Shen Jing Bang · Chat

The autumn wind, wrapped in the scent of osmanthus, rushed into Chen Xiaohu's face, filling his mouth. He squatted on the stone lion by the main gate of Shen Xiang, clutching a half-eaten flatbread in his hand, his eyes fixed on the gleaming golden plaque above his head—'Jujing Huishen Xiang'. "Is this the place?" He swallowed his last bite, hopped down, and dusted the crumbs off his hands. Next to him, a boy wearing glasses was squatting on the ground, tying his shoelaces. The earrings dangling from his ears made one dizzy just looking at them. He glanced up at Xiaohu without a word, stood up, and brushed the dirt off his pant legs. Not far away, a flamboyantly dressed young master was hitting on a passing female student. He didn't even get mad when she rolled her eyes at him. Grinning, he spun around and nearly bumped into a dark-faced, burly man striding over. "New kids? Do you know how late you are?" the man's voice boomed like a great bell, and the crescent moon mark on his forehead gleamed in the sunlight. The young master shrank back. The dark-faced man ignored him, his gaze sweeping over Xiaohu by the stone lion, then over the bespectacled boy who had just tied his shoes. He gave a cold snort. "You're in Chang'e's class, right? Follow me." And so, as if being dragged by their collars, the three of them followed along in a daze. Xiaohu glanced back at the throngs of new students crowding the gate—a burly man carrying a massive broadsword, a girl with scrolls on her back, a child hugging a spirit beast... Some strutted with arrogance, while others were riddled with anxiety. He rubbed the back of his head and grinned. Whatever. As long as I can eat my fill, it's fine.