In Sumeru, pretend to be a scholar

“Let’s stay here then.” Wang Yan nodded. “By the way, could you please contact that senior gentleman for me and ask if he’s selling his house here?”

Instead of renting long-term, Wang Yan felt it was better to just buy it.

“Should we just buy it…” Fariha nodded in agreement. “Although it’s a large upfront expense, it’s worth it in the long run.”

"No problem, I'll ask that senior for you."

As they talked, the two left the house and headed towards the Church of Christ.

I was already familiar with the following procedures, and we arrived at the office where I used to rent a place to work.

Finding Laiila while she was sleeping, waking her up, and then signing the contract were all tasks she was used to easily.

That same day, Wang Yan received the keys to the new house.

We got the new house, but what about the old one? Well, of course... we didn't return it either. After all, there's still time. The Religious Council will only take the house back when the lease expires and we don't renew it.

Chapter 142 New Problems (3.2k)

After renting the new house, Wang Yan didn't rush back to move in. Instead, he went back to Tianbi Pond Square with Faliha.

It was just evening.

"Wang Yan, you're here! Please have a seat. What would you like to eat?"

Qishan had already changed into the waitress uniform of the Lambad Tavern. When she saw Wang Yan coming over, she greeted him happily.

Wang Yan replied with a smile, "I'm treating someone to dinner, Qishan, could you find me a quiet corner?"

“Okay, follow me.” Qishan immediately agreed.

It's always easier to get things done when you have connections.

Qishan quickly arranged a corner seat by the window for him, then handed the menu to Wang Yan: "Order now, or wait until we arrive?"

"Let's start with some wine, then bring some cheese, pastries, and fruit," Wang Yan said.

Drinks, cheese, and fruit are all things that Kavi likes to eat.

As for Al Heisenberg, his requirements for food were very simple: deliciousness was more important than appearance. In short, he didn't want food that was all show and no substance.

In addition, Kavi likes to eat hot soup, while Elhesen dislikes food with soup because he can't eat while reading and it's easy to get the books dirty.

These are details that Wang Yan observed during his exchanges with the two scholars.

So Wang Yan ordered cheese desserts, not cream of mushroom soup.

"Then I'll go prepare first," Qishan nodded.

"Okay, Kavi and Elhesen will be here soon, please bring them here."

"Okay, I've got it."

Before long, the waiter brought out the drinks, snacks, and fruit.

At the same time, Kavina’s signature hearty laughter came from not far away.

Wang Yan looked up and saw Qi Shan leading several people toward him. Kavi and Elhesen were walking in front, and behind them were two other people—Tinari and a young man he had never seen before.

But Wang Yan recognized the other party's identity almost instantly: the Grand Wind Inspector, Seno.

"Wang Yan! We're here!" Kavi waved and strode to the table. He glanced at the wine and snacks on the table first, and his eyes lit up. "Ha, you really understand me!"

Elhesen nodded slightly to Wang Yan as a greeting, without saying anything more.

Kavi then turned to the side and introduced the unfamiliar guest to Wang Yan: "This is Seno, the Grand Enforcer of the Order of the Church—you should have heard of him, right?"

Wang Yan immediately stood up and solemnly bowed to Seno with a scholar's salute: "Of course, Your Excellency, I have long admired your name."

Seno nodded, his expression serious but his tone relatively calm: "No need for formalities. I've heard Tinali and Kavi mention you, Wang Yan, the disciple of Senior Falusan."

To be honest, if Wang Yan hadn't known that Seno was the king of lame jokes, he would have been almost fooled by the other's serious demeanor.

However, it makes sense when you think about it. After all, it was the first time the two had met and they weren't familiar with each other yet, so Seno naturally had to maintain the dignity of a high-ranking official.

At this moment, Tinari stepped forward, his ears twitching slightly: "I happened to run into Kavi near the Palace of Wisdom with Seno. He said you were hosting a dinner party in Lambad tonight, so I brought Seno along. Hope we're not bothering you?"

Wang Yan quickly waved his hand, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "If I had known you were in Sumeru City, I certainly would have invited you too. As for the presence of the Grand Wind Official, it would be my honor."

As he spoke, Wang Yan invited the group to sit down and then handed them the menu, asking them to name what they liked to eat.

Five people ordered ten dishes.

While waiting for the food to be served, the dish naturally fell to the host.

“A few days ago, several old scholars in the school had a big argument because of your thesis,” Elhesen said.

He wasn't a talkative person, but this was indeed a novel thing.

"The old [Hapandal] of the Epistemological School?" Tinari asked with some curiosity, "What kind of paper could make the [Hapandal] argue like this?"

Wang Yan: "It was my thesis on investigating the ruins of the Flower Goddess in the desert. Kavi and Elhesen helped me a lot."

“When will it be released? I want to go and take a look,” Tinari asked.

“They said it would be mid-March,” Wang Yan replied, then sighed, “but now I’m actually worrying about the next problem.”

“The next topic, oh, you are [Tasata], requires two papers,” Tinari said suddenly. “But isn’t that a piece of cake for you?”

Kavi nodded: "The text you translated for me about the early evolution of the Red King civilization is enough to write a paper, right? Do you need me to send you a copy of the material?"

He meant well.

Only Elhesen shook his head: "It was rejected by Senior Erossen!"

Wang Yan looked at him in surprise: "How did you know?"

"It's simple. Senior Falushan has high expectations for you, so she definitely won't let you choose topics with similar impact for your first two papers."

“The Flower Goddess Relics we saw before, you gave up the most valuable data, so its value is not much different from that of the ordinary Red King Relics, except that it is more rare.”

"In this situation, if you continue to publish papers on the Crimson King Civilization that are similar to the Flower Goddess Relics, your influence within the school will be diminished."

He was referring to the influence within the college.

Clearly, within the epistemological school, there is an independent logic for evaluating a scholar's papers.

Ten papers on similar topics may not receive the same grade as five papers on different topics.

“I see. Back when I was studying for my thesis, Professor Gülesh also asked me to keep changing my thesis topics,” Seno said from the side.

Gülesh was a predecessor of the Suron school, the teacher of Seno, and also Lisa's teacher.

“Teacher Nafis is the same way,” Tinari added.

It seems like all my tutors are the same; as long as they have some expectations for their students, they'll all make this kind of demand.

As they were talking, the food arrived, and they began to eat and chat.

The topic of conversation is still about Wang Yan.

“Since we’re not going to work on the Red King civilization, then it’s either the evolution of rainforest script or we’ll have to travel and study in other countries,” Kavi said.

He lived with Elhesen and, through his exposure, gained some understanding of the intellectual school.

“Kavi is right. Have you considered which one to choose?” Tinari asked.

Wang Yan picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and shook his head: "Not yet. I just returned to Sumeru City today, so there's no rush."

“Oh, right, Kavi also said you were moving, so this is a housewarming party,” Tinari said with a smile.

"There's no other way, the old little house isn't enough."

“Then why don’t you come back to Daochenglin with me? There’s plenty of land there, and I can get people to build you a big house.”

"Then let's forget about it. Sumeru City is fine."

Wang Yan politely declined Tina Li's 'kindness' and then said, "There is something I can ask you for help with."

Tina was taken aback. Building a house was obviously a joke, but since Wang Yan said he needed help, he wouldn't refuse: "What is it?"

"I'd like to ask if you have any clues about these materials."

Wang Yan took out the material list for the [Azure Jade Carriage] that he carried with him.

He had originally intended to ask Kavi, since Kavi was a follower of the Theory school and was more familiar with these institutional materials.

However, Tinari is still here. As a biotheological scholar, he studies not only ecology, but also the environment.

Those who believe in the theory of life are likely more familiar with these extraordinary materials than those who believe in the theory of subtlety.

Tina took the order and started looking at it.

The others were also curious, so Tina simply laid the list out on the table.

"We have these kinds of materials in stock," said the student, pointing to some of the names of the materials above in surprise.

Wang Yan's eyes lit up: "Really? Can I apply for a transfer?"

Kavi smiled, picked up his glass and took a sip: "If someone else asked, I would definitely say 'we have to follow the proper procedures and also consider the attitude of the school's higher-ups.'"

"But you are a disciple of Senior Erossan... applying shouldn't be a problem."

As he spoke, Seno also pointed to some other materials: "Among the smuggled goods that the Disciplinary Committee has seized over the years, there are also these items on the list. If you need them, you can apply to the Religious Council for their use, but you must purchase them at market price."

It's not that he didn't consider Wang Yan, this newly acquainted scholar, as a friend.

Rather, this is the rule of the disciplinary officers: confiscated smuggled goods, after being verified to be safe, will be put back into the market. The money from the sale will be used partly to subsidize the disciplinary officers on field duty, and partly turned over to the Religious Council.

Following that, Tina and Elhesen added several more clues about materials.

The list of materials is now complete, but the only items missing are [Moonlight Silver] and [Neon Gauze].

"It seems that I can also decide on my next research topic," Wang Yan said with a smile.

"Oh? Where to?" Kavi was already slurring his words.

Al-Hysen shook his head: "Of course it's Nordkalley, where else could we go?"

"Huh? Why?"

Kavi was used to Elhesen's tone and wasn't angry, just a little puzzled.

"Since materials with moonlight properties currently all come from Nordkalai, Wang Yan will naturally have to go to Nordkalai to find them if he wants to gather the materials. As for that [Neon Glow Gauze]... I estimate that it is now extinct. Wang Yan, you should try to find a substitute."

After giving Kavi a piece of his mind, Elhesen then reminded Wang Yan.

Like Eros, he also knew the origin of the [Neon Gauze].

Tinali chimed in from the side, "I've heard that the Frostmoon Child has the ability to weave moonlight into moon gauze. Perhaps we could consider that."

Wang Yan nodded and thanked his two friends: "Yes, I've got it."

With the current topic settled, the conversation shifted from Wang Yan to other people as they continued drinking and eating.

The meal lasted until nightfall.

At the dinner table, Kavi had already passed out.

"How about we call it a day?" Tinari said.

The remaining people all nodded.

Wang Yan got up to pay, and the boss said that Qi Shan had settled the bill at the internal employee price, giving her a 20% discount.

Wang Yan smiled and did not refuse.

After paying and returning to the table, Wang Yan said to Tina and Seno, "You two go first. Leave Kavi to me and Elhesen."

"Okay, see you next time." Tinari and Seno left.

Wang Yan and Elhesen skillfully each grabbed one of Kavi's arms and dragged him back to the accommodation area.

The three of them had occasionally drunk together before, and this was basically how they brought Kavi back each time.

Chapter 143, "The Mantra for Purifying the Three Karmas" (5k)

After tossing the heavy, lifeless Kavi onto his bed, Wang Yan bid farewell to Elhesen and returned to his own cabin.

Although the contract for the big house has been signed, we haven't had time to move in yet, so we'll have to stay in the small house tonight.

I took a shower in the bathroom, changed into a comfortable set of pajamas, picked up a book, and leaned against the headboard to read.

Although he had been drinking for two or three hours, he hadn't actually drunk that much; at least half of the bottles on the table were in Kavi's stomach.