Master of Nine Stars

”I think that’s him and Gao Lingwei, right?”

”Whoa~! It’s the champions!”

Rong Taotao ducked his head and hid behind Gao Lingwei. Sensing trouble, Xia Fangran quickly picked up the pace, leading the group through the crowd. They crossed a commercial street and headed straight north, running toward Songbai Town High School.

”Where’s Hua Nian?” Xia Fangran asked mid-stride. He’d been so focused on keeping an eye on Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei behind him that he hadn’t noticed their group was one person short.

While galloping on her mount, Yang Chunxi pulled out her phone and started a video call.

It wasn’t until they reached Gao Lingwei’s residential complex that Yang Chunxi irritably hung up and put her phone away.

Rong Taotao asked curiously, ”Where’s Coach Si?”

With an expression that was both amused and exasperated, Yang Chunxi said, ”I sent her our location. Your Coach Si spotted a roasted sweet potato stall. She’s currently squatting on the side of the road eating one.”

”Haha!” Xia Fangran burst out laughing. ”Taotao, you’re not a very good commander, are you? We haven’t even run into an enemy, and after just one lap around the streets, you’ve already lost a team member?”

”You’re right, she’s so unreliable. I need to give her a good talking-to!” Rong Taotao nodded repeatedly, quickly pulling out his phone. He opened his messaging app and sent a voice message, ”Don’t just eat by yourself, bring me two!”

”Hehe~” Gao Lingwei couldn’t help but chuckle.

Xia Fangran was at a complete loss.

’Mei Hongyu shouldn’t have made me watch over Rong Taotao all the time,’ he suddenly thought. ’Instead, they should have let Si Huan Nian accompany him to competitions.’

’Those two foodies would definitely get along great...’

The group stood downstairs from the apartment building, each recalling their Snow Night Shock. The complex itself was quiet. In the distance, a few elderly men and women were exercising on the public fitness equipment, looking over curiously and pointing.

As they waited, Yang Chunxi approached Rong Taotao and whispered, ”Can you feel that Lotus Petal?”

”I can,” Rong Taotao nodded and said in a low voice, ”Coach Si is about to appear at the complex entrance.”

”Hmm?” Yang Chunxi turned her head to look and saw Si Huan Nian walking into the complex with her head down, holding a roasted sweet potato and eating as she went.

Rong Taotao muffled his voice with his scarf. ”The other petal is also very close to us, but it doesn’t seem to be in the city. Songbai Soul Martial High School is already on the edge of town.”

”That Lotus Petal is either in the school district housing northwest of the school, or it’s outside the city, possibly in the desolate Snow Forest.”

”What’s going on?” Si Huan Nian walked over, casually handing a tiny roasted sweet potato to Rong Taotao.

Rong Taotao took it, his face a mask of dissatisfaction. ”That’s it?”

”’That’s it?’” Si Huan Nian said, displeased. ”You’re lucky to even get this. If I had been two steps slower, this one would be gone too.”

As she spoke, Si Huan Nian licked her lips, not even sparing the sweet potato crumbs stuck to them. Her eyes were fixed on the sweet potato she had just handed over.

Seeing such a goddess, with her stunning looks and elegant demeanor, reveal such a gluttonous side—any other person would probably have given the sweet potato back.

But this was Rong Taotao.

As if he cared about any of that.

Rong Taotao didn’t even bother to peel the skin. CHOMP! He took a huge bite, devouring more than half of it!

And he did it right in front of Si Huan Nian’s face...

Si Huan Nian’s breath hitched!

And then... well, the remaining small piece of sweet potato in Rong Taotao’s hand was also gone, snatched away by her.

Yang Chunxi looked at the master and disciple with a reproachful expression and patted Rong Taotao on the shoulder. ”It’s so close. What’s your plan?”

Rong Taotao thought for a moment. ”A group of us traveling together is a bit conspicuous. Moving during the day isn’t a good idea. I think it’s best we move at night.”

Yang Chunxi was a little worried. ”If that Lotus is ownerless, or if an ally is holding it, that’s one thing.”

”But if a villain is holding it... we made quite a scene coming into the city. Should we act sooner? Go and investigate?”

”No.” Rong Taotao shook his head decisively. ”As long as the Lotus Petal is there, I can lock onto its location. If it doesn’t move, fine. But if that Lotus Petal really starts to move...”

Yang Chunxi: ”What then?”

Rong Taotao shrugged. ”Wouldn’t it be better if it left the city? If it’s in the desolate wilderness, we won’t have to worry about accidentally injuring civilians or destroying storefronts.”

The fundamental reason Rong Taotao could remain so composed was his lack of fear of alerting the target. The Prison Lotus was essentially a GPS. ’No matter where you go, I can find you.’

Rong Taotao was completely unperturbed, and even felt like saying, ”FBI! Open up!”

”Hmm...” Yang Chunxi pondered for a moment, then nodded.

Rong Taotao said, ”Let’s eat lunch first, then get a good nap this afternoon. When the moon is dark and the wind is high, we’ll head out. It’s perfect since Da Wei has her Snowball Cat.”

As Rong Taotao spoke, he felt a thrill of pure delight!

He had always been the one targeted for assassination, always the one being hunted. In his entire life, Rong Taotao had never fought a battle with such an advantage!

Not only did he have the advantage, but the enemy was out in the open while he was in the shadows. He could seize the initiative. It felt amazing!

”Alright, I’ll book a hotel then,” Yang Chunxi nodded. Since they decided to move at night, it wouldn’t be right for a large group to be cooped up at the Gao Family’s home.

Gao Lingwei: ”Sister-in-law.”

Yang Chunxi, holding her phone, asked, ”Yes?”

Gao Lingwei said, ”My parents bought the unit to the left on the first floor.”

Yang Chunxi: ”Huh?”

Gao Lingwei smiled and nodded. ”After you and Coach Xia visited last time, they felt they didn’t have enough space to host you, so they decided to get a bigger place.”