Transcending the Magic Era: The Supreme Female Archmage

Chapter 142 Reunion with an Old "Friend"

After resting for a night, the group decided to go out and do some shopping.

They had almost run out of potions during their previous training trip. In addition, they had used up quite a few magic potions in their efforts to concoct fake ones. The magic potion reserves in their mental spaces were beginning to run low.

"Xingyao, is there an auction at the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce tonight?"

"Hmm, I think so. You want to go to the auction?"

Before Chu Qiuchi could respond, Chu Yichen's eyes lit up, and he spoke first, "An auction! Let's go, I've never been to an auction before!"

Chu Qiuchi smiled slightly and nodded, "Yes, let's go see if there are any precious magic potions."

Puyang Minghui looked at Chu Yichen, who was beaming with excitement, and teased, "Yichen, do you have money? Things at auctions are very expensive!"

Chu Yichen raised an eyebrow, his arrogance overflowing, "Heh, putting everything else aside, I could easily afford ten of you!"

"Tch, I'm priceless. Your meager savings probably can't even buy one of my fingernails!" Puyang Minghui pointed to her fingernail with a look of disdain.

"Heh, are your fingernails inlaid with level eight magic rune crystals? You call me shameless? What, you didn't bring your face with you when you got up this morning either!"

"Chu Yichen, who are you calling shameless!"

Seeing that the two were about to start fighting again, Nalan Xingyao quickly pulled Puyang Minghui back, "Alright, alright, Minghui, he's shameless, let's not stoop to his level."

Seeing that she had support, Puyang Minghui hid next to Nalan Xingyao, poked her round head out, and looked at Chu Yichen triumphantly: "Yes, it's you who's shameless."

"Xingyao, you're bullying me with her too!"

Nalan Xingyao gave him a look, and Chu Yichen immediately raised his hands in surrender, "Fine, fine, I was shameless, you are all priceless treasures!"

After saying that, his eyes darted around, and he quickly raised his hand and slapped Puyang Minghui on the back of the head. "Did you hear that? Priceless treasure!"

Then, laughing loudly, he ran away. Behind him, he could faintly hear Puyang Minghui's angry shouts and curses.

Seeing this, Chu Qiuchi smiled and shook his head. Ever since yesterday's food-fighting battle, these two have been bickering from time to time, and every time they meet, chaos ensues!

However, she wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt that Chu Yichen was being a little too obedient in front of Xingyao! Could it be that her pig had learned to pluck jade cabbages?

The group arrived at the commercial street and quickly traversed the various potion shops, conducting a massive raid.

After satisfying themselves with their newfound inventory, they decided to head to the "Number One Restaurant Under Heaven" for a delicious meal, as they hadn't had it in almost a year and were really craving it.

“Chu Qiuchi…”

As Chu Qiuchi was walking, a young woman suddenly grabbed his arm. Thinking it was one of his most enthusiastic fans, Chu Qiuchi quickly covered his face with his hand, saying, "I'm not her, you've mistaken me for someone else!"

The woman was speechless for a moment. "Chu Qiuchi, stop covering up. Do you think I would mistake you for someone else?"

Chu Qiuchi awkwardly lowered his hand, turned his head and looked at the person in front of him. The person seemed somewhat familiar, but he couldn't remember who she was for a moment.

Seeing Chu Qiuchi's bewildered expression and his silence, the woman's voice carried a hint of resentment: "Chu Qiuchi, you bastard, you haven't forgotten me, have you?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Qiuchi trembled, instantly feeling like a scumbag who would abandon his lover after he had done his bidding.

She quickly racked her brains, finally pulling a somewhat arrogant figure from her distant memories. After a slight hesitation, she tentatively asked, "Shao Yuping?"

"Oh, you really have a bad memory!" Shao Yuping said, her tone still slightly sarcastic as she saw that she had finally remembered.

Hearing that familiar tone, Chu Qiuchi smiled and waved his hand casually, "It's just that after so many years, you've become so beautiful that I didn't recognize you at first."

Upon hearing this, Shao Yuping's expression gradually softened. She looked up at her with a hint of joy, "Really? Have I really become more beautiful?"

"Yes, of course! You can ask Yichen if you don't believe me, right, little brother?" Chu Qiuchi raised an eyebrow and chuckled, nodding as he tugged at Chu Yichen, who was watching the show from the side.

"Yes, yes, my sister is right, you are indeed much prettier than when you were little. But shouldn't you be studying in Xiyue City? Why are you in the capital?"

Shao Yuping glanced at Chu Qiuchi, then stammered, "I..."

"This isn't the place to talk. We're going to eat anyway, let's go together." Chu Qiuchi sensed that she might have something difficult to say and considerately took over the conversation.

Shao Yuping glanced at the others, hesitated, and said, "I'll pass..."

Chu Qiuchi stepped forward, patted her on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "It's nothing, it's alright. They're all very nice people, they won't eat you. Let's go, after all, meeting old friends in a foreign land, how can we not have a meal together?"

“Yes, yes, Qiu Chi is right. You should come with us. It’s a rare opportunity to meet you,” Pu Yangminghui said enthusiastically.

Nalan Xingyao nodded in agreement. Ji Moyu's opinion was not important.

At the dinner table, with Chu Yichen and Puyang Minghui's banter, Shao Yuping gradually relaxed and occasionally joined in with a few laughs.

After the meal, Nalan Xingyao invited the others to go outside for a stroll to digest their food, leaving only Chu Qiuchi and Shao Yuping in the private room.

Shao Yuping looked at Chu Qiuchi with a complicated expression. After a long silence, she finally spoke: "Chu Qiuchi, I've stopped going to school. I've joined Yueji Pavilion."

Chu Qiuchi frowned slightly, listened silently, and did not interrupt her.

“You’re right, I should have given up on them sooner.” Shao Yuping’s voice was low. “Two years ago, I had my younger brother, and I realized that it wasn’t that they didn’t love their child, they just didn’t love me.”

"Then you..." Chu Qiuchi asked tentatively.

Shao Yuping took a deep breath, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes. "With my younger brother, they pay even less attention to me. Before it was you, now it's him. Not only do I have to help take care of him, but if he makes even the slightest mistake, I get beaten and scolded."

She lowered her head, her voice becoming even lower, "I've really had enough of this kind of life. So, when they weren't looking, I secretly had someone bring me to Fran City and joined the Yueji Pavilion you mentioned before."

Chu Qiuchi stepped forward and gently patted her shoulder, "You are very brave. Believe in yourself, you will get better and better!"

"Yes, I will! I'm so happy every day here. I no longer have to worry about doing things wrong or being hit or scolded. The older women here take good care of me because I'm young. I finally feel like I'm living like a human being, instead of being a useless person who's worse than everyone else."

Chu Qiuchi smiled slightly, "You've always been quite outstanding, with considerable talent. But haven't your parents contacted you? And about your schooling..."

"It's really not easy to hear praise from you! My parents came looking for me, but the Holy Maiden sent them away. As for school, the Holy Maiden transferred my enrollment to your academy. However, my studies and training will still be at the Yueji Pavilion, where the Holy Maiden has specially arranged teachers to instruct me."

"Wow, that's impressive! You not only have a private tutor now, but you've also become my senior! Not bad at all, you have a bright future ahead of you. Rise up, little bottle!"