Chapter 130: The Focus of the Entire Venue

Chapter 130: The Center of Attention

After the carriage entered the city, Li Wei and his two companions stepped down at the city gate.

The fare came to three silver coins.

Li Wei paid.

Once the coins were handed over, the carriage drove off.

Li Wei looked up. Flower beds lined the roadside, bursting with vibrant colors.

The entire city was steeped in fragrance.

The Festival of Falling Blossoms had not yet begun, yet Feihua City was already teeming with visitors from afar.

Gu Ze said, “Let’s find a place to stay first.”

Li Wei nodded. “Alright.”

Luo Ta had no objection.

The three walked along the street toward the city center.

With the festival approaching, Feihua City was alive with excitement—everywhere were small vendors selling flower-themed goods.

Floral cakes, flower-patterned stickers, lanterns made of petals, fireworks shaped like blossoms…

Passing one stall, Luo Ta paused. “Jasmine-flavored floral cake is quite delicious.”

Hearing this, the vendor beamed and quickly chimed in, “Anyone who comes to Feihua City must try our floral cakes! I have every flavor imaginable—cheap and satisfying!”

Seeing the enthusiasm, Li Wei bought a little of each kind.

Even with both hands full, they’d only spent 120 copper coins.

“May the honored magi walk safely,” the vendor called joyfully as he saw them off.

Gu Ze, arms laden with boxes of cakes and carrying their luggage, sighed helplessly, “Why did you buy so much? What if we can’t finish it all?”

Li Wei chuckled. “I didn’t expect there’d be so many flavors.”

Luo Ta glanced at the two and smiled faintly, saying nothing.

The atmosphere of Feihua City felt familiar to him.

Though it had been eighteen years since he last returned home, each time he visited this city, he would buy some floral cakes to bring back to Maple City.

They found an inn and settled in.

During the festival, room rates soared—but for the three of them, it was a trivial matter.

The Mage Tower provided monthly welfare and contributions worth five gold coins—equivalent to a fifty-thousand-coin salary.

Most mages were wealthy, yet also poor in their own way.

After putting down their belongings, Gu Ze approached Li Wei. “I’ve already registered you for the Young Mages’ Exchange Competition. Now that we’re here, we need to report to the Mages’ Guild. If you don’t check in, they might disqualify you.”

This rule existed to prevent those who signed up but later failed to appear due to unforeseen circumstances, disrupting the event.

Li Wei nodded. “Shall we go now?”

“It’s getting late. We should leave soon. These next few days will be crowded—better to check in early and avoid long lines,” Gu Ze said.

They headed out, just as Luo Ta, freshly bathed and neatly dressed, stepped out of his room.

Seeing him, Li Wei grinned. “Are you off to meet a sweetheart, Magus Luo Ta?”

Luo Ta smiled openly. “Yes.”

“I’ll be on my way. See you later.”

And with that, he hurried off without delay.

Li Wei and Gu Ze exchanged glances, then shared a quiet laugh.

Gu Ze sighed softly. “I really envy Luo Ta. He still has someone he loves.”

A subtle ripple stirred in Li Wei’s heart. He asked, “Teacher Gu Ze, don’t you have a younger sister?”

Gu Ze froze, staring at him in surprise. “How do you know that?”

“I heard it from someone else,” Li Wei replied.

Gu Ze frowned slightly. “Is that so? I don’t recall ever telling anyone about her.”

Li Wei pressed gently, “Have you searched for your sister, Teacher?”

A bitter smile tugged at Gu Ze’s lips. “Of course I’ve searched. How could I not?”

“I’ve been looking for thirteen years. No trace, no word.”

“Perhaps… she’s already…”

His voice trailed off, heavy with sorrow.

“Never mind. Let’s not speak of this. We should go to the Mages’ Guild.”

They set off toward the guild.

As Li Wei watched Gu Ze’s retreating back, something stirred within him.

If he could help his teacher find his sister, it would surely bring him great joy.

But where to begin? He didn’t even know where Gu Ze was from.

How could he possibly search for a sister lost for over a decade?

From what little he knew of Gu Ze’s past, Li Wei guessed he must have lived in the snowlands—otherwise, how would he have encountered a snow bear?

When they arrived at the Mages’ Guild in Feihua City, the hall was already packed.

Few wore mage robes; most were attendants, servants, or visiting nobles.

With the exchange gathering imminent, many powerful mages had gathered here.

Archmages and senior magi, rarely seen in ordinary times, were now within reach.

Some nobles seized the chance to seek favor.

“Still couldn’t meet Magus Malvin… Ah, what a pity!”

“Didn’t our family once have a mage? Why not ask him?”

“That man vanished over ten years ago. No one knows where he went.”

…

Li Wei noticed two nobles exiting the guild.

Upon seeing the insignias pinned to Li Wei and Gu Ze’s chests, they immediately stepped aside.

Even if it was only the lowest rank—one star—it still marked them as official mages.

Even nobles would hesitate to offend them.

Li Wei and Gu Ze paid no mind to the two, walking straight into the Mage Association.

“Excuse us,” Li Wei called out.

The people ahead turned, catching sight of their mage robes and the magical insignias on their chests.

At once, they parted, forming a clear path.

“A full mage so young!”

The two noble youths at the entrance stared at Li Wei, murmuring in awe.

Inside the Mage Association, others too were stunned by Li Wei’s youthful appearance.

They hadn’t expected such a young full mage to exist.

“Is he here for the Young Mages’ Exchange Tournament? He can’t be serious—how old is he even?”

In an instant, Li Wei became the center of attention.

A chill ran through him. Something felt wrong.

Perhaps he’d drawn too much attention.

Gu Ze, too, was surprised. He whispered, “I may have underestimated the impact you’d cause.”

“Do you think it’ll lead to trouble?” Li Wei asked, uneasy.

Gu Ze replied, “Unlikely. The Feihua City Mage Association is powerful—no one would dare harm a young mage here.”

They reached the front desk. The receptionist glanced twice at the magical insignia on Li Wei’s chest, making sure she wasn’t mistaken.

With a smile, she asked, “How may I assist you, esteemed mages?”

Li Wei said, “I’m here to register for the Young Mages’ Exchange Tournament.”

“Oh, yes. Have you already signed up?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Understood. Let me check.”

Moments later, the receptionist spoke, her voice growing softer with each word:

“Mage Li Wei, official mage of Maple City Mage Tower… age… sixteen!”

Her voice had nearly faded to a whisper—she was shocked by his age.

Yet everyone had heard.

“What? A sixteen-year-old full mage? That’s impossible!”

“No way! Even becoming an apprentice mage at sixteen is genius-level—what kind of prodigy is this?”

“Look at it another way—it’s fortunate he’s only sixteen, just becoming a full mage. His talent is extraordinary, but his power must still be weak.”

Hearing this, others nodded in agreement.

(End of Chapter)