Calming his emotions, Chongyang returned to his desk and began reading the letter sent from home.
The sky outside grew increasingly dark. A letter that wasn't particularly long kept Chongyang occupied until nightfall before he slowly came back to his senses.
He exhaled gently, wiping away a bit of moisture from the corner of his eye, leaning back in his chair and staring at the ceiling in silence for a long time.
"If I had known, I shouldn't have asked my family for this."
From the letter, he learned that his family had managed to gather a full ten thousand purple crystals, which his second brother, Zhuoyang, was personally bringing to the capital.
Although the letter didn't go into detail about how they managed to raise such a sum, Chongyang could imagine the effort it took for his family, with winter just setting in and expenses piling up in the territory.
If the negotiations with the Apothecary Association regarding the new drug went smoothly, his family wouldn't have to go through such difficulties. However, Chongyang understood that this was not a simple issue. A new drug, especially one that could cause a significant market disturbance, would undoubtedly face numerous challenges due to the interests of various established groups. Who knows how long it would take to secure a return from that.
Warmth surged in his heart. In this lifetime, Chongyang was most grateful not for his rebirth but for having such a family.
The letter concluded by clearly stating that after Zhuoyang arrived in the capital, he would be staying at the "Brilliant Hotel," waiting for Zhuoyang to get in touch.
Chongyang calculated the time; if the letter had set out with his second brother, he should be arriving in the capital in about ten days.
Having been alone for so long, what could be more joyous than reuniting with his brother in this bustling yet indifferent city? Chongyang felt a sense of anticipation.
After putting away the letter, having dinner, and taking a bath, Chongyang sat back down at his desk, pulled out some paper and a pen.
The slightly rough surface of the parchment had a faint crimson hue. This was a paper specifically used for making first-level fire system scrolls, primarily made from the fat of the red-eared fox and the bark of the Kakadu tree.
Chongyang dipped a feather pen into ink made from the blood of the venomous silver-eyed snake, and slowly began to draw intricate dark red patterns on the paper. Each stroke felt like it carried a weight of a thousand pounds.
From the moment he began practicing the new magic techniques several days ago, Chongyang had simultaneously started working on creating scrolls for the new first-level magic spells.
Scrolls are essentially a form of magic storage, another way to manifest magic. Most mages only focus on how to transform spells into scrolls, but for Chongyang, who had learned over a hundred types of scroll crafting and had a deep understanding of the process, scrolls and magic could work in reverse. By studying scroll crafting, one could gain deeper and more thorough insights into the nature of magic itself.
The new magic spells had extremely complex incantations and spell patterns, and constructing the magic energy was particularly excruciating. For most scroll creators, even highly skilled masters, attempting to transform these overwhelmingly complicated techniques into quick-cast scrolls was something they wouldn't dare attempt.
Yet over the past days, Chongyang had persevered with harsh training by day, and nearly masochistic study of scrolls by night, gaining an increasingly precise and profound understanding of the new magic techniques. His rapid progress was so impressive that even the Flame Demon, who had been watching in the background, was taken aback.
"I underestimated this kid… At this rate, he'll probably be able to cast the 'Qi Explosion' spell instantly in just seven more days," the Flame Demon thought.
As the creator of this new form of magic, the Flame Demon was fully aware of the challenges these techniques posed. He had wandered for hundreds of years in search of a worthy successor, and now that he had found one, not only was he not disappointed, but Chongyang was continually exceeding his expectations.
In the room, there was complete silence except for the sound of Zhuoyang's pen steadily tracing across the scroll paper. The torch on the wall flickered, its oil nearly depleted, but the light in the room only seemed to grow stronger.
The Flame Demon, who had materialized and was quietly hovering above Chongyang, used the light from his fiery form to illuminate the room. His usually menacing face in the flames softened into an expression of satisfaction as he watched his only disciple.
Glorious Hotel was one of the most famous establishments in the capital. Travelers and merchants from all over, especially those from the northern parts of the empire, favored this inn for its rich Fortja whiskey and the attentive service of its beautiful northern maids.
In the early morning, when the inn was still quiet with few patrons, a young mage with striking spiked hair sat by the window on the fourth-floor tavern. He sipped his drink, the rich flavor reminding him of home, while gazing down at the bustling scene of the capital below.
"The capital… truly unmatched in its grandeur. Even at dawn, the streets are already filled with so many people," Zhuyang thought to himself.
"Not only that, but among the crowd, there are so many high-level mages—sixth or even field level—just casually passing by. If only some of these mages could serve in the Scorchsun City army, there would be no need to fear the winter raids from the Beastmen."
Scorchsun City longed to protect the safety of its people, but with the Scorchsun army's shortage of talented mages, it was impossible to guard every inch of their territory. As a result, many rural villages fell victim to the brutal raids of the Beastmen.
Due to the manpower shortage, Zhuyang's trip away from Scorchsun left such a gap in the army that even his father, Lord Blaze, had to step in personally to fill his place. Reflecting on this, Zhuyang looked at the many high-level mages passing through the streets below, and he couldn't help but wish he could drag them all back home to serve.
Just as he was deep in thought, his gaze fell on a familiar figure emerging from the corner of the street—a young man with black hair, whose face he seemed to recognize.
"Third brother!"Zhuoyang immediately stood up in surprise, his face filled with joy. Although it had been years since they last met, he would never mistake the appearance of his younger brother, Chongyang.
"I'm here, at the Glorious Hotel," Chongyang looked up at the towering building, feeling a bit nervous but mostly excited. "Zhuoyang should have arrived already…"
He stepped into the hotel and approached the reception desk, just about to ask if there was a guest named Zhuoyang when he heard a delighted shout from behind him: "Three brother!"
Chongyang turned around abruptly and saw a young man with black hair and black eyes, looking very similar to himself, beaming at him.
"Zhuoyang…"
"It's been so long since we last met. You've grown a lot, Chongyang."
In the tavern, the long-lost brothers shared drinks and reminisced.
"Yeah… you've also grown a lot, Zhuoyang. I remember the last time I saw you, you were only a Level 5 magician. Now you're… Level 7," Chongyang noted, glancing at the badge on Zhuoyang's magician robe.
"I just barely broke through not long ago; it's really nothing. Three brother, once your magical defect is treated, I believe you'll catch up to me quickly," Zhuoyang replied with a smile.
"Hopefully," Chongyang said.
"Three brother, it's not that I don't trust you… but can you be sure that this healer… isn't a fraud?" Zhuoyang suddenly posed a pointed question after pondering for a moment.
Healers are a noble profession, so many frauds attempt to impersonate them. There are plenty of examples where a mere apothecary pretends to be a healer to deceive nobles for money or favors, often succeeding because of the patients' desperate need for treatment.
"I can be sure," Chongyang replied, knowing his family might have concerns. He smiled steadily, "Because my life was saved by him." He then modified the story of the ambush before explaining it to Zhuoyang.
"Such a thing happened!?" Zhuoyang was indeed taken aback. "Then this healer is truly your… no, our Brighte family's benefactor!"
"Indeed… but he also set conditions, so it's a mutual benefit. He's not one to place much value on relationships. I still don't even know his real name," Chongyang said.
"In any case, this is a blessing for the Brighte family. If possible, please let me meet this honorable person; I want to thank him in person for saving your life," Zhuoyang sighed.
The two brothers continued to chat, discussing matters regarding their territory and family. When Chongyang learned of the ongoing beastman raids, he expressed his concern.
"Haha, we can handle it. Chongyang, you don't need to worry about the family affairs. After you purchase the herbs and ultimately treat your condition, just focus on your training in the capital. Return home whenever you feel ready to help us," Zhuoyang laughed.
"Hmm…" Chongyang was determined. "When I return… Zhuoyang."
The brothers clinked their glasses and drank up.
"Zhuoyang, when will you return home? It should be after I manage to buy the herbs, right? Because we probably won't need so much money for purchasing the herbs, so the remaining crystal coins should go back home with you."
"Haha, that's the plan. But what I plan to bring back isn't crystal coins; it's specialties from the capital," Zhuoyang grinned. "There are so many things the family needs. Since I'm finally in the capital, if I have extra money, I must buy something to take back… after you purchase the herbs."
Chongyang nodded.
"Alright, let's transfer the money to you now." Zhuoyang pulled out the crystal card.
"No need, Second Brother. I'll go and reserve a spot for the auction. You can just join me in a few days and pay on the spot," Chongyang replied.
"This… doesn't seem appropriate. Perhaps I can't accompany you to the auction," Zhuoyang's expression tightened slightly.
"Why?" Chongyang sensed something was off.
"Well… never mind, I'll just tell you. Actually, I have a date in the next few days."
"A date? A beauty from the capital?" Chongyang was surprised. Zhuoyang had only just arrived, and he was already impressively skilled at attracting women?
"It's related to a beauty… but this date is…" Zhuoyang scratched his head a bit awkwardly. "A duel."
...
On the way to the capital, Zhuoyang took precautions and traveled with a large merchant group for safety. Along the way, he inevitably encountered various people from different walks of life. One of those encounters sparked a connection with a female mage from the Magic Association.
The female mage's name was Furillian, a tall and beautiful woman with a charming personality, always wearing a smile that made people feel at ease. Zhuoyang first interacted with her due to a small misunderstanding, and then they discovered they shared many common topics as both were Level 7 Lightning Mages, which led to mutual affection.
While the beautiful woman brought affection, she also attracted jealousy. As a beauty from the Magic Association, Furillian naturally had her share of suitors. Among the travelers accompanying her was one such fellow named Dawns.
Zhuoyang and Furillian were both interested in each other, but Dawns was not pleased with this. He seized every opportunity to provoke Zhuoyang. At first, Zhuoyang tolerated Dawns because he was a companion from the Magic Association, but patience eventually has its limits. In the end, they had a heated argument and nearly came to blows in the merchant camp.
"So, the result of the dispute is an agreement to have a duel with Dawns once we reach the capital?" Chongyang raised an eyebrow. "That's quite a cliché plot."
"Haha, it's indeed a cliché, but it's a matter of a man's dignity! Perhaps one day, you will find yourself in a similar situation," Zhuoyang said, a glimmer of something flickering in his eyes.
He didn't tell Chongyang that the final conflict with Dawns erupted because he had insulted the Brighte family, even going so far as to call Zhuoyang's mother a village harlot! This was something that Zhuoyang… no, every man from the Brighte family could absolutely not tolerate!
Chongyang sighed. "So what does Furillian, the leading lady, say about it?"
"Of course, she wants to stop us, but it's already impossible to prevent it. As for the duel… we didn't agree to give up on Furillian if we lose or anything like that, but as men, if we were to lose at such a time, we'd be too ashamed to approach a beauty again," Zhuoyang explained.
"If you win, will you marry her?"
"Three brother, as much as I would like to, things aren't progressing that fast. Right now, I've only held her hand, and I still need to work hard to level up," Zhuoyang chuckled, lowering his voice. "And let me tell you another thing: Furillian's parents or grandparents… are big shots in the Magic Association. If I could really marry her, our Brighte family would have a solid background in the capital…"
The Magic Association is a colossal entity with a long and storied history. Not to mention, in the most recent continent-wide rankings, a quarter of the hundred listed mages came from the Magic Association. The president of the Magic Association is a figure who commands great respect from the rulers of multiple countries—not just a single nation.
As a result, there has always been a saying in the Euro continent: "It is better to offend a king than to offend an elder of the Magic Association."
"Really?" Chongyang raised an eyebrow. He didn't have any romantic ideals; as a social person, it was quite natural to infuse some practicality into behavior and dealings. The key was about finding a balance.
Pursuing extreme utilitarianism is quite shameful, but conversely, pursuing extreme purity is extremely foolish.
Humans have emotions; that's what makes us human. But to survive, one must also consider benefits. The result is a society where emotions and interests intertwine. As long as both parties are sincere, measuring the practicality of marriage is perfectly acceptable.
"Indeed. Although I don't know which big shot it is, I can roughly gauge from the way Dawns looks at me," Zhuoyang said solemnly. "If it were just an insignificant person, that kind of guy who's always staring at women's midriffs wouldn't challenge me to a duel over just one Furillian."
Chongyang nodded. It seemed Dawns was not a good person.
"What are your chances?"
"About 60 to 70 percent, but considering the duel is at the Magic Association—his territory—I'd say it drops to around 50 percent, a coin toss. I think he might use some underhanded tactics, but he won't go too far. After all, Furillian will be present, and if she notices anything, even if he wins, it would be a victory with a cost," Zhuoyang explained.
Chongyang stroked his chin, thinking for a moment.
"Second Brother, let's set aside my matters for now. You need to focus all your efforts on preparing for your duel."
"Uh… You don't have to worry about that," Zhuoyang replied. He didn't want to burden his brother.
"This is no longer just your private matter," Chongyang smiled slightly. "Since Miss Furillian has such a background, your pursuit of her affects the future interests of the Brighte family. As your brother, I must find a way to ensure your victory."