Old Friends Reunited
"Definitely."
Bai Yushan raised his head and looked at the sky outside the window. The sun was setting, staining the horizon a dark red. The distant sea shimmered, and a few seabirds flew along the skyline.
Three years.
One thousand and ninety-five days.
He would use those three years to grow stronger-strong enough to step through the gates of Shrek Academy, strong enough to take Na'er and Bi Ji away from anywhere, strong enough that no one would ever dare snatch them from his side again.
Electric currents flowed slowly through his body like a quiet river. But beneath the riverbed, hidden currents surged, power accumulated, and something slowly awoke from its slumber.
In three years, this world would remember his name.
Chen Qingquan woke Bai Yushan from his sleep. Still groggy, Bai Yushan rubbed his eyes. "Middle-aged geezer, are we there?"
Unable to bear the sight of him, Chen Qingquan slapped Bai Yushan on the forehead and heaved a long sigh. Getting saddled with a student like this was truly eight lifetimes of rotten luck.
When he first saw Bai Yushan's talent, Chen Qingquan thought he could nurture a powerhouse for the Federation.
But only after three years did Chen Qingquan understand what it meant to be a born demon brat!
Of course, if one ignored the little punk's thunderous voice system, he still looked like a fine young man.
He stood 170 centimeters tall, with an upright bearing, handsome features, clean, cool-white skin, and fluffy, slightly tousled black hair. Simply standing there, he made a picture pleasing to the eye. Provided, of course, that the little punk kept his mouth shut.
The moment he opened it, all that refined, otherworldly elegance and wild, untamed charm were blasted into nothing by that poison-tempered mouth.
"Middle-aged geezer! I've let you get way too comfortable! Always getting handsy-watch it, or I'll beat you up!"
Bai Yushan clutched his forehead and glared, looking thoroughly displeased.
Black lines covered Chen Qingquan's face, and he slapped Bai Yushan on the back of the head again.
"Come on, let's go! You disrespectful little punk. We're going to get you registered."
Chen Qingquan's slap wasn't heavy, but it was loud. Bai Yushan pitched forward, his head nearly hitting the back of the seat ahead. He turned around, bared his teeth, and muttered something under his breath.
Of course, he wouldn't actually lay a hand on Chen Qingquan.
Partly because he couldn't beat him, and partly because Chen Qingquan really had taught him quite a lot during those three years at the junior Soul Master Academy. He counted as half a master, more or less. Bai Yushan still held great respect for those he acknowledged. At most, he would indulge his mouth; he would never actually attack.
Although his way of showing respect was a little strange-respectful enough to infuriate someone to death.
The two got off the Soul Guidance Train and stepped onto the platform in Eastsea City.
Eastsea City was the fastest-growing economy in the East Sea region, bar none. As the region's most important transportation hub, commercial center, and center of port trade, its Soul Guidance Train station was extraordinarily grand, with a towering dome, bright lighting, and clean, tidy floors. It was a completely different world from Aolai City's shabby little station.
Here in the East Sea region, almost all Soul Guidance Trains were predominantly blue.
Their bodies were painted deep blue, accented with silvery-white patterns symbolizing the sea and sky. Once the train stopped and its doors opened, people filed out, many carrying large amounts of luggage.
In an instant, the station bustled with activity, throngs of people streaming toward the exit.
Bai Yushan looked all around like a monkey entering a new cage. His eyes swept through the crowd, committing every corner to memory. This was his habit: wherever he went, he first familiarized himself with his surroundings.
Chen Qingquan draped an arm around Bai Yushan's shoulders and walked forward, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. He was looking for someone-the person who had come to pick them up.
Suddenly, Chen Qingquan's eyes lit up.
"Yu Zhen! Over here!"
Following Chen Qingquan's gaze, one could see a middle-aged man looking around the parking area outside the station. He wore a dark formal suit, his expression serious and his brows carrying an air of authority. One glance was enough to tell that he was accustomed to being in charge.
He had merely grown a little plump, his belly pushing his shirt into a slight bulge. Clearly, he had been living well in Eastsea City over the years.
Upon hearing Chen Qingquan's voice, the middle-aged man's solemn face immediately broke into a smile. His eyes narrowed to slits, like an old chrysanthemum in full bloom. He waved as he jogged over, his leather shoes tapping against the ground.
"Brother Quan! Here, here, here!"
Yu Zhen's voice was loud and carried a thick local accent, ringing out distinctly in the noisy station. The travelers nearby jumped at his voice and turned to look, but Yu Zhen was completely oblivious. His eyes held only Chen Qingquan.
Chen Qingquan led Bai Yushan toward Yu Zhen.
Yu Zhen hurried forward and clasped Chen Qingquan's outstretched hand tightly in both of his. His hands were thick and strong, squeezing until Chen Qingquan's knuckles creaked. His eyes reddened, his nostrils fluttered, and his lips trembled, like a child separated from his family for years who had finally found them again.
"My old chief! Brother Quan! What am I supposed to say to you? Things were going perfectly well back in Mingdu. Why did you have to go recklessly taking sides?"
Yu Zhen's voice was choked with tears, which brimmed in his eyes. His heart truly ached; he was truly distressed. Back in Mingdu, Chen Qingquan had been his immediate superior, the only person he could trust in that treacherous world of officialdom.
Chen Qingquan had recognized his worth and given him opportunities. A Soul Master of common birth with no background and no backer, he had struggled his way through the Federation with nothing but burning passion and his own abilities. Had Chen Qingquan not supported him every step of the way, those vermin who devoured people without spitting out the bones would have eaten Yu Zhen without leaving so much as a scrap.
Later, Yu Zhen had withdrawn after achieving success and come to Eastsea City to serve as the dean of Eastsea Academy. Several years had passed since then.
With children and grandchildren gathered around him and no worries about food or clothing, he lived comfortably and at ease. He had established himself in Eastsea City, built his own connections and resources, and finally no longer needed to watch anyone else's expression.
But when he heard that his old chief, whom he hadn't contacted in a long time, had reached out to him, he made some inquiries-only to discover that Chen Qingquan had been relegated to an obscure little city like Aolai City. Old tears immediately streamed down Yu Zhen's face. He cried several times at home, frightening his wife badly.
And so, upon hearing that Chen Qingquan was bringing his student to Eastsea Academy, Yu Zhen had driven over personally. He had gotten out of bed before dawn and waited at the station for almost an hour.
Chen Qingquan sighed as well. His temples had long since turned gray, and more silver had appeared in his hair. Though he was still in his prime, in his forties, he looked like a man in his fifties. His eyes held a light Yu Zhen knew well-the light of an idealist, the light of someone unwilling to bow to reality.
"It wasn't that I wanted to take sides. I couldn't stand watching a perfectly good Federation turned into a foul, smoky mess by a bunch of vermin!"
Chen Qingquan's voice was calm, as though he were discussing something entirely ordinary. But Yu Zhen could hear the resentment and anger beneath that calm.
Yu Zhen sighed with feeling. "Brother Quan! Your heart is still too big. You always carry too much in it, yet you always forget yourself."
His voice was very soft, like a sigh.