Chapter 21: The New Dormitory Mate

Inside the Kulanting Academy, there was also a commercial street. Because the academy was so large, many shops had moved inside to operate, which was convenient for the students and profitable for the merchants.

Peg Lu enthusiastically led Bing Zhi Xie to buy clothes and daily necessities. Due to the influx of new students, business was exceptionally brisk today. Bing Zhi Xie looked around, and it felt more like a bustling commercial street than a school. He glanced around and even saw a store selling women's undergarments, and upon further inspection, there was even a bank.

Lu smiled and said, "This is where we often come after class. Some of the shops are specifically set up by the academy to sell items made by students, and then resell them to those who need them. I often come here to earn some pocket money."

"Really convenient!" Bing Zhi Xie said.

"We're here." Lu stopped in front of a shop.

Bing Zhi Xie looked up and saw it was a weapon store. He thought they were supposed to buy daily necessities, but they ended up here. Seeing Lu excitedly run in, he had no choice but to follow.

The shop was filled with a dazzling array of weapons—swords, spears, sabers, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks—everything was available. Lu stood in front of the glass cabinet, carefully examining each item with great interest.

Bing Zhi Xie saw a few customers also browsing and found a table to sit and rest.

After a while, Lu turned around and noticed Bing Zhi Xie wasn't there, so he said, "Why aren't you looking? Don't you want to choose a weapon for yourself? I think this magic staff is pretty good. Come and take a look."

Bing Zhi Xie didn't want to go against his good intentions, so he went over to take a look.

Lu pointed to a magic staff made of animal bone, with magical runes and gems carved on it, and said, "What do you think of this one? I think it's pretty good, but it's a bit expensive."

Bing Zhi Xie looked at the price, which was marked at 65 gold coins, equivalent to about a month's salary for an average family. He smiled and said, "Yeah, it's expensive."

"Then let's look at some others." Lu focused on examining other magic staffs.

Bing Zhi Xie said, "Let's buy the daily necessities first."

Lu looked at him strangely, "Isn't this what we're doing?"

Bing Zhi Xie was confused and blinked, "I mean clothes, blankets, towels, soap, and such."

Lu smiled, "The academy will provide you with new blankets, towels, soap, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. You can buy clothes later. The 550 gold tuition isn't wasted, you know."

"Is that so?"

Lu continued to look at the items in the cabinet and asked, "What kind of magic staff do you like? A long one or a short one?"

"I don't use a magic staff."

Lu was taken aback and looked up at him, "You're a mage and don't use a magic staff?"

Bing Zhi Xie smiled, "Carrying it around is a hassle."

Lu almost fell over at this reason. A magic staff, specially made, could resonate with, conduct, and amplify elemental energy. A good magic staff could allow a mage to cast spells with just a fraction of the magic power needed, effectively increasing their abilities.

"If you find it troublesome, you can buy a small magic staff. Look, this one is about the length of a short sword, and it's not heavy. You can carry it in your hand or put it in your bag." The shop owner, who had been watching, came over and smiled, having just completed a transaction with another customer.

"Right, that way it won't be a hassle," Lu agreed.

Bing Zhi Xie shook his head and pointed to the cabinet, "Then give me that dagger."

"This one?" The owner took out the dagger and placed it in front of Bing Zhi Xie.

Bing Zhi Xie pulled it out and showed it to Lu, "Now I have a weapon."

Lu, not taken aback, asked, "Why are you buying a dagger? You're a mage, you should buy a magic staff!"

Bing Zhi Xie said, "What's the point of buying that? This one can even peel apples when I have nothing to do."

Lu slapped his forehead and closed his eyes, "I really give up on you."

Bing Zhi Xie smiled, "Alright, I've bought a weapon. Now I need to buy clothes."

"Okay." Lu hesitated, seemingly reluctant to leave, "Can you buy them on your own? I want to stay here a bit longer. Here's the key, go and get a copy made."

"Sure, I'll buy them and go back to the dorm." Bing Zhi Xie waved at him and walked out with a smile.

Lu watched him leave, muttering, "What a strange person."

Once outside the shop, Bing Zhi Xie's smile disappeared, and he resumed his usual calm and composed demeanor. He walked alone down the street and quickly bought all the items he needed.

Lu waited until everyone in the shop had left before pulling the owner aside and asking, "Hey, did you sell that gun?"

The owner replied, "You don't have the money to buy it, so why ask?"

"Come on, did you sell it or not?" Lu urged.

"No, no." The owner chuckled, "It's a good gun, but no one can afford it. It might stay here for a long time."

Lu slumped on the glass counter, "40,000 gold coins, 40,000 gold coins." He counted on his fingers and then slumped again.

The owner said, "Stop thinking about that gun. You probably won't be able to afford it in your lifetime. Buy something else. I have a good one for 3,000 gold coins."

"No, I want that one!" Lu said firmly.

The owner shook his head, "What can I do? How much money do you have saved?"

"2... 207 gold and 45 silver coins." Lu looked like a wilted cucumber, soft and lifeless.

The owner shook his head and sighed, "You can't even afford a 3,000 gold coin gun. I can't hold it for you. If someone buys it, I'll sell it immediately."

"Please, hold it for me. I will buy it, don't sell it to anyone else. That's the one I want in my life."

"No, no." The owner said, "I can't hold it for you. Who knows when you'll be able to afford it?"

Lu looked like he had died, his soul gone, and asked the owner, "Can you take it out and let me see it again?"

The owner immediately shook his head, "No, no. How can I do that? You've seen it before, why see it again?"

"Just one more look, please." Lu looked pitiful.

The owner remained unmoved, "No, absolutely not. Such a good item can't be exposed. I've hidden it at home and didn't bring it out easily. If you want to see it again, you have to buy it."

"I want to buy it." Lu said.

The owner held out his hand, "Money."

Lu hit his head on the glass counter.

"Hey, don't break my display case."

Lu gritted his teeth and shouted at the owner, "I will come back to buy that gun!!" Then he turned and walked out of the shop without looking back.

"You'll buy it?" The owner sneered, "Ha, you'll buy a ghost."

Back at the dorm, Bing Zhi Xie noticed that Peg Lu was dejected and not his usual self, so he asked what was wrong.

Lu shook his head, "Nothing, let's go eat."

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

"New dorm mates." Lu opened the door, and indeed, two people carrying large and small bags came in.

"Hello."

"Hello."

Lu enthusiastically helped them bring their luggage in, "The blue and green wardrobes are empty, you can choose one."

"I'll take the blue one." Coincidentally, this person was Vien, one of the three from the Konelia group, whom Bing Zhi Xie knew.

Vien casually threw his luggage into the wardrobe and hurried to make new friends, "Hello, I'm Kate Vien. Just call me Vien."

The other person had bright green hair and emerald eyes, and was very handsome, wearing a loose and elegant magic robe with teardrop-shaped earrings. This person, unlike Vien, carefully arranged his luggage and neatly placed it in the wardrobe before saying to Lu, "Hello, I'm Carol."

"I'm Peg Lu."

"Who is that?" Carol suddenly pointed to Bing Zhi Xie, who was lying on the upper bunk reading a book.

Vien hadn't noticed anyone on the upper bunk until now and was surprised, "Bing Zhi Xie, you're here too!"

"Bing Zhi Xie?" Carol smiled, "Is that the same name as the top scorer in the entrance exam?"

"That's him." Lu and Vien said simultaneously.

"Ah, hello, hello, I'm Carol." Carol smiled and extended her hand to shake.

Bing Zhi Xie also smiled and shook her hand, "Hello, I'm Bing Zhi Xie, Celeste Bing Zhi Xie. How are Konelia and the others?"

Vien, who was not used to Bing Zhi Xie's sudden change, said, "Um, they're fine, fine."

Bing Zhi Xie teased, "If you're here, they must be fine too."

"Of course..." Vien realized his words were off and shouted, "What do you mean by that? Just because I'm here, they're fine? Do you know me?"

Lu and Carol laughed. Lu asked, "Do you know Bing Zhi Xie?"

"Yes, we met a few days ago at the same family inn. This guy is cold and arrogant." Vien looked angry.

"No, no." Lu explained for Bing Zhi Xie, "He was nervous about the exam, so he seemed less talkative. I met him the same way."

Vien looked at Bing Zhi Xie skeptically, "Is that so?"

Bing Zhi Xie nodded and smiled, "I apologize for the misunderstanding. Can you call Konelia and Irina for lunch? I'll treat you."

Vien laughed, "Of course, you treat us. You won 1,000 gold coins, so you should treat us to a big meal."

"1,000 gold coins!!" Lu exclaimed, "Do you have that much money?"

Bing Zhi Xie said, "After paying the tuition, I still have over 400 left."

"Oh." Lu's eyes were full of disappointment and envy.

Bing Zhi Xie noticed and asked, "Do you need money?"

"No, no, not really." Lu smiled, "My family isn't wealthy, so I just envy you a bit."