Master of Nine Stars

But it wasn’t for me, or for my mother. It was for my adoptive father.

To be precise, it was a letter my father left for my adoptive father right before he enlisted.”

As she spoke, Si Huan Nian lowered her head and pressed a hand to her forehead. ”It wasn’t anything special. Just the usual ’if something happens to me, please take care of my wife and child’ stuff. Nothing special.”

Rong Taotao watched her, knowing the letter must have been very special.

The more Si Huan Nian denied it, the more certain Rong Taotao became. Her words didn’t match her body language.

Si Huan Nian kept her head down and said softly, ”Then I spent three years in high school in Songbai Town. I... grew up.”

Rong Taotao: ”What?”

Si Huan Nian: ”After I graduated high school, I could make my own decisions. At long last, I left this place. I left the Snow Realm.”

Rong Taotao: ”You left the Snow Realm.”

Si Huan Nian: ”Yes, I went back to Baishan, back to my childhood home. But you know what the crazy part is?”

Rong Taotao: ”What?”

Si Huan Nian shook her head with a small laugh. ”I only stayed home for two months before I came right back. Back to the Snow Realm.”

Rong Taotao: ”Why?”

”I don’t know.” Si Huan Nian tilted her head back, running a hand through her long hair. ”Heh, maybe it was just too hot outside. Couldn’t stand it.”

Rong Taotao pursed his lips, not knowing what to say.

Si Huan Nian: ”I went to my adoptive father and told him I wanted to enlist.”

Rong Taotao sighed to himself. ’Six rebellious years growing up in the Snow Realm, plus that ”unimportant” letter, had brought Si Huan Nian right back.’

’Enlisting? Maybe she wanted to walk the same path as her father.’

Si Huan Nian: ”I told my adoptive father I wanted to go to the east gate of Three-Wall City, to stomp on the ground at the foot of the wall a few times.”

Rong Taotao: ”...”

Si Huan Nian shrugged. ”He didn’t agree. He arranged for me to get into Pine Soul Soul Martial.”

Rong Taotao blinked. ’What does she mean, ”arranged for me to get into Pine Soul Soul Martial”?’

Si Huan Nian looked up at Rong Taotao and said softly, ”That’s right. I didn’t test in. I was placed here.”

Rong Taotao stared blankly at Si Huan Nian and asked, ”Your adoptive father is...”

Si Huan Nian: ”Huang Kuanren.”

Rong Taotao frowned slightly. ’That name... why does it sound so familiar?’

Si Huan Nian: ”The current Police Captain of Songjiang Soul City, and its Deputy Mayor.”

Oh, right! Rong Taotao remembered. During the Snow Realm Army’s invasion last year, Huang Juzhang had brought a large number of police officers to the school to provide support.

Si Huan Nian glanced at the IV bag on its stand and continued, ”I studied here for three years. Before I even graduated, I took an opportunity to try out for the special forces.”

As she spoke, Si Huan Nian leaned forward, took Rong Taotao’s hand, pinched the needle on the back of it, and pulled it out.

She pressed her thumb over the puncture mark on the back of his hand, still holding it as she said, ”You know, Taotao, I went to the east gate of Three-Wall City. I went to visit the patch of snow where he died.”

Her grip was painfully tight, but Rong Taotao did his best to endure it without showing any reaction.

Si Huan Nian leaned in, her lips close to Rong Taotao’s ear, and whispered, ”I really did stomp on that spot. Several times.”

Rong Taotao tried to pull his hand away, but couldn’t break free.

Si Huan Nian’s eyes were red-rimmed, a complex smile on her face as she murmured into Rong Taotao’s ear, ”It was during that tryout that I got lost in a sudden blizzard.

”In the moment I was about to freeze to death, my consciousness fading...

”He placed a Lotus petal before me.”