Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a gathering of familiar faces

Bai Jin had visited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Mountain Gate many times.

He had been sixteen the first time.

That year, Evil Soul Masters had ambushed a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect caravan outside the Star Dou Great Forest. Bai Jin happened to pass by and dealt with them.

When Chen Xin arrived, all he saw were broken blades scattered across the ground and a Silver Hair boy sitting in a tree, eating pastries.

The boy looked up at him. The first thing he said was:

"Senior, that sword of yours looks pretty nice. Can it peel an apple?"

Chen Xin really did draw his sword.

As the strike fell, five Soul Rings lit up beneath the boy's feet.

Yellow, purple, black, black, black.

The sword tip stopped three inches from the boy's brow.

It could advance no farther.

Gu Rong refused to believe it afterward.

The Bone Dragon tore open space and sealed off three escape routes in one breath. Bai Jin strolled out beside the Space Rift with half a piece of Osmanthus Cake still in his hand and asked whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had anything sweeter.

From then on, neither Chen Xin nor Gu Rong treated him as an ordinary junior again.

Some people were young, and that was all.

Not Bai Jin.

He was the sort of person who could sit across from you spouting nonsense, and even when you knew he deserved a beating, you had to admit he had earned the right to spout it.

When he came again today, the Gate disciples spotted that Silver Hair from afar and let him straight through.

Bai Jin walked into the main hall.

Ning Fengzhi was brewing tea. Chen Xin sat ramrod straight, while Gu Rong leaned back in his chair, smiling as though he had been waiting for Bai Jin all along.

"Well, well, Xiao Bai," Gu Rong said first. "How was the food in Slaughter City?"

"No idea."

Bai Jin sat down and casually picked up a pastry.

"I only deliver people there. I don't stay and eat with them."

Chen Xin said flatly, "I heard you delivered eight."

"Seven Evil Soul Masters and one guide."

Ning Fengzhi's hand paused for a moment as he poured the tea.

Gu Rong burst out laughing.

Chen Xin looked at Bai Jin. "That mouth of yours will get you into trouble sooner or later."

"Don't worry, Uncle Jian." Bai Jin took a bite of his pastry. "If it does, I can run fast."

The corner of Chen Xin's eye twitched.

Gu Rong slapped the table. "That, I believe."

Ning Fengzhi shook his head with a smile and pushed a cup of tea toward Bai Jin. "Brother Bai, I already explained Rongrong's situation in my letter."

"Mm."

Bai Jin took a sip of tea. Though his eyes could not see, satisfaction showed on his face.

"Ran away from home to join Shrek. The little girl has spirit."

Gu Rong frowned at once. "Spirit or not, she's never known hardship. Where outside will she be as comfortable as she is in the sect?"

Chen Xin said, "A little hardship won't hurt her."

"Easy for you to say. As if you don't dote on her too."

Chen Xin glanced at Gu Rong. "Who paced around the training grounds three times last night?"

Gu Rong: "..."

Ning Fengzhi gave a soft cough.

"We've spoiled Rongrong. She's clever and proud, but she doesn't understand how things work outside. I don't want to drag her back, but I can't simply leave her to fend for herself."

Bai Jin nodded. "I get it. You're afraid she'll get beaten up, and afraid she'll beat someone else up."

Ning Fengzhi gave a rueful smile. "More or less."

Rongrong was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

She had not earned that title for nothing.

Everyone in the sect yielded to her. Chen Xin protected her, Gu Rong doted on her, and Ning Fengzhi could never bring himself to discipline her harshly. The girl was clever and gifted in cultivation, but clever people who sailed with the wind at their backs often found it easiest to take others' patience for granted.

Ning Fengzhi saw that clearly. That was why he was willing to let her go.

But seeing it clearly did not mean he wasn't worried.

He had invited Bai Jin not because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lacked capable people, but because Bai Jin was both strong enough and lazy enough.

Strong enough that no one would dare get past him to hurt Rongrong.

Lazy enough that he would not solve every problem for her.

"Where's the money?"

The main hall fell silent.

Ning Fengzhi laughed. "You'll get paid."

Bai Jin set down his teacup at once. "Then you have my full attention."

Gu Rong clicked his tongue. "Doesn't Spirit Hall pay you?"

"It does."

"And you still want more?"

"Who complains about having too much money?"

Chen Xin said flatly, "You still haven't settled the bill for the pastries you took from the sect last time."

Bai Jin fell silent for a moment, then turned to Ning Fengzhi.

"Sect Master Ning, hasn't Uncle Jian had a little too much free time lately?"

Ning Fengzhi held back a laugh. "He just has a good memory."

"When powerful people have memories that good, it's bad for their relationships."

Gu Rong laughed again.

After a little more idle talk, Ning Fengzhi took a Guest Elder Token from his sleeve.

"Take this. If you need an official capacity when you go to Shrek, say you're a guest elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Bai Jin accepted it and gave it a look.

"Food and lodging included?"

"Yes."

"Travel expenses reimbursed?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm a guest elder as of now."

Chen Xin closed his eyes for a moment.

Gu Rong was beside himself with amusement.

But Ning Fengzhi's smile did not last long. He looked at Bai Jin, his tone growing more serious. "Rongrong has a difficult temper, but she has a good heart. If she makes a mistake, you can discipline her. Just..."

"Don't lay a hand on her?"

"Don't frighten her too badly."

Bai Jin thought about it. "That's harder than not beating her up."

Ning Fengzhi: "..."

Chen Xin suddenly spoke. "I hear there are a few other children at Shrek Academy with fine talent."

Bai Jin hung the Guest Elder Token at his waist. "I know."

He said it lightly.

Ning Fengzhi glanced at him but did not press.

Bai Jin usually had plenty to say, but when he truly did not want to talk, no one could pry a word out of him.

That afternoon, outside Suotuo City.

The entrance to Shrek Academy was even shabbier than Bai Jin had imagined.

The wooden sign hung crooked, and a line of boys and girls waiting to register stretched through the village entrance. If not for the elder seated by the Gate, whose Soul Power was nothing to scoff at, Bai Jin might have thought he had come to the wrong place.

"Rongrong can live here?"

He stood by the roadside, his tone sincere.

"Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's stables are roomier than this."

In the crowd, a girl in a pale dress whipped around.

Ning Rongrong had been standing in line, struggling to hold her temper. At the sound of that voice, her expression changed at once.

"Brother Bai Jin?"

"Little princess."

Bai Jin waved with a smile.

"You've run a long way from home."

Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth. "I didn't run away from home. I came out to train!"

"Did you bring money?"

"Yes!"

"Can you wash your own clothes?"

Ning Rongrong choked.

Bai Jin nodded. "Looks like your training has only just begun."

Beside her, Xiao Wu burst out laughing.

Ning Rongrong glared at her, then quickly turned her glare back on Bai Jin. "You're not allowed to take me home!"

"Relax. I'm being paid to protect you, not escort you back."

"My father sent you?"

"Mm."

"How much did he pay you?"

"A lot."

Ning Rongrong took a deep breath and forced herself to preserve the last shreds of dignity she had as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's young lady.

"Then keep your distance while you protect me. Don't interfere with my registration."

"Sure."

Bai Jin really did step aside.

His gaze swept over the line.

Dai Mubai stood inside the courtyard Gate, his blond hair loose and a hint of scrutiny in his Evil Eyes. Xiao Wu clung to a blue-clad boy's arm, her eyes bright and lively, though she could not hide her wariness.

The boy was quiet.

His clothes were ordinary, but he stood steadily. There were small calluses on the knuckles of his right hand, and his gaze went first to the people, then to the paths, then to the places from which someone might strike.

It was not fear.

It was a habit as natural as breathing.

The corner of Bai Jin's mouth shifted, but he said nothing.

Some things only needed to be seen.

Saying them aloud would spoil the fun.