Chapter 326: A Friend's Expectations

The theme of the three-person meeting ultimately returned to the Lotus Burner. After clarifying the entire situation, the form of the Lotus Burner gradually became clear. Regardless, Pei Shu praised Du Zhengyi and Luo Qi; they were the people closest to the Lotus Burner among everyone.

Luo Qi hid all his cynicism and, like an ordinary person, accepted the praise of the Qionglin Venerable with full excitement. Following Du Zhengyi's request, he did not say a single word about Qionglin keeping Seal Beasts.

Before leaving, Pei Shu still had to go talk to the Highland Mage. While they were waiting in the corridor to see Pei Shu off, Luo Qi distractedly boasted to Du Zhengyi, "How about that? Do I have enough of a big-picture perspective? Magnanimous, emotionally very stable. As long as no one is dead, I absolutely do not pursue accountability."

"You did alright," Du Zhengyi leaned against the wall, looking at Luo Qi and saying in a low voice.

Luo Qi grinned, "Give me a little red flower."

"I'll give you something better than a little red flower," Du Zhengyi revealed a trace of a smile, "If your future career path is to stay in Qionglin, I can submit a recommendation to the Committee, along with a character reference."

"Really?"

Du Zhengyi was amused, "Why would it be fake? This is much easier than helping you open a pet shop."

"That is true," Luo Qi laughed. He raised his eyes to look at his friend, then shifted his gaze away.

"But you still have a few years before you graduate," Du Zhengyi stood up straight, left the wall, and looked at Luo Qi somewhat formally. "You still have a few years to make a final decision. If you intern with Pei Shu, you will have the chance to observe Qionglin's way of operating up close; perhaps you will be able to be more tolerant of Qionglin's mistakes. Or perhaps..."

Du Zhengyi laughed, feeling a bit embarrassed. At this moment, Qionglin's First War God looked very young, so young that he actually had a bit of self-doubt. He continued, "Perhaps because you are different from arrogant Mages, you will bring more changes to Qionglin. Luo Qi, rather than questioning Qionglin and accusing Qionglin, it is better to change it through personal action. This institution has existed for thousands of years; it has many problems, but this is the core of the Mage World's existence. Only Qionglin can make Mages unite and allow us to exist. Perhaps you can make Qionglin better, and make us all better."

"Me?" Luo Qi said in astonishment, "You hold such high hopes for me?"

"You are always shouting out many ideas at the top of your lungs; it's not that I haven't been listening to you. These days you have said a lot about your views on Qionglin, on Mages, and on humans. Luo Qi, you are very different; at the very least, the two of us are very different. I don't have many ideas; I am the type of person who solves problems, and the method of solving them is generally to eliminate the obstacles. I am a simple and practical person; I am good at being an executor; I am a warrior." As Du Zhengyi said this, he laughed again. Luo Qi didn't know a warrior could laugh so warmly. "You said many things I couldn't see or think of. I thought about it carefully later; perhaps you can keep moving forward. The opportunity now is excellent. Being by Pei Shu's side is equivalent to entering the core of power all at once. Many things you could only think about before, you might be able to push forward. Haven't you always said that infinite combinations derive infinite hope? Don't you want to try doing it yourself? To see Mages and humans living together in your lifetime."

"Perhaps humans can solve the problem of us not being able to have many children?" Luo Qi asked.

"Perhaps," Du Zhengyi smiled and said. This was actually a problem he didn't care much about. He said he was a very practical person; he had always been very practically dealing with the High-Reaction Mage problem, and hadn't thought much about anything else. "It also happens to solve your self-preservation problem; this might be the best win-win situation."

"Tsk, the way you put it, you sound more like a politician, a politician lobbying to recruit me. You said you wouldn't lobby me!" Luo Qi said, reaching out to wrap his arm around Du Zhengyi's shoulder. This future was good; it was described in a way that made the corners of his eyes wet, but he wanted to ask Du Zhengyi, where is Du Zhengyi in this future? He is nowhere. In that distant future, he would have long since ceased to exist. He hadn't asked Pei Shu for anything, and of course, he wouldn't ask him to do anything for him; he must view his own death as a necessary sacrifice to reach the future. "Maybe... it's possible... I will disappoint you... I'm really not a good child who makes his parents proud."

"I'm not your dad anyway," Du Zhengyi said, "I will help you do an assessment. If you can't adapt to Qionglin, just go raise cats. You don't have to sacrifice yourself for anyone."

"You have been sacrificing yourself for the Mage World the whole time," Luo Qi blurted out.

"I have."

Luo Qi was quite surprised that Du Zhengyi didn't deny this point, but although he said so, he looked quite peaceful. Luo Qi wondered, "People like you can righteously demand that others sacrifice."

"So I think, that's enough. They have no right to demand any more from my friend."

His voice was like a whisper, clearly not wanting anyone to hear. Luo Qi even suspected that he had opened a corner of his barrier, deliberately letting his Yajian flow out for Luo Qi to receive.

Luo Qi laughed, "Mm, the God of Probability will go elsewhere to harvest value, don't worry."

"Let's go, I can feel they have finished talking; Pei Shu should be coming out," Du Zhengyi said, turning to walk toward the hall, returning to his indifferent and impatient cool demeanor.

Luo Qi followed behind him, silently thinking that Du Zhengyi believed in him more than anyone else, but he didn't know if this was fate in the dark; when they suspected him, he was innocent, yet one day, they would be right, and Du Zhengyi would actually be wrong.

Luo Qi suddenly laughed, and Du Zhengyi turned his head to ask him, "What are you giggling at?"

"I dreamed I became the next First Venerable," Luo Qi said casually.

"Daydreaming," Du Zhengyi couldn't help but smile.

"I am the man who is going to become the Hokage," Luo Qi said, "And I also want to be the Pirate King."

"If you keep talking like that, that day will only get further and further away."

Pei Shu appeared in the corridor, interrupting the two's idle chatter. Luo Qi stood properly, to match the good boy he had recently sworn to be. Du Zhengyi, however, was still standing crookedly; Luo Qi secretly thought this was another piece of evidence that one should not judge a book by its cover.

"I tried my best to make the Highland Mage believe that security should be strengthened here," Pei Shu said hurriedly as soon as he approached. Luo Qi knew from his tone that there hadn't been much progress. Pei Shu then added, "I cannot delay here any longer, but I will provide you with some help. If you encounter any special situation, Zhengyi, use the Highland Mage's Public Post Station to contact me."

"Alright," Du Zhengyi replied.

"Also," Pei Shu glanced at Luo Qi and said to Du Zhengyi, "Watch him and make sure he attends the Highland Mage's classes properly."

Luo Qi was extremely ashamed, and Du Zhengyi smiled very willingly, "Task guaranteed to be completed."