Chapter 16

Yunluo Li, Year 9998, October 29.

Fenlai Cheng was exceptionally lively at the end of the month. People came and went along Xiangxie Dadao, carriages moved in an endless stream, and street vendors' shouts rose and fell in turns. With the end-of-month holiday only two days away, many nobles and commoners took advantage of the fine weather to go out and stroll.

Aikesi walked among the crowd, with Yelu, Leinuo, and Qiaozhi following beside him. Linlei had not come—he said he had something to do today and stayed alone at the academy.

"It's rare for the fourth brother not to come out." Leinuo chewed on the dried meat he had just bought. "Usually, when you call him, he doesn't come; today, well, he has his own matters."

"He has a girlfriend now, of course he needs to accompany her." Yelu glanced at him sideways. "You think everyone is like you, a lone wolf."

Leinuo was unconvinced: "How am I a lone wolf? There are plenty of girls chasing me!" Follow the books on Tiantian Kan Xiaoshuo, ttkts. tw, super convenient.

"Plenty? Then why are you still alone?"

"I... I'm being picky!"

Qiaozhi laughed from the side: "Alright, stop bantering. There's a newly opened magic materials shop ahead; shall we go take a look?"

"Let's go." Aikesi nodded.

The five became four as they walked forward along Xiangxie Dadao.

By late October, Fenlai Cheng already carried a chill, but the sunlight was excellent, warming the body as it shone down. Aikesi listened to Leinuo bragging intermittently, his gaze casually sweeping over the shops along the street.

Just then, Leinuo suddenly grabbed his sleeve.

"Third brother, look over there!"

Aikesi followed his gaze, and his steps halted.

At the entrance of the café across Xiangxie Dadao, a man and a woman were walking out hand in hand. The girl had golden hair and blue eyes, wearing a pale blue long dress, and she smiled very beautifully. The man had short brown hair, dressed in luxurious attire, and was bowing his head, saying something to her.

Ailisi.

That man was not Linlei.

Aikesi stood where he was, watching the two talk and laugh as they walked away. Leinuo clenched his fists, Yelu's face darkened, and Qiaozhi's brows knitted tightly.

"That man..." Leinuo gritted his teeth, "who is he?"

"I don't know." Qiaozhi shook his head. "Judging by his dress, he should be a noble of Fenlai Cheng."

Yelu stared in that direction: "Does the fourth brother know?"

No one answered.

Aikesi fell silent for a moment, then spoke: "Let's go back first."

The group turned and headed toward the academy. No one spoke the entire way; the atmosphere was oppressively heavy.

Back at the academy, the four sat down in the dormitory courtyard.

"What should we do?" Leinuo spoke first. "Should we tell the fourth brother?"

"We definitely must tell him." Yelu said. "But we cannot say it directly."

"Why can't we say it directly?" Leinuo was puzzled. "Let him see that woman's true face!"

Qiaozhi shook his head: "It's not that simple. Linlei is currently deeply in love; if you suddenly run over and say his girlfriend is with someone else, whether he believes it is one thing, and whether he suffers a blow is another."

"Then what do we do? Just let him remain in the dark?"

The group looked at Aikesi.

Aikesi leaned back in his chair, silent for a while: "I will go and say it."

"You?" Yelu looked at him. "How will you say it?"

"Find him tonight for a drink, and hint at it indirectly." Aikesi said. "First, let him have some psychological preparation. When he sees it with his own eyes, then let him decide for himself."

Qiaozhi nodded: "This is more prudent."

Leinuo frowned: "What if he doesn't understand?"

"Not understanding is better than being told directly." Yelu said. "For matters like this, no matter what outsiders say, it is useless; he must discover it himself."

The group reached an agreement.

That evening, Aikesi carried two bottles of wine and went to Linlei's room.

Linlei was reading a book; seeing him enter, he was somewhat surprised: "Is something wrong?"

"Here to drink with you." Aikesi placed the wine on the table. "I'm feeling stifled."

Linlei looked at the wine bottles, his brows slightly furrowed: "I'm not very good at drinking."

"It's fine, drink a little." Aikesi sat down, opened the wine bottle, and poured two cups. "Keep me company and talk."

Linlei hesitated for a moment, then took the wine cup.

The two clinked glasses, each taking a small sip. Linlei winced from the sting, and Aikesi smiled: "Drink slowly, no rush."

Moonlight spilled in through the window; the dormitory was very quiet.

"How have things been with Ailisi lately?" Aikesi asked.

Linlei looked at him, a faint smile on his lips: "Very good."

"In what way is it good?"

Linlei thought for a moment: "She... is very understanding. Last time I went to Fenlai Cheng, she accompanied me for a whole day and even bought this for me." He took out a talisman from his chest, palm-sized, embroidered with intricate patterns.

Aikesi took it, looked at it, and handed it back: "Not bad."

Linlei put it away and took a sip of wine.

Aikesi chose his words carefully before speaking: "Fourth brother, there is something I don't know if I should say."

"Say it."

"Matters of the heart..." Aikesi looked at the wine cup. "Sometimes, the more you invest, the greater the injury if something unexpected happens."

Linlei paused, then looked at him.

Aikesi continued: "I have no experience, just speaking blindly. But I feel that when two people are together, one cannot look only at surface goodness; one must look at the long term. For some matters, one must keep a watchful eye."

Linlei was silent for a moment, then nodded: "You are right."

"So you..."

"I know." Linlei interrupted him. "I'll pay attention."

Aikesi looked into his eyes and knew he hadn't understood. Linlei thought he was speaking about general emotional wisdom, believing he was concerned for him, and never considered the direction he meant.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but ultimately swallowed the words back.

"Good then." He raised his cup. "Come, drink another sip."

The two clinked cups.

He stepped out of Linlei's room.

Yelu and the others were still waiting in the courtyard; when they saw him emerge, they all looked up at once.

"How did it go?" Leinuo asked.

Aikesi shook his head: "He didn't understand."

"Didn't understand?" Yelu frowned. "What did you say?"

"I hinted indirectly—said love requires caution." Aikesi sat down. "He thought it made sense, but never considered the implication."

Qiaozhi sighed: "That's normal. He's completely preoccupied with Ailisi—how could he imagine her with someone else?"

"Then what do we do?" Leinuo grew anxious. "Just wait?"

Aikesi leaned back in his chair, gazing at the night sky.

The moonlight was bright, the stars sparse. Occasional insect chirps drifted from afar.

"Wait until he discovers it himself," he said.

The group fell silent.

After a long while, Yelu spoke: "Third brother, who do you think the man is?"

"I don't know," Aikesi said. "But from his attire, he's likely a noble from Fenlai Cheng."

"Could it be that one from the Debusi Family?" Qiaozhi suddenly said.

Aikesi turned to him: "The Debusi Family?"

"Yes," Qiaozhi nodded. "The Debusi Family is one of Fenlai Cheng's great clans, allied with the Dawson Chamber of Commerce. They have a young master named Kalan who, it seems, is Ailisi's childhood friend."

Aikesi's heart stirred.

Kalan. The original novel did indeed name him that.

"How do you know?" Leinuo asked.

Qiaozhi shrugged: "I heard it when I was chatting with Yelu last time. His family has some fame in Fenlai Cheng."

Yelu frowned: "The Debusi Family... I have a faint memory. Their patriarch has had dealings with my family's chamber, but we're not close."

The next day, everything proceeded as usual.

Linlei trained in the Hou Shan in the afternoon and went to Fenlai Cheng to find Ailisi in the evening. When he returned, his expression was calm, showing no sign of disturbance.

Aikesi didn't ask, and neither did the others.

Days passed like this.

On an evening in early November, Aikesi trained alone in the Hou Shan. The sun dipped low, painting half the sky in crimson twilight. He sat on a rock beside the waterfall, eyes closed in meditation.

The Falling Heart Flame pulsed slowly within him, the Fire Spirit Bead glowing faintly. Fire Elements continuously surged into his body, steadily increasing the Magic in his Middle Dantian.

He was at the late stage of Level 6, still a long way from Level 7.

【Ding—Monthly check-in opportunity has refreshed.】

【Check in?】

Aikesi silently thought: Check in.

【Check-in successful.】

【Reward obtained: Azeroth Arcane Brilliance (permanent)—Spiritual Force perception enhanced, meditation efficiency increased by ten percent.】

A cool sensation flooded his mind, spreading instantly.

Aikesi closed his eyes, sensing this subtle change.