Master of Nine Stars

Under the guidance of their teachers, Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei were indeed very ”humble.” In fact, their Soul Technique levels were already quite high—one was approaching four stars, and the other had already reached it.

They could have easily worn just shirts and jeans, showing off in the cold winter night.

’Perhaps this was also a way of being considerate of Sun Xingyu’s feelings? Was Gao Lingwei wearing a down jacket not because she was worried about being cold herself, but because she was worried Sun Xingyu’s heart might grow cold?’

”Where’s Coach Si?”

”She couldn’t be bothered to come.”

”Oh.” Looking at the bag on Rong Taotao’s back, Gao Lingwei asked, ”You brought so many snacks. Didn’t you save any for Coach Si?”

Rong Taotao replied, ”Don’t worry, she’s all grown up now.”

Gao Lingwei looked confused. ”What?”

”Uh,” Rong Taotao said. ”I mean, she can take care of herself. She has a big stash of snacks.”

”Next time you’re talking about me, remember to do it from a little farther away so I can’t hear.” Si Huan Nian’s voice suddenly came from behind the door.

Rong Taotao jumped, startled. ”Quick, let’s go,” he said hurriedly.

The two of them quickly exited the Martial Arts Hall and saw the stars twinkling in the night sky.

’Tch... What a perfect day for this. Beautiful~’

Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei went around the Martial Arts Hall, and just as they reached the small woods to the north, they found Jiao Tengda, Li Ziyi, and Sun Xingyu building a bonfire.

”You’re here!” Jiao Tengda was the first to spot them and waved with a smile.

Li Ziyi gave a slight nod in Rong Taotao’s direction, which was his way of saying hello...

’Tch, so cool of him.’

”Come on, Taotao, help us gather firewood.” Sun Xingyu, cradling a pile of dry branches, tossed them onto the ground with a RATTLE. You could tell she was in high spirits; the bubbly and adorable girl loved this kind of fun activity.

It had to be said that their training here was truly grueling.

Their lives were truly monotonous. Aside from going to the cafeteria for meals, they studied, trained, and slept all in the Martial Arts Hall.

Other university students had colorful daily lives—surfing the internet, going clubbing, joining student groups, and whatnot. But for the students of Pine Soul Soul Martial University, especially those in the Junior Class, daily life was incredibly dull, almost like being in prison.

Rong Taotao hurried over, set down his heavy backpack, and asked, ”This close?”

The spot where the three of them were building the bonfire was only thirty to fifty meters from the Martial Arts Hall. Rong Taotao had thought they would be deeper in the Snow Forest.

Jiao Tengda sidled up to Rong Taotao and whispered, ”Coach Yang and Coach Si both declined to join the party. They said they wanted us young people to have our fun and were worried they’d disturb the mood.

”I figured they probably wanted to join too, but just had their reservations. If we set up the bonfire a little closer, the coaches can see it through the windows.

”If the mood is good, they’ll be able to hear and see us. It’ll be like they’re participating too, and they can relax a little.”

’This guy!’

Rong Taotao looked at Jiao Tengda with admiration. ’He’s this thoughtful?’

Gao Lingwei also looked down at Jiao Tengda, praising him softly, ”That’s very considerate.”

”Hehe.” Jiao Tengda grinned sheepishly. ”The others went to the cafeteria to get food. I ordered two roast chickens; they should be here soon.”

Rong Taotao, however, wasn’t fooled by Jiao Tengda’s goofy grin. ’This kid is deceptively clever...’

”Taotao! Get gathering firewood! No slacking!” Sun Xingyu’s voice drifted from the nearby Snow Forest.

”Oh...”

At seven in the evening, under a sky full of cold, distant stars, a huge bonfire blazed to life in a clearing at the edge of the small woods north of the Martial Arts Hall.

Everyone was singing and laughing; it was a lively scene.

Sun Xingyu’s joy was almost palpable. And in turn, Li Ziyi, sitting beside her, found himself smiling more often as well.

Rong Taotao had assumed that since the Youthful Spirits had been in combat since they were children, they would be good at fighting but absolutely hopeless when it came to singing and dancing.

But to his surprise, once the bonfire party got going and the Youthful Spirits went wild, anything and everything started to happen...

As a walking Chinese music encyclopedia, AKA the ”Little Loudspeaker” of the New Danxi No. 1 Middle School radio station, Rong Taotao absolutely dominated the song relay game. He was like a freaking War God!

As Sun Xingyu put it, ”My dad probably hasn’t even heard of the songs you’re singing...”

”Quick, quick! Form a line! Let’s make a circle around the bonfire and put our hands on the shoulders of the person in front of us.” Shi Lan stuffed the last piece of crispy rice into her mouth and jumped up from the snow. ”Someone start a song! Who wants to lead?”

”Taotao should start! Didn’t he just win? His mouth was running a mile a minute...” Sun Xingyu said eagerly.

”You even have to ask? The second I open my mouth, I guarantee you’ll be blown away!” Rong Taotao reached forward, placed his hands on Lu Mang’s shoulders, and pushed him along. Tilting his head back, he belted out, ”On the rolling, rolling mountainside~”

”Whoo-hoo~ a single, rolling cloud~” Jiao Tengda roared with laughter, the first to pick up the song. This was a ballad from his hometown.

The bonfire crackled, its light dancing across their flickering, smiling faces. The Little Souls sang and danced, seeming to vent all the frustrations of their difficult pasts.

On the third floor of the Martial Arts Hall, Yang Chunxi stood at a window. With her elbows propped on the sill and her chin resting in her palm, her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders. She gazed down with a gentle smile at the bonfire on the edge of the Snow Forest, quietly watching the group of playful students.

On the second floor of the Martial Arts Hall, Si Huan Nian sat on the windowsill, her shoulder pressed against the cold glass. She silently watched the bonfire below, the dancing flames flickering in her beautiful eyes, making them glint between light and shadow.

’Yes, perhaps I don’t need to be so pessimistic.’

’After all, everyone’s fate is different.’

’These Little Souls... maybe they won’t have to learn how to grow up all alone.’

...

After their bout of revelry, everyone finally sat down, and the small woods grew much quieter.