It's a profoundly delightful occasion when old friends reunite. Especially in such remote corners of the Border. And especially when you're nearly destitute, starving in the streets... It was as if Yuan Zhao, with wings attached, swooped down from the skies bearing the ticket to a fresh al, filling Huai Shi with gratitude.
I didn't regard you as my best friend for nothing!
"But how did you end up looking like this?"
He had been tousled by the sea breeze and scared into a cold sweat by Leviathan. If it weren't for the Book of Fate, his Source Substance would've scattered from just one glance.
Huai Shi knew without looking in a mirror just how haggard and spooked he appeared.
"It's a long story," Huai Shi sighed, obviously not wanting to admit he was duped here by the unscrupulous Raven perched on his shoulder. He quickly changed the subject. "What about you?"
"Uh, I was with..."
Yuan Zhao's eyes twitched, as if he'd just rembered sothing. Then, Huai Shi heard a chilly voice rise from behind him.
"Ah Zhao, mind your manners."
Standing beside the luggage behind him, the Teenage Girl in a gray skirt lifted her gaze to Yuan Zhao and coolly asked, "Having kept everyone waiting so long, shouldn't you introduce your friend?"
Only now did Huai Shi notice that Yuan Zhao had several companions behind him.
They all seed to be of similar age, aside from an old attendant following the girl; there weren't many older than Huai Shi.
But beyond their reserved or lavish attire, Huai Shi could detect a certain detachnt in those relaxed expressions, and the intermittent fluctuations...
Mother of God, each of these little brats has at least four or five Border Relics on them. Even their cufflinks bore Alchemy inscriptions. How wealthy could they be?
Especially the leader, the Teenage Girl in gray, whose cool eyes flickered with sparks. Huai Shi could feel the Source Fluctuation emanating from her, even surpassing Yuan Zhao's and subtly edging him out in sharpness.
She's 1.8 Yuan Zhaos strong!
Clearly revering her, Yuan Zhao, for all his usual teenage theatrics, didn't bristle at being scolded in public. Instead, he nodded, turned, and began introductions.
"This is Huai Shi, my... best friend, whom I t at the rookie competition," Yuan Zhao said.
The Teenage Girl in the gray skirt lifted her gaze toward Huai Shi upon hearing this.
Apparently puzzled as to where her brother had picked up such an unconventional character, she raised her brows slightly yet didn't show any displeasure.
She simply nodded politely at Huai Shi.
Then Yuan Zhao proceeded to introduce his companions to Huai Shi one by one: "This is my cousin Yuan Yuan. Next to her is Feng Chu, this is Zhao Xinya, this is Wang Xu, and this is called... Wood Cottage."
"Huh?" Huai Shi paused, not catching that clearly. "Lin what?"
As if already accustod to such confusion, Yuan Zhao cleared his throat and clarified, "Last na Lin, first na Middle Cottage."
"Uh... Nice to et you."
Huai Shi nodded at the handso young man, who bore a delicate beauty akin to a girl's, genuinely puzzled by what kind of thought process his parents went through.
To give their child such a na.
"It's fine, I'm used to it," said Wood Cottage with a warm smile, waving at Huai Shi enthusiastically. "Just call Little Nineteen. That's what my family calls . And by the way, I personally have no issues with you."
"Hm?"
Huai Shi was puzzled until the young man who called himself Little Nineteen softly reminded him, "My last na is Lin."
"..."
Huai Shi's expression twitched.
A Lin? Damn, talk about enemies crossing paths!
"No worries, she is her, I am ," Lin Nineteen said calmly, waving his hand with a smile. "Besides, I'm still young. Haven't even learned how to offend people yet."
Is that even sothing you need to be taught? I feel like my horizons are truly expanding. Your Lin family's traditional learning is profound!
"Rest assured, the Lin family... How should I put it, they're quite peculiar," whispered Yuan Zhao by his side. "Although they're experts at getting on people's nerves, the family never interferes if soone is beaten to death outside... I've heard the old master of the Lin family thinks highly of you, saying it'd be a pity if you didn't walk the Path of Karma."
"..."
Is your Lin family so kind of Offender's Alliance? Gather seven of the most irritating people and you could make a wish to rule the world?
With this thought, Huai Shi couldn't help but turn and glare at the Raven. Is this the solution you talked about? They didn't pursue the matter at all... and you settled it for ? Give a refund!
The Raven blinked innocently, as if it were just an ordinary crow, clueless about what he was talking about.
After introductions, they all beca acquainted.
Yuan Zhao warmly invited Huai Shi to join them. Hungry for a al, Huai Shi readily agreed.
However, aside from Lin Nineteen, the others seed distinctly unenthusiastic about Huai Shi. Thereafter, they beca aloof, acting as if they didn't see him.
Walking ahead, Wang Xu almost laughed out loud upon seeing Huai Shi's attire. He whispered sothing to Zhao Xinya. When she turned back and caught sight of Huai Shi, she couldn't help but suppress a laugh and playfully punched his shoulder.
"How can you say that about soone..."
Yuan Zhao frowned. Looking at Huai Shi, he felt sowhat awkward and said in a low voice, "My sister has so classmates who are idiots. Don't take them too seriously."
But Huai Shi wasn't really bothered. He just felt that in his current state, he wasn't exactly popular.
Anger was far from his reaction. He had heard even worse when busking with his cello all over the place.
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