Chapter 436: Chapter 436: Old Friend, The Past, The Future
By the time Minos arrived at Dragon Fall Slope, Li Wei had already left.
He had no idea that Minos had discovered Saint Xi’s identity from just a few clues.
He was even less aware of the great, millennium-spanning crisis lurking behind the Holy Giant Dragon’s secret.
Up until now, Li Wei had thought the only problem stemming from Saint Xi’s identity as a Holy Giant Dragon was the Demon Dragon King.
Saint Xi thought so as well.
No one knew that the Light Divine Sect was also searching for the Holy Giant Dragon, for the missing Saint Dragon King.
Li Wei returned to the Mage Tower, planning to take Saint Xi to see Torresta.
At the entrance, he ran into Little John Bieber.
He was standing at the main gate of the Mage Tower, peering inside.
Little John had heard Li Wei was back and wanted to catch a glimpse of him.
But he was too shy to go inside and find him, so he figured he would just wait outside and see if he could catch a peek.
’After all, Li Wei is a Grand Mage now.’
’His status is so distinguished.’
’Little John felt he probably wouldn’t even have a chance to interact with such an important person.’
’He was also a little worried. Now that Li Wei had become a Grand Mage, would he look down on his sister, Reina?’
Li Wei recognized his old acquaintance at a glance.
Back when they were Mage Apprentices in the Mage Tower, his relationship with Little John had been pretty good.
’Of course he had to say hello to an old friend.’
Li Wei clapped Little John on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Who are you looking for?"
Little John, thinking it was just a passing Mage from the tower, replied without turning his head, "No one. Just looking around."
Suddenly, he realized something wasn’t right.
’That voice sounds kind of familiar...’
He subconsciously turned his head for a look.
Seeing Li Wei’s face, he instantly froze.
"Li... Li Wei!"
Little John never would have imagined that Li Wei would appear right behind him.
Li Wei chuckled. "Is it really that surprising to see me?"
Hearing this and seeing Li Wei’s smile, Little John felt that he hadn’t changed much at all.
He couldn’t help but relax.
He smiled back and said, "Of course! I heard you became a Grand Mage, so I thought you might have changed a lot."
"I never expected you’d still be the same."
Li Wei smiled. "Well, it’s true I became a Grand Mage, but it’s not that big of a deal."
Hearing this, Little John was stunned. "Huh? So it wasn’t a rumor?"
Li Wei pointed to the Magic Badge on his chest.
Little John rubbed his eyes and stared.
He confirmed it was a genuine Grand Mage’s Magic Badge.
He had seen one before on Mage Allen.
Allen was considered the most famous Grand Mage in Maple City.
He was now the Grand Mentor of the Beixuan Kingdom’s Royal Mage Tutoring Corps.
His position was lofty, his status far more distinguished than that of an ordinary Grand Mage.
He also appeared before the public quite often.
He was something of a celebrity in the Beixuan Kingdom and the Northern Territory.
Little John thought Li Wei’s Magic Badge looked even more magnificent than Mage Allen’s.
It looked to be of a higher level.
Of course, Allen’s Grand Mage badge had been issued by the Magic Association.
A standard-issue Grand Mage badge.
Li Wei’s Grand Mage badge, however, was issued by the Elemental Tower and held dual certification from both the Elemental Tower and the Magic Association.
The difference was like that between a degree from a regular college and one from a top-tier university.
Even an ordinary person could tell the difference at a glance.
After discovering Li Wei was a Grand Mage, Little John became tongue-tied again.
He didn’t know what to say.
Li Wei saw him stammering, looking like he wanted to say something but couldn’t get the words out.
He gave him a light, exasperated thump on the chest.
"Just say what’s on your mind. Stop being so timid. What, are you worried I’m going to do something to you if you misspeak?"
Seeing that he still couldn’t relax,
Li Wei said, "Come on, let’s go inside. We can walk through the places where we used to study and practice."
Little John heard this and nodded. "Okay."
The two of them walked into the Mage Tower, heading toward the familiar old spots.
After a while, seeing the familiar sights and people,
Little John finally let go of his awkwardness and tension.
He looked at Li Wei, understanding that Li Wei was still Li Wei; he hadn’t become someone else just because he was a Grand Mage.
Little John sighed wistfully. "Back then, we were all Mage Apprentices. No one would have thought that you, the most inconspicuous one, would be the first to become a Grand Mage."
Li Wei smiled but didn’t say anything.
’Before he transmigrated, the original Li Wei really was a nobody.’
’He hadn’t even interacted with Little John at all.’
’It was only after Li Wei transmigrated that he and Little John gradually became friends.’
Little John sighed, reminiscing about the past. "Back then, you seemed like the weakest among us, with the worst aptitude for magic. It looked like you’d have trouble even becoming an Apprentice Mage."
"I never thought that in less than two years, you would surpass everyone and become a Grand Mage."
"And I gave up on magic and became a Knight."
Li Wei chuckled. "Haha."
There was no mockery in his laugh; he just found it ironic how things had turned out.
Little John said, "Do you still remember Delis?"
Li Wei was a bit surprised. "I remember her. What about Delis?"
"She gave up on becoming a Mage," Little John said. "Last month, she passed the Mage Tower’s assessment and became an Apprentice Mage."
"But not long ago, she gave up on her magic studies to go back to being a Princess."
Li Wei was surprised. He remembered that Delis had wanted to become a Mage more than anyone.
She had worked just as hard as any of them.
’Delis had already become an Apprentice Mage. Why would she give up?’
Li Wei asked, "Why give up? Even if she chooses to be a Princess, she can still study magic."
Little John said, "You might not know, but Delis’s father, Arnold, was the mastermind behind the plot to destroy the Miracle Ceremony."
Li Wei was taken aback; he truly knew nothing about this.
Little John continued, "After Arnold’s conspiracy failed, he fled, leaving Delis and her mother behind."
"Luckily, Delis’s mother is His Majesty Otz’s sister. Otherwise, with a crime like that, they would’ve been sent to the gallows long ago."
"But even so, Delis’s situation isn’t good."
"Even though His Majesty doesn’t say anything, everyone else inevitably criticizes her father in private, and the gossip naturally extends to Delis and her mother."
"The rumors and whispers made Delis’s mother gravely ill, and she has yet to recover."
"Delis plans to leave this troublesome place, to get far away from Maple City."
"Next month, she, as the first princess of the Beixuan Kingdom, will marry the third prince of the Nanzhe Kingdom."
"His Majesty has no heirs, so Delis is like a daughter to him. Marrying Princess Delis off to the Nanzhe Kingdom would do a great deal to strengthen the relationship between the Nanzhe Kingdom and the Beixuan Kingdom."
Li Wei could hear the bitterness in Little John’s voice.
He seemed to have feelings for Delis.
Li Wei looked at him. "If you like Delis, you should just tell her. Or do you plan on just being her Knight forever?"
Little John gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
"This political marriage is not something I can change."
Li Wei frowned, watching him. "If you want me to, I can help you."
"Forget it. This is Delis’s own choice."
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