The three of them wandered for a bit before ending up at a newly opened restaurant for a late-night meal.
Li Siying wasnāt old enough to drink, so she grilled Li Changāan with questions. "Brother Changāan, do you have a territory now? Where is it?"
Li Changāan had left in a hurry last time.
He hadnāt even said goodbye to them.
As a result, neither Li Siying nor Li Jianfei knew about Li Changāanās current situation.
Li Jianfei had tried asking their homeroom teacher, but the teacher was under a gag order. All they said was that Li Changāan had made it big, without giving any specific details.
Now that they finally had the chance to see Li Changāan again, they were naturally curious.
Li Changāan didnāt hide anything. "Of course," he said. "My territory is in Cangxuan City. Itās in a pretty good location. If youāre curious, I can take you to see it tomorrow!"
Hearing this, Li Siyingās face lit up with excitement. "Really? Can you? Iāve never even left the slums! Please take me, Brother Changāan!"
The laws of the Main World were extremely strict for ordinary people.
Normally, there were only three ways for an ordinary person to leave the city of their birth. The first was to become a Reincarnator. The second was to be recruited for a job and receive permission from another city. The third was if their city was overrun by an Exotic Beast Tide, allowing them to flee for their lives.
Aside from those three scenarios, ordinary people were confined to their designated areas for their entire lives. Forget about visiting other cities; it was hard enough just to leave their own.
Li Jianfei, afraid of putting Li Changāan in a difficult position, cut in. "You have school tomorrow. All you do is cause trouble for Brother Changāan!"
Li Siying stuck out her tongue playfully. "School, school, always school. Missing one day wonāt kill me. Brother Changāan is a Reincarnator now. If he says heāll take me, that means heās got my back. Youād better show some respect, Mr. Barbecue Stall Owner!"
Li Jianfei was left speechless.
Li Changāan couldnāt help but chuckle.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Li Jianfei was a little tipsy. Li Changāan, who was still sober, spoke up. "Jianfei, I got you a temporary reincarnation authority. Do you have the confidence to try again?"
Upon hearing the words "temporary reincarnation authority"...
...both Li Jianfei and Li Siying froze.
Although neither of them were Official Reincarnators, they had both received systematic training at a Reincarnator School. Thus, they were all too familiar with what a temporary reincarnation authority was.
Normally, a person only got one chance at a temporary reincarnation authority, in their eighteenth year. For the vast majority, failing that one attempt meant their life was essentially over.
Only the core disciples of a few first-class Reincarnation Families might get a second chance.
āBut now, Li Changāan was saying heād managed to get a temporary reincarnation authority?ā
The shock sobered Li Jianfei up instantly. Thinking he must have misheard, he shook his head, trying his best to clear it. His voice trembled as he asked, "Changāan, what did you just say?"
Li Changāan smiled. "I said I got you an extra temporary reincarnation authority. Do you still have the guts to go to a Rebirth World and fight for your chance?"
Once he confirmed he hadnāt misheard, Li Jianfei began to tremble all over.
Li Siying was just as stunned, her eyes wide. "Brother Changāan, I heard that extra temporary reincarnation authorities are incredibly rare. They donāt just cost a lot of money; you need to have enough power, too. Isnāt this... isnāt this too valuable?"
Li Siying had always acted carefree and nonchalant.
But that didnāt mean she wasnāt smart. On the contrary, she was even sharper and quicker-witted than Li Jianfei. And it was precisely because she was so smart that she was all the more shocked now.
The value of a temporary Rebirth Mark...
For an ordinary person who had already failed their reincarnation, it was tantamount to a second life!
Li Changāan laughed. "Donāt forget, I was the top scorer in Lijiangās last reincarnation assessment. Getting a temporary reincarnation authority is nothing. I just made a request to Chairman Su of the Lijiang Rebirth Association, and she got it for me!"
He said it so casually.
But neither Li Jianfei nor Li Siying felt it was a casual matter at all.
They knew Li Changāan could have asked for anything else; he didnāt need to use such a huge favor to get an item that was completely useless to him.
Li Jianfei sniffled, his eyes starting to burn.
He stood up, looked at Li Changāan, and bowed deeply. "Brother Changāan, thank you for your kindness, but this is just too valuable. I really canāt accept it..."
If he could guarantee success, Li Jianfei wouldnāt mind owing Li Changāan a favor, because heād be able to find a way to repay it.
But Li Jianfei knew he would most likely fail again. If that happened, he would have wasted such a precious opportunity from Li Changāan, a debt he feared he could never repay in his lifetime.
At that point, he probably wouldnāt even be able to face Li Changāan, and their friendship would be over.
Li Changāan had expected this reaction and chuckled. "It doesnāt matter if you fail this time. Iāll just get you another one..."
He paused for a moment before adding with a grin, "Donāt tell me youāve forgotten? We promised weād become Reincarnators together. Iāve even got a spot for you all picked out. If you chicken out now, Iāll have to laugh at you!"
Li Siying glanced at Li Changāan, then back at Li Jianfei.
She flashed a fierce grin and scolded him too. "Jianfei, whatās wrong with you? You used to go on and on to me about your dream, and now that Brother Changāan has put it right in front of you, youāre scared? Whatās with being so wishy-washy? A coward like you isnāt fit to be my brother!"
Li Jianfeiās eyes reddened as he fought with all his might to hold back tears.
But in the end, he couldnāt stop himself. He wiped at his runny nose and said, "Since you both put it that way... I guess I really shouldnāt be so dramatic."
Li Siying winked at Li Changāan.
Li Changāan couldnāt resist teasing him as well. "A crybaby isnāt fit to be my brother. What kind of look is that, all crying and sniveling!"
Li Jianfei wiped his face, which was a mess of tears and snot. Hearing their teasing, he retorted, both angry and embarrassed, "Iām not crying! Iām really not! Itās just... the wind! Itās really strong!"
...