As night fell, silver light shimmered across the grass beside Sea God Lake. The stars twinkled overhead, and a cool breeze swept across the still water.
The lakeside clearing was alive with warmth and laughter.
The air was rich with the scent of grilled fish and roasted meat. Fireflies danced around the flickering lights like sparks of joy, adding a touch of magic to the moment.
Chen Junting, Ning Tian, and the rest of Class Nine sat in a wide circle — nine students, joined by three guests: Beibei, Tang Ya, and Xu Sanshi. Twelve people in total, enjoying a rare moment of peace together.
"Congratulations on making the semi-finals," Beibei said, raising a cup with a smile. Then, with a smirk, he added, "Of course... from here on out, you'll be fighting each other."
"Hah — Class Nine really cleaned up this year," Xu Sanshi said, clearly impressed. "Three out of the four teams in the top four? If you push just a little harder, you might sweep the podium."
"Not so fast," Beibei cut in with a sideways glance. "The remaining team's not exactly weak. We're talking about soul masters from the Duke White Tiger's Mansion and the Zhu family of Star Luo."
Xu Sanshi blinked. "Ah... martial soul fusion technique."
He turned to Chen Junting, patting his shoulder with a hint of concern. "You sure you can take them?"
Chen Junting smiled, completely unbothered. "Senior thinks I can't?"
Xu Sanshi chuckled. "That confident, huh?"
Beibei just shrugged. "As long as they know what they're doing."
He turned to Tang Ya with a gentle look but didn't interrupt as she laughed and chatted with the junior team members. So instead, he clinked glasses with Xu Sanshi and let the others enjoy the moment.
At another corner of the circle—
"Xiao Dong, you really sure about this?" Tang Ya asked casually.
Wang Dong grinned. "Don't worry, Sister Xiao Ya."
He nudged Huo Yuhao, who was focused on grilling fish. "Yuhao and I have a trump card. Not even Brother Junting or Ning Tian knows about it."
Then he paused and glanced at Dugu Xin, who was quietly sipping his juice.
"Xin, you better not leak it just because you share a room with Junting. The three of us are winning this thing."
Dugu Xin didn't respond — just raised his cup in silent agreement.
Wang Dong scanned the group, then asked, "Hey... where's Senior Jiang Nannan?"
Tang Ya, as her roommate, answered between bites of fish.
"Working tonight. Couldn't make it."
Her voice carried further than she intended, and everyone caught the words. Wu Feng looked confused.
"Didn't she win a thousand gold soul coins before? Why's she still working? Wouldn't that time be better spent cultivating?"
It was Xu Sanshi — now clearly tipsy — who answered.
He staggered over to Chen Junting, clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder, and sighed with surprising sincerity.
"Because she's got a mother to care for. And if it weren't for Junior Chen here, life would still be tight for the both of them."
"Auntie?" everyone said in unison, their curiosity instantly ignited.
Clearly, this wasn't the first time Xu Sanshi had let something slip.
Realizing his blunder, he laughed awkwardly. "Haha, I said too much—"
Beibei, of course, wasn't going to let it slide.
"Let me guess — our affectionate Senior Xu found out he couldn't win Nannan over, so now he's trying to charm her mom?"
Tang Ya's eyes narrowed immediately. "Xu Sanshi. What. Did. You. Do."
"If you hurt her, I'll tell Nannan myself."
"What? No! No!" Xu Sanshi panicked. "You've got it all wrong!"
Backed into a corner, he sighed and finally gave in — telling the group only part of the truth.
Jiang Nannan's mother had long been in poor health. Xu Sanshi had been quietly asking his family to help, and during school breaks, he'd visit and check on her. Over time, he and the aunt had become familiar.
"And Nannan doesn't know any of this?"
"Of course not."
Chen Junting, still working with a bamboo skewer, asked quietly, "Why not just tell her? Even if not directly, showing her the truth would help your relationship."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
But Xu Sanshi just sighed and looked up at the stars, face full of drama.
"You wouldn't understand."
The group went silent. Then, almost in sync:
"Yeah. We don't understand."
Laughter followed.
The evening carried on, warm and full of chatter. But eventually, Beibei and Xu Sanshi — both deep into their drinks — dozed off in the grass.
Chen Junting and Dugu Xin carried them back to the dorms, quietly wrapping up the night.
—
The next morning
As the first light spilled across the horizon, mist veiled the academy like a silk curtain. Chen Junting and Dugu Xin, freshly washed after their meditation, made their way to the cafeteria.
But as they neared the entrance, they saw something strange.
Huo Yuhao stood stiffly outside. Wang Dong was beside him, speaking softly, trying to calm him down.
Chen Junting and Dugu Xin exchanged a glance, then approached.
"What happened?"
The moment he got close, Chen Junting's expression shifted.
Huo Yuhao's face was pale — but his eyes were burning.
Deep, bitter hatred radiated from them. It wasn't the anger of frustration, but something darker — something personal. Like a fire smoldering in the abyss, threatening to consume him.
Chen Junting didn't need to hear the explanation.
He already knew.
There was only one person who could draw that look from Huo Yuhao.
While Dugu Xin questioned Wang Dong quietly, Chen Junting followed Yuhao's line of sight toward the cafeteria…
And found them.
A blond-haired boy. A black-haired girl at his side.
Dai Huabin.
—
(End of Chapter)