Master of Nine Stars

Yang Chunxi once said that the life of a Soul Martial Artist is a life of companionship.

If Rong Taotao were to be judged by this standard at this moment, then he was undoubtedly outstanding.

"Here you go... sweet and sour pork." The proprietress’s voice came from afar, drawing closer as she placed the dish on the table.

A fragrant aroma, tinged with the tart scent of vinegar, wafted into Rong Taotao’s nose.

Rong Taotao licked his lips and looked up at Si Huan Nian.

Si Huan Nian, however, put down her chopsticks. She laced her fingers together, rested her chin on the backs of her hands, and said in an uncharacteristically gentle voice, "Go on, eat. You’ve earned this."

"Heh~ Well, if you insist~" Rong Taotao laughed heartily. With his Heaven-piercing Halberd still in one hand, dragging on the floor, he expertly snapped apart a pair of disposable chopsticks with the other. He moved with a practiced ease.

A clear display of the fine habits developed by modern youths who frequently order takeout...

While frantically stuffing his mouth with sweet and sour pork, Rong Taotao mumbled, "Eat, Si Zao, eat with me. Don’t pretend~ I knyow you’re hyungry..."

Si Zao?

Hmm... It seemed Rong Taotao had accidentally stumbled upon Si Huan Nian’s true martial nickname.

"Where’s the rice? Are we just eating the main dishes?" After several mouthfuls, Rong Taotao finally found a moment to look at Si Huan Nian across the table.

Si Huan Nian smiled. "The owner is making a fresh pot of rice. It’ll be a little while."

As she spoke, Si Huan Nian reached out and picked up the pack of cigarettes and the lighter from the table.

She expertly opened the pack, stood up, and headed for the door. With a cigarette dangling from her lips, she said, "You eat first."

Rong Taotao watched Si Huan Nian curiously. ’She smokes?’

’No, that’s not right!’

Rong Taotao had been bringing Si Huan Nian meals for a month. He had bought all sorts of candies and snacks she had asked for, but he’d never once brought her cigarettes.

She didn’t smoke at all, and she never smelled of it.

’This...’

As Si Huan Nian turned her head to speak to Rong Taotao, she narrowed her eyes slightly before pushing the door open and stepping out.

Rong Taotao lowered his head and continued to wolf down the sweet and sour pork, his mind racing.

’What is she really going out to do?’

’Even if she had to step out, did she need an excuse like that?’

Inside the restaurant, the only possible "reason" seemed to be that boisterous table of diners near the wall.

Rong Taotao didn’t look at them, but he pondered inwardly, ’When Coach Si was teaching me the Soul Skill, she didn’t seem to avoid them either.’

’Of course, Snow Soul is a very common Soul Skill in the Snow Realm, not some top-level secret, so I didn’t think anything of her teaching it in the open.’

’So, did Si Huan Nian have a specific reason for teaching me this Soul Skill a day early?’

「Outside the door.」

Si Huan Nian held the lighter, lit the cigarette, and took a drag before walking forward.

*Haaa...*

It was clear the smoke never entered her lungs. Si Huan Nian really didn’t smoke. After just two steps, she turned slightly and looked up at the roof.

A few seconds later, a figure on the roof revealed their head.

...

Two minutes later, Si Huan Nian pushed open the restaurant door and walked back in. She casually tossed the cigarette and lighter onto the table. Seeing that more than half the plate of sweet and sour pork was left, she shot a smiling glance at Rong Taotao and picked up her chopsticks again.

The master and disciple duo, one piece of pork for you, one piece for me, ate quite happily.

However, just as the third dish arrived, the diners at the table by the wall stood up, their arms draped over each other’s shoulders. They tossed 300 bucks on the table and staggered toward the entrance.

Rong Taotao continued eating, but his body tensed slightly. After all, the presence of these diners was the only reason he could think of for Si Huan Nian’s smoke break.

Unexpectedly, Si Huan Nian made no move, even as the four diners left.

Rong Taotao was filled with confusion, even starting to question his own judgment.

’Could it be... Coach Si really does smoke, and I just never noticed?’

Rong Taotao’s confusion didn’t last long. He saw Si Huan Nian stand up and tilt her head toward the door. "Let’s go."

"Huh?" Rong Taotao blinked. The rest of their food hadn’t even arrived, and they hadn’t paid the bill...

"Take off your coat, leave it on the chair," Si Huan Nian said, deftly pulling her own phone out of Rong Taotao’s coat pocket and placing it on the table.

Though he didn’t understand why, Rong Taotao was obedient. He took off his down jacket, and the Snow-made Heaven-piercing Halberd in his hand crumbled into a pile of Shuangxue on the floor.

As Rong Taotao stood up, Si Huan Nian put an arm around his shoulder, took two quick steps, and pushed open the door, leading him out.

"Ssss..." Rong Taotao couldn’t help but shiver. Making him take off his down jacket in this frozen wasteland... ’Coach Si sure is a great teacher~’

Ahead, the four diners walked together, holding flashlights and mumbling drunkenly.

Behind them, Si Huan Nian kept her arm around Rong Taotao’s shoulder, matching their pace as she began to speak. "In the lands of the Snow Realm, there are many unique professions."

"Hm?" Rong Taotao turned his head to look at Si Huan Nian.

She continued, "There is one profession known as Poachers. Some Poacher Organizations have even become well-established and large-scale, specializing in poaching Snow Realm Soul Beasts for their Soul Pearls."

"Ah..." Rong Taotao seemed to realize something and quickly looked at the diners ahead.

Si Huan Nian: "The snow-swept northern lands provide cover for all sorts of criminals. That great wall, stretching for who knows how many kilometers, can’t be guarded at every single inch. There will always be people who go to great lengths to sneak over it, to venture into the world outside the wall and seize wealth.

A long time ago, many Social Practitioners would go missing outside the wall each year, vanishing without a trace. Later, the military took over management and provided dedicated protection, but there were still lawless individuals who would take desperate risks.

Even if instances of robbery and murder decreased, hunting rare Soul Beasts for their Soul Pearls and carcasses is still a source of considerable wealth.

If they happen to find the young of a powerful Soul Beast, they could be set for life.

Huaxia’s regulations are very clear. In the Snowfield, there are certain Neutral Creatures that do not actively harm humans. They are benevolent by nature, and thus are protected by humanity. Killing them is absolutely forbidden.

But it is precisely because these Snow Realm creatures are benevolent that they are more susceptible to the Poachers’ cruel methods.

Moreover, a considerable number of these Neutral Creatures possess high-level intelligence. You can imagine the value of a Soul Pearl produced by an intelligent being. If one could be lucky enough to hunt down a cub, they would truly be set for life."

Rong Taotao’s first thought was of Xu Taiping. Of course, the Ice Soul Guide clan was likely not under protection, since they served as strategists for the Snow Realm Corps every time humans clashed with the Snow Realm Army.

Si Huan Nian: "The lands of the Snow Realm are different from other places. The unique blizzard conditions can cover one’s tracks, making administration here extremely difficult.

So, in the darker corners of society, all kinds of Soul Pearls are in circulation.

The recent massive blizzards, in particular, have emboldened many criminals to take risks."

As she spoke, Si Huan Nian leaned down slightly, her lips close to Rong Taotao’s ear, and the hand on his shoulder pointed toward the four men ahead. "They are Poachers."

Rong Taotao was already mentally prepared, but he still asked, "Are you sure? We shouldn’t wrongly accuse good people."

"Heh." Si Huan Nian chuckled. "Did you know how many Soul Police officers were hidden in the shadows, waiting to arrest them back at the restaurant?"

Rong Taotao: ???

’There were other people around?’

Si Huan Nian: "These Poachers have dual identities. They are originally civilians of Songjiang Soul City and have legitimate jobs here. They think they’ve hidden themselves well, that their evil deeds can be committed without anyone ever knowing.

The Soul Police didn’t make a move in the restaurant because they were worried about harming innocent civilians. This terrain right now is perfect. See how wide this road is?"

Rong Taotao: "Mhm..."

Si Huan Nian straightened up, patting Rong Taotao’s shoulder lightly. "The second one from the left, he’s quite drunk. He needs help just to walk and he’s staggering all over. You should have a chance."

Rong Taotao: ???

But Si Huan Nian seemed not to notice Rong Taotao’s expression and continued, "Poaching is a serious crime. These men are desperate criminals who live a dangerous life. They will really kill people, so you’d better adjust your mindset."

Rong Taotao: "I..."

Before Rong Taotao could finish, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the quiet night. *Fweee~*

In an instant, a fierce gust of wind swept through, and several Soul Police officers appeared like ghosts in the snow, surrounding the four men.

Thanks to the still-lit sign of the Pine Soul First Grade restaurant, Rong Taotao could barely make out the figures in the distance.

What was more visually striking was that all four men were holding flashlights. Under the Soul Police’s encircling attack, the beams of light swung about wildly, accompanied by cries of "Argh!" and "Ah!" The scene was surprisingly chilling.

Rong Taotao hastily stopped in his tracks.

Because, in his blurry vision, one of the Poachers had actually broken through the encirclement and was staggering toward them...

Rong Taotao wasn’t sure if the Soul Police had intentionally let the man run this way.

But what Rong Taotao was sure of was that this Poacher was at the end of his rope.

While desperately running to escape the officers pursuing him, he kept looking to either side of the street, only to find he had fallen into a trap like a Celestial Net from above and an Earth Net from below, with no idea where to run.

With no other choice, the Poacher could only sprint for his life, but the sight of the master and disciple duo standing not far ahead plunged him into despair...

’The boy was one thing, but the woman... she had been teaching the boy a Soul Skill in the restaurant. She was most likely a Soul Martial Teacher!’

Just as the Poacher was wondering what to do, a sudden scene unfolded before his eyes that left him completely stunned.

He saw... he saw a strange smile appear on the female teacher’s face as she suddenly lifted a foot and kicked the boy straight at him!

At that moment, the Poacher’s mind went completely blank.

Rong Taotao, however, was prepared. From the moment Si Huan Nian had him take off his down jacket and led him outside, he had realized what might happen.

THUD...

Rong Taotao rolled, skillfully absorbing the impact. When he lifted his head again, he saw the nearby desperado, his face contorted with rage and desperation.

’An opportunity!’

’A hostage, delivered right to my door!’

The desperado was overjoyed. He stopped looking for an escape route and sprinted with all his might, charging toward Rong Taotao!

Rong Taotao plunged both hands into the deep snow.

When he stood up, he was holding a handful of snow in his left hand, and in his right, he had already pulled a Heaven-piercing Halberd from the deep snowdrift...

Though his heart was filled with a thousand reluctances,

Rong Taotao’s body, and the Heaven-piercing Halberd in his hand, were undeniably honest!

*Fwoosh...*

Rong Taotao raised his left hand. The snowflakes in his palm scattered, rising as specks of starlight that illuminated his surroundings.

He stood his ground firmly, crouching slightly, the heavy Heaven-piercing Halberd held behind his back, blocking the enemy’s path.

Si Huan Nian stood in the distance, arms crossed, watching Rong Taotao’s every move and observing his every subtle reaction. Seeing him perform like this, she couldn’t help but nod to herself in approval...

In adversity, not discouraged,

In danger, not afraid.

One whose heart rages like a thunderstorm, yet whose face remains as calm as a placid lake, is worthy of being a great general!