"Huh? Come to think of it, the Chief Champion must have received some pretty generous rewards, right?" Shang Lang asked curiously.
Pei Ye blinked. "Ah, I wouldn't call them generous. But there was a very good sword. I've been using it ever since."
"Oh, surely there was something else?"
Pei Ye paused in surprise. Just then, Fang Jidao came over with his wine cup, offering the most proper greeting of them all. "Brother Pei, long time no see!"
Pei Ye broke into a smile too and clasped his arm. "You look in fine spirits, Brother Fang. What have you been busy with lately?"
"I've been studying at the Imperial College these past two months." Fang Jidao instinctively glanced over at Qi Zhaohua. "With the Recommendation Letter the lay adept gave me."
Pei Ye was delighted. "I'm going to the Imperial College too."
Fang Jidao's eyes widened at once. "What?"
"Yes."
"...Oh." The scholar seemed to have something to say, but ultimately left it unsaid. He only said, "Actually, I haven't really been going to the college these past few days either."
"Hm?"
The scholar held his cup and took a sip, his face full of hope, yet eight parts sorrow. "I want to get into the Heavenly Principles Academy. But I'm troubled that my abilities aren't enough."
Another unfamiliar name, but Pei Ye no longer intended to ask. He patted his shoulder. "If you make it, you make it. If you don't, you don't. Don't take it too much to heart."
Fang Jidao shook his head, however, and said seriously, "One must not be casual about the heart that seeks the Dao."
Then he smiled with some pleasure. "I just asked this True Person Little Yan many questions. His knowledge of the Dao is truly profound."
Pei Ye looked over.