Master of Nine Stars

On this trip to Fengtian, Xia Fangran would at least get to see green trees and grass, and feel the scorching summer heat.

The sun there would be scorching and dazzling, no longer shrouded in a hazy, cold mist...

”All packed?” Yang Chunxi asked softly, a gentle smile on her face as she looked at the two of them. ”Let’s go. The other students are already gathered at the gate.”

With four teams for each category—solo, duo, and trio—the total number of people was quite large.

Rong Taotao didn’t know the head team leader, who seemed to be a teacher from the administrative department.

Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei’s situation was rather unique. They had a Lotus and a Snowball Cat, so they had a few more ”Personal Bodyguards.”

”A pleasure to meet you, Rong, Gao.” Just as Rong Taotao and the others joined the line, a friendly voice came from their side.

Rong Taotao turned to see a pair of twins wearing black cotton hats.

Their faces were familiar to Rong Taotao. He knew that hidden beneath those black cotton hats were two perfectly round, bald heads. The two of them were regulars at the Martial Arts Hall.

The brothers, Yuan Tianri and Yuan Tiancheng.

This pair of brothers was no joke. They were the seeded team that qualified during the very first month, in the very first batch of the Songjiang Soul Martial University qualifiers!

What did that say about their caliber?

What level of opponents did the first group to qualify have to face?

At least as the last ones to qualify, Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei didn’t have to face the top teams from the first three batches.

Rong Taotao extended a hand and shook theirs. ”Hello, seniors.”

”Haha, don’t say that, don’t say that! You’re a scholar who researches and creates Soul Skills. Just call me Yuan Tianri,” the older brother, Yuan Tianri, said with a hearty and cheerful laugh.

Rong Taotao chuckled. ”How about we stick to our own titles? I’ll call you senior, and you can call me Coach Rong.”

Yuan Tianri: ”Uh...”

Rong Taotao smiled, giving him an out. ”I hope we don’t run into you seniors and senior sisters too early in the competition.”

”Right, exactly,” the younger brother, Yuan Tiancheng, chimed in. ”It’d be best if our school’s four teams don’t face each other at all. We’ll just dominate the top four!”

”Spoken like a true boss, Brother Tiancheng!” A burly man standing nearby leaned his elbow on a girl’s shoulder. ”We definitely have the strength to take the top four. It all depends on the draw. These two from the Junior Class are seriously powerful.

Watching the final round of qualifiers gave me quite a shock. I had no idea where these two Great Gods popped out from. If they had participated in the first three rounds, who knows what the results would have been.”

Rong Taotao looked at the tall, brawny man who looked much older than his age. He recognized this senior, Wu Yan, who had qualified in the third batch. He was also one of the rare pairs competing as a couple, just like Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei.

To be able to qualify without the inherent advantage of being twins was a testament to their raw strength.

The girl Wu Yan was leaning on, Cheng Mo, tilted her head up. Her pretty face was filled with mock resentment as she looked at him dolefully. ”I’m your girlfriend, not one of your bros.”

”Er.” Wu Yan gave an awkward laugh, quickly removing his elbow from her shoulder and changing his posture to wrap his arm around her instead.

”Mm, that’s better,” Cheng Mo nodded in satisfaction, seemingly very particular about such small details. Her mood instantly brightened.

”All students are present! Now listen up!” A middle-aged male teacher raised his right hand high. ”It will be an eight-hour ride. We will stop at the Pine Soul Relay Station for lunch and a one-hour break. We will arrive in Aihui City by dinnertime.

”We’ll rest in Aihui City for the night. The next morning, we fly directly to Fengtian. Is that clear?”

Everyone voiced their understanding and mounted their horses. Rong Taotao sat behind Gao Lingwei, resting his forehead against the backpack on her back as the large group set off.

The journey was silent, save for the CLIP-CLOP of hooves on snow.

As they traveled through the wilderness, Gao Lingwei turned her head and said softly, ”Don’t fall asleep. The wind is strong.”

”Ah.” Rong Taotao snapped out of his daze. ”I’m not asleep.”

Gao Lingwei smiled. ”Then why were you so still? What were you thinking about?”

”Thinking about the Evil Boss...” Rong Taotao pouted, recalling his farewell with Si Huan Nian back in the dorm room:

At that time, Rong Taotao had been in the dorm, packing his bag and glancing at Si Huan Nian from time to time.

However, Evil Boss Si just kept meditating with her legs crossed and eyes closed, giving off a clear ”Do not disturb” vibe.

Finally, when Rong Taotao finished packing and reached the door, he turned his head again and said quietly, ”I’m leaving, Coach Si. Goodbye.”

’It would have been too rude to leave without saying anything,’ he thought.

Only then did Si Huan Nian open her eyes, look at Rong Taotao by the door, and say, ”Make it to the top eight, and I’ll let you back through this door. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

Rong Taotao: ”Just the top eight? What about the top four or top two? Will there be a reward for that?”

A slight smile tugged at the corner of Si Huan Nian’s mouth. ”I’ll reward you with a side whip kick!”

Rong Taotao pouted. ”Hmph. Bye.”

Si Huan Nian suddenly spoke again. ”Be careful out there. Protect yourself. Don’t trust anyone but your teachers. A lot of people have their eyes on you.”

Rong Taotao turned back around and saw Si Huan Nian’s serious expression. He couldn’t help but feel a little touched and nodded lightly. ”Okay.”

”Alright, stop dawdling and get going.”

Rong Taotao looked exasperated. ’My feeling of being touched never lasts more than three seconds with her.’ He said, ”Since Coach Si is giving me parting advice, how about I give you some too?”

Si Huan Nian: ”Hm?”

Rong Taotao: ”Go get your own meals from now on. Don’t be so lazy. Stop making people bring you takeout all the time. You should at least stretch your legs a bit.

”Also, hurry up and go to the tuck shop to pay off your tab for the Sugar. Don’t keep making Little Li Hua and Xingyu put it on your account. We’re 16 or 17 now, we have our reputations to think about...”

Rong Taotao was still rambling when his expression suddenly changed. He yanked the door open and dodged outside.

Si Huan Nian, half-angry and half-amused, had bent down, grabbed a slipper off the floor, and flung it viciously at him.

”SLAM!” That was the sound of the door shutting.

”SMACK~” That was the sound of the slipper’s sole hitting the door...

...

A long Chapter for a new journey!

Let’s roll, everyone~