Master of Nine Stars

”Get up. Are you trying to fake an injury?” Yang Chunxi walked over to Rong Taotao, smiling as she bent down and offered him her hand.

”It’s so late. Where are you heading?” Rong Taotao asked curiously as he got to his feet.

”Nowhere. I just came down to check on you two. Come to my office,” Yang Chunxi said, then turned to glance at Gao Lingwei. ”You too.”

”Yes, ma’am.” Gao Lingwei nodded and followed Yang Chunxi up to the third floor of the Martial Arts Hall.

Inside the office, Yang Chunxi gestured for them to sit on the sofa. She walked over to her desk and began pouring hot water as she asked, ”It looks like you two are getting along well as a team. Are you confident you can achieve some results in the second half of next year?”

Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao exchanged a look and both nodded.

Gao Lingwei had her reservations before, but now, enjoying the accelerated cultivation from the Lotus Petal, she was brimming with confidence.

Inside this Martial Arts Hall, one year of training was equivalent to three. With such a terrifying growth rate, how could she, Gao Lingwei, possibly fail to achieve results?

”Confidence is a good thing.” Yang Chunxi brought two cups of hot water over to them.

Gao Lingwei quickly stood up and accepted the cup with both hands.

Seeing the girl’s respectful and polite demeanor, Yang Chunxi said with a smile, ”No need to be so formal. You know I’m Taotao’s sister-in-law. In private, you don’t have to treat me like a Pine Soul instructor.”

”Okay.” Gao Lingwei lowered her head slightly and sat back down.

”It seems you two are getting along well.” Yang Chunxi sighed softly. ”We’re different from ordinary people. For a Soul Martial Artist, life is a life of companionship. Having you by his side is a stroke of luck for Taotao.”

This was the Soul Martial World, not the ordinary world.

In the normal world, schools didn’t force students to form teams.

They didn’t have students carrying cold weapons every day, encouraging them to fight and spar. Students’ hands wouldn’t be stained with blood from slaughtering beasts.

Choosing the right partner was a way to increase a Soul Martial Artist’s chances of survival. The path they walked was one of victory and defeat—or even life and death.

Ultimately, this was the Soul Martial World, not the normal world!

That was why Yang Chunxi was genuinely happy to see Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei getting along so well.

”No, I’m the lucky one,” Gao Lingwei replied, her gaze sincere.

”Mm...” Yang Chunxi smiled and nodded. She then turned to Rong Taotao and pointed at a piece of calligraphy on her desk. ”Principal Mei instructed you to go see him after you recovered and were discharged from the hospital.

He had to leave the school on business today and doesn’t know when he’ll be back, so he entrusted me with giving this to you.”

”Huh?” Rong Taotao was taken aback. ’Thank goodness Principal Mei is gone.’ He really hadn’t wanted to face that somber, lifeless old man.

Rong Taotao got up and walked to the desk, only to see a framed piece of calligraphy. Instantly, an immense pressure washed over him, making it hard to breathe.

”May I take a look?” Gao Lingwei asked.

”Go on.” Yang Chunxi gave Gao Lingwei a look of mock disapproval. ”Don’t be so polite in the future.”

Gao Lingwei stepped forward curiously, but her eyes narrowed as she murmured softly, ”’Rong’... as in ’glory.’”

’This ”Rong”... is it for Rong Taotao’s family name?’

Principal Mei Hongyu had written one large character and four small ones.

In the center was a large character for ”Rong,” and underneath it, a line of smaller characters read, ”The ’Rong’ of ’Glory’.”

It was written in the unique Slender Gold style, the epitome of the form—lean and sharp, yet full of spirit; the strokes fine and forceful, yet elegantly spaced. Gao Lingwei couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

She looked at Rong Taotao. ”It seems you left out a lot of details about that night on the Snowfield.”

”Hm?” Rong Taotao snapped back to his senses, immediately averting his eyes from the calligraphy.

It was masterfully written, but he had no desire to look at it a second time.

It was simply too oppressive.

Yang Chunxi suddenly spoke up. ”Principal Mei infuses his soul and his martial prowess into his calligraphy. I know your handwriting is also quite good, Ling Wei. You’ve been practicing since you were a child.

In the future, you could seek his guidance and perhaps try to follow his Soul Martial path.”

Gao Lingwei: ”Oh? I will.”

Yang Chunxi continued, ”Since enrolling, Taotao has delivered one impressive performance after another.

That night in the Snowfield was a life-and-death struggle. Despite being just a little Soul Soldier, you didn’t hold anyone back. Instead, you and Coach Xia supported each other and managed to escape.

And not only did you escape with your life, you also obtained a Lotus Petal.

Taotao, right now you only know the benefits the Lotus Petal has for you, but you don’t yet understand what it means to the Soul Martial Artists of the Snow Realm, or even to humanity as a whole.

Not just anyone is qualified to receive Principal Mei’s calligraphy, but you shouldn’t feel unworthy of it.

Beyond the outcome, Principal Mei valued your performance that night even more. He specifically praised some of your mental qualities, saying that those are the true marks of an outstanding Soul Martial Artist. Take it.”

’He had to take it. How could Rong Taotao dare to refuse?’

Compared to the Frost Beauty, Mei Hongyu was someone he couldn’t avoid seeing. If Rong Taotao dared to refuse, wouldn’t Yang Chunxi break his legs?

”Alright!” Rong Taotao nodded. ”It would be disrespectful to refuse. I’ll go hang it in my dorm room—right on the ceiling above Si Huan Nian’s bed.”

Yang Chunxi: ”...”

’Is he actually trying to get himself killed?’

”By the way, Sis, you know of Songbai Town, right?” Rong Taotao deliberately changed the subject. He picked up the framed calligraphy, purposefully turned it over, and placed it face down on the desk.

A smile touched Yang Chunxi’s eyes. She noticed Rong Taotao’s small action but didn’t stop him. Instead, she said, ”Of course. It’s a major town in the north, built around a key Soul Martial High School—the number one Soul Martial High School in the Snow Realm.

Songbai Town is also the largest town in the Snow Realm, bar none.”

Gao Lingwei asked curiously, ”I went to school there for three years. Why? Is there something you want to know?”

Rong Taotao nodded. ”Nothing really, I was just asking. I heard Lu Mang went to Songbai Town for the New Year.”

”Mhm,” Yang Chunxi nodded. ”Every New Year, most people from all over the northern Snow Realm, including us from Songjiang Soul City, head to Songbai Town.

Its location is uniquely advantageous. It’s built as far north as possible to provide a good training environment for Snow Realm Soul Martial Students, but it’s not as far north as our Pine Soul Soul Martial, which is too close to the First Wall.

Many of the common folk who work or run shops in Songjiang Soul City actually have their real homes in Songbai Town.

You could say that Songbai Town is the heart of Huaxia’s Snow Realm. In every respect, it’s much more prosperous than you can imagine.”

Rong Taotao’s interest was piqued. ”So can we go there for the New Year?”

”Of course. In fact, every year the school organizes a trip for students who want to spend the New Year there, with instructors as escorts.” As Yang Chunxi spoke, a hint of reminiscence appeared in her eyes.

”Watching fireworks, strolling through night markets, admiring lanterns, visiting temple fairs, and seeing dragon and lion dances.

The rule that certain Soul Techniques can only be practiced in specific locations brings people from all over the country to Songbai Town, and they bring a vast array of holiday customs with them. You’ll definitely love it.”

Rong Taotao: ”Who admires lanterns during the New Year? Isn’t that for the Lantern Festival?”

But Gao Lingwei spoke up, ”You don’t understand what holidays mean to Songbai Town. In a place that’s so cold and harsh, every festival is a time for people to heal their spirits.

You can see the lanterns from New Year’s Eve all the way to the fifteenth day of the month. The entire New Year period is one massive celebration. People from all the surrounding towns will be there, and even people from outside the Snow Realm will come, drawn by its reputation.”

”Mhm,” Yang Chunxi confirmed with a nod. ”You’ve also been risking your life and training hard in the Snow Realm for over half a year. It would be good to take you somewhere to relax your mind. You’ll get to see what a true ’Nightless Heaven of fire trees and silver flowers’ looks like.”

Listening to his sister-in-law’s description, Rong Taotao’s heart filled with longing.

Gao Lingwei said, ”I have a place there. My family got it when they stayed with me during high school. We could stay there.”

”Alright, I’ll ask Si Huan Nian first. If she’s going to Songbai Town for the New Year, the students from the Soul Class will probably all go too.” Yang Chunxi’s expression turned regretful. ”But every year, a group of students stays behind to train, so it’s difficult for Si Huan Nian to leave the Martial Arts Arena’s vicinity.

Ling Wei, you know the specific effects of the Petal, right?”

Gao Lingwei nodded. ”I do.”

Yang Chunxi: ”The other students don’t know yet; they think it’s an effect of the Martial Arts Arena. Don’t say anything for now. When to reveal it, or whether to keep it a secret indefinitely, will be up to the school’s arrangements.”

In truth, at least within the circle of Pine Soul Soul Martial’s top instructors, the effects of Si Huan Nian’s Petal were no secret.

It was like a threshold: once you crossed it, you knew everything. If you couldn’t cross it, all you could see was a veil of mist.

Gao Lingwei said quickly, ”Don’t worry, Coach Yang. Rong Taotao trusts me so much, I won’t say a word.”

”Good. For this week, just focus on your training. Next week, I’ll take you to celebrate the New Year.” Yang Chunxi looked at Rong Taotao with a broad smile. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned to Gao Lingwei and asked, ”Do you know how to make dumplings?”

Gao Lingwei: ???

’I’m an expert with sword, halberd, bow, and arrow. I’m even somewhat proficient with a brush. But making dumplings...’

’Can’t we just eat at a stall in the night market?’

’Maybe I could even find the old man who always sold me candied hawthorns.’

During her three years of high school, her parents would take her to the night market every New Year. And every time, she would have two sticks of candied hawthorns with a plate of dumplings.

’Those were the good old days...’

At that thought, Gao Lingwei pressed her lips together.

After she got into university, her parents’ time of accompanying her studies ended, and they moved from Songjiang’s Songbai Town back to Fengtian’s Liaolian City.

Although the winters back home were still cold, at least the couple no longer had to brave wind and snow all year round.

She suddenly remembered that she hadn’t yet told her parents she wouldn’t be coming home for the New Year.

”What’s wrong?” Rong Taotao asked with concern.

Gao Lingwei shook her head with a smile. ”It’s... it’s nothing.”

It was clear her smile was a little forced.

In fact, right after coming out of the Third Wall and returning to Hundred Corps Pass, Gao Lingwei had called her parents.

She didn’t tell them she was safe, because she had never let them know she had gone to such a dangerous place beyond the Third Wall in the first place.

She just listened to their voices and told them that she was doing well at school, that she was training on campus, and that she wouldn’t be coming home for the New Year...

Her father’s supportive voice and her mother’s fussing words of care now echoed in her ears.

”If you’re tired, you two should head back,” Yang Chunxi said, seeming to sense something.

Rong Taotao picked up the calligraphy from the desk, and together with Gao Lingwei, he said goodbye to Yang Chunxi and went downstairs.

It wasn’t until they reached the entrance of the girls’ dormitory that Rong Taotao asked cautiously, ”Are you... really okay?”

”I’m fine.” Gao Lingwei smiled, and this time, her smile was much more natural. ”During the New Year, I’ll treat you to some candied hawthorns. I eat them every New Year’s Eve.”

Rong Taotao nodded, then suddenly blurted out, ”If you’re treating me, you’ll probably have to buy out the entire candied hawthorn stall...”

”Hah.” Gao Lingwei scoffed, walked into her dorm, and shut the door behind her.

...