Tan Xiao slowly finished his dance, his gaze still locked with Kong Xuan's. For a moment, he was at a loss for words, hardly believing that his deskmate had manifested himself like this.

After suddenly confirming his identity, he felt a strange sensation, his fingers going numb. His deskmate, and the Peacock God, was actually the same person, and he had personally helped him put on this thick disguise...

Kong Xuan's eyes were so bright they were almost impossible to look at directly, filled with a sense of pride and joy.

Kong Xuan couldn't be more satisfied. He lifted his chin at Tan Xiao, indicating that without him going easy on him, he had still recognized him!

Of course this was inevitable, predestined.

He was simply expressing his approval of Tan Xiao.

Seeing Kong Xuan's little gesture, Tan Xiao's complex emotions seemed to find a focal point, and his eyes filled with more laughter, even a sense of realization: how had he repeatedly convinced himself before that these two couldn't possibly be the same person?

It was because subconsciously, gods were in the heavens while people were at school, plus there was the difference in hairstyles. He had been trapped by stereotypical thinking.

In light of this, Kong Xuan's words and actions at their first meeting made sense now. It turned out they really were old acquaintances.

However, in contrast, some of Kong Xuan's other words and actions seemed even more puzzling...

At this time, the applause was still continuing, lasting for a long time without stopping. Tan Xiao even heard someone shouting his and Kong Xuan's names, causing his expression to freeze for a moment: logically speaking, ordinary people shouldn't be able to easily see Kong Xuan, just like not everyone could see ghosts.

And because of this, amidst the shocked and enraptured applause of the entire audience, only Wu Tianyu was trembling in lingering fear: they were playing for real!

But the people around him obviously didn't think so. They just felt the atmosphere just now had been too good, as if the teachers and students had also been transported into the dreamy, illusory incense smoke, returning to the mysterious deity invocation ceremonies of ancient times. The realistic sound effects were like the faint calls of gods and ghosts.

Especially in that one moment when the stage lights had cooperated by dimming, everyone seemed to be shrouded in a dream, until the deity summoned by the shaman on stage woke them up as if from a dream—

The teachers and students in the entire audience seemed to instantly gain enlightenment, unable to resist standing up to applaud. This was truly a performance with superb coordination of dance, lighting, and sound effects. At the end, there was even an extremely brilliant costume change.

Kong Xuan, who had clearly still been wearing his school uniform moments before, had completed a perfect costume change in the instant he stepped onto the stage from the side, borrowing the momentary concealment of the sound equipment and curtains to transform into magnificent robes like a deity descending to earth!

Everyone naturally thought this was the deity summoned by the shaman in the music.

This coordination was so natural and fitting, transporting people back to that ignorant and mysterious era.

"Your class put together such a great program!" the teacher from the neighboring class said to Ji Huiming in amazement. "This isn't just school anniversary level, it's good enough for TV, right? You said before that Kong Xuan was unwilling to participate in the performance?"

Everyone knew Class 3 had a big heartthrob, and many had asked if he would be part of the program. Ji Huiming had said he was unwilling.

"He really was unwilling before!" Ji Huiming was also pleasantly surprised. "He was probably persuaded by Tan Xiao at the last minute to make a guest appearance. Who would have thought he could also do magic? The effect was really too good."

Although brief, his incorporation was just right. The two of them standing on stage were like a born shaman and deity.

At this time, the staff in charge of stage art were also confused. They looked at the director Wang Xiao'an, wondering when Tan Xiao had added those faint howling sounds to the accompaniment after the performance ended? It seemed the initial version didn't have that.

They also hadn't designed the lighting this way. When it dimmed just now they thought there was a problem, especially with the thunder.

Moreover, Tan Xiao hadn't said anything about adding another performer... This part wasn't in any of the rehearsals.

But now the entire audience was extremely enthusiastic. Everyone started clapping along a beat late. As brilliant as it was, people were still dazed.

They were dazed, and the director was not much better. Wang Xiao'an said in a stupor: "I didn't arrange this... did I?" She was starting to doubt her own memory.

......

Tan Xiao bowed slightly amidst the applause. A student who had been arranged in advance brought a bouquet of flowers to present to Tan Xiao, of course with unplanned amazement in his eyes. Tan Xiao stepped forward to accept the flowers, bowed again, and then walked off the stage.

As he passed Kong Xuan, he grabbed the still eager Kong Xuan. At first he felt a bit awkward, after all Kong Xuan was now in his original form, giving him a slight sense of dissonance. He said softly: "How can they see you too?" Could it be because their essence and spirit had all been absorbed?

"Originally they couldn't see me." Kong Xuan was immensely pleased with himself. "I specially manifested."

Tan Xiao had recognized him. Wouldn't it be a pity not to let people witness such a brilliant moment?

Tan Xiao: "..."

That's so you, Peacock.

Tan Xiao instantly felt the two images actually merged quite well, without the slightest dissonance.

The event had been recorded today. The school would definitely edit a promotional video later. Tan Xiao could already imagine their segment would absolutely be included.

Tan Xiao was alright, just a bit speechless. But he could imagine when Mu Fei saw him publicly exorcising evil spirits, and with the Great Peacock God no less, she would probably be critically hit again. After all, carefully recalling, Mu Fei probably also didn't know Peacock was attending high school.

"You, you're really something, holding it in for nearly a whole semester, not saying who you are." And whenever Tan Xiao thought about how he had asked this person for help with his chemistry grades, he gradually felt the degree of absurdity double.

No wonder Kong Xuan had gone crazy trying to tutor him. This was how you were satisfying him as a shaman! What kind of high-level divine punishment was this!

Kong Xuan was elated, shedding his past uncertainty, brimming with confidence as if Tan Xiao had recognized him at first glance: "Because I knew you would recognize me sooner or later."

Although it was a few months late, in the end, Tan Xiao had recognized him!

"...Just because I couldn't recognize you, you actually held it in for so long without being willing to say it yourself." Tan Xiao felt that compared to the fact that Kong Xuan was Peacock, what was even more shocking was that he, a dignified second-generation god, had to compete over this, waiting for him to recognize him.

However, thinking back now on Kong Xuan's various reactions when he had mistaken his identity... mm, given his personality, this development seemed reasonable too.

The two had already walked off the stage. Lin Yang was staring at them, dazed with a hint of grief and indignation: "We're all deskmates, not only did you not include me, you didn't even reveal a single hint. Kong Xuan, when exactly did you put on that wig? Were you wearing the clothes underneath all along?"

This level of magic, he had only seen it on TV shows before. He was closer than the audience, but could only say it was seamless, completely unable to figure out what mechanism Kong Xuan used to do it!

TV shows might change many outfits at once, while Kong Xuan only changed one, but Lin Yang felt the effect was much better. After all, as an easter egg for Tan Xiao's show, it created a better atmosphere with the buildup. Without hearing the earlier screams, it almost reached the suburbs.

In fact, if Lin Yang just came over and touched, he would find that Kong Xuan's body was not completely solid, only condensed to be close to solid, and that head of long hair was even more genuine. But besides Tan Xiao, who dared to touch Kong Xuan.

"This is a special surprise, kept secret." Tan Xiao guiltily glanced at the director not far away. Wang Xiao'an was gesturing wildly at him, but couldn't leave his post and had to keep watching the stage.

"It's too much of a surprise, how long did you rehearse?" Lin Yang excitedly said, "You two have such amazing chemistry! Did you really only become deskmates this semester?"

Although it might not be quite right to say this, it was the first time he wanted to use the phrase "match made in heaven" to describe them. Sigh, it made him feel like a third wheel.

"..." Tan Xiao was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say.

In contrast, Kong Xuan had a belly full of harsh words he wanted to say, but Tan Xiao subconsciously elbowed him.

This little detail was caught by Lin Yang's eyes. It felt a bit subtle, how... it seemed like after their collaboration, Xiao Bro and Kong Xuan's relationship had also been elevated.

Lin Yang said sourly, "The new waves push ahead the old." He, as the old deskmate, ultimately couldn't compare to the new deskmate! But then he thought, Kong Xuan and I competed for nearly a semester, equivalent to me having wins and losses against him. Awesome, me.

At this time, Tan Xiao heard a few startled cries from the audience, and some people were looking around, saying something about a "kitty". He reacted after a moment, remembering it was probably the wildly running Big Beard Zhong. Ah, there was also this guy, who would have thought such a large figure was a mouse.

"Let's not talk anymore, let's go change clothes first. Hua, help me hold these." Tan Xiao was anxious to leave. He had Lin Yang take the flowers and walked off stage. Passing by Wang Xiao'an, he apologetically said, "Director Wang, I'm sorry, because we didn't know beforehand if it would succeed... This was a surprise we secretly designed, we didn't report it."

Just treat it all as stage effects, it seems everyone thinks that way anyway.

Wang Xiao'an was speechless. She had even chatted with Kong Xuan, but Kong Xuan ignored him. Who knew he would become Tan Xiao's arranged surprise.

"When did you start liking to play around with this, you really scared us to death... Of course, the performance was really perfect, too brilliant!" No matter from which angle, she had to admit this was even more stunning than the original choreography. There was even thunder to cooperate, simply a gift from the heavens. It made it a bit hard for her to say they lacked organization and discipline, even if she wanted to.

Tan Xiao fudged an explanation, taking the chance to escape with Kong Xuan. Anyway, Wang Xiao'an was still busy. Based on Tan Xiao's experience, as long as he gave a general outline, the surrounding onlookers would actually automatically fill in the rest for him.

Far from the crowd, Tan Xiao finally took the Rice Guardian off his shoe. It was dizzy and only knew to hold tight to Tan Xiao, its thin brows and eyes scrunched together. "There's, there's a dog..."

"Shh, it's okay, the dog has already been brushed off." Tan Xiao, having the experience from last time, knew the Rice Guardian needed the scent of food to recover, so he wasn't as nervous. Speaking of which, the dangers were quite high for this lowly civil servant under the Grand Stove God. In such a short time, it was bitten like this again.

He looked around, searching for the figure of the Big Beard Zhong.

Kong Xuan understood his meaning. "Come out yourself."

The Big Beard Zhong hadn't run far either. He came out of the grass himself, not intending to run. He had a few blades of grass in his mouth, carrying them to Tan Xiao. "These are for the Rice Guardian..."

Besides divination, rat spirits also had the ability to find treasures. Finding some medicinal herbs and such was instinctive for him. It was fortunate that Nanchu No. 1 Middle had good landscaping. There really were flowers and plants in the school that could be used as medicine.

After today's thrilling events, the Big Beard Zhong didn't want to run anymore either. He was so tired.

Tan Xiao took the flowers and herbs, looking at these two wounded soldiers. "Alright, let's go to the Bureau 404 now. That dog from earlier also needs to be handed over for registration. Who knows what it actually is."

He hesitated a bit. "Hmm... but do we have time to deal with these things today?"

Kong Xuan thought he was talking about the Bureau 404. He said with hands behind his back, "Even if they don't have time, they'll have to make time!"

"I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about you." Tan Xiao looked at him.

Kong Xuan's heart pounded. Could it be that because they had just "recognized" each other, Tan Xiao had many things he wanted to say to him...

Tan Xiao looked at him with worry. Now that the Peacock God was his deskmate Kong Xuan, more and more real-life problems surged in his mind.

"You haven't finished your homework yet. It's already hard enough. Learning is like rowing upstream, if you don't advance you fall behind. You'll fail the final exam again."

Kong Xuan: "..."

The Rice Guardian and Big Beard Zhong couldn't help but raise their eyes to secretly look at Kong Xuan...

"What are you looking at." Kong Xuan said, ashamed and angry, "Don't mention such disheartening things anymore!"

"I don't understand either. If you don't want to study physics, then why not be a full-time immortal instead of attending high school. An education degree is useless for you, right?" This was also one of the reasons Tan Xiao always thought they couldn't be the same person.

Even immortals have to experience the hardships of high school? Is the college entrance exam that cruel?

"..." Kong Xuan said, "You're being presumptuous."

Why was it completely different from what he imagined? After recognizing him, Tan Xiao didn't respect him more, and was even becoming more outrageous!

Not only disrespectful, Tan Xiao completely lost the little reverence he had for the Peacock God and the last bit of unfamiliarity with his deskmate Kong Xuan. He said faintly, "Or are you simply trying to lower our class's average score?"

"... To write a sequel to the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas', how can one not enter the world to understand it." This was the rule Primordial Phoenix set for him. And after coming to school, he had to abide by school rules and not cheat.

Kong Xuan said angrily, "So you must also ensure I can get into university." This is what an acting shaman should do.

Tan Xiao said in disbelief, "You should have mentioned this kind of task before having to write the sequel to the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas'!"

It was too terrifying. Why would this kind of task fall on the shaman?!

Even when Tan Xiao saw a ghost for the first time, it wasn't this terrifying. Especially when he thought that Kong Xuan insisted on choosing science. With Kong Xuan's classical Chinese level, wouldn't doing some liberal arts be much easier.

But Kong Xuan didn't feel he was wrong at all. If he didn't choose science, how could he be in the same class as Tan Xiao? How could a shaman and their patron god be separated.

"I don't even want to go to the Bureau 404, I want to force you to practice questions." Tan Xiao grumbled and complained, but despite his words, he still had to hand over a few things today.

He sent a text message to the teacher saying he was tired and would go home first after the performance. Then he found a classroom, took off his performance clothes and mask, changed back into his school uniform, and continued to ask Kong Xuan questions through the door while changing.

Tan Xiao kept searching through his memories for old events. Indeed, there were many things he wanted to say to Kong Xuan.

After merging identities, looking at things from a new perspective raised quite a lot of questions. Moreover, because he had difficulty recognizing people, it was hard for him to quickly establish close and intimate relationships.

But Kong Xuan was different. Tan Xiao suddenly felt that he could speak his mind without restraint. He was a deity, a deskmate, and someone Tan Xiao recognized by his own efforts.

"So are you really carsick or not?"

"Xiong Hui and the Rice Guardian both ran away when they saw you were afraid, right? And the attitudes of Pusanu and the others..."

"Hey, why were you a bit unhappy when I praised your other identity in front of you?"

"..."

Kong Xuan's angry voice rang out from outside: "I have my own reasons for being displeased!" As he spoke, he started to shout and bring up old grievances.

"I descended with a divine response, yet you were extremely disrespectful and repeatedly offended me. If I weren't so magnanimous..."

At this time, Tan Xiao, who had finished changing into his school uniform, opened the door and poked his head out, staring at him with wide eyes: "Also, so you've been living on the wall of my room? Did you..."

Kong Xuan: "!"

Kong Xuan suddenly got stuck.

Tan Xiao: "...Did you secretly copy my homework?"

Kong Xuan shouted: "If I copied, would I have this grade? I told you I can't cheat!"

"Oh." Seeing that Kong Xuan had also changed his outfit with one click, Tan Xiao slipped out, put the Rice Guardian in his own pocket, and as usual, found a garbage bag to pack up Big Beard Zhong.

Tan Xiao called Mu Fei first, but Mu Fei didn't answer, probably busy. Since he had been to the Bureau 404 before, Tan Xiao decided to go there himself.

But the way to get there was worth discussing.

"Fly there." Kong Xuan was eager to take the opportunity to cut ties with his carsickness.

"No, I've read the regulations of the Bureau 404. They don't allow flying around in the city, especially carrying people." Besides, Tan Xiao felt he wasn't mentally prepared to take to the sky. "I think it's better to play it safe..."

A minute later, two high school students wobbled on their bicycles and set off.

......

Tan Xiao rode a shared bicycle steadily. After all, they were in the old town, so it didn't take long to reach the Bureau 404's branch in Nanchu, saving them from taking a taxi and Kong Xuan getting carsick.

Kong Xuan followed closely behind. Although the great deity's science grades weren't that good, he learned to ride a bike quite quickly.

The office was still brightly lit, and the staff of the Bureau 404 were basically working overtime, including Liu Qingquan. Being a ghost had this advantage - it was convenient to work night shifts.

Not only him but also some other colleagues who didn't need sleep had some objects to receive even at night.

It was also him who first saw Tan Xiao outside and woke up Mu Fei, who was napping in the office.

Mu Fei woke up with a start and looked out the window. "Tan Xiao? Why did you come by bike, and also..." Peacock God?

It's just that the Peacock God seemed to have dressed up as a student to follow along today, probably wearing Tan Xiao's younger brother's school uniform. It must have taken a lot of effort.

The next second, Mu Fei noticed that Tan Xiao was also holding a garbage bag, which clearly contained the missing escaped criminal Big Beard Zhong, his buttocks covered in blood, looking miserable.

She said in shock, "Did Big Beard Zhong really poop in your pot?!" And then Tan Xiao beat him up like this? No wonder the Peacock God came too. He must be very angry that his rice bowl was touched.

"No, no!" Tan Xiao quickly clarified, fearing that some unsavory rumors might appear in the future. "He was chased by a spirit and ran to our school for help. He was bitten by that spirit. The Peacock God has already dealt with it. After you receive Big Beard Zhong, he'll let it out for you to see."

"...Oh, sorry, I didn't sleep well, so my thinking is a bit wild." Mu Fei quickly invited them to come into the office to talk, and because of this, she didn't immediately notice that Tan Xiao's tone when mentioning the Peacock God was more casual, or in Kong Xuan's words, more disrespectful.

Under the indoor lights, Mu Fei finally saw the snake patterns drawn on Tan Xiao's face. He had come in a hurry and only changed his clothes without removing his makeup. "Hey, you were performing...? Didn't you say you were at school?"

"I was performing at the school, for the school anniversary." Tan Xiao explained.

"Oh." It took Mu Fei several seconds to react slowly, "Wait, you were performing, and Big Beard Zhong came to find you... You... didn't exorcise in public again, did you?"

Tan Xiao stammered even more than her: "Al-almost." It was an even bigger scene, with a deity descending and a semi-transparent veil being lifted. "But don't worry, no one noticed I was exorcising."

Mu Fei: "..." This reassurance is better than nothing, right?

Mu Fei commented: "If they saw it, it's not called not noticing, it's called not expecting. I can't even imagine a more shocking 'performance' in the world than this."

Tan Xiao wanted to say something but stopped, thinking it might be better to wait for Sister Mu to discover it herself online...

He asked for some good tea leaves at the Bureau 404, brewed a cup of hot tea, then took out the Rice Guardian and held it with both hands, suspending it over the teacup to fumigate it. The aroma of the tea was also the aroma of food, which could help the Rice Guardian recover.

Tan Xiao didn't understand tea, but the tea used by the Bureau 404 was probably really good. The tea fragrance was ethereal, and the Rice Guardian's form gradually solidified, his legs also regaining strength. He stood steadily on the edge of the teacup by himself. However, after recovering this time, the Rice Guardian was not as lively and looked dejected, standing on the teacup.

Tan Xiao carefully observed...

Suddenly, the Rice Guardian said woodenly, "My weapon was broken!"

Weapon? Tan Xiao reacted for a second. Oh, the spoon. He remembered that he seemed to have not seen the Rice Guardian's spoon. Tan Xiao didn't know what to do either. He stretched out a finger and stroked the Rice Guardian's back: "My condolences. Otherwise, I'll give you a stainless steel one?"

The Rice Guardian remained silent.

Big Beard Zhong's voice came muffled from the garbage bag: "What the boy laments is not his own weapon, but that his skills are insufficient to protect the people of the world! Exorcist, just let him calm down on his own!"

Tan Xiao: "..."

"You understand huh." Mu Fei grumbled, carefully taking Big Beard Zhong out of the garbage bag, his buttocks hair all stuck together with blood.

She wrinkled her nose and said, "See if you dare to run away again!" She opened her computer, wanting to quickly update the case information to avoid other colleagues still pursuing it. However, the equipment in the Bureau 404 was too old, and the computer froze not long after starting up.

"We should get some more advanced servers for our use," Mu Fei grumbled. Ah Jin alone was clearly not enough.

Kong Xuan walked to the computer, raised his hand, and Mu Fei hoped in her heart that the god-like figure had some tricks up his sleeve. But she only saw Kong Xuan extend his hand and pat the computer case with a few loud thumps.

Mu Fei: "..."

At this time, Liu Qingquan poked his head from the window in the corridor, glanced at Kong Xuan, and said cautiously, "Xiong Hui is also here. He said he came to report a case, but when I asked, it turned out he just saw Big Beard Zhong. However, now that he heard Classmate Tan Xiao is also here, he expressed wanting to come over and say hello."

Xiong Hui worked part-time in the archaeology team, but due to the high danger level, he needed to regularly report to the Bureau 404 for inspections of the seal. Even on vacation, he required confirmation from the Bureau 404, so he was quite familiar with coming here.

"Uh, okay." Tan Xiao glanced at Kong Xuan, who was still studying the computer. Recently, Kong Xuan seemed quite interested in electronics.

In fact, when Tan Xiao got out of the car, Xiong Hui had already spotted his figure from afar through the window. He also saw a figure in school uniform beside Tan Xiao, but didn't think much of it - that was Kong Xuan's thorn substitute, completely ordinary.

They figured that since the powerful being sustaining Tan Xiao wasn't present, they might as well come over and get closer to Tan Xiao. In the future, when that powerful being dies... oh, retires, he could take over.

So he climbed up happily and very politely waited outside the door, saying, "Spirit master, Xiong Hui requests an audience."

Hearing this, Tan Xiao almost laughed out loud. Every time Xiong Hui spoke, it sounded so serious that it was like a joke. He also felt like imitating the tone of an emperor: "Ahem, Xuan*."

*T/N: Also means 'enter'.