Chapter 27: Conversation with an Old Classmate

Although the capital, as the nation’s heart, boasted profound cultural heritage, it still retained some down-to-earth, street-level vibes—like the night markets.

Lu Xin and Xiao Xuan arrived at a barbecue stall in the night market.
They found a small unoccupied table with stools, pulled out some paper towels from the table, and wiped away the oil stains casually.
They sat facing each other.

“Boss, one case of ice-cold beer first,” Xiao Xuan called out to the stall owner.

“Coming right up.”
The barbecue stall owner responded without looking up.
His hands were deftly flipping over a dozen skewers on the grill.
The aroma of fat dripping onto the charcoal, mixed with sprinkled spices, was enough to whet anyone’s appetite.

“Since it’s your treat tonight, Xiao Xuanzi, I’ve gotta give your wallet a good workout,” Lu Xin said with a grin.

“For this barbecue, order whatever you want.
If you can eat through a year’s salary of mine, you win,” Xiao Xuan said, giving Lu Xin a thumbs-up.

“Eating is one of life’s blessings.”
Inhaling the food scents in the air, Lu Xin sighed.

“What?
You, a magical genius, still craving these mortal indulgences?” Xiao Xuan raised an eyebrow.

“It’s just a normal human need.”

“People have to live like people, after all.”
Lu Xin replied.

“Mages aren’t gods.
Even at the highest realms of cultivation, lifespan has its limits.”

“So as long as a person can die, they’re human—mages included.”

“That’s why mages can’t sever all ties and desires.”
Lu Xin said.
Just then, the stall owner hauled over a case of beer, pulling out a frosty bottle for each of them.
He popped the caps with an opener and set them in front of the two.

Lu Xin grabbed his beer and took a swig.
It was ice-cold, smooth, with a bit of fizz.
Then he took the menu from the stall owner and started picking his favorites.

“Ten skewers of grilled leeks first.”

“Six oysters.”

“Ten skewers of grilled potato slices too.”

“Four portions of grilled brain.”

“One pair of grilled pork kidneys.”

“Four skewers of grilled sweet potato skins.
That’s it for me for now.”
Lu Xin handed the menu to Xiao Xuan after ordering.

“Order whatever you want.
Don’t hold back,” Lu Xin said to Xiao Xuan.

Xiao Xuan took the menu and eyed the pile of barbecue Lu Xin had ordered.
He scratched his head, then added a “x2” symbol after everything.

“I’ll start with the same as you,” Xiao Xuan said.
Then he looked up at Lu Xin’s stubble-covered face.

“You’re pushing it a bit too far.”

“How so?” Lu Xin asked, puzzled.

“You’re way too laid-back right now.”
Xiao Xuan stroked his chin, lost in thought, recalling Lu Xin’s past image.

A magical genius, young and promising.
He handled everything with ease and was always amiable in dealings.
But up close, you could faintly sense a subtle weariness about him.

Perhaps it was the weight geniuses carried differently.
Only when hanging out with buddies like them would he crack those perfectly timed jokes.

“You only joke around when you’re this relaxed.
Looks like you’ve been under a lot of pressure lately,” Xiao Xuan said.

Lu Xin’s smiling face froze for a moment.
Then he slapped the table.
“Where’s the pressure now?”

“Besides work and money issues, it’s probably emotions or kids,” Xiao Xuan mused.

“Trouble in paradise with your wife?”
Xiao Xuan ventured a guess.

“Impossible.”
Lu Xin shook his head.
How could I have issues with myself?

“If it’s not marital discord, then the problem’s not with your wife.”

“Your kid acting up?”

“She’s fine.”
Lu Xin said.

“Then the issue’s with you.”

“You didn’t do something to betray your wife, did you?”
Xiao Xuan hit the nail on the head.

Hearing that, Lu Xin visibly deflated.

“Not really.”
Lu Xin replied, his eyes dull.

“Just that you’re too outstanding, Brother Lu.
The excellent ones always get pursued.”

“It’s complicated.
Let’s drop it,” Lu Xin said, pinching the bridge of his nose, cutting off Xiao Xuan’s attempt to probe further.

“Speaking of, I never expected you to be doing so well now.
You’ve lived up to your parents’ expectations,” Lu Xin said.

Xiao Xuan paused at that, grabbing his beer and chugging half a bottle.

“Yeah, haven’t let them down.
Just a shame they passed over a decade ago,” Xiao Xuan said, his voice tinged with loneliness.

“What a pity your mom and dad didn’t live to see your success today.”

“Nothing to pity.
Fate’s a cruel thing.
The dead should rest in peace, and the living just keep going—that’s enough,” Xiao Xuan said, his tone slurring a bit from the booze.

“Yeah, in this era where ferocious beasts strike out of nowhere, just staying alive without mishaps is plenty,” Lu Xin said.

“For us ordinary folks, living well is enough.
When the sky falls, you mages and magical girls hold it up,” Xiao Xuan said, downing another gulp of beer.

“Mm, we’ve got it covered,” Lu Xin said, pursing his lips and nodding.

“Look at you, all grizzled now.
Mages aren’t all that, huh?” Xiao Xuan joked.

Lu Xin touched his bearded, aged face and said to Xiao Xuan:

“What do you know?
This is prime middle-aged heartthrob with a manly vibe.”

“Heh, you look like a sissy to me.”

…

The two bantered back and forth like that.
Before long, the stall owner brought over a plate of grilled goodies.
They paused their chat to savor the midnight feast.

Though the White Tower had its own cafeteria, gathering with old friends there always felt a bit restrained, lacking that free-spirited vibe.

After a few rounds of beer and skewers, they’d eaten their fill.
They cleared up and prepared to head home.
Walking side by side down the quiet, late-night street.

The white glow of roadside lamps and the occasional cool breeze seemed to drag Xiao Xuan toward an inescapable slumber.

In a daze, something surged up from his stomach.
Xiao Xuan spotted a nearby lamppost, steadied one hand on it, braced the other on his knee, and waited.
Soon, a pile of vomit splattered at the base of the post.

Lu Xin, ever the supportive friend, patted Xiao Xuan’s back.
“You’re getting on in years.
Cut back on the greasy stuff from now on, or you’ll regret it later.”

After spitting out the last remnants, feeling his stomach settle, Xiao Xuan said to Lu Xin:

“This is the frailty of a mortal body.”

“Heh, even mages are just a bunch of glass cannons,” Lu Xin laughed.

“Not the same.
Not the same,” Xiao Xuan shook his head, eyes closed.

“Mages are still a cut above us normals.”

They walked another stretch side by side, reaching the entrance to a residential complex.
Xiao Xuan stopped and said to Lu Xin:

“This is my stop.
My road ends here.”

“Thanks for walking me this far.”

“It’s the least I could do,” Lu Xin nodded.

“You’ve got to get home too.
Don’t keep them waiting—you’ve still got a ways to go,” Xiao Xuan said, heading into the complex without turning back.

“See you later.”

“See you,” Lu Xin replied.