Master of Nine Stars

CLIP... CLOP... CLIP... CLOP... A chaotic patter of hooves echoed as six people on five mounts galloped down the wide road to Songbai Town.

The sun was exceptionally bright today. With the cold mist gone, the winter sun illuminated the specs of snow dust kicked up by the group, making them glitter in a breathtaking display.

Si Huan Nian was in her element.

Having not left the Martial Arts Arena for so long, she was like a prisoner out for yard time, curiously observing the outside world.

Unfortunately, the scenery was a bit monotonous—nothing but trees and snow.

The six people and five mounts formed a ”five-dot” formation. Xia Fangran and Si Huan Nian flanked the front, left and right. Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao were in the center, while Yang Chunxi and Li Lie brought up the rear.

Rong Taotao sat on Hu Bugui’s back, positioned behind Gao Lingwei. He would occasionally peek out from behind her to look at Si Huan Nian in the front right, her long hair flying in the wind. Only one thought crossed his mind: ’Look at the poor kid, she’s been cooped up for way too long...’

The last time Si Huan Nian left the city was probably a year and a half ago, when she was assigned to teach at Hundred Corps Pass and lead the newly enrolled Junior Class students, right?

”Hey, kid.” Suddenly, Si Huan Nian turned her head. Her long hair, tousled by the wind, looked messy but held a unique charm. A teasing glint appeared in her eyes. ”Hold on tight to your dear Wei, and don’t let your eyes wander.”

”Tch.” Rong Taotao, who was gripping the hem of Gao Lingwei’s clothes with both hands, pulled his head back behind her and mumbled, ”As if anyone wants to look at you.”

As he spoke, Rong Taotao peeked his head out from Gao Lingwei’s left side, looked at Xia Fangran in the front left, and said, ”Captain Xia, slow down a bit. Mind our five-dot formation.”

Xia Fangran’s expression stiffened. He turned his head and pointed a finger at Rong Taotao. ”You...”

Seeing that things were about to go south, Rong Taotao quickly retracted his head, pressing his forehead against Gao Lingwei’s back and not daring to show his face again.

”Argh!” Xia Fangran was so mad he could grind his teeth to dust. If this kept up, there would be no need for Poachers to show up for an assassination—Xia Fangran would kill Rong Taotao himself...

From the rear, Yang Chunxi spoke up, ”We’re almost there. It’s been a peaceful journey so far.”

”Hmph,” Si Huan Nian snorted. ”I was actually hoping someone would try to intercept us.”

Li Lie, however, said, ”We left in such a hurry. Even if the Poachers wanted to set up an ambush, they probably don’t even know that Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei have left the city.”

”We’ve let them get too comfortable!” Xia Fangran, with no other outlet for his frustration, cursed viciously. ”If one comes, I’ll slaughter one! If two come, I’ll kill them both!”

With a lineup like this, there was no way Xia Fangran would be running away with his students again.

Strictly speaking, these four teachers didn’t form the top team of Songjiang Soul Martial. After all, the Three Friends of Winter: Pine, Bamboo, and Plum were still above them.

But there was no doubt that even if this lineup wasn’t the absolute top-tier, it was certainly the best of the first-class, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them the pillars of Songjiang Soul Martial.

You could say that any one of them could be pulled out, paired with a few nobodies, and have enough to start a new school from scratch.

Gao Lingwei suddenly spoke up. ”It’s almost noon. Teachers, why don’t you come to my house to rest for a bit?”

”Hey~” Rong Taotao poked Gao Lingwei’s back with the brim of his baseball cap. ”No need to ask for their permission. I’ll just order them to our house.”

Gao Lingwei: ”...”

The two of them were trying to be low-key, both wearing hats and scarves, but frankly, such a disguise was probably useless. After all, being flanked by four teachers was a bit too conspicuous.

Xia Fangran: ”Rong Taotao!”

Rong Taotao’s heart skipped a beat. ”Ah?”

Xia Fangran turned his head to look back. ”I’m warning you. When we get to her house, you better behave. Don’t make me kick you in front of your future father and mother-in-law!”

”Of... of course not,” Rong Taotao said with an awkward laugh.

”Hmph. Good that you know.” Xia Fangran pursed his lips and continued, ”Old Li.”

Li Lie: ”What’s up?”

Xia Fangran: ”Take it easy later. Don’t get her dad too drunk.”

Li Lie: ”Hahahahaha! No problem, no problem at all...”

The six of them, teachers and students alike, really felt like they were a family heading home for a visit. Chatting and laughing, they entered Songbai Town.

Unlike the deserted streets of Songjiang Soul City, Songbai Town was truly bustling with activity, a sea of people rubbing shoulders.

The group guided their Snow Night Shocks onto the horse lane, a comfortable expression appearing on their faces as they took in the bustling street scenes.

It turned out that teachers from Songjiang Soul Martial University were quite famous. The simultaneous appearance of four renowned masters, in particular, immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Clearly, people held the strong in awe. They didn’t crowd around, but that didn’t stop them from pausing to pay their respects with their gaze.

It was considered lucky to see even one on a normal day, but now four had shown up at once. What was Songjiang Soul Martial doing here? Had they come to Songbai Town High School to pick out promising seedlings? And four of them, no less? What was going on?

As they walked on, Rong Taotao felt something was off. If, at first, it was the four masters with their extraordinary auras drawing all the attention, then now...

The champion duo of Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao had become the most eye-catching of all!

Even though they had pulled the brims of their hats down low and were wrapped in scarves, a closer look was all it took for people to guess who they were.

Well, duh. Who else could command such an entourage, being escorted by four Soul Martial Teachers from Songjiang?

Of course, people’s attitude toward these two kids—especially two national champions who came from the Snow Realm—was completely different from how they treated the Pine Soul Teachers.

Soon, the crowd began to whisper and murmur, the sounds growing louder and louder.

”Is that Rong Taotao?”