Sessler also walked over from behind. He'd heard that middle-aged man actually call out Lin Lei's name, and he'd started to grow wary. But when he reached Lin Lei's side, he noticed that Lin Lei was staring at the letter with a smile on his face — and not just any smile, but one that was genuinely warm and radiant.
In Sessler's eyes, while Lin Lei wasn't exactly cold and aloof, he could certainly be called reserved. The boy was always consumed with his training.
He had never seen Lin Lei smile so happily, so brightly.
"Sessler," Lin Lei said with a grin. "Stay here for now. I'm going out to meet a friend."
"Alright." Sessler nodded.
"Bei Bei!" Lin Lei called out toward the little shadow mouse, who was sprawled lazily on the ground, dozing. Bei Bei cracked open his groggy eyes and stared at Lin Lei in confusion.
"Come on. You're coming with me."
"Heilu, you stay here."
Bei Bei proudly tilted his tiny head at Heilu, then bounded straight onto Lin Lei's shoulder. Through their soul link, he asked excitedly, "Boss, where are we going?"
"You'll see when we get there," Lin Lei laughed.
"You lead the way," Lin Lei told the middle-aged man beside him.
Fifteen minutes later, Lin Lei and the middle-aged man arrived at a grand mansion. From a distance, Lin Lei could already make out a tall figure in the sitting room.
"Little Three!" That familiar voice rang out with excitement.
"Big brother Yeru!" Lin Lei broke into a grin.
"Squeak squeak~~~" Bei Bei chirped smugly as well. Back at Ernst Academy, Bei Bei had gotten along great with Yeru, Rein, and George, so they were all well acquainted.
Yeru had matured considerably over the past three years. He was now about the same height as Lin Lei — close to two meters tall — though Yeru was slightly leaner, giving him a tall and slender build. His fitted black gentleman's suit, combined with a faint, pleasant fragrance, gave Yeru an air of understated charm.
"Little Three, these past three-plus years, I've been worried sick about you." Yeru pulled Lin Lei into a bear hug.
Lin Lei embraced his good brother, his heart swelling with warmth.
It had been over three years since he'd last laid eyes on any of them.
"I can't believe you've grown almost as tall as me. Three years apart and you've changed so much," Yeru remarked with a sigh. Compared to three years ago, Yeru himself hadn't grown much, but Lin Lei had changed quite a bit.
Lin Lei laughed. "You're a year older than me, so you naturally hit your growth spurt first. Now that you've stopped growing, I've caught up."
Bei Bei squeaked excitedly from the side. He was delighted — it had been ages since he'd seen Lin Lei joke around and banter with someone.
"Oh, Bei Bei!" Yeru scooped up the little mouse and affectionately scratched his head. "I knew you were coming, so I prepared plenty of treats for you."
Yeru glanced back at the attendant, who understood the signal immediately. Within moments, more than a dozen servants came pushing carts piled high with food.
"This is roasted meat from all over the land, Bei Bei. Help yourself!" Yeru laughed heartily.
Bei Bei twitched his little nose, and his eyes lit up at once. He shot forward as a streak of black shadow, diving straight for the food carts. Seeing this, both Lin Lei and Yeru burst out laughing.
"Big brother Yeru, let's go inside and talk," Lin Lei said.
The two brothers stepped into the sitting room, where the dining table was already laid out with an array of delicacies and fine wine. They sat down and began eating and chatting.
"Oh right, Yeru — how's Ernst Academy doing?" Lin Lei asked.
"It's gone," Yeru shook his head and sighed. "Ernst Academy sat right next to Fenn City, so it was a prime target for the magic beasts. Think about it — even the strongest magic instructors there were only eighth-level, and most of the students were far weaker. Against waves upon waves of magic beasts... how could they possibly hold out?"
Lin Lei nodded. The highest grade at the academy was only sixth-level magicians at most. Most magic beasts were fifth or sixth-level, and there were plenty of seventh and eighth-level ones too. A massive horde of beasts crashing down on them would indeed be a disaster.
"As of today, Ernst Academy no longer exists," Yeru said with a heavy sigh. "Rein, George, and I all left the Holy Alliance three years ago. These past few years I've mainly been traveling between the O'Brien Empire and the Yulan Empire. As for Rein, he naturally went back to his family, and George returned to the Yulan Empire too. Word is that George has done quite well for himself — he entered the Yulan Empire's government."
"Government?"
Lin Lei wasn't particularly surprised. George had always been an organized, well-connected sort of person, and with the powerful Huashi Family backing him, success wasn't hard to come by.
"What about Little Four?" Lin Lei asked with a smile.
"Little Four? After he went back to his family, his father shipped him straight off to the army." Yeru chuckled. "Little Three, can you imagine Little Four enlisting? Does that sound absurd or what?"
Lin Lei nearly laughed too. Little Four — Rein — was the most lively and rebellious of the four brothers. Yet there he was, joining the military. One could only imagine the suffering he must have endured in army life.
"Though, when I saw him last year, at first glance, he really had changed. He was more mature than before and actually looked like a proper soldier. But the moment we cracked open a few drinks together, he reverted right back to his old self!" Yeru laughed.
"Big brother Yeru, what about you? I'd say you've got even more noble grace than before."
It was true. Standing there, Yeru seemed like a mysterious figure stepping out of shadow. That air of refinement was unmistakable.
"I had no choice," Yeru said with a wry smile. "After leaving Ernst Academy, aside from my regular magic practice, I've been managing some of the family's business affairs. That meant attending nobles' banquets all the time, and over time, you pick things up."
Lin Lei nodded.
His three good brothers had each set foot on their own path.
Politics. Military. Commerce.
"And what about me?" In his mind, Lin Lei knew his own road with perfect clarity. "I will press forward on the path of cultivation, and one day reach the level of the High Priest, the War God, Di Lin, and others. I will stand at the very pinnacle of the entire Yulan Continent!"