Brothers Reunited

On the way back, Alice, who was also an Earth mage, showed Lin Feng an unusual amount of admiration. She kept finding things to talk about and chatting with him, and Lin Feng couldn't bring himself to be cold toward her, so he gave her the occasional reply. Alice was fifteen that year, and the top prodigy at Welin Magic Academy.

Even so, Alice had only just reached the level of a fourth-rank mage that year. At Ernst, that would have been considered an average result.

During a break in the journey, Lin Feng, Kalan, Alice, and the others sat down to eat. Lin Feng naturally sat beside Dilia.

Dilia glanced at Alice, then whispered in Lin Feng's ear, "Alice is pretty, isn't she?"

How could Lin Feng not know what Dilia was thinking? He'd already realized that she was jealous of Alice. Though he'd seen right through her, he suddenly felt like teasing her.

Lin Feng pretended to admire Alice, then nodded and praised her. "She's lovely. That bearing, that face—she's a rare beauty."

"If she's so pretty, why don't you marry her too?" Dilia's expression darkened. After a pause, she said softly, "Just don't forget about me."

Lin Feng was touched. He'd thought Dilia would pout and complain, but he hadn't expected her to put his feelings ahead of her own and think only of him.

He gently cupped Dilia's lovely face and said warmly, "Don't worry. No matter how beautiful Alice is, how could she compare to my little Dilia? She's a rare beauty, but my Dilia is one in a million. I'd never fall for her. I was only teasing you to see how you'd react."

Dilia smiled happily and threw herself into Lin Feng's arms. "Lin Feng, you're so wonderful that sometimes I feel I'm not good enough for you. Why did you like me so much back then? I was only eight..."

Thinking about it made Dilia blush. It seemed Lin Feng had "snared" her when she was only eight. It really was...

Lin Feng naturally wouldn't tell her the truth. He thought for a moment, then made something up. "The first time I saw you, I felt a jolt, like I'd been struck by lightning. I told myself right then that I had to win you over. And in the end, you little lamb got caught by me, the big bad wolf. Haha!"

After Lin Feng teased her a little, Dilia felt better. But she didn't leave the warmth of his strong embrace. Instead, she continued, "Lin Feng, you're so wonderful. I know I can't keep you all to myself. If—if you meet a good girl someday, then marry her if you want. I—I won't mind."

Although Dilia said she wouldn't mind, Lin Feng, being observant, noticed that her eyes had reddened as she spoke.

Lin Feng had wanted to comfort Dilia and tell her that he would love only her for the rest of his life. But before he could say anything, a name suddenly surfaced in his mind: Jenny!

Yes, Jenny—the girl from the original story whom Lin Feng had loved deeply and wronged more than anyone else. After finishing Coiling Dragon, Lin Feng had been left with many regrets, and Jenny never getting a happy ending with Lin Feng was one of them. Back then, he'd thought that if he were Lin Feng, he would never let down a girl who loved him so deeply. He would give her happiness. Now that he had the chance, could he make that dream come true?

Forget it. I'll leave it to fate. If we're meant to be, and she still loves me, then I'll make that dream come true. It'll make up for one of Coiling Dragon's regrets.

"Dilia, don't worry. I, Lin Feng, swear that in this life and the next, I'll never let you down."

That was the greatest comfort Lin Feng could offer Dilia.

While Lin Feng and Dilia were enjoying a tender moment, the oblivious Alice came over again. "Brother Lin Feng, you're incredible! You became a fifth-rank mage at fourteen. I don't think I'll reach that level until I'm twenty." She gazed at him with admiration.

Lin Feng had told Alice that he'd become a fifth-rank mage the year before, then spent a year training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. He hadn't told her the truth about his actual strength. Even so, Alice was astonished, and her admiration for him surged like a mighty river—well, you know.

With Alice chattering away and asking question after question, the group finally reached Fenlai City at dusk.

As everyone was about to part ways, Lin Feng suddenly turned to Alice and said, "Alice, could I speak with you privately?"

"Huh?" Alice was taken aback. She clearly hadn't expected Lin Feng, who'd been rather cool toward her the whole way, to approach her of his own accord and ask to speak privately.

"Oh, sure!"

They walked more than ten meters away, and Alice asked first, "Brother Lin Feng, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Alice, I know your father is a gambler and owes a lot of money. If you ever have financial trouble or need help with anything else, you can come find me at Ernst."

"Also, Kalan isn't someone you should entrust your life to. If you're thinking of marrying him, you should consider it carefully."

Alice covered her mouth, looking incredulous. "Brother Lin Feng, how do you know my father's a gambler and owes a lot of money? Do you know him? And why did you bring up Kalan all of a sudden? He and I are just classmates."

Lin Feng shook his head. "Don't ask how I know, or why. That's all I have to say. Whether you believe me is up to you."

Then he turned and left without hesitation, taking Dilia's hand and heading toward Ernst.

He stepped onto the grounds of Ernst.

"Dilia, go see your brother. He must be worried sick." Lin Feng gently kissed Dilia on her smooth forehead and spoke softly.

"Okay. I'll come find you tomorrow." Dilia said, then suddenly rose onto her tiptoes and gave Lin Feng a quick kiss on the lips before turning and running off.

After entering the Magical Beast Mountain Range and witnessing how cruel people could be, Lin Feng treasured the bond between brothers at the academy even more. As he approached the dormitory, he heard a voice from inside. "Boss Yale, Lin Feng still hasn't come back. Could something have happened to him in the Magical Beast Mountain Range?"

"Fourth, shut your big mouth. Third will come back safe and sound. Come on, let's go eat—" Yale looked up and saw a figure at the courtyard gate. He froze. George and Reynolds, standing beside him, were stunned too. Then Yale, George, and Reynolds all rushed over excitedly.

"Haha, Third, you're finally back!" Yale was the first to rush over and envelop Lin Feng in a bear hug.

Reynolds shouted, "Wow, Lin Feng! Boss Yale and George talk about you every day. They were worried, too. I was the only one who knew you'd come back safe!"

"Fourth." George glared at him. "You were just worried Third might be in danger."

"Me?" Reynolds looked puzzled. "Did I say that?"

Looking at his three good brothers, Lin Feng felt warmth flood his heart. Yale immediately waved a hand and said grandly, "All right, you two, enough chatter. Third's made it back safely from the Magical Beast Mountain Range—that's something to celebrate. Come on, let's have a proper feast!"

"Boss, didn't you say you'd beat Third up when he got back, no matter what? Why aren't you doing it?" Seeing Lin Feng return safely, Reynolds had completely forgotten his earlier worries and started teasing Yale.

"Boss, you're planning to beat me up?" Lin Feng raised an eyebrow, looking amused.

"Hmph. You were gone for more than five years. I thought you'd forgotten about us." Yale grumbled at Lin Feng, but the concern and brotherly affection in his voice moved Lin Feng deeply.

"All right, Boss, Second, Fourth," Lin Feng said with a smile. "Come on, let's have a good drink tonight. It's on me."

At dusk, the four brothers from Dormitory 1987 strolled along the quiet paths of Ernst, casually chatting about the past five and a half years.

"What? Third, you're saying you've reached the level of an eighth-rank mage?" George exclaimed, his face full of disbelief. Fortunately, it was late, and the path was quiet, with no one else around.

Yale and Reynolds stared at Lin Feng in disbelief too.

Lin Feng smiled. "That's not all. My warrior training has reached the seventh rank as well."

Yale, Reynolds, and George exchanged glances, then said in unison, "Monster!"

Lin Feng went on to casually tell his three brothers about the dangers of the Magical Beast Mountain Range and how he'd nearly been killed when assassins ambushed him. Lin Feng, a graduate of a top-tier university, was a gifted storyteller. He described everything so vividly that Yale and the others felt as if they were right there.

"The academy really is the best," George sighed.

Lin Feng nodded in agreement. At dusk, couples could often be seen strolling along the academy's quiet paths, holding hands or riding beasts together, enjoying their leisurely time on campus.

"By the way, Boss Yale, weren't you supposed to spend the evening with your girlfriend? Why aren't you going tonight?" Reynolds asked suddenly.

Yale replied nonchalantly, "My girlfriend? My brother just came back from the Magical Beast Mountain Range after surviving who knows how many close calls. And you think I'd go spend time with my girlfriend? Reynolds, remember this: brothers are like limbs, women are like clothes. They're just for fun."

Reynolds immediately gave him a look of contempt.