if everything were already being planned and set into motion.

"But in my view, although Xilan Duchy has a long history and produces many talented people, if it continues fighting the Duchy for long enough, victory will ultimately stand on our side!"

A faint, hidden sneer crossed Wushuang's face before turning into encouragement as he looked at Reilo.

"Little Junior Brother, since you have earned our mentor's approval, I hope you will study diligently at the Academy from now on and live up to his expectations!"

"Mm!"

Reilo accepted the Magic Folding Fan and said gratefully, "Thank you, Senior Brother Wushuang!"

"I don't have any expectations! Just pass your graduation assessment smoothly. Don't embarrass me out there like Shatuo, that blockhead!"

Gubo rolled his eyes and grunted.

Lianyi smiled. "If you don't want your disciples to embarrass you outside, then teach them your skills properly. Otherwise, that is also a problem with you as their mentor."

"Hmph..."

The old man snorted without saying anything.

Reilo secretly swore that he would work hard to earn Gubo's approval. He did not care about the man's disdain. Instead, he took it as motivation. He would make Gubo willingly pass down everything he had learned in his life!

Lianyi stroked Reilo's hair and said kindly, "As your master's wife, I should give you a suitable gift as well. Wait a moment."

Smiling, Lianyi rose to her feet and headed upstairs under everyone's gaze.

Beside him, Bailing blinked meaningfully and said, "Mother has lots of good things. Senior Brother Wushuang told me that when Father was courting her back then, the things he gave her were beyond anything you could imagine!"

Uh?

Reilo had long heard that mages lived far longer than ordinary people, so one could not judge their age by appearance. From what Senior Sister Bailing said, it seemed Wushuang had already become Gubo's disciple before Gubo and Lianyi got together?

A short while later, Lianyi came downstairs holding a strange notebook made of beast hide.

"Hey! Why did you bring that down!"

Gubo looked as though it pained him terribly.

Lianyi ignored Gubo and looked gently at Reilo. "This is a notebook made from Ice Fire Bird hide. It can be preserved for a long time under extreme conditions, so I'll give it to you as a gift! Use it as your field notebook. I hope you will achieve something in your studies and wipe that smug look off his face. He acts as if no one is worth his notice every day!"

"Yes! Thank you, Master's Wife!"

Reilo accepted the notebook. He could faintly feel a temperature coming from it, warm at times and icy cold at others.

Clang!

Before Reilo could react, Gubo suddenly tossed over a cloth bag. It landed before Reilo with the sound of metal striking metal.

"This is my meeting gift for you. My mentor gave me the same thing back then, and I did the same when Wushuang and Shatuo arrived. It will be no different for you!"

Gubo's voice was calm.

Seeing the encouraging looks on everyone's faces, Reilo nervously picked up the bag and opened it. He was instantly dumbfounded.

Inside the cloth bag was a large handful of silver coins and several gold coins!

Gubo adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and said meaningfully, "Starting tomorrow, go find your Senior Brother Shatuo. Use this money to get through your Academy Enlightenment stage."

"Ah! Mentor, you..."

Reilo roughly examined the money bag. It did not contain only silver coins—there were also five gold coins!

If he used it sparingly in Lake Onyx Town, it would probably be enough to support him for two or three years!

So much money was merely meant to get him through the enlightenment stage?

Though he did not understand why, when Reilo saw Gubo's stern gaze, he answered, "Mm," and nodded solemnly. Just as he was filled with confidence for his future life as a scholar, the Black Cat at the corner of the dining table suddenly let out a lazy meow.

"Meow, have you forgotten about me?"

"Hm!?"

Reilo looked at the Black Cat. He had already received so many gifts that he seemed to have transformed into a newly rich man. His heart was brimming with delight, and he was even beginning to feel a little carried away. Embarrassed, he said, "Mr. Jiahei, you're giving me a gift too? How could I accept that? Well, if you really must give me something, just a small token will do. Hehe!"

Pfft!

Bailing beside him could not hold back her laughter.

Jiahei rolled his eyes dramatically. "In your dreams! You little brat, you're the one who owes me a meeting gift!"

"Ah... ah?"

Reilo stammered for a long while, utterly embarrassed. Hesitantly opening his travel trunk, his face red, he said, "Mr. Jiahei, look at this cured meat. My father personally smoked and roasted it before he died. It has been aged for five years, and its rich fragrance has already... I hope Mr. Jiahei will like it..."

Jiahei stretched out a paw and turned over the pitch-black thing before him. Its cat mouth hung open as though it had swallowed an egg. After trying to take a bite, it nearly broke its teeth. In disbelief, it said, "You! You! Meow, are you sure this black, rock-hard thing isn't a stone, but food?!"