Chapter 2695 - Ch: 55-59

Chapter 55: Night

The Taoist temple was quieter at night than during the day.

Moonlight leaked through the cracks in the clouds, spilling onto the grey-tiled eaves and the mottled ancient walls, like a layer of thin frost.

In the courtyard, several ancient cypress trees stood silently, their branch shadows slanted and cast upon the blue brick floor, swaying gently with the breeze.

The copper bell hanging at the corner of the hall was occasionally stirred by the mountain wind, emitting a low, lingering sound that dissipated into the night, only to be quickly swallowed by the silence.

The door of the main hall was half-closed, the candlelight inside dim and yellow, illuminating the calm expression of the statue. Incense ash accumulated quietly in the censer, and a few wisps of lingering smoke rose, carrying a faint scent of sandalwood that drifted slowly through the air.

An old palace lantern hung under the corridor, its glow dim and warm. Flying insects circled the lamp flame. The stone steps were slightly cool, damp with night dew when stepped upon. In the distance, the mountains were hidden in darkness, with only their silhouettes vaguely visible.

Su Yu sat by the stone table in the courtyard with a chessboard in front of him. The pieces were polished jade; the black pieces were warm and smooth, while the white pieces were translucent, shimmering faintly in the candlelight.

The Old Celestial Master sat opposite him, holding a cup of tea in his hand. The tea had already gone cold, but he just held it.

Kurama lay at Su Yu's feet, her tail curled into a ball. Her eyes were half-closed, but her ears were pricked up, twitching occasionally.

"Did your father never mention these things to you?" The Old Celestial Master dropped a black piece, his voice sounding very clear in the quiet courtyard.

"No." Su Yu looked at the chessboard and dropped a piece casually. "He rarely talks to me about family matters."

The Old Celestial Master was silent for a moment, then dropped another piece. "It is right that he doesn't mention them. These matters are too long to recount." His hand paused above the chessboard, his fingertips tapping gently on a piece. "In your grandfather's generation, the Su family had seven brothers. Your grandfather was the youngest, with six older brothers above him."

Su Yu's hand paused, and he looked up at the Old Celestial Master. He had come to Longhu Mountain this time intending to see the magic here and to see what the magic power of Longhu Mountain was like now.

He had heard his father mention Longhu Mountain once, saying only, "That is the Zhang family's place; the magic is very orthodox," and nothing else.

Su Yu knew almost nothing about the Su family's past. He did not know about his grandparents, nor did he know what had happened to the Su family in the past; his father had never mentioned these matters.

He thought Longhu Mountain was just Longhu Mountain, a place to learn magic. He hadn't expected the Old Celestial Master to tell him these things.

The Old Celestial Master did not look at him; his gaze fell on the chessboard, as if recalling something very distant.

"In the 26th year of the Republic of China, the devils attacked the Demon City." The Old Celestial Master spoke slowly, with a touch of detachment, as if telling a history that concerned himself. "The Su family was the number one hidden family in Shanghai. Your great-grandfather was still alive, and your grandfather's parents and grandparents were all still there. There were dozens of family members living in the old mansion. At that time, the Su family was at its peak."

He paused, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. The tea was cold; he frowned slightly and put it down.

"Before the devils entered the city, someone from the Zhuge family cast a fortune for your Su family." The Old Celestial Master looked into Su Yu's eyes. "The hexagram said—seven sons go, seven sons return."

Su Yu's brows twitched, and Kurama also opened her eyes.

"Seven sons go out, seven sons come back. Not one will be missing." The Old Celestial Master's voice lowered. "Your great-grandfather believed it. The whole family—elders, juniors, even the bodyguards and disciples—all went to the battlefield."

"The six older brothers, your grandfather, your great-grandfather, your great-grandmother, and other elders of your grandfather's generation all went."

The courtyard was quiet for a long time. The wind blew through the ginkgo tree, and the leaves rustled. Su Yulowered his head, looking at the pieces on the chessboard, not moving.

"And in the end?" Su Yu's voice was a bit hoarse.

The Old Celestial Master did not answer directly. He picked up a black piece, turned it between his fingers, and put it back.

"Your great-grandfather didn't come back, your great-grandmother didn't come back, and your grandfather's six older brothers didn't come back. Out of the dozens of people in the Su family, only your grandfather came back." The Old Celestial Master said, "The hexagram said seven sons go, seven sons return, referring to the seven sons—but only your grandfather returned."

"Was the hexagram given by the Zhuge family wrong?" Su Yu asked, puzzled.

"The Zhuge family's hexagrams have never been wrong." The Old Celestial Master said, "It is just that human desires were too heavy. Your great-grandfather was not wrong either; he just wanted to save more of this country. The hexagram spoke of sons, but your great-grandfather took the whole family. As for fate, the more you ask for, the more it will take back. In that battle, your Su family's three demigods traded for eleven of the enemy's." He paused. "Your grandfather was only sixteen that year and was the youngest, so the family didn't want him to go. He snuck out. By the time we found him, there were no living people left on the battlefield. He lay in a pile of corpses for three days and survived by drinking from a pool of stagnant water."

Su Yu was silent. Kurama stood up from his feet and rested her chin on his knee, her amber eyes looking at him. Su Yureached out and patted her head.

"Later, your grandfather survived, married your grandmother, and had your father. They thought they would just live like that, and good days would slowly come. Unexpectedly, in '59, the devils came again. This time it wasn't guns or artillery; it was black magic."

Su Yu looked up.

"I cannot say exactly what it was. I can only tell you that the thing spread from Japan, reached the southeast coast along the sea route, and spread inland. That kind of thing was very similar to secret arts and could affect the national destiny." The Old Celestial Master's voice became even lower. "Every sect and school went: Longhu Mountain, Wudang, the Wuxing Shen family, and your Su family. I went too."

Su Yu looked at him. The Old Celestial Master's face had no expression, but his piece trembled in his fingers.

"Your grandfather was already nearly forty then, and the Su family was left with only him and your father. The entire cultivation world tried to persuade him not to go, and I tried hard to persuade him for a long time, but he still went. He wanted to avenge the Su family; that was a blood feud. Even your grandmother unexpectedly went with him." The Old Celestial Master paused. "After that battle, it was a mutual destruction. The enemy was wiped out and has not recovered to this day, but in the end, we failed. In those three years, we lost over ten million people in vain. Your grandfather, with the body of a mortal, traded for two of the devils' remaining three demigods. He didn't come back, and your grandmother didn't either... Every sect and school suffered heavy losses. I was seriously injured, and in the sea of corpses and blood, I broke through to the demigod realm, which was how we narrowly won."

After the Old Celestial Master finished speaking, he picked up the teacup and put it down again; the tea was still cold.

The Old Celestial Master sat opposite Su Yu, telling these things one by one, as if he had waited a long time and finally found someone he could tell.

"How old was my father then?" Su Yu asked.

"Ten years old. Your father was only ten that year, alone in Shanghai, guarding the empty old mansion. Later, the Wuxing Shen family on your grandmother's side took him in to raise him for a few years, and he only returned when he grew up."

Su Yu lowered his head, looking at the pieces on the chessboard, black and white intertwined, a jumbled mess, unable to tell who was surrounding whom.

"Your grandmother was a very good person." The Old Celestial Master's voice suddenly softened, not like he was speaking to Su Yu, but more like he was talking to himself.

Su Yu looked up at him. The Old Celestial Master's gaze did not fall on the chessboard, nor on Su Yu, but passed through the courtyard and landed on the deep night behind the ginkgo tree. The corners of his mouth moved slightly, as if he were smiling, or perhaps sighing.

"Were you very close to my grandmother?" Su Yu asked.

The Old Celestial Master did not answer. He picked up a white piece and placed it in an empty spot on the edge of the board, then picked up a black piece and placed it next to the white piece, then pushed them away, as if setting up a game only he could understand.

"Has your father never told you about the realm divisions in the Eastern cultivation world and the affairs of the four great hidden families?" The Old Celestial Master changed the subject.

"No." Su Yu said.

"Everyone below the demigod level is considered insignificant. Among the few existing demigods, your Principal Dumbledore counts as one, Grindelwald would count as one if he could get out, Master Zhao of Wudang Mountain counts as one, and I count as one. The devils still have one and a half left, Africa has one, the Americas have three, and others in hiding do not exceed five. Oh, right, your father is one too; he is the most talented one we have ever seen. However, there are strengths and weaknesses among demigods, and above demigods are those gods and demons, which do not exist in the human world."

"The cultivation world of the East is led by the four great hidden families: the Su family of Shanghai, the Zhang family of Longhu Mountain, the Zhao family of Wudang, and the Shen family of Wuxing, with headquarters in the capital." The Old Celestial Master counted them one by one, his voice very slow. "The Su family has the greatest wealth and power and possesses the Blood Burning secret art. In a real life-and-death battle, no one among the demigods can rival them, though given your father's personality, he probably wouldn't pass it on to you. The Zhang family's magic is the most orthodox, specializing in talisman magic and exorcism. The Zhao family's martial arts are the strongest, focusing on internal martial arts and inner alchemy, with internal energy and martial arts as the main focus, reaching the peak of mortal physical strength and spiritual power control. The Shen family is the most skilled in spiritual plants, spiritual cultivation insights, herbal witchcraft, and secret medicine refining. Each of the four families has its own path and has been passed down for thousands of years. Your family is the leader of the four."

"A full hundred years of war... All the major sects have begun to decline. By your grandfather's generation, the Su family was the most prosperous among the four, with seven brothers, all capable fighters. Now, only you and your father are left." The Old Celestial Master sighed. "Your father has not had it easy, holding up the Su family's reputation alone while also guarding against those outside who are eyeing the Su family's assets. He doesn't tell you these things, probably because he is afraid you are too young to handle them."

Su Yu picked up a piece and turned it between his fingers. "He is with my mother now, which is good."

"I know." The Old Celestial Master said. "Your mother is a good girl. Although it caused a huge uproar in the cultivation world at the time, your father ultimately chose her."

Kurama yawned, changed her posture, rested her chin on Su Yu's knee, and closed her eyes.

"Cho Chang's aunt is named Zhang Qinwan." The Old Celestial Master suddenly said.

Su Yu looked at him.

"At that time, your father had just returned from the Wuxing Shen family, alone, with no attachments. The Zhang family intended to betroth Qinwan to him; after all, they had played together since they were children." The Old Celestial Master paused. "But because of the age gap, your father always regarded her as a younger sister. Later, your father traveled to Britain, met your mother, and didn't mention the matter again."

"Aunt Zhang never married?"

The Old Celestial Master glanced at him, the corners of his mouth moving as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back. "Other people's business is not for me to discuss. Let's play chess."

He dropped a black piece, capturing a string of Su Yu's white pieces. Su Yu looked down at the board, his fingers finding a white piece in the bowl, placing it in a very obscure position. The Old Celestial Master saw that move, was stunned for a moment, and then laughed.

"You are just like your father; you don't like to follow the rules when playing chess."

Su Yu didn't reply. Moonlight leaked through the gaps in the ginkgo tree, casting mottled light and shadow on the chessboard. The sound of insects in the valley in the distance grew louder, rising and falling. Kurama's breathing became lighter and lighter, and her tail stopped wagging; she had fallen asleep. Su Yu took off his jacket, covered her with it, and continued to play.

He noted down the grudge against the devils.

The Old Celestial Master dropped a few more pieces and suddenly said, "You didn't just come to Longhu Mountainto look around, did you?"

Su Yu looked at the chessboard without looking up. "I wanted to see the magic of Longhu Mountain."

The Old Celestial Master's hand stopped in mid-air. "Just that?"

"Yes. I heard that the Zhang family's magic has the longest history and is the most noble Taoist orthodoxy, controlling the source of talisman and exorcism techniques. I wanted to see it; I think it should be inspiring to me." Su Yudropped a piece.

The Old Celestial Master looked at him, was silent for a moment, and then smiled, as if comforted, or perhaps feeling emotional.

"You are different from your grandfather." The Old Celestial Master said. "Your grandfather was stubborn all his life, just wanting to revitalize the Su family, but unfortunately, he never walked his own path."

Su Yu didn't know how to respond.

"Fine." The Old Celestial Master pushed the chess bowl aside and leaned back in his chair. "If you want to see the magic of Longhu Mountain, let Qinwan take you around the mountain tomorrow."

Su Yu nodded, not mentioning a word about the fact that he was about to win...

Why is reality never like anime? In anime, the younger generation is more cunning than the next, and the older generation is more arrogant than the next. Why is reality the exact opposite? Dumbledore had been playing with him from the beginning, acting from start to finish. Grindelwald was the same; he never used his full strength in the great battle, leaving everything for him to turn the tide. This Old Celestial Master was no less so.

The Old Celestial Master stood up and patted the dust off his robes. "Get some sleep early." He turned and walked a few steps, then stopped, without looking back.

"I have heard stories of you in Europe; you did well. If your grandmother knew that the Su family still had a descendant like you, she would be happy. Just go do what you think you should do. If the sky falls, there are still us old folks. Human effort can accomplish anything; just do your best..."

After speaking, he walked into the room, and the door closed gently behind him.

Su Yu sat in the courtyard, Kurama curled up on his lap. Moonlight shone on her golden-red fur, casting a soft glow. He reached out and stroked her back; she moved slightly and kicked Su Yu's finger with her short little leg.

Chapter 56: Zhang Qinwan (Parents, if you're free, could you please rate the work? Thank you.)

The next morning, Su Yu was woken up by the chirping of birds.

The guest room in the Taoist temple was very simple: a wooden bed, a table, a chair, and a piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall that read "Tao Follows Nature."

Outside the window, the sky was just beginning to brighten. Mist from the mountains seeped in through the cracks in the door, cool and damp, carrying the scent of bamboo leaves and earth.

Kurama was still curled up on the quilt, her tail covering her nose, her belly rising and falling with each breath. Su Yu didn't wake her; he got up to wash and brush his teeth. Pushing open the door, he saw the ginkgo tree in the courtyard shimmering with gold in the morning light, and a person standing beneath it.

Zhang Qinwan was wearing a moon-white cotton-linen jacket, her hair pinned back with a wooden hairpin. She was holding a bowl of soy milk, looking down at the koi in a stone vat.

Hearing the door open, she looked up and smiled at Su Yu. "Morning. Did you sleep well last night?" Her voice was soft, carrying a Jiangnan accent, like silk soaked in water.

"It was alright." Su Yu walked over. Kurama had woken up at some point and was following at his heels, rubbing her eyes with her paws.

Zhang Qinwan glanced down at Kurama, bent over, and placed the bowl of soy milk on the ground. "Would you like some?" Kurama looked at Su Yu. Su Yu didn't say anything, so Kurama dipped her face into the bowl. Zhang Qinwan watched her, the corners of her mouth curving slightly, then she stood up and clapped her hands.

"The Celestial Master said you wanted to walk around the mountain today?"

"Yeah. I want to see the magic of Longhu Mountain."

Zhang Qinwan nodded without asking more questions. She turned and walked out of the courtyard. "Let's go, I'll take you."

The morning on Longhu Mountain was very quiet. Dew hung on the bamboo lining the stone path. As the wind blew, the dewdrops fell with a rustle, landing on Kurama's back. She shook her fur and ran ahead of Su Yu.

The distant peaks were mostly obscured by mist, with only a few grey-green tips visible, like islands floating in mid-air. Zhang Qinwan walked in front, occasionally stopping to wait for Su Yu, and occasionally pointing at the distant peaks, saying, "That is Celestial Master Peak," or "That is Alchemy Rock."

"Where do you usually practice?" Su Yu asked.

Zhang Qinwan pointed to a complex of buildings ahead. "Over there, just past the Dharma Practice Platform. The disciples are all training in the morning. You can watch, but don't disturb them."

The Dharma Practice Platform was a massive bluestone platform, as flat as if it had been cut by a knife. A dozen or so young people in Taoist robes, both men and women, stood on the platform holding peach wood swords. Their movements were uniform, their sword tips tracing arcs in the air. Su Yu stood at the edge of the platform and watched for a while, Kurama squatting at his feet, her tail swaying.

"What are they practicing?" Su Yu asked.

"Basic sword techniques," Zhang Qinwan said. "Longhu Mountain's martial arts start with the sword. Only when you've mastered the sword can you learn talismans, and only when you've mastered talismans can you learn magic." She paused. "When your father came to Longhu Mountain as a child, he also practiced this set of sword techniques."

Su Yu glanced at her. Zhang Qinwan's gaze rested on the platform, her face expressionless, as if she were watching the disciples practicing, or perhaps looking at something else entirely.

"How long did he practice?" Su Yu asked.

"Less than a month," Zhang Qinwan said. "Your father was impatient and couldn't sit still. The Celestial Master said he had good natural talent, but his heart wasn't settled, so he couldn't practice the arts of Longhu Mountain." She paused, the corners of her mouth curving slightly. "Later, he walked his own path. The Celestial Master said that was his own Tao."

Leaving the Dharma Practice Platform, Zhang Qinwan led Su Yu around a bamboo grove to an open valley. The valley was surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a cliff on the fourth. Below the cliff, clouds and mist swirled, obscuring the bottom.

There were several large boulders scattered in the valley, their surfaces carved with dense, intricate talismanic runes, some of which had already become blurred. Several disciples in Taoist robes stood in the valley. They had no swords or talisman paper in their hands; they were just empty-handed, tracing patterns in the air with their fingers.

Su Yu stopped.

He saw one of the disciples trace a complex pattern in the air with his finger. A golden light lit up at his fingertip, lingering in the air for a moment as if fixed in place by something.

The moment the pattern was completed, the disciple pushed forward sharply. The golden talisman flew out of the air and struck a boulder opposite him. Sparks exploded on the surface of the stone, and the runes were branded onto it, sizzling and emitting a wisp of blue smoke.

"Drawing talismans in the void," Zhang Qinwan said, standing next to Su Yu. "A high-level talisman technique of Longhu Mountain. It doesn't rely on paper or pen; it uses spiritual power as ink and the void as paper."

Su Yu stared at the disciple's fingers. The man was already drawing a second talisman. This time it was blue, with lines more complex than the previous one, and the light at his fingertip was brighter.

His fingers moved rapidly in the air. When he finished the last stroke, the entire talisman suddenly lit up, then transformed into a bolt of blue lightning, striking another boulder. The stone was split by a crack, and gravel flew everywhere.

"Lightning Talisman," Zhang Qinwan said. "There are also Fire Talismans, Ice Talismans, and Vajra Talismans. Different runes have different effects. The faster you draw, the greater the power; the steadier you draw, the higher the accuracy. Of course, drawing talismans in the void like this consumes a lot of energy."

Another disciple took action. He drew a red rune in the air with his finger; the pattern was larger than the first two, and the lines were thicker. The moment the talisman took form, the air grew hot. A ball of flame erupted from the rune, transforming into the shape of a firebird that swooped toward the cliff, flying dozens of meters before dissipating.

Kurama stood up from Su Yu's feet, her tail held high. Her amber eyes were fixed on those runes, her pupils reflecting the golden light.

Su Yu watched the runes flickering in the air, his mind rapidly deconstructing them.

"Do you want to try?" Zhang Qinwan looked at him.

Su Yu shook his head. "I'll just watch for now."

Zhang Qinwan didn't force him and continued walking forward.

Walking to the depths of the valley, they found an older disciple drawing an extremely complex talisman. His fingers moved slowly in the air, pausing after every stroke as if confirming something. The color of the rune was golden, and the lines were dense like a web, layer upon layer, dazzling to behold. The other disciples had all stopped to watch his fingers.

The moment the final stroke was finished, the entire talisman exploded, transforming into a pillar of golden light that shot straight into the sky. The pillar of light lasted for three or four seconds before dissipating, leaving a humming vibration in the air, and even the ground beneath their feet trembled slightly.

"This is the Celestial Master Talisman," Zhang Qinwan said. "One of the strongest talismans of Longhu Mountain. He has been practicing it for three months, and today is the first time he has succeeded."

Su Yu looked at the disciple. The man was kneeling on the ground, gasping for air, his fingers still trembling, but his eyes were bright.

Kurama stood up and scratched at Su Yu's lower leg with her paw, meaning "I'm hungry." Zhang Qinwan glanced down at Kurama. "Let's go, have breakfast first. After that, I'll take you to the Scripture Library."

The Scripture Library was in the deepest part of the Taoist temple, a three-story wooden building with dark red paint on its exterior walls. The doors and windows were tightly closed. Zhang Qinwan pulled a brass key from her sleeve, unlocked the door, and pushed it open. A scent of old paper and wood rushed out to greet them. The first floor was filled with bookshelves, dense and packed, reaching from the floor all the way to the ceiling.

"The manuscripts and classics of the past generations of Longhu Mountain ancestors are collected here." Zhang Qinwan walked in front, her fingers gently brushing over the bookshelves. "Talismans, magic, internal alchemy, feng shui, divination—we have it all. What would you like to see?"

Su Yu scanned the bookshelves. "Is this what you use for your daily practice?"

"A part of it," Zhang Qinwan said. "The inheritance of Longhu Mountain is mostly passed down orally and through personal instruction. What's written in the books is just the framework; the true essence lies in the master's words and the disciple's hands." She turned and looked at Su Yu. "Do you want to learn?"

Su Yu thought for a moment. "I'd like to take a look."

Zhang Qinwan nodded without pressing further. She pulled a thin, thread-bound book from the shelf and handed it to Su Yu. "This is for introductory talismans. You can browse through it, but you cannot take it away."

Su Yu took it and opened it. The pages had turned yellow and the edges were worn, but the handwriting was still clear. It contained diagrams of various talismanic spells, with annotations written in small regular script on the side. He looked at the winding, curved lines. They were different from what he had learned at Hogwarts, and different from what Kurama had taught him, but the underlying logic was the same.

"You can understand it?" Zhang Qinwan stood beside him, watching the speed at which he turned the pages, somewhat surprised.

"Roughly," Su Yu said. "It's a bit like Chakra, but the approach is different."

Zhang Qinwan was silent for a moment. "The Celestial Master said your talent was excellent. I didn't believe it at first, but now I'm starting to believe it."

Su Yu continued to flip through the book. Kurama jumped onto the bookshelf, squatted on top of a row of books, and looked down at them.

They stayed in the Scripture Library for over an hour. Su Yuflipped through seven or eight books; some were about talismans, others about the principles of magic. Zhang Qinwan stood by his side the whole time, occasionally offering explanations, and occasionally being amused by Kurama—Kurama was particularly interested in a book titled "Methods of Raising Spirit Beasts," clawing at the pages and refusing to let go.

By the time it was nearly noon, Zhang Qinwan took Su Yuto the back mountain.

The back mountain was even quieter than the front. A small stream flowed down from the mountain, its water crystal clear, murmuring as it went. By the stream lay a large rock with a smooth surface, as if it had been sat upon for many years. Zhang Qinwan sat down on the rock and patted the spot next to her, signaling for Su Yu to sit as well.

"This is where I used to practice when I was a child," she said. "No one bothers me here."

Su Yu sat down. Kurama jumped beside Zhang Qinwan and lay down, eyes half-closed. The stream flowed past them, and the sunlight hitting the water created shimmering ripples that made one's eyes daze a little.

"What did the Celestial Master tell you last night?" Zhang Qinwan asked.

Su Yu glanced at her. "He talked about the Su family."

Zhang Qinwan was silent for a moment. "Your father never told you?"

"No."

Zhang Qinwan lowered her head, watching the stream. The wind blew, scattering a few strands of her hair across her cheeks. She didn't bother to fix them, just sat there, quiet and still.

"Your father was a very good man," she said suddenly, her voice very soft, as if afraid of startling the fish in the stream.

Su Yu listened quietly.

"When he was young, he often came to Longhu Mountain, but every time he came, he would sit here for a while." The corners of Zhang Qinwan's mouth curved slightly. "He said it was quiet here and helped him think things through."

"What did he figure out?"

Zhang Qinwan shook her head. "I don't know. He didn't say."

Kurama jumped into Zhang Qinwan's lap and rolled over, exposing her belly. Zhang Qinwan smiled and reached out to stroke her stomach, and she made a purring sound.

"Later, your father chose his own path and never came to Longhu Mountain again. Every time, it was I who went to your family's old estate to find him," Zhang Qinwan said, her gaze fixed on the stream. "The Celestial Master sometimes mentions him, saying he took a different path."

Su Yu looked at her. Her profile was very soft in the sunlight, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her lips... She didn't look like someone in her thirties, but more like a girl who hadn't grown up yet, sitting quietly by the stream, talking about things from a long time ago.

"Don't you want to ask about anything else?" Zhang Qinwan suddenly turned her head to look at Su Yu.

Su Yu thought for a moment. "How did you and my father meet?"

Zhang Qinwan smiled, like a breeze blowing over the water, stirring up a ripple that then vanished.

"When he first came to Longhu Mountain, I was only eight years old, and the Celestial Master asked me to show him around." She paused. "He loved to talk back then, telling me about Shanghai, about living alone in the old estate, and about wanting to see the world outside. I wasn't very talkative back then, so I just listened. He thought I was a very good listener."

Su Yu didn't say anything.

"Later, every time he came to Longhu Mountain, he would look for me, and I would always follow behind him, listening carefully to every word he said." Zhang Qinwan lowered her head, looking at her fingers. "Then, later, he went to Britain and wrote letters back. I replied to a few, but eventually, I stopped."

"Why did you stop?"

Zhang Qinwan was silent for a long time. The stream flowed past them, making a soft, fragmented sound, and the mountain breeze from afar blew over, causing the bamboo leaves to rustle.

"He wrote about a girl in his letters," Zhang Qinwan said. "She was a magic user, and he said she was very interesting, unlike anyone else he had ever met."

Kurama opened her eyes, looked at Zhang Qinwan, then at Su Yu, and closed them again.

"I knew then that he wouldn't be coming back," Zhang Qinwan said, then stood up and brushed the dust off her robe. "Let's go, it's time for lunch."

She turned and walked back along the path by the stream, her pace as unhurried as ever. Su Yu sat on the rock, watching her walk away.

Kurama was sighing repeatedly beside him.

"What's with you?" Su Yu said.

"She still hasn't forgotten."

Su Yu stood up and scooped Kurama up. "You sure know a lot!"

They followed along the path by the stream.

Zhang Qinwan walked in front, her moon-white tunic appearing and disappearing in the bamboo forest, like a cloud moved by the wind. He didn't catch up, just followed at a distance.

How could he interfere in the affairs of adults? Tell his dad he found himself a stepmother? Better to let his dad deal with that headache himself.

He felt that this was a good trait of his; he wouldn't leave any girl waiting for him. More importantly, he would stand firmly behind his girl. Even if Farley turned into the third generation of the Dark Lord tomorrow, Su Yu wouldn't question her about why she did it. He would only ask her if she got hurt while going out to kill people today, and then lie in Farley's arms like a little puppy. This was something Harry and Ron would never learn, which was perhaps why they were able to become saviors.

However, although Su Yu was a bit of a playboy, fortunately, every girl was quite happy, and wasn't that enough?

In the end, he had to thank the heavens for not giving him a yandere...

At lunchtime, Cho Chang was already waiting in the cafeteria.

The cafeteria at Longhu Mountain was not large. Several wooden tables were pushed together, topped with a few plates of vegetable dishes, a basin of rice, and a pot of soup. Disciples sat in twos and threes, some eating, others chatting in low voices.

Cho Chang sat by the window, with three sets of bowls and chopsticks in front of her, resting her chin on her hand as she looked toward the door.

As soon as Su Yu entered, she stood up, her eyes lighting up instantly.

"Su Yu! Over here!" She waved her hand, and half the cafeteria turned to look.

Su Yu walked over. Kurama jumped off his shoulder, hopped onto the table first, and crouched next to an empty bowl. Cho Chang looked down at Kurama, smiled, and picked up a piece of tofu from a dish and placed it in front of her. Kurama sniffed it and ate it.

"How did you know I would come?" Su Yu sat down.

"I guessed." Cho Chang pushed a set of bowls and chopsticks toward him. "My aunt took you around this morning, right? She always comes here to eat, so I came early to save a seat."

"Aren't you going to wait for your aunt? She just said she was going to change her clothes and would be here soon."

"Let's just eat first; Aunt won't say anything."

Su Yu picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of food. Cho Chang watched him eat, picked up her own bowl, and began eating in small bites. She didn't eat fast, but she was very earnest; every time she picked up a morsel of food, she would press it down in her bowl before putting it into her mouth.

"Where did you go this morning?" Cho Chang asked.

"The Dharma Platform, the Scripture Library, the back mountain, and the valley," Su Yu said. "I even saw void talisman drawing."

Cho Chang's eyes lit up again. "You saw it? Is it amazing? I've been learning for two and a half years, and I can only draw the simplest flame talismans, and my hand still shakes after I finish."

Su Yu glanced at her. "You're learning talisman techniques?"

"Yeah." Cho Chang nodded. "Although I grew up overseas, I'm still a member of the Zhang family, so I have to learn when I reach the right age. But I'm not as good as my aunt; she was amazing when she was young. Even the Celestial Master said she was a once-in-a-century genius." She paused, her voice lowering slightly. "Later, for some reason, she stopped drawing them."

Su Yu was silent for a moment. Cho Chang didn't continue either; she lowered her head to eat a few more bites of rice, then looked up again, a smile reappearing on her face.

"Are you still going around this afternoon? I'll go with you."

Su Yu thought for a moment. "Your aunt can just take me."

Cho Chang pouted. "My aunt taking you is her business, me being with you is my own business. They don't conflict."

Su Yu nodded. Kurama had finished the tofu and was using her paw to tug at Cho Chang's sleeve, meaning "more." Cho Chang picked up another piece for her. Kuramafinished it, then tugged again, and Cho Chang picked up another. After eating five pieces of tofu, Kurama finally lay down contentedly and licked her paws.

"Your fox can really eat," Cho Chang said.

"She's just like that."

Cho Chang smiled, her eyes curving. She put down her bowls and chopsticks, supported herself on the bench with both hands, swung her legs, and looked at the bamboo forest outside the window. Sunlight shone in through the window, landing on her hair, which was dark and shiny.

"How many days are you staying at Longhu Mountain?" she asked.

"Two or three days, I suppose."

"Then you have to accompany me for two days." Cho Chang turned her head to look at him, the corners of her mouth curling up. "It's rare for you to come here once; it wouldn't be right if I didn't take you around properly."

Su Yu didn't refuse, and Cho Chang was very happy.

The bamboo forest outside the window rustled in the wind. Sunlight shone through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting fragmented light spots on the tabletop. Cho Changpicked up her bowl, shoveled the last few bites of rice into her mouth, put the bowl down, and let out a long breath.

"I'm full," she said. "Let's go, this afternoon I'll take you to see the Spirit Beast Garden of Longhu Mountain."

Chapter 57: Spirit Beast Garden

On the afternoon at Longhu Mountain, sunlight leaked through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, spreading a layer of broken gold on the ground.

Cho Chang walked in front with a light step, her ponytail swaying behind her, humming a tune Su Yu had never heard before.

Kurama lay on Su Yu's shoulder, her tail dangling in front of his chest, swaying back and forth, her eyes half-closed as if she were about to fall asleep.

"We're almost there," Cho Chang said, looking back at him with a smile. "Hurry up, the Spirit Beast Garden is a lot of fun."

Su Yu caught up. "What makes it so fun?"

"You'll see when we get there," Cho Chang said, teasing him, before turning back around to continue walking.

The Spirit Beast Garden was located in the valley on the west side of the Taoist temple, enclosed by a blue brick wall.

An old Taoist priest was dozing against the doorframe at the entrance, his face covered by his hat. Cho Changtiptoed over and lifted the hat off his face. The old priest opened one eye, glanced at her, and closed it again.

"The girl from the Zhang family, here again," the old priest muttered, pulling his hat back over his face. "Go on in."

Cho Chang stuck her tongue out at him, pushed open the wooden door, and beckoned to Su Yu.

Su Yu followed, and after rounding a bamboo grove, the view suddenly opened up. It was a large valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a shallow stream on the fourth.

The stream flowed down from the mountain, clear to the bottom, with the sound of gurgling water.

Large stones covered in moss were scattered across the grass by the stream, and dozens of white cranes were standing in the water, drinking.

In the forest in the distance, something was jumping between the branches, making the trees rustle.

The white cranes stood by the stream; some were drinking, some were preening their feathers with their beaks, and some were dozing on one leg atop the stones.

Red knots were tied around their ankles, strung with small copper bells. When the wind blew, the bells chimed, sounding as if someone were ringing them in the distance.

A few Golden-Horned Deer were grazing on the grass, and a dozen or so Golden-Eyed Monkeys were squatting in the trees, peeling peanuts, the shells falling from the trees onto the grass.

"The Spirit Beast Garden is open-style," Cho Chang said. "They can leave if they don't want to stay here, but they never do. There's food and drink here, and people to play with them. It's more comfortable than outside."

Kurama jumped down from Su Yu's shoulder and squatted on the ground, her amber eyes fixed on the spirit beasts.

A Golden-Eyed Monkey with an exceptionally long tail jumped down from a tree and squatted on the roadside railing, holding a walnut in its hands, staring intently at Kurama.

It placed the walnut on the railing, cracked it open with its claws, extracted the kernel, and carefully placed it in front of Kurama.

Kurama looked down at the kernel and then up at the monkey. The monkey squeaked twice, as if to say, "This is for you to eat."

Kurama ate the kernel, and the monkey did two somersaults on the railing in delight before jumping back onto a crossbeam and starting to peel peanuts again.

"Kurama, you're very popular," Cho Chang teased Kuramawith a smile.

Su Yu was observing the white cranes. The smallest crane by the pond ran out from the flock, trotting with small steps up to Kurama, carrying a bright red fruit in its beak. Looking at this newcomer, the fox, it placed the fruit on the ground and nudged it towards Kurama with its beak.

Kurama sniffed it and began to eat it in small bites. The little white crane flapped its wings happily and turned to run back.

"Is this fox here to collect gifts today?" Cho Chang said.

Su Yu looked down at Kurama, who was squatting on the ground, her tail flicking proudly.

"Just say you're happy," Su Yu said.

Kurama hummed haughtily. "It's alright, I suppose."

A large grey white crane stood by the pond, standing on one leg with its head buried in its wings.

But as Kurama passed by it, it suddenly raised its head from its wings and gently nudged Kurama's tail with its beak.

"That's Frost Feather, the fastest white crane in the Spirit Beast Garden, but it usually doesn't pay attention to people. How come today..."

Frost Feather raised its head from its wings again. This time, it didn't nudge Kurama but walked up to Su Yu, lowered its head, and rubbed it against Su Yu's hand.

Su Yu reached out and stroked its neck. It didn't shy away; instead, it rubbed against his palm.

"It seems to like you," Cho Chang said.

Su Yu looked at Frost Feather. Its eyes were dark and bright, and when it looked at him, his reflection was mirrored in its pupils.

"Do you want to ride it?" Cho Chang suddenly asked.

Su Yu looked at her. "Can you ride this?"

"Of course," Cho Chang said. "The white cranes in the Spirit Beast Garden are meant to be ridden. In the East, white cranes are equivalent to the brooms at Hogwarts. Practitioners here rely on them to travel. Frost Feather is the fastest; if you want, we can ride them out for a spin."

Su Yu agreed without hesitation, of course; he also wanted to try the experience of riding a crane.

Cho Chang clapped her hands excitedly and ran off to find the old Taoist priest who managed the Spirit Beast Garden. The old priest was shaken awake by Cho Chang, muttered a few words, and pulled two pairs of red stirrups from his pocket, handing them to her.

After she ran back, she fastened one pair onto Frost Feather and the other onto another white crane.

"You ride Frost Feather, and I'll ride Cloud Feather," Cho Chang said, swinging onto Cloud Feather's back with movements as deft as riding a broom. "Come on up."

Su Yu stepped on the stirrups and swung onto Frost Feather's back. Its back was very broad, its feathers soft, and it felt very stable to sit on. Kurama jumped down from his shoulder and squatted on his lap. Su Yu grabbed the ring in front of the saddle and squeezed his legs tight.

"Just hold the ring, don't be nervous," Cho Chang said. "They know how to fly themselves. You just need to sit tight and don't fall off."

Frost Feather shook its wings and let out a clear, long cry. Then it strode forward, running a few steps by the pond before spreading its wings wide, taking Su Yu off the ground.

Su Yu felt a gust of wind rush past his ears, and his body suddenly rose upward. The ground below grew more and more distant; the wall of the Spirit Beast Garden became a thin line, and the roofs of the Taoist temple shimmered with grey light in the sunlight. Kurama's fur was blown backward by the wind; she squinted her eyes and seemed to be enjoying it.

Frost Feather flew very steadily, gliding a great distance with every flap of its wings. Su Yu could see the distant mountain peaks, the villages in the valleys, and the winding rivers; the clouds seemed close enough to touch.

Cho Chang rode Cloud Feather alongside him. The wind blew her hair loose, her ponytail turning into a shawl that fluttered in the wind.

"How is it?" Cho Chang asked loudly. The wind was too strong, and her voice sounded a bit airy.

"This is really great!" Su Yu shouted back.

Frost Feather carried them in a circle over Longhu Mountain. As they flew over the Taoist temple, Su Yu saw a few disciples practicing swordplay in the courtyard; seeing them, they looked up and waved.

Frost Feather flew to the top of the highest mountain peak in the Spirit Beast Garden and then began to descend slowly.

It landed on a huge bluestone platform, folded its wings, and lowered its head to make it easier for Su Yu to get off. Kurama jumped down from his lap and squatted on the ground, using her paws to groom the fur that had been ruffled by the wind.

Cho Chang also landed, jumped off Cloud Feather, and ran to Su Yu's side. "Was it fun?"

"It was truly a great experience," Su Yu remarked.

"Then next time you come, I'll take you to even further places!"

Su Yu nodded, and Frost Feather rubbed its head against his shoulder.

Not far away on the grass, a few Golden-Horned Deer were grazing. Their horns were golden, their eyes red, and their fur light brown. Seeing Cho Chang and Su Yuapproach, they just raised their heads to look, then lowered them again to continue grazing.

One of the Golden-Horned Deer stood under a camphor tree, holding a small, light purple flower in its mouth, with water droplets still on the petals.

Seeing Kurama, it walked out from under the tree, approached Kurama, placed the flower on the ground, and nudged it with its nose towards Kurama.

Kurama looked down at the flower and then up at the Golden-Horned Deer. "I really can't eat this..."

The Golden-Horned Deer seemed to understand. It lowered its head, turned, and walked back, but after taking two steps, it looked back at Kurama.

Cho Chang was bent over laughing, and she picked up the flower and tucked it into Kurama's fur.

Upstream of the stream, there was a small pool. In the middle of the pool was a large rock, and on the rock lay an old turtle.

The moss on its shell was as thick as a blanket. Its head was retracted into its shell, with only a tiny bit of its nose exposed. Two Golden-Eyed Monkeys were squatting by the edge of the pool, using their claws to fish for something in the water, though it was unclear what they were trying to catch.

"That's Xuanjia," Cho Chang said, crouching by the pool. "The Old Celestial Master says it has lived for nearly a thousand years."

Su Yu also crouched down. Kurama walked from the ground to the edge of the pool and squatted on a rock, watching Xuanjia.

Xuanjia's nose twitched, and then it slowly extended its head out of its shell, revealing a pair of eyes like black beans. It glanced at Kurama, then slowly retracted its head, but stopped halfway, its mouth slightly open, as if waiting for something.

Kurama tilted her head and let out an "awoo" at Xuanjia. Xuanjia didn't move. Kurama "awoo"-ed again, this time louder.

Xuanjia slowly extended its head again, this time further than before, its neck stretched out long. Its black-bean eyes stared at Kurama, and its mouth was open, as if it were smiling.

"Is it smiling?" Su Yu asked.

"Xuanjia wouldn't smile," Cho Chang said. "Could there be something wrong?"

By this time, Kurama had already jumped onto Xuanjia's back, watching it. Xuanjia slowly turned its head, picked up a lotus seed from a rock by the pool, and motioned for Kurama to try it.

Kurama jumped onto the rock and poked at the lotus seed. "What is this?"

Xuanjia didn't move, just watched her with its mouth slightly open. Kurama hesitated, then swiped the lotus seed aside with her paw. She didn't know how to eat it, so Cho Chang peeled it for her and fed it to her.

Pfft! Pfft! It's bitter! Kurama quickly plunged her head into the water.

Xuanjia watched Kurama and slowly retracted its head into its shell. This time, it was truly smiling.

Cho Chang looked at Xuanjia speechlessly. "It really wasn't like this before. Maybe this lotus seed was just old..."

Su Yu also laughed and hugged Kurama, because by this time, Kurama was already prepared to fight Xuanjia.

Kurama hummed, clearly still unconvinced. Su Yu reached out to stroke her head, comforting her and telling her not to bicker with a thousand-year-old creature; otherwise, it might turn into bullying an old lonely man...

The sun began to set in the west, painting the clouds on the horizon a pale gold. The stream shimmered with golden light in the sunset, and the white cranes' feathers were also dyed gold.

"Let's go," Cho Chang stood up and brushed the non-existent dust off her robe. "It's time to go back for dinner."

Su Yu also stood up. Kurama jumped onto his shoulder, turning back to stick her tongue out at Xuanjia behind them.

They walked back along the path by the stream. The white cranes let out low calls behind them, as if saying goodbye.

Su Yu looked back. Frost Feather was still standing on the large rock on one leg, its head buried in its wings. But at the moment he looked back, Frost Feather raised its head from its wings, glanced at him, and then buried it back in.

Su Yu turned back around and followed Cho Chang out of the valley.

Chapter 58: Ancient Magic

After staying on Longhu Mountain for two days, Su Yu, who had originally promised to accompany Cho Chang for two days, ended up spending most of his time in the Scripture Library.

He wanted to study the principles of Longhu Mountain's magic, so Cho Chang accompanied him, staying for the entire day. Occasionally, she would doze off at the table, serve tea and water for Su Yu, or snatch snacks from Kurama, but she never complained.

On the morning of the third day, as Su Yu sat meditating in the courtyard and Kurama lay on the stone table basking in the sun, a clear cry suddenly echoed from the sky. He looked up and saw a Qingluan emerging from the clouds, its wings shimmering with a cyan glow in the sunlight. The Qingluan landed on the courtyard wall with a letter tied to its claw.

Su Yu untied the letter and unfolded it. It was actually written by Grindelwald, in sharp handwriting: "Since you're free during the holidays, meet me at Diagon Alley. I'll show you something real."

After reading the letter, Su Yu tucked it into his pocket. Kurama lifted her head from the stone table and asked, "Whose letter is it?"

"Grindelwald," Su Yu said. "He wants me to go to Diagon Alley."

Kurama yawned; she wasn't interested.

Su Yu immediately packed his things, ready to head down the mountain. His original plan to stay at the Eastern University for a month was scrapped.

Cho Chang walked him to the entrance of the Taoist temple and handed him a bag of tea leaves, saying it was from the Celestial Master and that her father used to enjoy drinking it. Su Yu accepted it and thanked her.

"You must write to me next time you come," Cho Changsaid, gently rubbing the top of Kurama's head. "I'll have the White Crane come to pick you up."

Su Yu took an emblem engraved with Longhu Mountainrunes from his pocket and handed it to Cho Chang.

"What is this?" Cho Chang asked, taking it curiously and examining it from all sides.

"It's for you. I researched it based on the movement patterns of Longhu Mountain's magic."

Cho Chang looked up, her eyes wide. "You were able to research something after only watching for two days?"

"Give it a try," Su Yu said. "Try injecting your spiritual power into the emblem."

Cho Chang held the emblem in her palm and closed her eyes. Spiritual power flowed from her palm into the emblem, and the Kurama Cloak instantly appeared on her. However, the power radiating from it was not Chakra, but spiritual power, providing her with a continuous supply of spiritual energy.

"What kind of power is this?" Cho Chang opened her eyes, feeling that this was perhaps too precious.

"This is the power of Chakra," Su Yu said. "The emblem can convert the Chakra inside into spiritual power that you can use. When you draw talismans, you won't need to consume your own spiritual power, and you can draw them at will. Try it."

Cho Chang was stunned. "Draw talismans at will?"

Cho Chang casually drew a Fire Talisman in the air with her finger. A golden light lit up at her fingertip, and the rune took shape in the air. It paused for a moment before turning into a fireball, flying out and exploding on the stone slab in the courtyard. The flames extinguished, leaving a scorched mark on the stone.

Cho Chang's mouth hung open.

"I didn't use spiritual power; I used Chakra," Su Yu said, looking at Cho Chang. "When you wear it and activate it with spiritual power, you can temporarily convert Chakrainto spiritual power. When drawing talismans, the power of the rune remains the same, but the process becomes much faster."

Cho Chang held the emblem, looking down at her toes, and remained silent for a long while.

"How long did it take you to research this?" she asked, somewhat shyly.

"Not long, it only took one night!" Su Yu said proudly.

Cho Chang looked up at him, her expression complex. "Is there anything you can't learn?"

Su Yu thought for a moment. "Most things, except for Transfiguration and Potion..."

Cho Chang smiled and carefully tucked the emblem into her pocket. "I will keep it safe. Thank you, Su Yu!"

By the time they returned to London, it was already the morning of the third day.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of Heathrow Airport, it was still gray, and the runway, having just rained, was glistening with water.

Carson's car was already waiting at the airport entrance. The black Rolls-Royce was polished to a shine. Carsonstood beside the car, his silver-gray hair combed meticulously, looking very happy.

"Young Master, welcome back."

At eight o'clock the next morning, Su Yu used Floo Powder to arrive at the Leaky Cauldron.

Passing through the Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alleyremained the same: cobblestone streets, crooked houses, flying broomsticks lined up at the shop entrances, and owls hooting in their cages.

However, Diagon Alley was busier than usual during the summer holidays, filled with Hogwarts students and their parents. Some were dragging large trunks, some were carrying owl cages, and others were standing in line at Flourish and Blotts.

Su Yu first went to Eeylops Owl Emporium to buy a bag of treats for the Qingluan to give to her later that night, then went to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour to buy two ice creams. Kurama wanted strawberry, and Su Yu chose chocolate.

The two sat on chairs outside the shop, waiting for Grindelwald. Kurama's mouth was covered in pink cream, and when Su Yu tried to wipe it off with a tissue, she impatiently shook her head.

"Don't move." Su Yu held her head still and wiped the cream clean.

Kurama snorted, jumped off the chair, stood on Su Yu's shoulder, and washed her face with her paws.

Before long, Grindelwald arrived in Diagon Alley, having passed through the Leaky Cauldron with a beautiful lady. He wore a dark gray robe, his hair was gray-white, and his hands were in his pockets. He walked over and sat opposite Su Yu, while the lady stood behind Grindelwald.

"Let me introduce you. This is Yu-Su-Fley, and this is Isolde Rosier, the new generation of the French Black Rose. She will appear at Hogwarts as my assistant in the future, prepared for you. She will follow you unconditionally until she gives her life." Grindelwald was as elegant as ever, though Su Yu always felt he was putting on an act at all times...

Su Yu looked at the lady. She was about twenty-five or twenty-six, wearing an elegantly curved vintage wide-brimmed hat. The deep black wool was lined with a circle of patterned tulle, tilted slightly to half-cover her eyes, adding a touch of mysterious coldness. She wore a sharply tailored, waist-cinching long coat, the fabric draping smoothly and crisp, with a low-key matte texture. The collar and cuffs were adorned with dense, matching embroidery—unassuming yet exquisite. She paired it with a matching long skirt and a pair of eight-centimeter high heels, her movements fluid.

The overall color scheme was dominated by black and dark emerald green, with accessories limited to a small brooch and a pair of long leather gloves. Without unnecessary embellishments, she exuded a sharp aura amidst her elegant vintage style, looking like a noble socialite from the old era while carrying a dangerous, unapproachable air.

Su Yu recognized her at a glance; except for her hair color, she looked exactly like her grandmother, Vinda Rosier.

Isolde Rosier stepped back, bowed to Su Yu, lowered her head, one hand pressed to her chest, the other hand with her wand hanging by her side, pressed against her leg line. Her voice was steady: "My life and my will belong to you from this moment on."

Su Yu looked at Grindelwald speechlessly. "I already have Farley. Even though she seems colder than Farley, I don't want to be dragging around another crazy beauty..."

"It doesn't matter; do as you see fit. Regardless, she has been handed over to you. She will handle any dirty work for you, and you can trust her completely. However, the most important thing today is something else."

Su Yu had no choice but to nod helplessly at Isolde Rosier, then turned to look at Grindelwald. "What is it exactly? So mysterious. Why did you ask me to come to Diagon Alley?"

"To show you something." Grindelwald stood up without any wasted words.

Su Yu followed him through Diagon Alley and turned into a narrow alleyway.

At the end of the alley was a brick wall. Grindelwaldreached out and tapped the brick wall lightly with his finger. The bricks on the wall began to move as if they were alive, rotating, shifting, and rearranging themselves one by one, finally revealing an arched doorway. Inside the doorway, it was pitch black, and nothing could be seen.

Grindelwald walked in first.

Su Yu followed slowly behind. Inside the doorway was a small, empty room.

But as soon as Su Yu entered, he felt it—the whole room was glowing. Blue light patterns flowed along the walls, purple light spots flickered on the ceiling, and silver lines meandered across the floor.

"These are the traces of Ancient Magic," Grindelwald said, standing in the room. "The kind of magic used by the four founders of Hogwarts. Can you see these lights?"

Su Yu nodded.

"Not everyone can see them," Grindelwald said. "For centuries, the number of Wizards who can see traces of Ancient Magic can be counted on one hand. Since you can see it, it means you have the potential, but that doesn't mean you can use it. The energy of Ancient Magic is very special; ordinary Wizards' magic cannot contain it. You can try to see if you can draw these lights into yourself."

Grindelwald didn't know if he could use it either; he just let him try.

Su Yu stood in the center of the room, watching the blue light patterns flowing on the walls. He reached out, trying to imagine the light flowing along his arm and into his body. At first, there was no reaction; he felt a slight chill at his fingertips, but the light patterns didn't move.

He tried again. This time, he released Chakra from his body, wrapping it around his palm. The golden Chakraflickered at his fingertips, and the blue light patterns on the wall suddenly brightened, as if awakened by something.

A blue light pattern floated off the wall like a ribbon, slowly wrapping around his wrist. Su Yu felt a chill traveling up his arm—a very unfamiliar energy, different from his Chakra, yet not repelling it.

His Chakra automatically circulated within his body, wrapping around, absorbing, and converting the chill. A few seconds later, the blue light pattern completely disappeared into his skin.

Su Yu opened his palm. A ball of blue light condensed in his palm—not large, like a marble—flickering within the golden light of his Chakra.

"Interesting," Su Yu said.

Grindelwald looked at the blue light in his palm and was silent for a moment. "You really can do it. I had a premonition long ago. From your failing Transfigurationspells to the young Slytherin Wizards using Dark Artswithout limits, I felt that you were just bad at Transfiguration, but your Chakra can be converted into any form of energy, and Ancient Magic is no exception."

"It all fits," Grindelwald said. "Since you can use it, the next step is for me to teach you how to use Ancient Magic."

Throughout the summer holidays, Su Yu spent a few hours every day in that practice room, where Grindelwald taught him how to use, convert, and release the energy of Ancient Magic.

Ancient Magic draws power directly from the environment and is guided by intent, rather than cast through incantations or wands. It doesn't rely on idealistic power like modern magic; it's more like a part of the world's magic. However, the difficulty lies in needing to understand the essence of magic—not just memorizing spells or movements like modern magic. It's more like a talent: one must be able to understand, perceive, and manipulate them.

Su Yu was different; he could directly convert Chakra into the magic of Ancient Magic, so he learned very quickly. In less than two days, he could skillfully release Ancient Magic. He could levitate stones from the ground, manipulate them at will, and then smash them into targets; he could summon lightning, permanently turn a Whip Scorpion into a sheep, and turn a sheep into a Whip Scorpion before crushing it.

He spent the remaining time thinking and creating. He bound Ancient Magic to the Kurama emblem. The recharged emblem allowed Isolde Rosier, an ordinary Wizard, to use Ancient Magic. Now, the combat power of his Slytherin army was not just slightly enhanced—it was a qualitative leap!

Su Yu also used the holiday time to create a shared consciousness channel built with Ancient Magic, borrowing the principle of the soul imprint from Lord Voldemort's diary. Others only needed to use their wands to project thoughts and messages onto the notebook, which everyone else could see—like an exclusive, secret group chat.

Kurama followed along for a few days, but she wasn't very interested in Ancient Magic, practicing on and off. She preferred eating ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour because the owner, Florean Fortescue, would give her a free ice cream every time he saw her and compliment her on how cute she was.

However, Cassandra, who came to Su Yu's house half a month later, was a bit unhappy because she felt a great threat from Isolde Rosier. Eight-centimeter high heels, wearing black silk stockings every day—she really understood Su Yu's personality. This made her always feel that Su Yu had a mistress on the side.

So, for the first few days after she arrived, Su Yu would wake up every morning with dark circles under his eyes, looking as if he had been drained dry. Because of this, he was mocked by that shameless old man Grindelwald, who told him young people should take better care of their bodies. Su Yu responded by giving him the middle finger.

At the beginning of August, Harry also arrived in Diagon Alley and stayed at the Leaky Cauldron. However, this time, Minister for Magic Fudge didn't dare stay in Diagon Alley for too long. He hurriedly "sucked up" to Harry and fled the Leaky Cauldron, because he was also afraid of "accidentally" running into Grindelwald. As he fled, he kept muttering curses about that damned Dumbledore.

As for Harry, that little rich kid, he would wander in and out of various shops every day. At noon, he would enjoy a big meal under the colorful parasol outside the cafe, and in the afternoon, he would write his essays outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour while eating ice cream with Kurama.

Of course, Kurama snuck out to eat it. Su Yu wouldn't let her eat that much ice cream every day, but with Isoldecovering for her and Cassandra coming to the ice cream shop every night to pay the bill, by the end of the holiday, Su Yu felt that Kurama had gotten fat...

As the start of school approached, Su Yu bought all the textbooks for the next semester, especially for the two elective courses: Care of Magical Creatures and Divination Class. The most unique one was "The Monster Book of Monsters" for Care of Magical Creatures.

In the bookstore, there was a very large iron cage containing nothing but "The Monster Book of Monsters," about a hundred of them. They were all tangled together, fiercely fighting each other as if engaged in an intense wrestling match, with torn scraps of paper flying everywhere.

The manager of Flourish and Blotts kept complaining that he would never stock these items again. Not only did they cause a lot of damage by fighting each other, but he had been bitten five times in one morning! Five whole times! Oh, Merlin's beard, if he had committed a crime, please just execute him, rather than letting a group of "The Monster Book of Monsters" torture him endlessly here.

However, the one Su Yu bought was quite obedient. Kurama stood on top of that copy of "The Monster Book of Monsters," playing with it like a robot vacuum. Oh right, I forgot to mention, this was the second one Su Yu bought. The first one, because it immediately bit at Kurama after being let out, was not only bitten into pieces by her, but she even scattered its ashes. Then, Kurama exuded an aura, looking menacingly at the remaining books in the cage, scaring them into trembling.

Chapter 59: Third Year

On the first day of the new term, King's Cross Station was as crowded as a tin of sardines that had been knocked over.

London in September still held the lingering heat of late summer. Steam hissed from the engine of the Hogwarts Express, billowing into a white mist beneath the arched ceiling. As Su Yu passed through the brick wall, Kurama, who was perched on his shoulder, covered her nose with her tail and let out a sneeze.

Cassandra walked beside him, wearing a dark emerald green robe. Her hair was swept up, revealing a section of her fair neck. Apart from the half-month she spent at home, she had spent the entire summer at Fawley Manor. There was a room at Fawley Manor specifically for her, right next to Su Yu's, but she had never stayed there. Su Yuhad already grown accustomed to waking up in the morning to the faint scent of cedar perfume that lingered on the pillow from Cassandra.

"Hermione is over there," Cassandra said, pointing toward the direction of the third-year carriages not far away.

Hermione was standing at the carriage door, standing on her tiptoes and peering this way. She was wearing brand-new school robes, and her curls were even fluffier than last year. She was holding a copy of The Daily Prophet. Seeing Su Yu, she ran over immediately, her hair bouncing behind her.

"Su Yu!" Hermione ran up to him, catching her breath, and then turned to greet Cassandra. "Cassandra, long time no see."

"Where is Farley?" Su Yu asked, gently pulling Hermioneinto his arms.

"She's saving seats in the carriage," Hermione said. "Ginnycame too. She said Harry and Ron needed to talk privately, so they kicked her out."

Su Yu raised an eyebrow. "Are those two acting up again? What private talk?"

"Who knows." Hermione shrugged. "Anyway, I think Ginnyis quite happy. She said it's not like she cares about them; she's been wanting to sit with us for a long time."

They walked along the corridor. The carriage was already occupied by quite a few people, some chatting, some reading, and some eating snacks. Kurama jumped down from Su Yu's shoulder and walked in front, her tail held high as if she were patrolling her territory. When passing a carriage, Su Yu saw a man through the glass door.

He was leaning against the seat by the window, eyes closed, appearing to be asleep. He wore a shabby travel robe, the cuffs frayed and the collar loose, revealing skin that looked as if it had been overly exhausted by something—pale with a grayish tint. His hair was light brown, mixed with a few strands of white, hanging messily over his forehead. One hand rested on his knee; his fingers were slender, his nails cut very short, and there was an old scar on the back of his hand.

Su Yu stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" Cassandra looked in the direction of his gaze. Kurama looked up at him.

"It's nothing," Su Yu said. "Let's go."

He recognized the man—Remus Lupin, that Werewolf, impoverished and destitute, having to hide away every full moon. Su Yu had checked the dates for these days. In fact, he had always been mistaken about one thing: August 31st, '93, was not a full moon. Lupin did not turn into a Werewolf on August 31st; he turned this morning! That is, around 3 a.m. on September 1st. However, there was one point: he didn't know if he would turn into a Werewolfagain tonight, because this morning was a 100% full moon, but by nightfall, it would be 99.5% full. It wouldn't be until tomorrow that one could see a waxing gibbous moon with the naked eye. Poor Lupin, if he had to change again tonight, he would probably be in a terrible mood for the freshman banquet...

He took a step, and Kurama turned to continue walking in front. Cassandra followed beside him without asking further.

They passed through several carriages and found the compartment Hermione mentioned.

Daphne's sister had broken her arm before school started because she was playing around, so she had to go to the second-year carriage to take care of her sister. Hermionesaid that when she passed by to say hello, she saw Malfoyand Pansy there too. Malfoy was blushing, and Pansy was blushing with anger. Only a helpless Daphne and an excited Astoria greeted her.

So, currently, only Farley and Ginny were in the carriage.

Farley was sitting by the window, flipping through a magazine. Ginny was sitting opposite her, looking a bit nervous, holding a book she was clearly not reading.

Su Yu slid the door open and walked in. Kurama jumped onto the seat first, nuzzling up to Farley ingratiatingly while using her paws to pull at the curtain. Farley looked up from her magazine, glanced at him, and pursed her lips at Ginny.

"You're here?" Farley said.

"Long time no see. Let me absorb some of Farley's energy!" Su Yu playfully reached out to hug Farley and took a deep breath on her, making Farley giggle.

Ginny peeked out from behind her book, her face flushing slightly. "Su Yu."

Su Yu ruffled Ginny's hair and nodded at her. Kurama also jumped down from Farley's arms, crouched beside Ginny, and nudged her hand with her head. Ginny visibly relaxed quite a bit, smiling as she reached out to stroke Kurama's ears.

The train started moving, and London outside the window gradually faded away, turning into green fields and hills. Su Yu leaned back on the seat, Kurama jumped back onto his lap, biting his sleeve.

"I know, I know. When the lady with the trolley comes later, I'll buy you some. Just wait a little while." Su Yu was already too familiar with Kurama; he knew exactly what she wanted just by seeing her pout.

The Hogwarts Express rattled along the tracks. The fields and villages outside the window flew backward. Sunlight leaked through the gaps in the clouds, casting patches of golden light on the green grass.

Hermione sat opposite, placing her cat carrier on her lap. She opened the door, and a ginger cat poked its head out. With fluffy fur and a flat face that looked like it had been pressed by something, its two large yellow eyes rolled around. It looked at the people in the carriage first, then jumped out and crouched on Hermione's lap, its tail curled into a question mark.

"Isn't it pretty! I named it Crookshanks." Hermione's tone carried an expectation of "hurry up and praise it." "I bought it in Diagon Alley."

Farley leaned by the window, flipping through her magazine, and looked up at the cat. "It looks quite interesting."

"It's very smart." Hermione stroked Crookshanks' head. Crookshanks squinted its eyes, making a purring sound. "The shop assistant said it had been in the shop for a long time and no one wanted it because it looked ugly, but I knew it wasn't ordinary the moment I saw it."

Ginny sat next to Hermione and reached out to touch Crookshanks. Crookshanks looked at her and didn't dodge. Ginny's fingers gently rubbed the top of its head, and it squinted its eyes.

"It seems to have a good temper," Ginny said.

"Well, it has a good temper with people it likes," Hermionesaid. "As for people it doesn't like..." Before she could finish, Crookshanks jumped off her lap, walked up to Kurama, tilted its head, and stared at her.

Kurama opened one eye, looked at Crookshanks, and closed it again. Crookshanks crouched down, face-to-face with Kurama. The two animals—one cat, one fox—just stared at each other like that.

"Kurama, don't bully it," Su Yu instructed Kurama.

Kurama snorted and turned her head away. Crookshanksleaned over and sniffed Kurama's tail with its nose. Kurama's tail flicked, striking Crookshanks on the face. Crookshanks blinked but didn't dodge.

"See, they get along quite well," Hermione said with a smile.

Cassandra sat next to Su Yu, flipping through a magazine in her hand without even looking up. "Your cat is quite bold."

"I told you, it's not ordinary." Hermione's tone carried a certainty of "just you wait and see."

The train had been running for a while, and the atmosphere in the carriage slowly relaxed. Ginny took a bag of gummies out of her bag, opened it, and placed it on the table. Kurama smelled the candy, stood up from Su Yu's lap, walked over, and pawed at the bag. Ginny happily took one out and handed it to Kurama. Kurama took the gummy in her mouth, jumped back onto Su Yu's lap, and nibbled on it in small bites.

Hermione leaned back on the seat, suddenly remembering something, her eyes brightening. "By the way, have you guys been to Hogsmeade Village?"

Farley put down the magazine and glanced at her. "We have, and Su Yu has even snuck there several times."

"What? Su Yu, why didn't you bring me when you went! Tell me, what's it like there?" Hermione leaned forward, her tone urgent and fast. "I heard only third-year students and above can go, and you need a parent's signature. My parents have already signed it. What fun things are there?"

Su Yu felt helpless. "You already know that you need a parent's signature for third years to go. If I snuck there and brought you along, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?"

Farley closed the magazine and thought for a moment. "There are quite a lot of fun places."

Cassandra leaned by the window and took over the conversation. "Honeydukes sweet shop, you definitely have to go."

"Sweet shop?" Hermione's eyes lit up.

"Yes," Cassandra said. "Opened by Mr. and Mrs. Ambrosius Flume. It's right on the main road. The sweets inside are too numerous to count." She paused. "There are homemade fudge, huge chunks of chocolate, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and Chocolate Frogs—the common things are there, of course, but the most famous are their own creations. Every time I go, I have to buy a few boxes of fudge, and Kurama eats them all within two days of returning to school."

Farley added from the side: "There is a secret passage in the Honeydukes cellar that leads directly to Hogwarts. But most people don't know about it."

Hermione's mouth opened slightly. "A secret passage?"

"Yes," Farley said. "But don't even think about it. No one knows where the exit is at Hogwarts. I only guessed it last time because I saw the Weasley Twins sneaking out of it."

Hermione pursed her lips and mentally noted this down.

"And Zonkos Joke Shop," Cassandra continued. "The place Fred and George like to go most. It sells prank materials—Dungbombs, Hiccup Sweets, Nose-Biting Teacups, everything you can think of. I've heard George bragging that even he could get pranked by the things sold there."

Hermione frowned. "That doesn't sound very proper."

"It was never a proper place to begin with," Farley laughed. "But it's quite fun."

Hermione thought for a moment and asked again: "What about places to eat?"

"The Three Broomsticks," Cassandra said. "Opened by Madam Rosmerta. Butterbeer is the signature drink, but they also have lemonade, hot mulled mead, and red wine. Going there in winter to drink a hot Butterbeer warms you right up." She paused. "There's also the Hog's Head Inn, but that place isn't really suitable for students. It's dirty, and the people there aren't very friendly."

Farley took over. "Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop is more suitable for you."

Hermione was stunned. "Why?"

"Because it's full of lace," Farley's lips curled up. "Even the tables are. There are little golden cherubs hanging on the walls that scatter confetti. You'd definitely like it if you went."

Hermione's face flushed slightly. "I'm not that kind of..."

"You'll know when you go," Farley interrupted her.

Ginny laughed from the side. "My brother said it's a place for dating."

Hermione's face turned even redder, and she quickly changed the subject. "What other shops are there?"

"Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop," Cassandra said. "They sell quills. Black and gold pheasant feather quills, they look very nice. Hermione, you'd definitely like them."

Hermione's eyes lit up again. "How do you know I'd like them?"

"Because the one Su Yu gave you last time was bought there when I accompanied him."

Farley smiled on the side, not exposing whether or not he bought anything else. Su Yu glanced at Cassandra; her expression was very calm, as if she hadn't said anything at all.

"And Dervish and Banges," Farley said. "They sell magical equipment and also repair tools. If your broomstick is broken, you can go there to get it fixed."

Hermione thought for a moment. "I don't have a broomstick."

"Then you don't need to go for now."

"What about the post office?" Hermione asked again.

"Yes," Cassandra thought for a moment. "There are over two hundred owls inside, divided by color. Everything from Great Grey Owls to tiny Scops Owls. If you want to send express mail, choose the brown ones; if you want to send slow mail, choose the grey ones."

Hermione nodded seriously, as if she were taking notes.

"And Gladrags Wizardwear," Farley said, sounding a little excited. "They sell robes and also socks, all kinds of socks—everything you can think of. Last time I bought a pair there that changes color. When you wear them, they change color with every step you take. Su Yu's eyes went straight."

Hermione looked down at her own socks. "That sounds quite interesting."

"Yeah, but the most famous one is the Shrieking Shack."

Hermione looked up. "The Shrieking Shack? That haunted house?"

"Yes," Farley slowly explained the reason. "Legend has it that it's the most haunted place in all of Britain. Over twenty years ago, screams and howls could often be heard coming from there. No one dared to approach at night. The windows were all boarded up, and the entrance was sealed. Even Fred and George couldn't get in."

"Are there really ghosts?" Hermione's voice lowered a bit.

"Who knows. Anyway, no one has ever been inside."

Kurama lay on Su Yu's lap, gnawing on a gummy, showing no interest in the discussion about Hogsmeade.

Hermione leaned back on the seat and counted on her fingers. "Honeydukes, Zonkos Joke Shop, The Three Broomsticks, Scrivenshaft's, Gladrags, Dervish and Banges, Post Office, Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, Hog's Head Inn, Shrieking Shack..." She finished counting, her eyes sparkling. "With so many places, can you finish visiting them in one day?"

"You can't finish them," Farley said. "That's why there are several opportunities to go to Hogsmeade every year. You can take your time."

Hermione nodded, took a small notebook out of her bag, and started writing.

Su Yu glanced at it. It said "Hogsmeade Village — Shops to Visit," and below it was a long list of names, each marked with "Must-visit" or "Optional."

Ginny watched her write and couldn't help but laugh. "Are you making a shopping list?"

"No," Hermione said without looking up. "It's a strategy guide."

"A strategy guide?"

"Yes. Plan ahead so you don't waste time," Hermione's quill moved rapidly on the notebook. "Go to Honeydukesfirst, then go to The Three Broomsticks for lunch, go to Scrivenshaft's and Gladrags in the afternoon, and finally go to Zonkos Joke Shop."

"You're putting Zonkos last?" Ginny asked.

"Because I don't really need prank materials," Hermionesaid, "but I can take a look."

Farley looked at Cassandra, and the corners of Cassandra's mouth curled up slightly.

Su Yu leaned back on the seat, feeling immense pressure. Is there anything more tiring than accompanying a girl shopping? Yes, accompanying several different girls separately.

At one o'clock, Kurama finally waited for the plump Witchshe had been longing for. She pushed the food trolley to the door of their compartment.

Su Yu bought a trolley full of snacks again, and everyone sat together eating and chatting until after three o'clock in the afternoon, when it started to rain heavily outside the window.

Well, it was Su Yu's favorite weather. He lay leisurely on Cassandra's lap for a nap, and the voices of the girls talking lowered significantly.