Before long, Hui Mian ran over to Qi Zhongbin, who was in the middle of telling a story. With the Magic Appraisal Assembly taking place that afternoon, far fewer people than usual were listening today.
Not everyone could attend the Magic Appraisal Assembly, but those who frequented teahouses clearly had more leisure and wanted to join in the excitement.
When Qi Zhongbin finished his story, the remaining patrons in the teahouse applauded repeatedly.
By the time Qi Zhongbin sat down to rest and drink some tea, Hui Mian had already jumped onto his table. The regulars were long accustomed to the mink coming and going alone, and sometimes even offered him food.
Beside Qi Zhongbin, Hui Mian had already begun tattling.
"Young Qi, did you know the Violet Star Spirit Lord took on your appearance and persuaded that couplet lad to stay at the docks?"
"I know. But the Spirit Lord only acted on the opportunity after seeing Yan Shouyun at the Ancestral Temple."
Hui Mian laughed awkwardly, picked up a slice of dried apricot from the table, and took a couple of bites.
"Well, I saw that the lad had good aptitude. After running into walls for so many years, he'd still managed to achieve something by feeling his own way forward. I wanted to give him a chance!"
Qi Zhongbin smiled too. The chance Senior Gray had given him was certainly a thrilling one. It would take extraordinary ambition to endure it without running away.
"You placed great hopes in him, Senior Gray. Still, judging by things now, he hasn't disappointed you."
Lofty ambitions were not something people were born with. Yan Shouyun had actually done very well; Senior Gray simply demanded more.
"Even if the Spirit Lord hadn't intervened, I might have found some way to offer