Gathered Together

Qinghe Prefecture City had a permanent population of over ten million. Just imagining its size was staggering. Although the main roads were very wide, the Snow-Treading Horse could only move at its leisurely walking pace. The Dragon Mountain Tower was over eighty miles from the city gate, and the journey took nearly an hour. By then, it was completely dark.

"Finally, we're here." Dongbo Xueying looked at the Dragon Mountain Tower before him.

Huge Fire Crystal Lamps illuminated the front of the Dragon Mountain Tower. It was far grander than the Dragon Mountain Tower in Yishui County. The immense surrounding walls alone must have enclosed an area one or two miles across.

Large groups of guards patrolled the area.

"Dismount." The two black-armored guards standing at the main entrance were imposing. They were probably at least Meteor Rank.

Dongbo Xueying dismounted as well. He flipped his hand and showed them the Black Iron Token. "The prefectural city should have received word that I was coming."

One of the black-armored guards walked over with a smile. "Are you Dongbo Xueying from Yi Water City?"

"That's me." Dongbo Xueying nodded.

"We received word of your arrival a while ago. Leave your horse with me and go on in. Someone will take you to your lodging." The black-armored guard offered to lead the horse away.

"Sorry for the trouble." Dongbo Xueying handed over the horse and entered through the main gate in the immense outer wall.

The Dragon Mountain Tower grounds were lush with green trees, and the flowers and plants were beautiful.

Fire Crystal Lamps glimmered among the flowers and plants. Although night had fallen, nearly every corner of the Dragon Mountain Tower grounds was illuminated.

"Lord Dongbo, please follow me." A maid came to greet him. "Guests from out of town stay in Jiahui Garden, in the east. We've prepared a small courtyard there especially for you. It would be best if you didn't leave Jiahui Garden... Other areas may be restricted parts of the Dragon Mountain Tower. Tomorrow morning, someone will come take you to meet the tower master."

"Understood." Dongbo Xueying nodded.

The Dragon Mountain Tower grounds were paved with flagstones. Strange flowers and lush greenery lined the paths, and faint patterns of magic arrays could even be seen on some of the courtyard walls.

After walking a short while, they reached the entrance to a garden.

"This is Jiahui Garden." The maid led the way. "Your courtyard is inside."

"There are quite a few courtyards here." Dongbo Xueying smiled as he glanced around. There seemed to be dozens of small courtyards in two rows, with their gates facing one another.

"The prefectural city has many missions, so experts come here from all over. Today's a quiet day. Jiahui Garden is only half full, but usually there isn't enough room for everyone." The maid smiled. "This is where you'll be staying tonight." As she spoke, she pushed open the courtyard gate.

Just then, the gate to the courtyard opposite creaked open.

Dongbo Xueying turned to look.

The opposite courtyard's gate opened. A maid came out carrying a tray of food, while a young woman in a green robe was about to close the gate. She noticed Dongbo Xueying across the way and immediately realized that the young man in black was moving into the opposite courtyard.

"A female mage." Dongbo Xueying could sense it.

The young woman in green robes had the mysterious aura unique to mages—the aura of magic power. She also radiated a faint chill, a sensation Dongbo Xueying knew all too well. His mother and younger brother both specialized in ice magic, and this woman was clearly skilled in the same field.

"Yet her aura feels stronger than Bai Yuanzhi's." Dongbo Xueying was surprised.

He was surprised by the young mage's beauty and by how young she looked.

His younger brother was the most handsome man he had ever seen. And this young mage in green robes... was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her beauty was like an ice lotus on a snowy mountain, with a uniquely striking air about her. There were plenty of beauties in Yi Water City, too. You Yue, for instance, was among the ten most beautiful women he had ever seen.

But the moment he saw this young mage, Dongbo Xueying was certain she was the most beautiful of them all. It was her unique air that set her apart.

"Mages are all wise, and the more powerful they are, the more learned they become. This woman looks so young, yet she seems stronger than Bai Yuanzhi." Dongbo Xueying was a little surprised.

He didn't know that as he was studying her, the young mage in green robes was also sensing that there was something unusual about him. Years spent contemplating Heaven and Earth had made Dongbo Xueying's sharpness more restrained, his aura more natural and unassuming. That quiet simplicity made the young mage secretly marvel: "He isn't a mage, yet he's honed his mind to such an impressive degree?"

Mages placed great importance on the mind and soul.

They merely glanced at each other and exchanged polite smiles and nods.

Creak. The young mage in green robes closed her courtyard gate.

Dongbo Xueying entered his own courtyard.

"Lord Dongbo, I'll bring you something to eat in a little while. I won't disturb you any longer." The maid then took her leave.

******

Early the next morning.

Not long after he finished breakfast, a maid from the Dragon Mountain Tower came specifically to summon Dongbo Xueying. The mission details were to be announced today.

Inside a quiet hall.

Dongbo Xueying entered and immediately spotted a burly, white-haired old man. The old man saw him and nodded slightly.

"Please find a seat, sir. The tower master will arrive as soon as everyone is here," the maid said.

After sitting down, Dongbo Xueying picked up his teacup, took a sip, and set it down. Another person entered the hall: the young mage in green robes he had seen the night before. She glanced around and spotted the white-haired old man and Dongbo Xueying. She seemed surprised. What a coincidence—they had stayed in opposite courtyards last night and had run into each other again today. She nodded to them and sat down.

"Are you Mage Jing Qiu?" The white-haired old man's eyes lit up. "I never expected to meet you here. What a coincidence! This old man is Tang Xiong!"

Dongbo Xueying was a little surprised.

The Dragon Mountain Tower had compiled profiles of the prominent figures in Qinghe Prefecture, and he had read them.

Tang Xiong was one thing. He was a Silver Moon Knight who was already over a hundred and sixty years old. At his age, he had little hope of advancing to Title-level.

But Mage Jing Qiu was extraordinary.

Yu Jingqiu was one of Qinghe Prefecture's most gifted young talents. Born into an ordinary family, she had studied magic at Changfeng Academy. At twenty, she had advanced to Meteor Rank and stayed on to teach at the academy. At twenty-three, she had reached Silver Moon Rank. According to the records, Yu Jingqiu should now be only twenty-five.

At just twenty-five, she was already a highly experienced Silver Moon Archmage. Her talent was truly astonishing. A Transcendent Archmage at Changfeng Academy had even taken her as a personal disciple. At her age, she had nearly a ninety percent chance of reaching Title-level.

"So that's who she is." Dongbo Xueying suddenly understood.

"Hahaha..." Two more people entered from outside.

One was a somewhat sinister-looking young man, and the other a black-haired old man.

The young man wore fine clothes. His robe seemed to alter the air around him, clearly a powerful alchemical garment.

"Jing Qiu, I didn't expect you to be here." The young man was thrilled. "Haha, I came out to train and picked a mission at random. I never thought I'd run into you, Jing Qiu. What a coincidence. We're clearly fated to meet."

The young mage in green robes knitted her brows slightly. "It is a coincidence."

The young man's gaze swept around the room. He saw the white-haired old man, as well as a young man in black who looked even younger than himself. A flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes. He glanced at the burly white-haired old man and said casually, "Move aside."

"Lord Borong?" The white-haired old man, Tang Xiong, obediently moved away so he wouldn't get in the way of the young man and the mage.

Borong?

Dongbo Xueying understood who he was: Si Borong!

He was one of the foremost figures among the younger generation of the Si Family in Qinghe Prefecture. Si Borong was in his fifties. As a Silver Moon Knight, he could expect to live close to two hundred years, so he still looked quite young. Since he was relatively young, he had a good chance of reaching Title-level someday. That gave him a high status in the Si Family.

The Si Family dominated Qinghe Prefecture.

If they said you were guilty, then you were guilty! Even Tang Xiong, a fellow Silver Moon Knight, had to flatter them a little. After all, he couldn't afford to offend them. Arresting a Silver Moon Knight on some pretext was a trivial matter for the Si Family. Only those who advanced to Title-level had the power to overwhelm ordinary people. Only families founded by Title-level experts were qualified to speak to the Si Family as equals.

Only then did the sinister-looking young man sit beside the mage, quite close to her. "Jing Qiu, why are you always avoiding me? You're breaking my heart."

Whoosh.

The young mage in green robes stood up and moved away from her seat. But the hall was small, and after glancing around, she went over to Dongbo Xueying and sat down one seat away from him.

"Jing Qiu." Si Borong walked over. Then he glanced at Dongbo Xueying beside her, evidently thinking he was in the way. He frowned and said coldly, "Move."

Dongbo Xueying held his teacup, took a sip, and ignored him completely.

Si Borong's expression immediately darkened.

"Hmph!" Si Borong snorted.

"Haha, everyone's here?" A voice rang out from outside. A bald old man in a red robe walked in.

******