Chapter 55: An Unexpected Invitation

As the sun cast long shadows across the arena, the second trial came to an end. Out of the countless hopefuls, only a fraction remained, leaving the field whittled down to fewer than 300 contestants. The overwhelming majority were considered elite, having been groomed by the eight great families, trained from birth for moments like these. Yet among them, the odd man out, as it were, was Li Yang. His unorthodox methods, combined with sheer luck (in the eyes of others), allowed him to continue forward. To most, he seemed like a fish out of water.

Before the contestants could disperse, a silhouette approached Li Yang. It was Feng Xuan, with his distinctive demeanor and the flute always by his side. "Care for a drink?" he proposed.

The invitation caught Li Yang off guard. Why would someone as esteemed as Feng Xuan wish to spend time with him? But recalling the old adage, "Know your enemy as you know yourself," Li Yang nodded in agreement.

The duo found themselves in a dimly lit tavern, the murmur of conversations blending with the clinking of glasses. Over flagons of ale, Feng Xuan broke the silence, "You're quite the enigma, Li Yang. Beneath that comedic exterior, I sense a formidable strength. How about we journey together to the Central City Academy?"

Just then, a silent message from Lysar echoed in Li Yang's mind, "Trust him. Feng Xuan is honorable. Having a companion at the academy would be advantageous."

Li Yang retorted mentally, "And how do you know he's trustworthy?"

Lysar replied, "Simple. Touch his hand, and I'll use a spell to access fragments of his memories."

Li Yang almost choked on his drink, "Touch his hand? How am I supposed to do that without seeming creepy?"

Seizing a seemingly brilliant idea, Li Yang asked, "May I try playing your flute?"

Feng Xuan raised an eyebrow, smirking, "You'd blow into a flute I've played? Isn't that... an indirect kiss?"

Flustered, Li Yang stammered, "Forget I mentioned it. It was just a thought."

Internally, he grumbled to Lysar, "We'll figure him out eventually. No need for such drastic measures now."

As the night deepened, the two shared tales of their adventures, laughing and occasionally clashing in their views. They left the tavern with a newfound camaraderie, their paths now intertwined as they looked forward to the challenges of the Central City Academy.

As the moon hung high, Li Yang contemplated the turns his journey was taking. And while he hadn't managed to delve into Feng Xuan's past, the night had sown the seeds of a friendship that promised to shape his future.