Chongyang gazed at the "Fire of Desire" scroll for a long while, satisfied that the money spent was well worth it. However, when he looked up, he saw Charlie still sitting across from him.
"Is there something else?" Chongyang didn't think that the busy merchant would linger after a deal just to accompany him in inspecting the goods.
"Actually, I'm looking for a level-three scroll maker to collaborate with," Charlie said straightforwardly, knowing Chongyang's straightforward style.
"It's for an adventure team, isn't it? I'm not interested in joining," Chongyang replied.
"Indeed, it's for the adventure team, but it's not about joining—just a collaboration," Charlie clarified. "The other party will place orders, and the scroll maker will craft and deliver directly, reducing the middleman. The collaborative pricing would be set at ten percent above market price for commonly used scrolls. As for rare scrolls, the remuneration will be thirty percent of the market price, with the rare materials provided by the other party."
For a scroll maker, these were exceptionally favorable collaboration terms. After pondering for a moment, Chongyang realized that this arrangement could yield significantly higher profits than directly selling scrolls to the trading post, and he felt somewhat tempted.
However, he maintained a composed expression and a faint smile while facing Charlie.
"What's the penalty if a rare scroll fails to be crafted?"
"Ninety percent of the cost price," Charlie hesitated for a moment. "This penalty is quite high, but the other party mentioned that if the scroll maker has a good reputation, it could be lowered to sixty or even fifty percent. I believe this shouldn't be a problem for you, Mr. Chongyang."
It indeed wasn't a problem, but there were some issues that needed to be clarified beyond the surface.
"This must be a newly formed adventure team, then?" Chongyang narrowed his eyes slightly, looking into Charlie's eyes.
The generous profits combined with the unreasonable penalty suggested a desire for partners tempered by anxiety about encountering fraudsters. Such behavior resembled that of a fledgling adventure team with limited experience.
"Uh… yes, it seems you've seen through us, sir." Charlie paused for a moment before chuckling wryly. "The team was established just a year ago and still lacks experience, but I personally believe it has great potential… The team leader and deputy leader are both young and promising…"
Chongyang knew that pursuing higher profits always came with a certain level of risk. After some thought, he said to Charlie, "Can I speak directly with the leader of that adventure team?"
Charlie's expression brightened; this meant Chongyang was seriously considering it.
"Of course, sir. The leader is right over there…"
As it turned out, Charlie had become the agent for this adventure team. He had come to the trading post with the leader and deputy leader.
Since there was an intention to collaborate, Chongyang immediately followed Charlie over, but to his surprise, both the adventure team leader and deputy leader froze when they met his gaze.
"Chongyang!?"
The beautiful woman in a tight purple gown, her slender waist cinched tightly by a fitted leather belt, accentuated her ample bosom. Below the hem of her dress, pure black stockings hugged her long, shapely legs, enhancing her sensual allure.
At that moment, her alluring blue eyes widened slightly as she looked at the black-haired youth who had suddenly appeared before her, a complex gleam flickering in her gaze.
Beside her, a blond man in a green-striped fitted robe wore a look of surprise, his eyes narrowing slightly, his brow furrowed.
"Phili… Yarrow," a hint of bitterness flashed in Chongyang's eyes.
It was to be expected; the adventure team established a year ago had both its leader and deputy leader as young, talented field-level magicians…
"What do you want with us?" asked the blond man named Yarrow, his gaze slightly cold, resembling a city dweller looking at a poor relative from the countryside, his tone tinged with indifference and disdain.
"Do you… know each other?" Charlie asked, looking puzzled, glancing between Chongyang and the adventure team leader.
"Chongyang… it's been a year," Phili said, giving Yarrow a quick look before stepping in front of Chongyang, blocking the two men. With a soft voice, she said, "Are you doing well?"
Chongyang remained silent. Seeing old friends suddenly brought an emotional shock to his heart.
Phili, a lightning magician, and Yarrow, a wind magician, were both classmates from Prislane Academy, having entered the school in the same year as him. In their first year, the three had gotten along well and quickly became close friends. However, after they all advanced to level three, Chongyang's magical defect prevented him from leveling up, making him the only repeat student at the academy, and gradually, the three grew apart.
Faced with Phili's feigned warmth and Yarrow's almost undisguised cold contempt, Chongyang turned his head away.
"Charlie, I won't discuss the collaboration any further." With that, he turned to leave.
"Wait… Mr. Chongyang!" Charlie was baffled, suddenly witnessing Chongyang turn and stride away, feeling utterly confused as he watched the red-clad figure quickly disappear into the crowd.
"Charlie, how did this guy find us?" Yarrow coldly watched as Chongyang walked away, still thinking that this repeat student had come seeking something from himself and Phili, feeling only disdain and impatience.
"Find you? No, I brought him here!" Charlie replied, bewildered. "Didn't you say you were looking for a level-three scroll maker to collaborate with? He's the scroll maker I found!"
"What? Chongyang is a scroll maker?" Phili, who had been quietly watching the repeat student leave, furrowed her brows at Charlie's words.
"Yeah, he's quite remarkable—a level-three fire scroll maker! Though his level is only three, he is definitely the most skilled level-three scroll master I know." Charlie couldn't help but stomp his foot. "How come… as soon as you two meet, he just leaves?"
"A skilled scroll master? You've been fooled, Charlie." Yarrow sneered. "We know Chongyang's background all too well. He was a classmate of Phili and me at Prislane Academy. He's a guy with a natural magical defect, who couldn't progress past level three. After being a repeat student for five years, he's considered the shame of Prislane… Oh, adding this year, it makes six years now."
Yarrow scoffed, "A useless person like that could never be a scroll master."
Phili frowned. "Yarrow, you shouldn't speak like that about an old friend."
"What was in the past is in the past; the present is the present. Hmph, when your level stagnates, you resort to deception, and you dare to pull one over us," Yarrow coldly replied, glancing at Phili, his handsome face slightly twisting in anger. "If he's both useless and a fraud, then you still… could it be that you still have feelings for him?"
"Shut up!" Phili exclaimed, her fair face flushing with anger, a hint of fury evident in her sharp gaze. Yet, despite her irritation, she retained an unusual allure.
"No matter what, he was once our friend. Even if you look down on him now, you should at least maintain a polite attitude."
Seeing Phili's flustered yet captivating demeanor, a surge of inexplicable anger rose within Yarrow. Since their time at the academy, he had been pursuing the beautiful Phili, yet had made little progress. Now, seeing his former rival, and noticing that Phili still defended a useless person, jealousy and resentment filled him.
Just as he was about to retort, Charlie interjected, "What do you mean, 'fraud'? How could Chongyang Bright possibly be a fraud? He's been selling scrolls here since I was a trader, and he's been doing it for five years now! I can't even count how many customers specifically request his products!"
"What!?" Yarrow and Phili were both taken aback.
"He does indeed have a magical defect; I know that as well." Charlie continued. "Otherwise, he wouldn't still be a level-three magician after all these years. But he's a genius when it comes to crafting scrolls! I once saw him complete three rare level-three scrolls in just one hour, delivering and collecting payment on the spot."
That was an unexpected transaction, and it was from that moment that Charlie began to hold great respect for Chongyang.
"Although Chongyang can only make level-three scrolls and isn't widely known, his name has become a symbol of high quality in the level-three scroll market! Any merchant who's been around here long enough knows about him!" Charlie asserted. "If someone like him is a fraud, then there's no such thing as honest people in this trading post."
Yarrow and Phili exchanged astonished glances.
As Chongyang regained his senses, he found himself in a dark, deserted alleyway.
Memories of the joyful times spent with those two flashed in his mind—discussing class material, sparring on the training grounds, and laughing heartily together…
"People drift away, and their gaze turns cold." Chongyang's expression dimmed as he casually tossed the empty leather case against the wall of the alley. Exhausted, he squatted down beside it, leaning against the cold wall, a hint of melancholy on his face.
The genuine friendship from his youth had become an unbearable blade of pain today.
Shaking his head, he wiped the nostalgic images from his mind. Chongyang understood that it wasn't the indifference and disdain from Yarrow and Phili that saddened him, but rather the deep-seated frustration and resentment burning within him that caused the hurt.
In the dark shadows, he felt a sense of peace. Facing a crowd only made him feel weary.
Let me just be quiet for a while.
However, at that moment, two figures entered the other side of the dim alley.
One was tall, the other short, both clad in black hooded robes, making them quite inconspicuous in the dimly lit passage. Chongyang heard their footsteps, but they hadn't noticed him squatting in the shadows on the other side.
"Senior brother, why did you call me out?"
The soft and melodious voice of the shorter figure was clearly that of a young girl.
The term "senior brother" was one only used by members of magical factions. Unlike magic "academies," which encompass a broad spectrum of magical training, magical "factions" are organizations dedicated to mastering a specific branch of magic. For example, there are factions for potion-making, magic arrays, and so forth.
"Junior sister, classes at the academy have already ended. Why aren't you returning to the faction? Everyone misses you." The voice of the tall young man was steady and resonant.
"I'm not going back this year. Firstly, I need to go out and gain experience; secondly… there are already people at Prislane Academy starting to suspect my identity, and I don't want to risk exposing myself by going back," the short girl replied.
Chongyang's heart skipped a beat, realizing he had gotten into trouble. The fact that a faction disciple came to study at a magic academy might hide deeper implications. It was akin to someone from one martial sect disguising themselves to enter another sect for training, a significant taboo.
Who could it be? Chongyang vaguely felt that the voice sounded familiar but couldn't place it. Now wasn't the time to ponder.
The two figures continued their conversation. Chongyang dared not let them discover him; he held his breath, remaining utterly still, waiting for them to leave.
However, he suddenly felt a sharp, excruciating pain in his lower back, causing him to stifle a cry as his body jolted in surprise.
From the gap between his back and the wall, a startled little mouse that had just bitten him squeaked and scampered away.
"Who's there!" The tall young man barked, his voice filled with anger. "Come out!"
He drew his staff, its tip aimed like a spear towards Chongyang's direction, a hint of murderous intent underlying his command.
The fact that his junior sister was secretly learning at Prislane Academy was a closely guarded secret within their faction, and it absolutely couldn't be known by anyone else. The idea of someone eavesdropping on this was infuriating… He felt a surge of fear and rage, thinking about the possibility of silencing the intruder.
Chongyang was in distress; he could sense the extreme malice in the young man's voice and quickly began to calculate his escape.
"You go on ahead," the young man said, slightly tilting his head towards the girl in black. She hesitated for a moment but then nodded and swiftly turned to leave the alley. The young man watched her retreating figure until it disappeared.
Seeing his chance, Chongyang gritted his teeth, sprang to his feet, and bolted towards the entrance of the alley as fast as he could. The young man's intentions were clear; to escape this unwarranted disaster, he needed to reach the bustling street.
"Stop!" The young man shouted, swiftly swinging his staff, forming several different magical seals in an instant.
"Fallen Spear!"
Suddenly, three conical spikes materialized in the air ten meters above, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound as they hurtled towards Chongyang with great force.