“Hello,” Zong Xinjue nodded.
“Senior, it’s really great to see you. I thought I’d never see you again.”
Thinking back to the past, An Jueluo felt like crying. “Why did you leave without a word back then? When we heard what the coach said, we were all stunned.”
Zong Xinjue smiled but didn’t respond.
“Senior, can I add you as a friend?” An Jueluo opened the friend request panel, his face full of anticipation.
“Of course, you can.” There was nothing to refuse.
[Player An Jueluo has requested to add you as a friend.]
[You have added player An Jueluo as a friend.]
“Um, Senior Chen Qianli, can I also add you as a friend?” An Jueluo turned his gaze to Chu Qianze, a bit embarrassed.
“No problem.” Chu Qianze agreed to the friend request.
“If you don’t mind, can I join as well?” Bai Che timely joined the conversation.
So, the four of them became friends.
“Senior, how about I treat you all to a meal? It’s rare to meet, and I have a lot I want to talk to you about. Senior, you don’t know, but since you left, some things have happened at the club.” An Jueluo said this, recalling the scene of everyone gathering for a meal and having fun back then, with a somewhat melancholic expression.
Bai Che, seeing An Jueluo in this state, felt a pang of sympathy. Without saying anything, he just patted his shoulder, offering silent comfort.
“I’m fine,” An Jueluo said, grabbing Bai Che’s hand and smiling at everyone, appearing quite cheerful.
Chu Qianze remained silent throughout, listening to their conversation. In the end, he shifted his attention to Zong Xinjue, feeling that this person seemed a bit down.
“Senior, senior, will you participate in the upcoming holographic league?” An Jueluo asked.
Zong Xinjue, upon hearing this, turned to glance at Chu Qianze and replied, “Not confirmed yet.”
“Haha, I’ve already confirmed my participation as a team player. If Senior joins, we’ll be opponents! I’m really looking forward to the match against Senior,” An Jueluo said, shaking Bai Che’s hand like an excited puppy.
“Good luck in the competition,” Zong Xinjue remarked.
Bai Che tugged at An Jueluo’s sleeve, “Didn’t we say we were going to have a meal together? How did we end up chatting again?”
“Oh right, I almost forgot.” An Jueluo scratched his head, grinning. “Senior, let me treat you all to a meal. It’s a good opportunity to talk about those guys. When they find out I saw you, they’ll be really shocked.”
“How is everyone doing?” Zong Xinjue asked.
An Jueluo: “Actually, everyone is doing fine, living their own lives. With the popularity of holographic online games, the club is considering reforms, and we’re currently researching that area.”
“Oh, by the way, Senior, how about we go grab a meal now? I was chatting with the coach yesterday, and he’s probably still online. It’s a good opportunity for a video call together.”
Zong Xinjue remained silent for two seconds, involuntarily touching his right wrist.
Even though it wasn’t evident on the surface, Chu Qianze couldn’t help but feel that Zong Xinjue’s mood wasn’t particularly high at the moment.
Taking a deep breath, Chu Qianze lifted his arm and put it around Zong Xinjue’s neck in a friendly manner, saying, “Sorry, we actually have something to attend to later, so we probably won’t be able to have the meal. How about we plan for another time?”
An Jueluo seemed visibly disappointed, having finally met in person. “Well, if there’s something going on, then there’s nothing we can do.”
“Since we’re already friends, arranging a meal is just a message away. Feel free to contact us anytime,” An Jueluo said, turning to Zong Xinjue for his opinion, “Right?”
“Let’s plan for another time,” Zong Xinjue suggested.
“That works too,” An Jueluo said, feeling a bit reluctant. It was rare to meet such a respected senior, and there were still many things left unsaid. He didn’t want to part ways so soon.
“That’s settled then, until next time!” Waving to the two, Chu Qianze led his group in the opposite direction.
Zong Xinjue didn’t resist and went along with them.
“Is there anything else you need to buy? Potions, weapons, inscriptions—” Chu Qianze turned his head to ask the person beside him.
Zong Xinjue shook his head, “I’ve already got everything, let’s proceed directly to the mission.”
“Why the rush? Busy with missions every day, be careful not to drive yourself crazy.” Chu Qianze smirked and lifted Zong Xinjue’s head. “Raise your head, chest out. What’s with the lowered head? Afraid of getting cervical spondylosis? If you haven’t heard about that, let’s go play lantern riddles.”
“Lantern riddles?” Zong Xinjue looked surprised. “Wait, I don’t know how to do that!”
Before he could finish his sentence, he was already being pulled towards a nearby stall.
“I don’t know either. Let’s just watch and guess. No pressure, and who knows, we might trigger a quest.”
Saying that, Chu Qianze dragged Zong Xinjue to a small stall. “Boss, how much for the lantern riddle guessing?”
Seeing the two walking away side by side, disappearing around the street corner, An Jueluo showed a relieved expression.
“That’s really great.”
Bai Che observed An Jueluo’s expression and repeated, “Really great?”
“Yeah. Senior used to be on his own. Although he usually did activities with us, it always felt like there was something separating us. It just gave off a lonely vibe.” Thinking back to the training days, An Jueluo’s eyes flickered with a hint of nostalgia. “Now, Senior seems to have become much more cheerful than before.”
“Let me tell you, Senior is super amazing. At the age of 19, he led the team to win the world championship. He’s truly a genius! I was there watching that game live. When the victory sign appeared, and the victory anthem played, all of us stood up and applauded. It was truly awe-inspiring. I’ll never forget that scene for the rest of my life! It was at that moment I made up my mind to become a professional esports player. He was really cool!”
When it came to his idol, An Jueluo couldn’t stop talking. His eyes were filled with pride and satisfaction, as if he himself had won that championship.
“It’s a pity that after that game, Senior announced retirement without explaining the reason. After that, he disappeared, and we couldn’t find him anywhere. Clearly, that was the golden age for esports players, and many people couldn’t understand.”
An Jueluo sighed, but quickly regained his excitement. “But later, when I joined that team, the coach managed to bring Senior back and even had him conduct training for us! I couldn’t believe it. It felt like I was dreaming.”
“I thought after the training, Senior would leave the club, and I wouldn’t see him again. But unexpectedly, I can meet him here. It’s really amazing!”
“Looks like you’ve talked yourself tired. Have some water.” Bai Che took out a bottle of drink from his backpack and handed it over.
“Hehe, you’re really thoughtful, Bai Che!” An Jueluo took the bottle and drank a big gulp. But then, as he tried to speak again, he ended up choking, coughing violently.
Patting his back, Bai Che couldn’t help but chuckle and sympathize, “Just focus on drinking water. What’s the use of talking if you’re going to choke yourself?”
An Jueluo waved his hand and said after a while, “I guess I got a bit too excited.”
“Meeting Senior makes you that excited?” Bai Che asked.
“Of course! He’s my idol!” An Jueluo proudly lifted his chin.
“Listening to you say that, I’m feeling a bit jealous,” Bai Che teased, his eyes gently curved.
“Huh?” An Jueluo didn’t expect such a response and was a bit slow to catch on.
“I feel like you forget about me when you see Senior. I can only listen to what you’re saying, and I can’t really join in on the conversation.”
“Are you upset?” Now An Jueluo also understood and immediately hugged Bai Che. “I’m sorry, I overlooked this. I’ll be more mindful next time and talk less about it.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Bai Che patted An Jueluo’s arm and continued, “Even though I feel a bit jealous that someone has captured your admiration so much, I still like hearing you talk about it.”
“Really?” An Jueluo’s eyes lit up.
“Of course. I’m happy that you’re willing to share your experiences and feelings with me. Even though I wasn’t part of your past, at least I can understand you better. Tell me more in the future.” Bai Che took a step back and extended his hand. “Let’s go. We agreed to have dinner at a restaurant.”
“Sure.” An Jueluo was deeply moved, immediately agreeing.
“Oh, and about the next dinner gathering, let’s wait for Senior to bring it up naturally, what do you think?” Bai Che suggested.
“Why?” An Jueluo was puzzled; he couldn’t wait to have a meal with Senior.
The whole situation is obviously not as simple as you think, and there may be many underlying complexities. Bai Che is very sensitive to emotions due to his living environment, but how could he express something like this?
“Your Senior and that person named Chen Qianli seem to have some history. It’s probably better not to disturb them. Plus, you’ve already made plans to have dinner together next time. Why worry about Senior standing you up?” Bai Che suggested.
“Huh?!” An Jueluo was shocked.
What kind of history? Is it just something he imagined?
“It’s probably a bit like the situation between us.” Bai Che explained.
The atmosphere and connection between the two of them were easily discernible. It had that kind of exclusive, magnet-like attraction, creating a world of its own that outsiders found hard to penetrate.
An Jueluo blinked in astonishment, “R-Really?”
“I’m not sure; maybe I got it wrong.” Bai Che took a few steps forward, realizing An Jueluo hadn’t caught up and waved at him. “Hurry up, or we’ll miss the plan we made.”
On the other side, Chu Qianze was still enjoying lantern riddles with his group.
Taking down the note hanging from a lantern, Chu Qianze read it aloud, “Strategic plan for establishing a nation, guess the character.”
“Jade (Yu).”
He placed the lantern in front of the owner. “Did I get it right?”
Such a simple lantern riddle.
The owner sighed, “You’re correct.”
“Hahaha, then this one is free, right? The next one too, maybe?” Chu Qianze joked.
Chu Qianze looked pleased and gestured to Zong Xinjue, “Come on, this round is yours.”
Zong Xinjue’s expression was somewhat complicated, “Are you sure you want me to try?”
It’s not like he hasn’t tried before. Whenever he attempted a lantern riddle, it would inevitably be of the highest difficulty level, and he could never figure it out himself.
“Sure, come on. It’s free anyway. If you can’t guess it, no big deal. Just consider it relaxing.” Chu Qianze made room for Zong Xinjue and gestured for him to give it a try.
Sighing softly, Zong Xinjue approached and picked a lantern. “I’ll take that one.”
“Alright, dear customer, please take a look.” The owner took down the note hanging from the lantern and handed it to Zong Xinjue.
After scanning the question, Zong Xinjue’s eyebrows gradually furrowed. He tried a few answers, but none of them were correct. Unable to figure it out, he couldn’t help but look up at Chu Qianze.
“Hey, dear customer, dear customer, you can’t give hints in lantern riddles!” The owner hurriedly intervened upon seeing this.
He was genuinely worried. The person beside him was a complete cheat; for every lantern riddle he picked, regardless of its difficulty, he could always come up with the correct answer. If this continued, how could the owner run his business?
“I didn’t say anything. Don’t look at me like I’m a thief. Am I going to steal your money?” Chu Qianze found it amusing.
“Where, where, you’re our guest. How could I compare you to a money-stealing thief?” The owner forced a smile.
But blocking his way and already solving almost half of the lantern riddles right at his doorstep, wasn’t it like stealing money?
“How’s it going? Any ideas?” Chu Qianze leaned over for a look, then noticed the owner staring at him with a tense expression.
“I won’t reveal the answer,” Chu Qianze sighed, straightened up, and crossed his arms.
Even though the words “Pure” and “Innocent” were clearly written in his eyes, why was this person still so biased against him? It felt like pure prejudice.
“Yes, yes, you’re right!” The owner smiled amicably, but his eyes were even more focused.
“I can’t figure it out.” Zong Xinjue handed the note to the owner. “Consider this one purchased by me. The free opportunity can go to the person next to me.”
“Want to keep playing?” Chu Qianze asked.
“No, I’m really not good at this kind of thing.” Zong Xinjue chuckled.
“Okay, then I won’t play anymore.” Chu Qianze turned to the owner, saying, “How many questions did I answer just now? Should be enough to exchange for that lantern, right?”
“Of course, absolutely exchangeable. Here you go.” The owner took the lantern down and handed it to Chu Qianze.
The lantern was exquisitely crafted, meant to attract customers. He intentionally set high requirements, hoping to build anticipation, never intending to let anyone take it away.
He never expected to encounter such a situation right after opening for business.
Now he just wanted these two to leave. Compared to the lantern, everything else was secondary.
Chu Qianze didn’t take it and gestured towards Zong Xinjue, “You take this one.”
“Alright, dear customer, it’s yours.” The owner swiftly turned and handed the lantern to Zong Xinjue.
Zong Xinjue didn’t immediately reach for it but looked at Chu Qianze with a questioning expression.
“This is a return gift.” Chu Qianze gave a light cough. “Hurry up and take it; otherwise, we won’t make it to the next place.”
“There’s another place?” Seeing the owner almost in tears, Zong Xinjue took the lantern and expressed his thanks.
Chu Qianze walked out ahead. By now, the area was surrounded by people who had heard about the master at solving lantern riddles, coming to witness the excitement.
“Bro, can you teach me how to solve lantern riddles?” someone called out, with a few others echoing the request.
“You’ve got to rely on yourselves for that. Solving lantern riddles is all about personal achievement and satisfaction.” Chu Qianze smiled, pulling Zong Xinjue along.
Zong Xinjue held the lantern in one hand and asked, “What are we doing next?”
“Don’t ask. Just follow me.” Chu Qianze led the way, taking a few turns into an alley.
Turning another corner, he pointed ahead, “We’ve reached our destination.”
Zong Xinjue looked at the dead-end in front of them and sighed, “Are you sure it’s here?”
Seeing the tall walls in front and the bewildered expression on Chu Qianze’s face, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“What are you laughing at? No laughing allowed!” Chu Qianze clicked his tongue, wondering why this place didn’t match his expectations.
He opened the map and realized he had overlooked a crossroad in the middle. How did he end up in a dead-end?!
“How about we take a detour, go back a bit, and then continue straight to get to the front?” Zong Xinjue suggested.
If they took a detour, wouldn’t it lack grandeur?
“You don’t understand. This is intentional.” Chu Qianze stood in place, staring directly at Zong Xinjue, then pointed to the side.
Zong Xinjue shifted the lantern to his other hand, “Let me through?”
“Yes, just stand here,” Chu Qianze said.
Seeing Zong Xinjue standing beside him, he continued, “Make sure to hold onto the lantern.”
Zong Xinjue replied, “You don’t have to tell me. I know what to do.” After all, it was a gift from him.
Closing his eyes, Chu Qianze summoned the character panel.
[Activating skill: Mechanical Wings]
Metal components assembled, forming giant wings lifting behind Chu Qianze. “Ready, I’ll take you flying again.”
Chu Qianze held Zong Xinjue, and the wings shimmered as the two soared into the sky, surpassing the tall walls, revealing a vast landscape.
Unlike the narrow alleys, this place was spacious. A stream flowed below, producing a gentle sound. Above the stream, lanterns were lit, following the flow of the water.
The lanterns swayed along the stream, gently flickering. Each carried the hopes and aspirations of their owners, heading towards an unknown destination.
Chu Qianze held the person tighter, adjusting the wings’ direction as they descended. He brought them above a small stream. At this moment, the distance between them and the lanterns was less than two meters.
Zong Xinjue lowered his head to look down, feeling a warmth even with just that. As Chu Qianze descended with him, Zong Xinjue reached down, his fingers gliding over the cool water. The sensation of the flowing stream was vivid.
The two followed the gentle stream downward, accompanied by the glowing lanterns. Buildings with white walls and black tiles passed by, roofs on both sides rising and falling. If not observed closely, it seemed as if the roofs were dancing.
“What is that?” A person stood on the balcony, admiring the scenery, when suddenly they felt a gust of wind pass by. Looking outside, they saw a pair of giant wings dancing and fluttering. Beneath the wings, there were lantern lights filled with hope.
The lanterns swayed, and even the cold mechanical wings took on a warm hue. It was like the lingering glow of the setting sun—gentle, not scorching, yet possessing a touching power.
“…An angel?” The girl whispered, deeply moved by the scene, forgetting everything else.
Chu Qianze brought people to a halt at a lake. This was a junction of a stream, where all the lanterns gathered. Behind them, the lanterns would continue drifting downstream until the end.
With a brief flutter of mechanical wings, he landed with his entourage by a nearby pavilion.
“How does it look? Not bad, right?” Chu Qianze casually sat on the railing.
“What is this place…” Zong Xinjue squatted down, bending to look at the surface of the lake. The water was crystal clear, and he could see his own reflection on it.
“At the end of this main city, it’s the wishing stream. However, judging by the situation, they will continue flowing downstream,” Chu Qianze explained.
“Didn’t you say we were going to release lanterns? That’s why I brought you here. We release them here. According to the procedure, make a wish, or write down your desire and place it inside the lantern, then light the candle. Something like that.”
“You really are—” Zong Xinjue found himself at a loss for words as he gazed at the person’s face.
There was an inexplicable emotion welling up in his heart, threatening to spiral out of control, a sensation he could clearly feel.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself. “So why did you bring me here? Any place would have sufficed.”
“Hmm? Didn’t you see when you came over?” Chu Qianze crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow.
Zong Xinjue: “See what?”
“A massive disaster site. Many of those lanterns dropped directly by the stream have sunk. So, if I’m taking you to release these things, they should either stay afloat indefinitely or move faster than the others, at least last longer than them. Otherwise, your wishes will end up in the water, maybe with a splash or two.”
Zong Xinjue: …
“Are you planning to make a wish or write it down?” Chu Qianze took a pen out of his backpack. “I’ve got all the tools ready for you.”
“I’ll make a wish,” Zong Xinjue replied.
“Oh,” Chu Qianze returned the pen to his backpack and pulled out a matchstick. “You’ll definitely need this~”
Zong Xinjue chuckled, taking the matchstick. “Indeed.”
Lifting the candle inside the lantern, Zong Xinjue used the matchstick to ignite the wick. He closed his eyes, made a wish in his heart, then opened them again. Placing it in the river with both hands, he gave it a gentle push, and the lantern floated away.
After a deep gaze at the lantern, Zong Xinjue stood up and sat next to Chu Qianze.
“What wish did you make?” Chu Qianze was curious.
“I wished for you to participate in this competition with me,” Zong Xinjue said.
“Isn’t it said that wishes lose their power if you speak them aloud? Why did you just tell me directly?” Chu Qianze looked puzzled.
Zong Xinjue turned his head, gazing at the stream. From his current position, he couldn’t see the end of the stream; there was only a faint line.
“Why did you think of bringing me here to do this?”
“I felt like it, so I did it,” Chu Qianze said, hands supporting him behind as he leaned on the railing.
“Is that so?”
“How do you feel now?”
“I feel pretty good,” Zong Xinjue replied.
“Hahaha, it looks like I did a pretty good job,” Chu Qianze said, feeling proud of himself.
“Yeah, if you use it to pick up girls, it’ll definitely work well,” Zong Xinjue remarked.
With a scoff, Chu Qianze raised his hand and lightly pushed Zong Xinjue. “Why does that sound so awkward coming from you? Besides, it’s not something just anyone can pull off.”
That last statement sent a shiver through Zong Xinjue. What did he mean?
He controlled his breath, stopping himself from speculating further.
“Now that our mood is uplifted, let’s set off to the next destination. We still haven’t collected nearly half of the herbs.”
“You still remember to gather herbs?”
Zong Xinjue’s tone lifted, tinged with some surprise. “I thought you were already having too much fun.”
“Roll, roll, roll. That’s called reasonable relaxation. Combining leisure with efficiency is the way to go!” Chu Qianze waved his hand, as if to say, how could you mortals understand my pursuit?
Standing up, Zong Xinjue took a deep breath, having also adjusted to the situation. He turned to Chu Qianze, spreading his hands. “Let’s go, onto the next place.”
It seemed like he had cheered up.
Chu Qianze grasped that outstretched hand, standing up with him. “We’ll collect four types today!”
“I have no problem with that,” Zong Xinjue said.
“Do you still need me to supervise you?”
“Come on, you even got me a seasoning kit. Isn’t that encouraging me to have a relaxing picnic?” Chu Qianze nudged Zong Xinjue with his elbow as they walked out of the pavilion.
“Just taking a proper break,” Zong Xinjue followed.
Chu Qianze cradled his head in his hands, leisurely stepping forward. “Fine, say whatever you want. Just walk faster, too slow—”
The two of them left the pavilion, and behind them, the lantern followed the stream, winding its way downstream, gradually fading into the distance.
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