Master of Nine Stars

Chapter 572: Chapter 347: Release (Part 2)

As for the matter of their leave, Yang Chunxi would speak to the headmaster when she reported back. Rong Taotao, for his part, requested leave from Headmaster Mei Hongyu immediately after they finished their meal.

As expected, Mei Hongyu found it difficult to be strict with his two star pupils, Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei.

Family status was a gift from one’s parents, but honor and dignity were earned through hard work and struggle.

However, Mei Hongyu was by no means a pushover. He only extended their leave until the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

In most parts of the Three Provinces Outside the Passes, the spirit of traditional holidays ran deep, and many customs were still observed, such as the one known as “Breaking the Fifth.”

For a considerable number of people, the New Year’s celebration wasn’t truly over until after the fifth day.

Rong Taotao couldn’t be too willful about it; respect was a two-way street, after all. An extension to the fifth was already great, since it meant he could stay home for several more days.

Besides, all the other Little Souls in their class were on duty at the Martial Arts Hall. With the two of them getting special treatment and gallivanting about outside… wasn’t that separating themselves from the collective?

Er… although, well… Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei were indeed special, and they certainly had earned the right to special treatment…

However, Rong Taotao had underestimated Gao Lingwei’s nightmare, and even more so, the effect it had on her.

After seeing Yang Chunxi and Rong Yang off at the gate of the residential complex, Gao Lingwei returned to the building with Rong Taotao. But instead of entering her apartment on the first floor, she led him upstairs.

‘It dawned on Rong Taotao. He’d asked about her nightmare in the kitchen earlier, and she hadn’t answered. She must be looking for a quiet place to talk.’

The two of them went all the way up to the sixth floor. Gao Lingwei walked into the living room, sat on the sofa, and said, “I dreamed about Gao Lingshi.”

At her words, Rong Taotao fell silent.

He’d never known the specifics of what had happened between Gao Lingwei and Gao Lingshi. He could only take the bits and pieces she’d let slip before, combine them with his own meager imagination, and try to surmise how much pain Gao Lingshi had caused her.

Gao Lingwei crossed her legs, rested an elbow on the sofa’s armrest, and propped her cheek on her fist. “Do you think the darkness is coming?” she asked softly. “Like that Extreme Night we experienced before?”

With Rong Taotao, Gao Lingwei clearly had no intention of hiding anything, nor did she hesitate to reveal her worries.

This was, clearly, a sign of trust.

This trust wasn’t born from mere words. It was something Rong Taotao had fought for and proven through his actions, time and time again.

They once vowed to rise as underdogs and defeat their superiors. At Songjiang Soul Martial University, a place teeming with powerful individuals, they faced the upperclassmen, broke through the fierce competition, and earned the right to represent the university. They did it.

The two had promised each other they would take first place in the Outer Region, and they made good on that promise. They had even risked their lives, giving everything they had to ascend to the top.

They had also encouraged each other to win the national championship. And in the very end, in the midst of the Ten Thousand Camels Rushing of the Corpse Fire Camel Array, despite being at a severe disadvantage, they created opportunities for one another. As the definitive underdogs, they pulled off the impossible, fighting their way to a tie and becoming co-champions.

And on that stormy, snowy night, after every one of Cold Flower’s words had stabbed into Gao Lingwei’s heart like a dagger, Rong Taotao had comforted her. He’d made a few proposals, one of which was to hunt the Poachers until their blood ran cold.

This, too, they had accomplished. Of course, throughout all their past endeavors of “proving themselves,” Rong Taotao was undoubtedly the more outstanding of the two.

In her heart, her trust for Rong Taotao was like an immovable mountain.

Rong Taotao walked over, plopped down on the sofa, and said, “It’s possible.”

Mulling it over, Gao Lingwei said softly, “Only possible.”

Rong Taotao thought for a moment, then added, “Highly likely.”

“Hm?”

Rong Taotao began to analyze the situation. “We can actually corroborate this from multiple angles. We don’t know if the information from Gao Lingshi is accurate, so let’s not try to verify it through that channel.”

“We can look at how others are reacting. For instance, Songjiang Soul Martial University.”

“You’ve seen the university’s reaction. They ordered the vast majority of students to return home for the holidays and recalled several teachers who are typically away long-term—like Qiu of the Pine Soul Four Seasons, who we ran into at the gate—to come back and help stand guard.”

“Mmm…” Gao Lingwei nodded silently.

Rong Taotao said, “Of course, every student admitted to Songjiang Soul Martial University is precious. Something like the arrival of an Extreme Night should naturally be taken seriously. Last time, our school suffered heavy losses.”

“Even if we’re just operating on a ‘better safe than sorry’ basis, we need to be prepared.”

As he spoke, Rong Taotao turned to look at Gao Lingwei. “What did you dream about her?”

“Or maybe,” Gao Lingwei began, pursing her lips, “I wasn’t dreaming of her, but of myself a few years from now. I’ve always blamed myself for dragging my parents back to the Snow Realm from Liaolian. I can’t find peace with that decision.”

Rong Taotao pieced together the fragmented information Gao Lingwei had given him. After a long silence, he said, “Songbai Town’s safety is beyond question, especially after the collapse of the Qian Organization.”

“It’s a very safe and stable place to live now. Your parents have a familiar environment here, and they don’t lack for anything.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Gao Lingwei let out a soft, “Mm…hm.”

Seeing Gao Lingwei’s downcast expression, Rong Taotao suddenly stood up and extended a hand to her. “Come on.”

Gao Lingwei looked up. “Where are we going?”

Rong Taotao grinned. “The rooftop! Where you taught me Ice Pillar and Ice Glass.”

“What for?”

“To fight.”

Gao Lingwei didn’t get it. “Why?”

But Rong Taotao couldn’t wait. He leaned forward and scooped Gao Lingwei right up. The strength of a Soul Captain was no joke.

He strode toward the window, muttering, “You go two days without swinging a blade and you get all idle and start overthinking things.”

As he spoke, Rong Taotao slid the window open with one hand and pushed Gao Lingwei out with the other…

Gao Lingwei: ???

‘This is the sixth floor!’

The next moment, a hand made of snow burst out from the thick snow on the rooftop!

The huge hand traced a perfect arc, soaring over the rooftop’s stone parapet and extending downward. It snatched Gao Lingwei by the waist, pulling her backward out the window and flying her up to the roof.

Rong Taotao grabbed the window frame with one hand and swung himself lightly outside.

KRAK! An ice flower shattered under his feet. Using the momentum from his swing, he landed securely in a crouch on the building’s wall.

Then, Rong Taotao stood up and began walking step-by-step up the wall toward the rooftop.

The next moment, Gao Lingwei’s figure appeared on the stone parapet. She looked down, watching Rong Taotao walk up the wall.

“You’re right. Maybe I have been too idle.” A barely-there smile played on her lips. Holding a Great Xia Dragon Sparrow, she gave the blade a flourish and then slashed downward…

Rong Taotao didn’t even try to dodge, simply raising a hand in front of his face.

SSSHK!

The sharp Great Xia Dragon Sparrow instantly pierced the palm of Rong Taotao’s hand, but he immediately clenched his fist, locking the blade in place.

POOF…

The Great Xia Dragon Sparrow, made of snow, shattered into pieces. Simultaneously, on the palm and back of Rong Taotao’s hand, two petals of a faintly glowing Lotus appeared.

At the same time, a look of pity appeared in Rong Taotao’s eyes as he looked at Gao Lingwei. “You look deeply troubled. Has life become too bitter?”

Rong Taotao had suddenly dragged her into a battle. By now, Gao Lingwei had already been pulled out of her previous train of thought and was no longer thinking about her nightmare.

The problem was, Rong Taotao’s expression and his words gave Gao Lingwei the feeling that he was about to start preaching.

The smile on Gao Lingwei’s face turned a little odd. “Compassion doesn’t mean you have to start dishing out platitudes.”

“No,” Rong Taotao said as he continued walking up the wall. “What I mean is, if life is too bitter… let me put you out of your misery!”

As he spoke, a Great Xia Dragon Sparrow materialized in Rong Taotao’s hand.

Gao Lingwei: “…”