"I'm back." Xiao Wanli smiled warmly and waved. "Come here and let me take a look. That trip of yours was rough. You weren't injured, were you?"

Xiao Qianxi sat gracefully to the side, pouring tea for Xiao Wanli. Her usual ice-queen demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she was like a perfectly doting daughter. Xia Liang remained silent, his gaze fixed on the man standing behind the Dragon King.

The man was built like a small mountain. One could tell from his stance that his foundation was extremely stable. It was an imposing aura one couldn't develop without at least twenty years of hardcore physical conditioning.

Yes, to an ordinary person, he's a master.

"So, you're Xia Liang? Good lad, come and sit." Xiao Wanli beckoned to Xia Liang again. "My eyes aren't what they used to be, so I can't see clearly from a distance."

Standing before this true powerhouse, Xia Liang showed no caution or trepidation. As if this guy could be stronger than me. He sat down confidently in the chair opposite him.

「Half an hour later.」

Xia Liang emerged alone, a strange expression on his face.

Reaching the courtyard gate, Bai Yin spoke up. "Wait."

"What's up, old man?"

Xia Liang's brow furrowed. This old man is pretty audacious. If you're the night watchman, just do your rounds. Why are you stopping people? And how would he know the Dragon King gave me something? Despite his thoughts, he didn't object, pulling two simple, old-fashioned wooden boxes from his shirt.

Inside one of them was a reddish-gold medal.

"Just as I thought," Bai Yin nodded.

"Old man, what is this medal called? Neither the Dragon King nor Xiao Qianxi were clear about it before. If you can identify it, I won't have to waste money getting it appraised."

Bai Yin shot him a look as if he were an idiot. "Appraised? Only one person has ever received this medal. You are the second. Who do you think is qualified to appraise it?"

He waved his hand dismissively and glanced at the second small wooden box. Inside was a dark, high-quality tablet engraved with a five-clawed Golden Dragon. The characters were carved in a small seal script.

"Heh, I didn't expect him to actually give it to you," Bai Yin said, a rare hint of surprise in his voice.

Xia Liang knew what this item was. The moment he accepted the plaque, he had become an honorary elder of Luan Long. That's right, Xia Liang hadn't become a captain. After displaying some of his strength, he had expressed his disinterest in formally joining. In the end, the Dragon King gave him an honorary elder's plaque. The benefits were still there, but he wouldn't be called upon unless the matter concerned the Dragon Country itself.

"Old man, do people recognize this plaque on the outside? If I'm in Shangjing or another city and run a red light or park illegally, will this thing actually work?"

This was Xia Liang's main concern. They had only given him the plaque, not an ID card like the one Xiao Qianxi had.

"You're an honorary elder, and you have such low ambitions." Bai Yin waved his hand impatiently. "The things at the base of the wall are a gift for you. Consider it a welcome package for joining Luan Long."

Xia Liang gave him a thumbs-up. Typical of a secret organization to give out a welcome package for new members.

His enthusiasm died when he saw the pile of scrap metal at the base of the wall. He rolled his eyes. "Old man, don't tell me you want me to search for soda cans in there."

"Whether you find anything or not is up to fate."

Xia Liang shook his head and sighed. He scanned the pile of junk with his Spiritual Power and eventually located something that seemed promising. It was a long object, but it was so rusty it looked like a fire poker. Still, out of all this junk, it was the only thing that looked remotely like a proper object.

"It has lain there ever since I withdrew from worldly affairs," Bai Yin said. "A true pity for a pearl to be covered in dust."

Xia Liang looked at Bai Yin, then back at the fire poker. You call this a pearl covered in dust? I ought to spray a mouthful of salty soda in your face!

Just then, Situ Jing approached, sucking on a lollipop and dragging a large suitcase. "Hi, Uncle Bai! Has your little sprout blossomed yet?"

Seeing the girl with twin pigtails, Bai Yin's stoic expression finally melted into a much warmer smile. "Not yet, but I can wait."

Situ Jing, clearly used to this answer, turned to look at Xia Liang. When she saw the "fire poker" in his hand, she was so shocked that her lollipop dropped straight onto her foot.

"U-Uncle Bai! You gave *it* to a ride-share driver? Tanhua has been pestering you for over a decade, and you never budged!"

"It suits him. That is all."

Xia Liang slung an arm around Situ Jing's shoulders. "Hey, sis, why don't you tell me what's so great about this fire poker?"

"What in the world makes you think it's a fire poker?!"

Situ Jing shoved Xia Liang away, then promptly took off her jacket. She wrapped it around the rusty object and gave it a sharp tug. Instantly, all the rust and grime vanished, revealing a longsword with a deep blue, translucent blade.

"Open your eyes and look closely! 'The flood dragon parts to reveal its shadow; the descending goose is forgotten.' The Way of a King. This is the Cheng Ying Sword!"

...

The name is impressive, but why does it feel so fragile? Feeling the sword in his hand, Xia Liang felt he could snap it with just a little force. Whatever, I'll just keep it as a trinket.

Xia Liang shook his head. He left the courtyard and headed toward Shangjing University.

Shangjing University was vast. It was said that its grounds were once the private garden of a notoriously corrupt official from ancient times. Walking through it, Xia Liang couldn't help but wonder just how much money one would have to embezzle to own such a large garden.

Since it was still the move-in period before classes officially began, the campus was buzzing with helpful upperclassmen and parents dropping off their children. The boundless pride etched onto the parents' wrinkled faces was the most beautiful scenery of all.

They are my flesh and blood! They are heaven's favored children, accepted into Shangjing University!

It was just as lively below the women's dormitory for the music department. This included many veteran upperclassmen, gathered in groups of three or five. They pretended to be absorbed in conversation, but their eyes kept darting toward a particular window on the second floor.

"Hey, hey, hey, stop right there! Who said you could barge into the women's dormitory?"

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