"This really is an excellent book, so important!" When Yin Le closed the book, half of the lemon blueberry cake had already been eaten. There was a bit of cream on his lips, but his expression was extremely solemn. "I really need to discuss this with Brother Jiang. We must print a large quantity of this book!"

Zhou Li nodded and then pointed at a few other books. "These are almost the same. I have a few more, and some I still haven't sorted out yet."

He paused for a moment and then added, "These are specifically left for us by our predecessors."

Yin Le nodded solemnly.

Glancing to the side, Su Jue and Xiao Hua were utterly confused, unable to join the conversation, appearing somewhat uncomfortable.

Yin Le looked at them and pondered for a moment. "We're not from the same school, and you still have classes to attend, which is a bit inconvenient. So, how about this? Take these two books back with you for now. Just read them on your own, help each other understand, and if there's anything you don't get, you can ask me on QQ. I'll reply when I see it. On the weekends, I'll pick one day, notify you in advance, and you can come to my place, as I'm not living in the dorms now. Then I can teach you systematically."

He pushed two books toward them, keeping two for himself. "I'll take these two back to read."

Both of them nodded, silently urging each other with their eyes, until Xiao Hua eventually took the books.

"Senior Brother Yin, don't you have classes?" Xiao Hua asked, puzzled.

"I've been busy, hardly going to classes lately." Yin Le took another bite of cake and licked the cream off the spoon. "A new era has just started, and there's too much to do."

"Senior Brother Yin has been working hard…" Xiao Hua hastily said.

"Working hard…" Zhou Li felt a touch of shame.

"Right." Yin Le lifted his head again. "If you want to learn spells, it's definitely not convenient in the dormitories. It's better to move outside."

"How much is a place near the school per month, on average?"

"Usually... How much does a set of rooms cost near the school?"

Xiao Hua and Su Jue nearly asked simultaneously, then they looked at each other in confusion. For a moment, they both felt the other's question sounded slightly different from theirs but couldn't tell if they had misheard.

"The place I'm renting is two thousand a month, and the environment is quite good." Yin Le paused and then looked at Su Jue. "There's no need to buy, just rent a place."

"Oh..."

Su Jue's face was flushed.

Yin Le continued to admonish, "Although my arrangement might seem a bit neglectful of you, there's really no choice; you have to study hard yourselves. This era has just begun. The Demon Kingdom's institutions are gradually becoming complete, but humanity's Heavenly Master power can't even be considered to have started. There's a severe imbalance between the two. The pressure on us is immense."

Upon hearing this, both of them were stunned.

Although they both wanted to learn spells, their starting point was nowhere near as lofty. Before Yin Le mentioned this, they had no idea they were so important to this world.

The pressure was overwhelming.

They felt unprepared.

After a momentary daze, both turned their gaze toward Zhou Li.

Zhou Li just smiled at them.

Yin Le was that kind of person. He would load many things onto others, and you just couldn't find a reason to say he was wrong.

"This was destined since the moment we were born. Heaven had already chosen us." Yin Le lowered his head, showing his helplessness. "Destiny strikes like a downpour. You and I are both exposed in the wilderness; how could we possibly hide…"

"I've thought about it. We can hold on to the lovely fantasy that 'humans and demons will never go to war,' and it may not be a fantasy. However, we cannot place our hopes for its realization on the morality of demons. We need to have equivalent abilities." Yin Le's gaze swept over Su Jue and Xiao Hua. "Don't be too tense or scared. Just do your best."

"So... what do we need to do?" Xiao Hua asked tentatively.

"Become strong," Yin Le said. "At least be able to protect yourself, and then protect others."

"Oh..."

Both felt uneasy inside.

Anxiety.

They had no idea the world was like this. Even Xiao Hua didn't know much, so when Yin Le pulled back the veil of the world before them, it suddenly felt like they saw a wave a thousand meters high advancing toward the shore.

And they stood right at the edge of that shore.

The grandeur of the wave made it hard for them to breathe.

Zhou Li tapped the table lightly, smoothly changing the subject. "What have you been busy with lately? Not going to class?"

"You know."

Yin Le also immediately regained his composure. "I have to fly to the Capital in a few days…"

"The Capital."

Zhou Li's expression slightly tensed.

Yin Le nodded. "I've already convinced them. Now the national leaders have all realized… realized the change in the era."

A girl passed by them, and Yin Le lowered his voice, pausing. After the girl walked away, he continued, "I'm going to meet the Prime Minister in a few days to discuss and set up our country's Heavenly Master institution. It won't be long before the nation starts looking for Heavenly Masters nationwide."

"How are they going to search?" Zhou Li asked.

"Isn't it simple?" Yin Le's gaze swept over the three of them. "Who among you didn't see a psychologist as a kid?"

"…"

"…"

"I…"

Only Xiao Hua raised her hand, weakly saying, "My family is from a rural area. We're quite poor and superstitious too. When I was a child, my family didn't have the concept of 'psychologists'…"

Yin Le nodded. "So there will still be some who slip through the cracks, but there's no need to rush. As time goes on, they will eventually surface."

Zhou Li agreed with this statement.

The other two also agreed.

Even someone introverted like Su Jue had chosen to step forward, hadn't he?

Zhou Li pondered for a moment. "So, it won't be long before we all have to be registered?"

Xiao Hua also asked, "Are we going to be civil servants?"

Yin Le first nodded, affirming Zhou Li's guess, then replied to Xiao Hua, "That still relies on your opinions. But with the current shortage of talent, as long as you're willing, the positions and treatment are excellent, and you can even have power. Also, Zhou Li, you promised that you would be there when the time comes, at least in name, right? Besides, you're more familiar with the demons than I am. We need your help with some dialogues and liaisons."

"I can do that."

Zhou Li didn't hesitate.

After some thought, he asked, "Is the first diplomatic dialogue between humans and demons about to start?"

Yin Le nodded. "That's what I'm going to talk about on this trip."

Having said that, he glanced at Zhou Li. "Will you be making the introductions?"

"I can do that."

"I knew it." Yin Le laughed.

"Hmm..."

As the first dialogue of the new era between humans and demons, it was likely to be more exploratory. It probably wouldn't be a direct conversation between the highest leaders of both sides, but more likely between diplomats. The main purpose would be to gauge their attitudes towards each other and likely set the tone for coexistence in the near future, probably by continuing the ancient treaties of mutual harmony.

Hong Ran was unlikely to make a direct appearance.

On the other hand, in the Demon Realm, the Yu Country corresponds to dozens of human nations. If the highest leaders were to talk, it would probably require a large conference.

But Zhou Li still hoped to be involved.

Once the two sides establish a pact of 'amicable coexistence,' there will be peace for a long time. But if it's just 'mutual respect' or the like, things could be less stable.

「Half an hour later.」

At the entrance of the store.

Yin Le packed a cake and mounted his motorcycle, turned his head to look at Zhou Li. "I'm leaving."

Zhou Li waved at him.

The motorcycle roared and departed.

Zhou Li looked at the two beside him, seeing their baffled faces, he pursed his lips and smiled faintly. "Does he have a bit of a leader's aura?"

"Yes..."

"He's amazing..."

"What are your impressions?" Zhou Li asked.

"I don't know..." Su Jue looked down.

"The things you're talking about seem incredibly complex..." Xiao Hua said blankly. "I feel like I've gotten involved in national affairs."

"Don't get tangled up and stress yourself out, stay composed," Zhou Li said. "Do you know why Yin Le only encourages you and not me? Because he already knows I'm a millennia-old salty fish. He has given up on me. So, don't carry too much burden. It's more a matter of your own will."

"I heard from Doudou that humans and demons won't go to war," Xiao Hua said.

"They won't," Zhou Li agreed very firmly, though it was unclear if it was just to reassure them. "He's just thinking more and planning further into the future."

"That's good, that's good..."

"If you join the Heavenly Master's organization, it'll be like having a job dealing with demons. The ancient Heavenly Master's Office used to work like that," Zhou Li said while holding Tuanzi, discreetly studying their expressions. "You could be like diplomats, but there are also some dangerous jobs, similar to police and armed police. If you wish to do it, you can. If not, others are naturally willing. Everyone has their role to play, contributing their best."

"I see..."

"Oh..."

Zhou Li said no more.

Xiao Hua, apparently, was as staunch a peace advocate as him.

The introverted Su Jue, on the other hand, was not so transparent.

But any mature-minded person, barring a few with extreme ideologies, should know how terrible war is. It's like a monstrous beast from the abyss, sitting atop the clouds, looking down disdainfully at the entire human world. And it's not just about bringing death. It destroys the civilization that humans pride themselves on, tramples the emotions, dignity, and manners that make us human, and devours all the colors of the world.

The few who take war lightly only do so because they believe they stand outside its reach.

Zhou Li shook his head, putting these thoughts aside for the moment and said as gently as possible, "Take the books and head back. You should also study seriously; becoming more capable is never a bad thing. I'm also leaving."

Zhou Li went to the right, they to the left.

They quickly parted ways.

WHOOSH. A figure appeared beside him, followed by the old monster mimicking his voice, "You should also study seriously. Becoming more capable is never a bad thing... PFFT! I can't help but laugh! Some people are lazier than anything. They have to set an alarm to read a book, and even hide their phone in the kitchen cupboard after turning it off. Yet, when it comes to lecturing others, they've got quite the spiel!"

Zhou Li didn't look askance.

Huai Xu waved his hand in front of Zhou Li's eyes, who acted as if he saw nothing. Huai Xu let out an 'oh my' sound and simply stood in front of him, walking backward to block his view.

Zhou Li couldn't help but allow a hint of a smile to sneak out.

The somewhat heavy mood from before had vanished into thin air.

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