Chapter 30: 0032 - Borrowing a Light (Third Update, Seeking Votes)

On the way home, Chu Yun carried his schoolbag, pausing after every few steps. In the end, he couldn’t help but call out, “Old man, at your age, tailing someone really doesn’t suit you—especially if you’re following me.”

Soon enough, Kurt emerged from behind a utility pole and spat, “Can’t you speak a little more civilly? Making jokes like that with an old fellow.”

He strode forward and fell into step beside Chu Yun, so the two walked side by side.

“Kid, I can’t just let you waste your talent. Even if you don’t want to study, you have to. If I, Kurt, teach you myself, it’s hardly an insult. Do you understand? Don’t let favor make you arrogant!” Kurt declared.

Chu Yun, however, replied indifferently, “Magicians might sound dignified and learned, but to put it less kindly, they’re a bunch of pampered idlers—refined and frail, without a backbone. If they run into a tough, quick melee fighter, they’ll be on the ground before they even finish chanting a spell. Anyone who’s truly determined to become strong would never want to be a magician.”

“Do you have any idea what would happen if the old fogies at the guild heard you say such things?” Kurt grunted. “You’d best not say that again.”

“Suit yourself. I don’t want to be a magician, nor do I care to become one.” Chu Yun said. “Don’t get me wrong—I have nothing against you, only against magic itself.”

It was only the limited imagination of a primitive civilization that made them so blind. One day, they would learn that when a warrior’s strength reached a certain level, all these so-called noble magicians were nothing but weaklings. Against a true powerhouse, if you’re not even granted the chance to cast a spell, you’re already lying on the ground. That’s why, after the fourth-level civilizations, magicians became largely obsolete—before true strength, all they could do was bow their heads.

“So what, do you want to become a warrior instead?” Kurt scoffed. “A seventeen-year-old genius magician can have everything, but a seventeen-year-old first-tier warrior would only be a laughingstock. If you have any sense, you should know which to choose.”

Chu Yun didn’t bother to respond. There was no point explaining; these magicians called themselves such here, but on his own advanced homeworld, they’d be nothing but novices playing at scholarship. Chu Yun had no desire to embarrass them too soon—his current strength was just enough to protect himself. Drawing too much attention with the reputation of a peerless genius was not necessarily a good thing. Better to wait for the right moment.

“If your mother knew you had the potential to become a magician, she’d be overjoyed,” Kurt said. “And I really don’t understand why you want to marry into the Ye family. If you’d come with me to the guild, in less than half a year, once we’ve set you straight, you’d earn a title and could have any woman you wanted.”

Chu Yun kept walking, ignoring the old man.

Fame and fortune?

He had once reached the summit of those things.

But they were as fleeting as clouds and smoke.

Now, all he wanted was to quickly grow stronger and plan his return to his own world.

Why choose to marry into Ye Linglong’s family, instead of marrying another woman openly?

Because he didn’t want affection.

If he married another woman, he’d owe her responsibility. With Ye Linglong, however, they had nothing to do with each other—marriage was just for his mother’s sake. No one forced anyone. When he left, he’d have no obligations to Ye Linglong. After all, he was merely a passerby; whether he married in or not, who would really care?

He didn’t belong to this world or this planet. It made no difference to him.

That was all there was to it.

If he needed to do anything at this moment, it was only for his mother. To show gratitude for inhabiting this body, Chu Yun would repay her. He would make preparations to ensure her well-being in the days to come, and if possible, restore the Chu family to glory on this planet. That, too, was his duty.

As for anything else, it seemed to have nothing to do with him.

Kurt hadn’t expected Chu Yun to be even more composed than he’d imagined. Tricks that worked on ordinary seventeen-year-olds seemed to have no effect on him.

“In the days ahead, I’ll let you witness the true wonders of magic—I’ll overturn all your prejudices,” Kurt promised.

Chu Yun was nearly home when, at the same place, he saw another group standing in silent, deadly formation.

Last time, when he ran into Fan Zhiming, there had been six; this time, there were eight. All wore cold, expressionless masks, standing motionless, staring at Chu Yun. Through their eyeholes, Chu Yun could see a chilling indifference—the kind of look people only have when they regard the dead.

Seeing Chu Yun halt, Kurt also noticed the eight men ahead. They must have put on their masks as soon as they spotted him approaching.

Judging by their builds, they were warriors, and their presence was formidable. The eight of them radiated a silent, murderous intent.

“Isn’t your Magic Guild supposed to be quite impressive?” Chu Yun nudged his chin forward. “Go take care of this, will you?”

“Nothing could be easier,” Kurt said. “Kid, do you believe I can make them leave with a single transformation?”

The next moment, with a flourish, Kurt cast a spell that made his clothes transform instantly—a fresh, gleaming robe befitting a mage.

When the eight men saw his yellow mage robe, the corners of their eyes twitched involuntarily.

“Boss, he’s from the Magic Guild. Should we still go through with it?” one of them muttered.

The man in the white mask at the center hesitated for a moment, then said, “Once you’ve eaten something, you don’t spit it out. A yellow-robed mage is nothing special. As long as he’s not blue- or red-robed, we kill them both and leave no witnesses—who’s going to know? And with masks, we’re not locals anyway, so who cares? We’ll keep the young one alive for now—take the yellow-robed mage down first, or he might escape and bring reinforcements.”

“Yes!” replied the other seven in unison.

Kurt had thought that revealing his identity would make these men back off, but they showed no sign of leaving.

Out of options, Kurt began silently chanting an incantation. Soon, two small flames danced in his palms, proving his magical credentials beyond doubt.

At that moment, Chu Yun pulled out a cigarette and used Kurt’s flame to light it, taking a drag. “Your fire’s actually quite handy.”

Kurt’s face darkened, and the flames flared higher, as if to boost his own intimidation factor.

But the eight men ahead still didn’t move, showing no intention of retreating.

“They really don’t seem afraid of you,” Chu Yun remarked, exhaling smoke with a click of his tongue.

“Gentlemen, I don’t care what you’re here for, but you’d best leave now,” Kurt called out to the masked men.

He had barely finished speaking when the eight, evidently unwilling to give him time to chant, surged forward in unison while his spell was on cooldown.

“Step aside!” Kurt pulled Chu Yun out of the way and stepped forward, ready to fight.

(End of chapter three—more tomorrow. Please remember to vote for recommendations.)