Chapter 48 - Let's Be Friends

Su Mu not only left his phone number but also added every recruitment teacher as a friend.

"Su Mu, thank you for your cooperation and for sparing us so much of your time. We're truly sorry for the inconvenience."

"It's no problem at all. It's been an honor to discuss my Major with all the teachers. I'm more than happy about it."

Without a doubt, Su Mu had a knack for making a good impression. It's no surprise given his past life in the gaming industry.

"Teachers, may I leave now?"

"Yes, you can go. I would escort you down the mountain myself... uh... actually, let's have Teacher Sun do it."

Wen Wubin initially wanted to personally accompany Su Mu down the mountain to have a good chat and, ideally, persuade him to commit to applying to Qingcheng Mountain's cultivation university.

But as soon as he began to speak, he felt sharp glances piercing through him from all around, accompanied by some cold huffs and coughs.

Clearly, the group of teachers was not going to allow him to have a private moment with Su Mu at this time.

Wen Wubin had no choice but to ask Teacher Sun to take his place.

Teacher Sun was already responsible for transporting examinees, so it was unobjectionable for him to escort Su Mu. Sure enough, despite some dissatisfaction, the other recruitment teachers could not object, and they consented. They all escorted Su Mu out of the Shangqing Palace and, after saying their goodbyes, returned to the palace.

A lady teacher with a distinguished air raised her hand, and a palm-sized bronze beast-shaped Magical Tool with a tiger's head, a single horn, dog's ears, a dragon's body, and a lion's tail with qilin hooves flew from a corner into her hand. It shimmered with spiritual light before sinking into her brow.

"How is it?" everyone asked her.

After carefully considering for a moment, the teacher said, "Su Mu may have concealed some things, but what he spoke was the truth. There was no deception."

Whether he hid something was irrelevant; who doesn't have secrets? The crowd was only concerned about whether Su Mu had lied or not.

As long as he was truthful, he was a bona fide Genius, not a mere opportunist who had thoroughly prepared himself. That was enough.

Su Mu had already guessed that the recruitment teachers would have ways to detect lies, so he made sure to tell the truth during the defense, only concealing information on a select few questions.

The results proved he was right. Teachers who are cultivators are not so easily fooled as ordinary teachers.

Upon exiting the Shangqing Palace, Su Mu immediately spotted Kevin and Pei Jun waiting in the open plaza.

The two were the only ones in the vast space, impossible to miss.

Seeing them from a distance, Su Mu couldn't help but chuckle, guessing that Pei Jun must have been unable to tolerate Kevin's incessant chatter and had thus kept his distance.

He was also curious about Pei Jun's reason for staying. Could it be that he was here for Su Mu? Was this the beginning of a melodramatic plot where a Genius from a cultivation family, upon realizing he scored lower than an ordinary examinee, lashes out in frustration?

Su Mu's mind was instantly filled with over-the-top scenarios.

When Kevin saw him coming out, he hurried over with concern. "Buddy, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Why are you still here? Didn't I tell you to go down the mountain first?"

"I was worried about you," Kevin replied. "I stayed just in case you needed help with anything."

Su Mu was pleasantly surprised by the response.

Kevin's earlier willingness to take the blame had already made Su Mu feel that he was a stand-up guy, and now this notion was further reinforced.

This foreigner was definitely worth getting to know better.

"Thanks, bro," said Su Mu.

"No need to thank me, I didn't really do much."

As they were talking, Pei Jun took off his headphones and walked over.

Seeing him, Kevin started to ramble again, "Dude, were you also waiting for Su Mu? I asked you earlier, and you wouldn't say..."

Pei Jun's face changed, and he subconsciously reached to put his headphones back on.

Su Mu couldn't help but laugh, pulling Kevin aside to quiet him down.

"Is there something you need, Pei? Oh right, congratulations are in order for you as well, answering ten questions is really impressive."

Pei Jun waved his hands dismissively, "Anyone else saying that is fine, but coming from you, Su, it's like a slap in the face. No matter how many questions I answered, I can't compare to how well you did on the exam."

Su Mu raised an eyebrow slightly, "You know how well I did?"

"I don't know, but I can guess. You must have done exceptionally well for the teachers to keep you for so long, and to part with a gift as well. That's not something an ordinary examinee receives." Pei Jun pointed to the Snow Bud Spiritual tea in Su Mu's hand and said with a smile.

"Pei, your observational skills impress me..." Su Mu's words were cut short as the ever-talkative Kevin couldn't hold back, "You two complimenting each other back and forth, is that really interesting?"

Su Mu and Pei Jun were taken aback by the interruption but then laughed together, "It is pretty pointless."

Once they stopped laughing, Pei Jun said, "Let's drop the formalities. I won't call you 'Su' anymore, is it alright if I just use your name?"

"No problem, I actually prefer it," Su Mu said.

At school, students usually call each other by their first names, nicknames, or even silly names, using 'classmate' only for those they don't know well, and it's not customary to include the surname.

Pei Jun lifted his phone, "Can we add each other on WeChat? We can stay in touch and discuss academic questions in the future."

"Of course, no problem." Su Mu took out his phone and scanned Pei Jun's WeChat QR code.

He had thought Pei Jun was up to no good, but it turned out he had underestimated the other's magnanimity and disposition.

Such a character was indeed worth befriending.

"Let's add each other as friends too, buddy," Kevin also took out his phone and said to Pei Jun.

Pei Jun's face instantly turned pale, but it would be rude to refuse, so he added him, thinking to himself whether to block him or set his messages to 'Do Not Disturb' later. Otherwise, he was sure to be driven crazy by this foreigner's incessant and pointless chatter...

After chatting a bit more, Kevin urged them to head down the mountain, feeling uncomfortable in the quiet and sparsely populated area.

During their conversation, Su Mu had learned from Kevin about the examinees flying down the mountain on birds, so he said, "Teacher Wen mentioned that Teacher Sun would come to take us down the mountain; let's wait a bit longer."

"Oh, come on, who knows when that Teacher Sun will show up? I say we don't wait and head down now. Look, I brought a flying broom, it's fast and stable, no problem taking you two down," Kevin insisted.

Kevin reopened his shoulder bag and pulled out a long broomstick with a red abstract light beam symbol on it, the emblem of McLaren.

Just by looking at the emblem, one could tell that this broomstick must be expensive.

"Can you handle it?" Su Mu was a bit skeptical. Using a Flying Item required the consumption of spiritual power, and he certainly couldn't manage it.

Kevin was displeased: "Are you doubting me? I swear to God, I'm an old hand at this. Plus, this is McLaren's latest model broomstick that can be powered by a spirit card. Even an ordinary person could fly with it, let alone me, a Level 1 magician..."

"That's enough, no need to keep going, I'll ride." Su Mu quickly cut him off, otherwise, Kevin would go on and on. Then he turned to Pei Jun, "Together?"

Pei Jun quickly waved his hands, "No thanks, I have relatives here I need to visit. You guys go ahead."

It was unclear whether he actually had relatives there or if it was just an excuse to get away from Kevin.

Kevin expressed his regret, mounted the broomstick, and patted the space behind him, signaling to Su Mu, "Come on, hop on."

Su Mu climbed aboard, keeping a distance from Kevin to avoid any awkwardness.

He gripped the handle of the broomstick tightly, feeling nervous.

Pei Jun suddenly remembered something he hadn't asked: "By the way, Su Mu, which school are you planning to apply to?"

"I haven't decided yet. How about you?"

"My family wants me to go to West Shu Cultivation University. Their artifact cultivation major is the best in Shu Province, but I'm thinking of studying Painting and Calligraphy, so I'll probably apply to the West Shu Fine Arts Academy."

The Painting and Calligraphy Pei Jun referred to wasn't just ordinary calligraphy or painting. It was a cultivation major similar to the legendary Magic Brush Ma Liang1, akin to a 3D printing version of cultivation, capable of making the written word or painted images manifest into physical objects, complete with various magical effects.

If mastered, this major could prove formidable in tumultuous times, allowing one to create an army of a million soldiers with just a stroke of the brush—whether they could defeat the enemy was another matter. In peaceful times, however, it could be quite lucrative.

Because the works produced by cultivators with this major are highly artistic, they easily fetch high prices at auction. Not to mention, they possess various wondrous effects. It's said that in Fusang country, cultivators who studied this major and specialized in adult-themed art were quite popular, despite the frightfully high prices...

Su Mu, however, frowned, "West Shu Fine Arts Academy? Then you shouldn't be taking the cultivation examination in Shu Province."

"What do you mean?" Pei Jun was puzzled.

Su Mu explained, "Don't you know? The West Shu Fine Arts Academy is in Jiangzhou, not in Shu Province."

"What?" Pei Jun was stunned, as he truly didn't know this.

The West Shu Fine Arts Academy was not in Shu Province? This was news to him...

Footnote:

Magic Brush Ma Liang(神笔马良): Magic Brush Ma Liang is a character from a Chinese fairy tale. He possesses a magical brush, and whatever he paints with it becomes real.