Magic City, 9 a.m.
The Chinese parasol trees in the alley were flourishing, their green shade lending the entire alley a lazy air throughout autumn. It was the off-season for tourism now, and the occasional visitor wandered in, looked around, and left.
Only the black mynah and the parrot next door had kept up their noisy chatter all autumn.
"Wei Yanchi, aren't you going to check on your shop? Why are you hanging around here? I remember Xiao Jiejun saying last time that the line of people asking for your services stretched all the way to France."
Eldest Senior Brother Xu Zhouluo swept the floor as he teased Wei Yanchi, who was sitting on the Beauty Couch along the railing.
Wei Yanchi scratched his head. "I'm thinking, Senior Brother. Oh, right, where's Master been these past few days? I haven't seen a trace of him."
"He's busy dealing with the Worldline changes. He probably won't be back for a few days."
Xu Zhouluo swept the fallen leaves into a pile and said unhurriedly, "Every major organization in the world is swamped right now. You should count yourself lucky you can steal a little peace and quiet. Your Fourth Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother have both been roped into doing grunt work."
"Then why didn't you go, Eldest Senior Brother?"
"Someone has to look after the Martial Arts Hall."
"Fair enough."
Wei Yanchi stretched on the Beauty Couch, staring blankly at the banana leaves in the corner. Then he shifted position and lay down, gazing up at the painted beams.
"Senior Brother, I'm twenty-two this year. Why do you all still call me childish?"
"Aren't you only twenty-one this year? Not a word about failing your exams, huh? What happened? What's got you thinking so much?"
"You wouldn't understand even