Master of Nine Stars

Si Huan Nian was right. Rong Taotao truly had the makings of a general.

Arduous training was something any ordinary student could endure. At a top-tier institution like Songjiang Soul Martial University, there was no shortage of hardworking geniuses.

But the trials and tribulations faced every minute of every second on the brink of life and death were not something everyone could withstand.

Although Xia Fangran was conscious of his status and quite stubborn, one could clearly read between the lines of his report...

...that it was this young Soul Soldier who had made the right decision at the opportune moment. His strength, resolve, fierceness, and confidence were what allowed the master and disciple to escape from that Lotus Bud with their lives.

With a track record like that, even when compared to the most elite juniors and seniors, Rong Taotao was in no way inferior.

And that was just in terms of his performance in a life-or-death trial. If one were to speak of his contributions to humanity...

...only the instructors of Songjiang Soul Martial University would be qualified for a comparison with Rong Taotao.

In the short span of half a year, Rong Taotao’s performance had grown more astonishing and stunning each time.

”Don’t look at me like that.” Rong Taotao turned his head away, a little embarrassed, and tried to nudge the tail-wagging Cloud Dog beside him with his forehead.

The little one, though it had been ignored, wasn’t crying or fussing. Instead, it just kept wagging its tail, waiting for Rong Taotao to play with it.

”WOOF WOOF!” Noticing Rong Taotao’s head leaning in, the Cloud Dog’s tail started wagging like a propeller, nearly sending the little creature flying...

”Heh...” Yang Chunxi reined in her emotions and reached out to pick up the Cloud Dog. Soothing the overly excited little creature, she spoke softly, worried about disturbing Rong Taotao, ”Principal Mei specifically told me that once you woke up and recovered, you should go to his office. He wants to see you.”

Upon hearing this, Rong Taotao couldn’t help but shiver. An image of a face as lifeless and wrinkled as old tree bark, suffused with Death Qi, appeared in his mind.

Seemingly sensing Rong Taotao’s inner reluctance, Yang Chunxi chuckled and changed the subject. ”The New Year is in less than half a month. Where are you planning to spend it?”

Rong Taotao: ”Uh...”

’Where will I spend it? If I go home, I’ll just be by myself anyway. What’s the difference?’

Yang Chunxi said softly, ”Why don’t you spend it with me and your brother? That is, if your brother has time off. If he doesn’t, then the two of us can celebrate together.”

”Okay!” Rong Taotao’s eyes lit up. ”Can you make dumplings? For the past few years, I’ve just been buying frozen ones.”

Yang Chunxi reached out and ruffled Rong Taotao’s head of naturally curly hair, her voice gentle. ”No, but I can learn.”

”Oh, you don’t have to do that, haha,” Rong Taotao laughed.

”Are you hungry?” Yang Chunxi rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a chocolate bar.

Rong Taotao nodded repeatedly. To him, the sound of Yang Chunxi’s fingers tearing open the wrapper was the most beautiful sound in the world.

Yang Chunxi held the chocolate bar to Rong Taotao’s lips. ”You’re not like other patients. Maybe I should order a nutritious meal for you right now.”

”CRUNCH.” Rong Taotao took a bite. ’Ahh~’

’Chocolate, milk, nuts... After a bite like this, what more could a man ask for? I could even forget what my own girlfriend looks like.’

”Huh? Oh, right...” Rong Taotao said, chewing the chocolate as he looked up at Yang Chunxi. ”Has Da Wei returned yet?”

Yang Chunxi extended a finger, flicked a peanut fragment from the corner of Rong Taotao’s mouth into it, and said, ”Da Wei, as in Gao Lingwei?”

Rong Taotao: ”Mmph...”

”Not yet, but Professor Zheng Qianqiu sent word back. Her condition is excellent, and she’s performing very well, so don’t worry,” Yang Chunxi said with a smile. ”What, missing your little girlfriend?”

Rong Taotao shook his head. ”To be honest, it’s a good thing she went to the Third Wall with the Snow Burning Army. If she had been in the cave too, Coach Xia might not have been able to protect us both. That... that Xiao Ziru is just too brutal...”

”Shhh...” Yang Chunxi used the chocolate bar like a finger, pressing it against Rong Taotao’s lips in a hushing gesture.

Rong Taotao raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling very puzzled.

’What? Am I not allowed to mention Xiao Ziru’s name? Who does he think he is?’

As Rong Taotao grumbled inwardly, within his Dantian, of the two V-shaped lotus petals connected together, the Sinful Lotus suddenly tried to shoot out!

But the Sinful Lotus was stuck fast to the Prison Lotus, which stubbornly refused to let it emerge from Rong Taotao’s body, yanking it back to its place in the Dantian...

Rong Taotao jumped in fright!

’What the hell was that? Is this Prison Lotus kind-hearted and willing to help me? Or does it just have a natural fetish for imprisoning things? It’s got quite the addiction, huh? Since it can’t imprison anyone else, it’s started on its own kind?’

’No! This is bad! If the Prison Lotus keeps imprisoning the Sinful Lotus so tightly, will the Sinful Lotus ever come out to play with me and help me fight my enemies again?’

Yang Chunxi’s voice was very low. ”It’s not that you can’t mention him, it’s just better not to say his name here. Coach Dong could come in at any time to check on you.

Back then, they were both instructors dispatched by the school to be stationed at the Third Wall. An accident happened over there. In the end, Coach Dong returned with the school’s team, but Coach Xiao did not.

I don’t know the specific details. The people on that mission remained tight-lipped about it. After Coach Dong returned, he was depressed for a long time and has only started to recover in the last couple of years.”

Hearing this, Rong Taotao nodded silently.

This was the Snow Realm. Perhaps... everyone who survived carried their own story.

Yang Chunxi continued, ”Dong Dongdong doesn’t know that you and Coach Xia encountered Xiao Ziru yet. Don’t let it slip.”

”Okay,” Rong Taotao nodded obediently.

But Yang Chunxi wore a guilty expression. ”I’m sorry. He hurt you.”

Rong Taotao grinned. ”Why are you apologizing? This has nothing to do with you. Besides, Coach Xia saved me. By that logic, should I be thanking you? I... mmph...”

Yang Chunxi once again stuffed the chocolate bar in her hand into Rong Taotao’s mouth.

Rong Taotao looked at Yang Chunxi with dissatisfaction. ’You’re just feeding me. Do you have to be so rough?’

’Er... this is delicious! Get me another one~’

Rong Taotao lay on the bed like a king, enjoying being fed by Yang Chunxi. She, in turn, spread the favor evenly, feeding all the crumbs that Rong Taotao accidentally dropped from the corners of his mouth to the Cloud Dog.

The Cloud Dog was a Soul Beast, not a real pet dog, so there was no issue with it eating chocolate.

After three chocolate bars, Rong Taotao licked his lips in satisfaction and said, ”Chunxi, you don’t have to stay with me like this. You haven’t had a proper rest in a long time, have you? Why don’t you go back and rest?”

”It’s fine. I’ll sleep there.” Yang Chunxi gestured to the sofa on the side.

This was a premium hospital room. If he wasn’t mistaken, it was probably on the fourth floor of the school hospital. The room itself was very nice, with a bed, a sofa, and a private bathroom.

Rong Taotao’s expression was strange as he glanced at the nearby sofa. ’It must have been really hard on Yang Chunxi.’

He couldn’t help but ask, ”Don’t you have any classes these days? Have you just been watching over me this whole time?”

Yang Chunxi smiled and replied, ”The New Year is in half a month, so these two weeks are exam weeks. The class rankings are being reshuffled. You know how the school promised that if students from the Martial Arts Class perform exceptionally well in the final exams, they can be transferred to the Soul Class.”

Hearing this, Rong Taotao immediately deflated. He chuckled sheepishly, ”Oh, exams. Exams are good. Hehe, exams are good.”

Yang Chunxi looked at Rong Taotao teasingly. ”The written exam phase ended last week. Everyone in the Soul Class did well; no one’s grades dropped. If there are no problems with the written exams, then the combat exams will be even less of an issue.”

”Combat exams? Are they competing right now?” Rong Taotao asked, stunned for a moment.

Yang Chunxi: ”Yes. Right now, it’s the group stage sparring matches.”

Rong Taotao immediately perked up and tried to prop himself up. ”Help me up! I love exams! I love studying...”

Yang Chunxi shot Rong Taotao an exasperated glare. ’Love what? You deflated the moment you heard about written exams, but you get all excited when you hear about fighting?’

’Fight in your condition? To put it bluntly, you just want to go watch the show, don’t you?’

Yang Chunxi placed a hand on Rong Taotao’s chest and pushed him right back onto the bed. ”Principal Mei said that you and Gao Lingwei are exempt from the exams this year. You won’t be demoted to the Martial Arts Class.”

Rong Taotao said feebly, ”But I want to go see my classmates...”

’It’s been a while. I wonder what level our Fruit Salad Squad has reached.’

Yang Chunxi chuckled. ”It’s just the group stage right now, so there’s not much to see. Besides, you just woke up and your body is still very weak. You should rest quietly for a couple of days.

The finals are in three days. I’ll let you go watch then. Don’t worry, your classmates should be fine...”

...

Recommending two books by my friends: Big Watermelon’s *Canyon’s Peak* and Fengyi Tianya’s *Chief Detective*. Feel free to check them out if you’re interested.

Double Chapter release. More to come.