In Sumeru, pretend to be a scholar

In a sense, the reason why it was so easy for Wang Yan to ask Nico for help was because of the contract between him and Serene.

"Wait, I'll call her out."

Instead of opening the door directly inside the hotel, Wang Yan walked out of the hotel, found a corner at random, returned to the Secret Realm, and then found Serene, telling her that Nicole was treating him.

Upon hearing that Nico had arrived, Serene, who had been closely following the elemental creature experiments, finally gave in and left the secret realm with Wang Yan.

Back at the hotel.

Serene's gaze first fell on Nico.

“Long time no see, Serene,” Nicole greeted.

"Hmm, Wang Yan said you were treating, but you didn't actually use all the money to hide away your treasure," Serene complained.

Nico didn't mind: "You're not out of money, are you? Do you want me to give you some, so you don't run out of money to hide?"

"Hmph, I don't need that. Wang Yan will give me the money," Serene said angrily.

Wang Yan felt a little embarrassed. In fact, he hadn't given Serene much money. Although the experiment had a lot of funding, he hadn't given her money directly.

He had no idea where Serene got so much money and jewels to hide.

"Alright, alright." Falushan put down her chopsticks and tapped the table. "Listen to your seniors and eat."

Serene immediately fell silent.

She floated to Erosan's side, her celestial form softening by half a degree: "Okay, senior."

Then, with a wave of her little hand, a piece of pastry flew to her. She took a small bite and thought, "Delicious!"

Seemingly noticing Serene's fondness for desserts, Valusan thought for a moment and pushed the macarons she had bought earlier towards her: "No, these are the macarons we had left over. Don't waste them."

Serene opened the paper package, glanced inside, and took a bite of the pink piece.

I chewed it twice, then stopped.

"Too sweet," she said. "Too cloying."

Wang Yan had just taken a sip of soup when he heard this and burst out laughing: "You're kidding me, right? When I bought it this morning, my mentor said it was sweet but not cloying?"

Serene turned to look at Ellasian.

Her fairy form revealed no expression, but she stared at Eros for two seconds.

"Senior Erossan... do you really think this is sweet but not cloying?"

Erosan picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said without changing her expression, "Maybe mine is a little different."

Serene looked at her, then at Wang Yan.

Two seconds of silence.

“Oh,” she said, “Wang Yan bought it.”

He paused for a moment, then added, "It is indeed sweet but not cloying."

Wang Yan almost choked on a mouthful of soup.

Nicole couldn't help but twitch her shoulders.

Without arguing much about the dessert, the three of them and the fairy quickly finished their dinner.

After finishing their meal, Nico paid the bill.

As the group walked out, it was already dark. The streetlights of Fengdanting were on, illuminating the stone pavement.

Wang Yan asked Falushan, "Teacher, should we stay in the Secret Realm or find a hotel tonight?"

Eros was about to open her mouth.

“Elle Lushan-senpai can stay with me,” Nicole replied quickly. “The hotel room I booked is big enough for two people.”

Erosan's eyes lit up. She glanced at Serene and nodded, "Okay, then I'll stay with you."

"Alright then." Wang Yan didn't insist. It was true that there was only one bed in the secret realm... although he wouldn't mind giving the bed to his mentor.

"Oh, right, mentor, I might have something to do tomorrow morning."

Before Wang Yan could finish speaking, Falushan waved her hand and said, "It's nothing. I'm going to see the sculptures with Nicole. She happens to know the artists in Fengdan."

She didn't ask what it was about.

Wang Yan offered no explanation.

There seems to be an unspoken understanding between the two that they won't ask questions unless absolutely necessary.

"I'll be going now," Wang Yan said. "You guys should also head back to the hotel early."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

Erosanne and Nicole walked hand in hand toward the hotel, their figures quickly blending into the crowd at Maple Garden.

Serene floated beside Wang Yan, and only spoke after the two people had walked away: "Go back?"

"You go back first," Wang Yan said. "I have some things to do."

Serene floated in front of him, her celestial form flickering slightly.

"Is it dangerous?"

"Probably not." Wang Yan shook his head. "It's just meeting someone, I'll be back soon."

Serene looked at him for two seconds and didn't ask any further questions.

"Okay," she said. "Call me if you need anything."

Wang Yan opened the gate to the secret realm.

Before Selene crawled inside, she glanced back at him. The small eyes in the ball of light narrowed as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she didn't and crawled inside.

In the past, if Wang Yan had something to do, he wouldn't leave her behind and go alone; he would usually ask her if she wanted to go.

However, as I said before, since the king doesn't say anything, there's no need to ask further.

Like Erosan, Serene believed in the king's words.

The door closed.

Wang Yan stood still, seemingly listening to something. A gentle breeze stirred, and after a moment, he turned and walked out of Fengdanting.

As they walked, fewer and fewer people appeared, and the lights of Fengdanting were gradually left far behind, while the sound of the lake grew closer and closer.

The moon hung above the lake, turning the water a silvery white.

A tall and straight figure stood by the water.

With her back to him, her hands behind her back, the hem of her uniform swayed slightly in the lake breeze.

Hearing footsteps, the person did not turn around, but simply stood there quietly.

"The Supreme Judge summoned me here, not just to enjoy the moon with me, right?" Wang Yan walked over and stood next to Villette, speaking as he spoke.

“How should I address you?” Navellet asked, looking at him.

Wang Yan smiled and said, "Surely the Supreme Judge wouldn't be unable to find my name?"

Navilet paused for a moment, then spoke directly: "...Scholar Wang Yan, are you human or...?"

He still felt that Wang Yan might be some kind of person.

However, this thunderous question left Wang Yan momentarily stunned.

He had considered that he was being watched by the water elemental and had been invited by Navelet to meet him to discuss some secret matters.

But I really didn't expect that Villette would ask such a question.

“Of course I’m a person, a real person!” Wang Yan replied somewhat irritably.

“How could a human possibly master the three fundamental powers!” Navellett questioned.

Wang Yan crossed her arms and looked up at him: "Why not? Who said it's not allowed?"

Although he certainly couldn't defeat Navelet, Wang Yan wasn't afraid of him. As mentioned before, Navelet was a law-abiding dragon.

He not only bound the Fontaines with the law, but he also bound himself with the law.

Having walked alongside humans for five hundred years, this humanoid dragon has long since come to accept human society.

In a sense, the water dragon is much more diligent in handling government affairs than other officials.

"Are you really human?"

"Genuine, guaranteed!"

Navelette fell into a deep silence again.

Wang Yan stood there without saying a word, waiting for the other party to speak.

After a while.

“Since you are human, yet you wield the power of a dragon, you are a usurper…” Vilet’s eyes gradually turned cold, as if a chill was rising within them. “As a water dragon, I should reclaim your power.”

"Are you serious?" Wang Yan also became serious.

“…Of course, it’s my responsibility.” Navilet paused slightly before confirming.

Wang Yan also smiled: "Are you sure you want to fulfill this responsibility here? On the land of Maple?"

Navelette could naturally understand the meaning of the king's words.

The two are currently not far from Fengdanting.

If a war really breaks out, it will inevitably affect the city.

Moreover, battles at the Root level will also affect the environment.

“The mighty nation that should be ruled by the Heavenly Father now has a pheasant sitting on the throne. The times have become disordered and out of step, and I was born to restore order.”

Navelette did not respond to the king's words, but only whispered this sentence.

Then, the power of the source water began to gather.

“I made a pact that the upcoming trial would not involve ordinary people, but only the tyrant in the heavens… and those who usurp power.”

"And you, Mr. Wang Yan, have clearly overstepped the dragon's authority as well!"

Navelite's body began to be surrounded by source water.

“But I still believe that runes are the language of the world, not the exclusive domain of dragons. Dragons are only a part of the world’s creation, and are no longer even the main part.”

Wang Yan's body was also surrounded by elemental energy, ready to fight directly.

"The power of the ancient dragons may be considered their private property, but to regard runes as something unattainable is rather ridiculous."

A breeze blew across the lake, making the hems of their clothes flutter.

“The essence of the elements is one with the existence of the dragon,” Navellet said. “The dragon is the walking source rune, and when humans master it, it is as if they have taken a piece from the dragon’s body.”

"One entity?" Wang Yan raised an eyebrow. "Then let me ask you, what is a dragon?"

"The dragon is the pinnacle of elemental life, the embodiment of the ultimate elemental power."

“The peak.” Wang Yan repeated, nodding. “Not the starting point, not the origin, it’s the peak.”

"In other words, dragons are merely life forms born from elemental power, while the Root Runes elucidate the essence of the elements. So how can you say that the Root Runes are the things of dragons? Shouldn't we say... that dragons are the products of the Root Runes?"

Navellet looked at him but did not answer immediately.

Wang Yan continued, "As I said before, runes are the language of the world, not exclusive to dragons. Dragons were just the first students to learn this language, not the teachers, much less the creators of runes."

"Once you've learned this language, do you consider it your private property and won't let others learn it?"

Navellet looked at him without saying a word for a long time.

The source water flowed slowly around him, its light flickering.

“What you said makes some sense,” he finally spoke, his voice still calm. “But reason is reason, and rules are rules.”

"As the Water Dragon King, I have my responsibilities."

Wang Yan: "...If you can't win an argument, then fight. Honestly...you're wasting my breath."

As soon as the words were spoken, the two of them moved at the same time.

As the source water around Navelite surged, Wang Yan pushed off with the force of gravity, and the two figures simultaneously rose from the ground, flying out of the Maple Dan Court in the blink of an eye, heading straight for the center of Great Maple Dan Lake.

Nobody wants to fight in the city.