Master of Nine Stars

"Ugh..." A weak groan escaped Rong Taotao’s lips. He groggily opened his eyes and was met with the faint smell of disinfectant.

The smell was familiar. ’Where am I?’

’Is this... the school infirmary? The Songjiang Soul Martial University infirmary?’

Holy cow!

I mean, seriously, holy cow!

’Before I passed out, I was north of the Wall, running for my life in the Snowfield. And when I wake up, I’m already back at Songjiang Soul Martial University?’

’Is this hospital room my respawn point or something?’

’How many times have I woken up here now?’

"Yip~" A cute whimper sounded from the bedside. Seeing its master awake, the Cloud Dog scrambled to its feet, nestled up to Rong Taotao’s head, and began incessantly licking his face with its little pink tongue.

"Ugh, that tickles..." Rong Taotao awkwardly tilted his head away. But even a simple movement like that took all the strength he had.

Rong Taotao couldn’t help but grimace, his eyes landing on the IV stand to his right, where a familiar bag of blue nutrient solution was hanging.

Subconsciously, Rong Taotao tried to look to his left. He had been looking for someone, but he hadn’t expected to find another IV line in the back of his left hand.

Directly above his left hand was another IV stand, also holding a bag of nutrient solution...

’Double the dose! Double the fun?’

"You’re awake."

Just as Rong Taotao was reeling in confusion, a woman’s voice, soft and gentle, came from the bedside.

Rong Taotao was already weak, and upon hearing that voice, he felt his bones practically melt.

"Chunxi?" Rong Taotao struggled to turn his head, but he was utterly exhausted, his movements slow.

Yang Chunxi immediately stood up, leaned forward, and looked down at Rong Taotao. "How are you feeling? The Lotus Petal..."

Right!

The Prison Lotus Petal!

Rong Taotao couldn’t be bothered with anything else. Frowning slightly, he carefully focused on the Lotus Petal within his body.

’Oh?’

As he got a clear sense of the situation, Rong Taotao was startled.

Originally, when he only had the single Sinful Lotus petal, it had run rampant throughout his body, roaming wherever it pleased. Rong Taotao had been completely unable to stop it.

But now, with the addition of the Prison Lotus petal, the two Lotus Petals had actually linked together, forming a "V" shape, and were staying obediently in his Dantian.

Rong Taotao raised an eyebrow slightly. ’Did the Prison Lotus manage to discipline that little brat, the Sinful Lotus?’

’Well, I really have to thank you for that. From now on, please don’t let that Sinful Lotus fellow run wild again...’

"What is it?" Yang Chunxi leaned down, bracing her hands on either side of Rong Taotao’s head and staring intently into his eyes.

"Uh, it’s nothing. They’re getting along very harmoniously. It’s good." Rong Taotao wrinkled his nose. Yang Chunxi’s long hair had fallen onto his face, and it tickled.

Yang Chunxi’s heart eased, and only then did she reach out and gently stroke Rong Taotao’s cheek. "You’ve only been at Songjiang Soul Martial University for half a year, and you’ve already been hospitalized twice with serious injuries."

"Mhm," Rong Taotao said, closing his eyes in comfort and nuzzling against Yang Chunxi’s soft palm. "This doesn’t count as a serious injury. It’s a perk. At most, it’s a sweet burden."

Yang Chunxi: "..."

’Is this kid implying something?’

"Oh, right, where’s Xia Fangran?" Rong Taotao asked hurriedly. "How’s Coach Xia?"

Yang Chunxi just smiled. "What do you think?"

Rong Taotao said blankly, "I don’t know. After absorbing the Lotus Petal, I was in a total daze. I just remember him constantly yelling at me to wake up, afraid I’d sleep myself to death. He even used the opportunity to smack my butt. It hurt like hell..."

"Coach Xia is doing just fine. He found another good Seedling and is with Teacher Li Lie’s group now, often giving student Zhao Tang some private tutoring." Yang Chunxi smiled and pinched Rong Taotao’s cheek, then sat sideways on the edge of the bed. "Are you hungry?"

"That Xia Fangran, falling for someone new? What a player! He was ready to die with me before, and now he’s turned around and found someone else?" Rong Taotao couldn’t help but purse his lips. Suddenly realizing something, he asked urgently, "How long was I asleep?"

Yang Chunxi: "Your body is recovering far better than we imagined. This is the 16th day since you fell into a coma.

The last time you absorbed a Lotus Petal, you slept for almost a month. We all thought you would be out for even longer this time. It seems that since you’ve absorbed a Lotus before, your body was able to adapt a bit better thanks to the experience.

Xia Fangran told us about your understanding of the Lotus Petals, and how they each have their own personality. We confirmed this with Si Huan Nian, and it is indeed the case.

Perhaps... this new Lotus Petal you absorbed isn’t as reckless and irresponsible as the last one. Maybe this new Lotus Petal deliberately held back a lot, not wanting to endanger your life."

Hearing this, Rong Taotao’s expression turned peculiar. ’Is that how it is?’

At this moment, the two Lotus Petals inside his body were indeed very stable, remaining motionless in his Dantian.

Yang Chunxi asked, "What were you saying just now about dying together?"

Rong Taotao snapped out of his thoughts and couldn’t help but snort. "Ah, back when we were in the Lotus Bud’s space, Xia Fangran said he’d be buried with me..."

Hearing this, not only did the smile vanish from Yang Chunxi’s face, but it was replaced by a look of sheer heartache.

Rong Taotao was only a Soul Soldier, yet he had already experienced one life-and-death battle after another. These weren’t simulations, nor were they intentional school assessments—they were true life-and-death struggles, dancing on the knife’s edge.

A single moment of negligence, a lapse in concentration, one wrong decision, or even the slightest change in detail, and Rong Taotao could have already been dead.