The person is at Hogwarts, but the system is in Middle-earth!

Chapter 122 Professor Lu Ping, Your Excellency in the Gray Robe!

The corridors of the Hogwarts Express were packed with excited students.

The roar of the steam locomotive and the rhythmic sound of its wheels hitting the rails mingled together, and the view outside the window gradually changed from downtown London to rolling fields, where cattle and sheep grazed leisurely.

"Everywhere's packed," Harry said, sounding a little dejected. They had already walked through most of the carriage, dragging their heavy suitcases. "Even Neville's carriage, the one where he lost the toad, is crammed with people."

The aisle of the train car was packed with excited students, who were chasing and playing around.

"We need a safe base," Rowe said, avoiding a third-year student demonstrating a wolf-tooth flying saucer. "Don't rush, Ringbearer. Fate will always leave us a sanctuary. As long as we search patiently."

Ron rolled his eyes. "If only fate would spare us a few Chocolate Frogs, I'm starving. We need to find an empty booth, buy some snacks, and chat about this summer."

Hermione walked at the front, stopping in front of a compartment near the back of the train. She glanced through the glass door, then turned back and whispered, "There's only one seat here. Only one person is sleeping in there."

Luo Wei stepped forward and looked through the glass.

In the corner of that dimly lit private room sat a man. He was fast asleep, leaning against the window, wearing a very...

His tattered robe was patched in several places. His face was tired and pale, and his gray-brown hair was streaked with white, making him look weathered even though he was not yet middle-aged.

To Harry and Ron, he was just a poor, down-on-his-luck adult wizard.

But in Luo Wei's eyes, the system's filter instantly gilded this man with a mysterious gray light.

[Target identification: Unknown unit.]

[Physical features: Gray robe, weathered and worn, a weary traveler.]

[System determination: This is a pilgrim who has been wandering the wilderness for a long time. Or... a leader of the Northern Rangers who has lived in seclusion.]

Threat Level: ??? (Sleeping)

Luo Wei's eyes instantly turned solemn with respect.

"Shhh."

He held up one finger, signaling the three people behind him to be quiet. Then, he gently and slowly opened the door to the private room.

"Go in. But be quiet," Rowe whispered, in a voice only they could hear. "Don't disturb his meditation."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances, but under Rowe's solemn atmosphere, which made them feel as if they were "meeting the king," they involuntarily held their breath and tiptoed inside to carry the suitcase.

The man was still fast asleep, his body rising and falling slightly with the swaying of the train.

Luo Wei was the last to enter. He carefully closed the door, then instead of sitting down, he stood by the door with his arms crossed.

"Who is he?" Ron muttered under his breath after sitting down. "Looks like he snuck on without a ticket."

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"Shh!" Hermione glared at him, then pointed to the worn-out suitcase on the overhead luggage rack above the man's head. A thin rope was tied to the suitcase to keep it from falling apart, and the words "Professor RJ Lupin" were written on it in faded handwriting.

"He's a professor," Hermione whispered. "He's probably here to fill a vacancy in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class."

"Hopefully he's better than Lockhart." Ron looked at Lupin's tattered clothes with suspicion, "though he looks like he's just been robbed."

"Don't judge a book by its cover, Ron."

Lowly, meaningful voice came from the doorway: "True power often lies hidden beneath a humble exterior."

Just like that broken sword before it was reforged, who could have imagined it would be a symbol of royalty?

Harry looked at the sleeping man, and for some reason, he felt that Rowe was right. Although Professor Lupin looked down on his luck, he had a certain...calm aura about him.

Just then, a series of noisy footsteps and drawn-out voices came from the corridor.

"...I heard Potter's in the car? Let me see if our savior's scared out of his wits..."

It's Draco Malfoy.

The box door was yanked open. Malfoy appeared in the doorway, accompanied by his two henchmen, Crabbe and Goyle.

"I knew it was here." Malfoy leaned lazily against the doorway, his gaze sweeping over Harry and Ron before finally settling on Hermione, a look of disgust on his face. "And a Mudblood too. Potter, your taste is getting better and better..."

Before he could finish speaking, he felt a chill rise up his spine.

Malfoy instinctively turned his head and saw Rowe standing in the shadows behind the door.

Lowe just stood there quietly, his eyes looking at a fly buzzing while a lion napped.

"Get lost, viper. Want to taste my fist? My fist is already in attack mode."

"And an even more ancient power slumbers here. If you awaken it, you will face the consequences."

Malfoy paused for a moment. He glanced instinctively into the box and saw the sleeping man in a tattered robe.

Under Rowe's earnest intimidation, Malfoy's meager imagination began to race: Who was this ragged man? Why was that madman Rowe protecting him like this? Could he be some kind of hidden master?

The man let out a soft snore in his sleep.

But to Malfoy, the snoring sounded like the growl of some dangerous beast.

"We'll see." Malfoy snorted defiantly, glared at Harry, and then hurriedly left with Crabbe and Goyle.

Luo Wei closed the door again expressionlessly, his movements still gentle.

"Cool." Ron looked at Rowe with admiration. "Your look just now was deadly. Malfoy turned pale with fright."

"I'm just stating the facts." Lowe sat down, still maintaining a wary posture. "Some things cannot be easily disturbed. Especially... in the calm before the storm."

"A storm?" Harry glanced out the window.

Although it was still afternoon, the sky was indeed beginning to darken. Thick, dark clouds pressed down on the rolling hills.

Professor Lu Ping stirred in the corner, as if he were about to wake up, but in the end he just changed his position and continued to sleep.

Luo Wei looked at him, and a new notification popped up on the system interface in front of him:

[Mission Completion: The Guardians' Peace.]

You have successfully prevented the noise from disturbing the grey-robed pilgrims.

[Reward: Affection +10 (Although he's sleeping, he feels safe subconsciously).]

Luo Wei smiled slightly, took a piece of chocolate from his pocket, and gently placed it on the table.

"Rest, everyone," Lowe said softly. "Until then, we'll guard this door."