Master of Nine Stars

A group of Little Souls stood at the edge of the Snow Forest, gazing at the majestic pass in the distance. For a moment, they all fell silent.

Wan’an Pass...

The Third Wall, the legendary fortress city in the northern lands of the Snow Realm. Today, they finally had the honor of witnessing its grandeur.

”Jiao Tengda.” A voice came through the walkie-talkie, breaking the silence.

”Copy that, Coach Yang,” Jiao Tengda quickly responded.

”This training mission is now over. Fall back.” Yang Chunxi’s words were crisp and decisive, like a military order, leaving no room for discussion.

”Everyone, fall back!” Jiao Tengda said at once, looking around before tilting his head up at the two people standing on the highest point of a giant boulder. ”Taotao.”

Rong Taotao scrubbed his face hard with one hand, getting his emotions in check. ”Coming,” he said.

With that, he leaped down.

The group mounted their Snow Night Shocks again and, under Jiao Tengda’s lead, traveled south to rendezvous with the teachers.

This training mission was a complete success. Jiao Tengda’s command had been decent, satisfying both the teachers and the Little Souls. But Jiao Tengda himself couldn’t help but have his own doubts.

He had his suspicions about Yang Chunxi’s sudden order to halt the mission.

If she had already decided they were returning today, why hadn’t Yang Chunxi just said so this morning?

If it was a last-minute decision... could something else have happened?

While Jiao Tengda was lost in thought, he noticed the trio of Rong Taotao, Gao Lingwei, and Rong Yang saying their goodbyes to the teachers.

”Banana,” Rong Taotao said with a wave.

”Ah.” Jiao Tengda didn’t ask any questions and quickly waved goodbye.

But Rong Taotao added, ”Don’t you turn in those Snowflake Wolf and Moon Leopard Hides.”

”You can count on me,” Jiao Tengda replied with an immediate nod.

The Snowflake Wolves and Moon Leopards outside Qianshan Pass were enormous; their hides were more than enough to make several Soul Beast Fur Coats.

As the Little Souls had previously agreed, they would give a few coats to each of the four teachers as a New Year’s gift from the youths of the Soul Class.

There were artisans in Songjiang Soul City who specialized in this kind of work. Since Rong Taotao couldn’t go back, the other Little Souls would naturally handle it for him.

Rong Taotao, riding Hu Bugui, turned and waved, quickly disappearing from everyone’s sight.

”Damn it,” Xia Fangran muttered. ”He’s only a Second Year of College, and they’re already starting to poach him.”

Li Lie chuckled. ”You should be happy that your disciple is so outstanding, right?”

”Oh, I’m happy, all right,” Xia Fangran said with a pout. ”But I’m mad that they’re poaching someone from right under my nose.”

”Then you’d better get used to it.” Si Huan Nian unwrapped a chocolate bar with one hand, took a savage bite out of it with a CRUNCH, and mumbled while chewing, ”He’s only going to drift further and further away from us.”

Then, Si Huan Nian gestured to the remaining Eight Little Souls beside her and said, ”They all will.”

Hearing this, Li Lie nodded in strong agreement.

Yang Chunxi, however, watched the direction the trio had disappeared with a worried expression, sighing deeply in her heart.

Rong Taotao’s group traveled at top speed, not even stopping at Qianshan Pass. They headed straight south, and a few hours later, rushed back to Hundred Corps Pass and returned to the Twelfth Squad’s headquarters.

The trio hurried upstairs to Fu Tiance’s office, only to find the door already open.

Seeing them enter, Fu Tiance said directly, ”Sheep, you won’t be participating in this mission. Go back to your room and rest. Guard our base camp.”

Rong Yang: ”...”

’Guard our base camp?’

’Our base is inside Hundred Corps Pass. Does it really need guarding?’

But Rong Yang was clearly a good soldier. He followed the order, immediately stepped out, and closed the door behind him.

Fu Tiance gestured to the sofa on the side. ”Sit.”

”Captain Fu, who are we going to arrest?” Rong Taotao asked curiously.

Fu Tiance sat behind his desk, crossed his legs, and leaned back with a look of utter satisfaction. ”Poachers. The Qian Organization. How about it? Like the sound of this mission?”

Rong Taotao’s eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. ”Of course! Where are we going to arrest them?”

”Wait a little longer,” Fu Tiance said with a wave of his hand. ”We’re waiting for word from Ugly Ox and Horse. A member of the Qian Organization betrayed them and came straight to Hundred Corps Pass to turn himself in. Ugly Ox and Horse are interrogating him now.”

Rong Taotao: ???

What had he just heard?

He turned himself in?

Rong Taotao said hurriedly, ”Was it a real surrender? We can’t fall for a trap.”

”Heh.” Fu Tiance chuckled. ”Don’t worry. Ugly Ox and Horse are old hands at this. Everything you’re worried about, they’ve already considered...”

As he spoke, a strange look crossed Fu Tiance’s face. He looked at Rong Taotao and said, ”Speaking of which, you and Ling Wei actually deserve some of the credit for this.”

Rong Taotao blinked in surprise. ”Huh?”

Fu Tiance asked, ”Xingyan. Ever heard of him?”

Rong Taotao nodded immediately. ”One of the Eight Great Coins. He’s notorious. Of course I know him.”

Fu Tiance continued, ”He’s the wretch who surrendered. According to him, the Qian Organization and the Free People are planning to join forces for another assassination attempt on you and Ling Wei. Unfortunately for him, he was ordered to take part.”

Gao Lingwei spoke up, ”Since he’s one of the Eight Great Coins, as a high-ranking member, shouldn’t that be expected of him?”

”Hahahaha!” Fu Tiance suddenly burst into hearty laughter, nodding again and again. ”Right, it should have been expected. But Xingyan doesn’t want to go on a suicide mission.”

Gao Lingwei: ”...”

Fu Tiance said, ”You and Rong Taotao have certainly made some big waves.

The Eight Great Coins: Cold Flower, Mi Tu, and Feng Zi, as well as the Free People’s Red-clothed Merchant...