Harry Potter: Magic and Guns

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After experiencing the novelty of a cloud bath in the misty pool of Suiye Cloud Inn, the first day in the Taishi Empire came to a pleasant end. Although Harry had to sleep on the floor, the soft carpet made it surprisingly comfortable. 

The clock on the wall pointed to nine, but outside, the sky was only just beginning to lighten. Due to the vast east-west span of the empire, the time difference between its two ends exceeded three hours. Unfortunately for Harry, Suiye City was located at the far westernmost edge. 

Having the rare chance to sleep in, Harry had only just woken up, rubbing his eyes, when he noticed a heavy weight on his chest. A fluffy silver-haired creature, curled up like a tiny hamster, was nestled comfortably on him, fast asleep. 

"Are you an idiot? There's a bed right there, and you didn't use it." 

"Of course not! I just rolled off while I was sleeping." 

"Lucky for you I was on the floor, huh?" 

"Hmph~" 

"Honestly, it's a good thing I'm me. If it were someone frail, you'd have crushed their ribs." 

"I'll allow you to rephrase that," Fleur said with a gentle smile, though the twitching strand of hair on her head betrayed her true thoughts. 

"Ahaha… What a lovely day! How about checking what you'd like for breakfast? We can order delivery—new customers get a 12% discount!" 

Compared to Muggle smartphones, magical personal devices were far more advanced. With 3D holographic projections and thought-based control activated by a preset incantation, they put modern tech to shame. The standard version was a handheld terminal about the size of a tablet, but Harry had splurged on a premium model—small enough to resemble a wireless earbud that simply hooked onto the ear. 

The only downside? It only worked in areas covered by the magic network. Plus, the network registration system didn't support international use yet. Though some places abroad had started implementing magical networks, the infrastructure wasn't fully developed. Whether it was the Pureblood Party's territory or Nicolas Flamel's Paris, their magic networks were still not available for public use. 

The Pureblood Party was too financially strained from their magical reforms, while Nicolas Flamel simply couldn't be bothered. France was France, and at the end of the day, he was just a wealthy French citizen. Government-funded projects like this had nothing to do with him—being rich didn't mean he ran a charity. Besides, the French Ministry of Magic already owed him a mountain of unpaid debts and wouldn't dare knock on his door for another loan. 

Knock, knock, knock. 

A knock at the door pulled Harry from his thoughts. Already dressed and fresh from washing up, he strode to the entrance. 

"Wow, that was fast! The delivery's here already? Five-star service!" 

Opening the door, he found a hotel attendant standing outside, pushing a food cart. 

"Sir, your order just arrived at the front desk, and we've brought it up for you. There's also a letter addressed to you—please sign here to confirm receipt." 

"A letter? For me? Who's it from?" 

Harry took the envelope and saw that it was from the Foreign Affairs Office under the Taishi Empire's Ministry of Foreign Relations. 

"Oh, so it's about that!" 

When he had applied for his visa, the kind interview officer had mentioned arranging a special opportunity for him to see the panda sanctuary up close. Harry hadn't expected it to be handled through official channels, and he couldn't help but feel a little flattered. 

"Much appreciated." 

He signed the receipt and, before taking the cart, handed the attendant a gleaming gold yuan as a tip. 

"Fleur! Our next stop is the panda sanctuary! They sent me tickets—and look, two super VIP premium-class flying boat tickets! No waiting, no lines—this is what a spontaneous trip should be like!" 

The envelope contained nothing unnecessary—just the entrance tickets, transportation passes, and an exquisitely designed travel guide for Taishi's most iconic destinations. Each location listed was a must-visit gem of this ancient country. If they wanted to tour the whole recommended itinerary, even at a rushed pace, it would take at least a month or two. 

But that was just the reality of a vast and historically rich land. With so much to see, even selecting only the most significant landmark from each region still left over a hundred must-visit sites. 

Seriously exploring this vast country would take years—it's simply impossible to see everything in just a few months. 

"Gungun? You mean pandas, right?" 

Fleur trotted forward excitedly, taking the tickets from Harry's hand. The adorable black-and-white fluffball printed on them was reaching out, as if asking for a hug. 

Overcome by its cuteness, Fleur bit her lip and let out an affectionate "Mmm~~". The illustrated panda, as if responding to her adoration, seemed to roll around playfully under her gaze. 

"Can we go right now? Please?" 

She tugged at the corner of Harry's robe, pleading with him. 

"But today we were supposed to visit the Sword Immortal's academy," Harry hesitated. "The monument with 'Ode to a Swordsman' inscribed on it still holds traces of sword intent left behind by the legendary Qinglian Sword Immortal." 

His voice trailed off as he glanced at Fleur's expectant expression. 

"Ah… Women. Always slowing down my sword-drawing speed." 

"We'll go right after breakfast." 

"Yay!" 

Triumphantly grinning, Fleur stood on her tiptoes and planted a quick kiss on Harry's cheek before gleefully unpacking the food from the cart. The breakfast spread was massive—enough for at least ten people—but it was mostly meant for Harry. Fleur, who had a much smaller appetite, was content with just sampling a bit of everything. 

"But before that, there's somewhere I have to go." 

"Since I've been cosplaying as an emotionless Black-Robed Sword Immortal, it only makes sense to buy a flying sword, right?" 

Harry struck a dramatic pose, only to be met with— 

"This is so delicious! Harry, Harry, what's this called?" 

"Soup dumplings." 

"And this one?" 

"Spicy pepper soup." 

"Ooh, and this?" 

"Tofu pudding. You have to eat it spicy. That one in your hand is the heretical version—put it down immediately." 

"Oh…" 

Half an hour later, after packing up their belongings, the two of them arrived at the entrance of Suiye Cloud Inn. Zhang Shanfeng, having been notified in advance, was already waiting with the flying boat. 

"Are you two planning to cut your trip short?" he asked. 

"Fleur really wants to see the pandas, so we made a last-minute change to the itinerary," Harry explained with a nod. "Take us to check out some flying swords—I want to bring one back." 

"No problem at all. In that case, I'll refund you half of the—" 

"No need, just consider it a tip." Harry waved it off generously. "I'll leave you a five-star review later—yesterday was great fun." 

"Much appreciated!" Zhang Shanfeng grinned, pleased with such a generous guest. "If you ever visit Suiye City again, be sure to contact me. I'll take you to experience the best of our night markets. The sun sets late here, and the city truly comes alive after dark." 

They chatted casually as they traveled, eventually arriving at a quiet street far from the bustling city center. The architecture and decor bore no trace of modern influence—stepping onto this street felt like stepping back in time a thousand years. The air carried the faint scent of ink and old books, adding to the ancient ambiance. 

"This is Qinglian Ancient Street," Zhang Shanfeng explained. "At the end of the street lies Qinglian Academy. But scholars here don't just bury their heads in books—one must master all six arts to be considered a true gentleman. The sword and the scholar's robe go hand in hand across the world. That's why Suiye City's finest swordsmiths are also found here." 

After disembarking from the flying boat, they walked for about five minutes until they arrived at a solemn and imposing building. Two majestic bronze lion statues stood guard at the entrance. Looking up, they saw a deep black plaque with two bold, crimson characters exuding an undeniable sword presence: 

"Seven Feet." 

(End of Chapter)