Master of Nine Stars

"Ugh... Er..."

The next morning, a series of groans echoed from the mailroom inside the Songjiang Soul Martial Arts Hall.

Rong Taotao lay in bed, his face contorted in pain. He didn’t even dare to turn over, afraid of the needle-like agony that would surely lance through his chest again.

He had thought he would get much better after a night’s rest, but he never expected the injury’s aftereffects to be so potent.

The force of the flying ax that had struck his Halberd Shaft had been immense, causing the shaft to slam solidly into Rong Taotao’s chest.

"Nngh~" On the pillow beside him, the Cloud Dog peeked out its little head. It stuck out its tiny pink tongue and began licking Rong Taotao’s cheek, seemingly trying to heal him in its own way.

Seeing that its efforts were having no effect after a long while, the Cloud Dog flapped its big ears and flew toward Rong Taotao’s chest.

Rong Taotao jumped in fright!

He hurriedly reached out to catch the Cloud Dog, but the slightest movement sent a tearing sensation through his entire body. The pain in his chest flared up again...

"Ouch..."

Rong Taotao grabbed the Cloud Dog with one hand and pinned it to the bed.

"Nngh~" The Cloud Dog wriggled, its beady little black eyes peering out at the world through the gaps between Rong Taotao’s fingers. It tried to crawl out, but how could its meager strength possibly let it escape his clutches?

WHOOSH...

The Cloud Dog dissolved into a wisp of cloud and floated free.

Rong Taotao was on the verge of tears. "Oh, you little monster! How are you even more mischievous than I am..."

...

Around noon, a KNOCK KNOCK sounded at the small mailroom window.

Rong Taotao didn’t even turn his head. He kept his eyes closed, continuing to absorb Soul Power as he spoke, "Go get your own food. I can’t get out of bed."

CLICK.

The small window slid open. A young man leaned his elbows on the windowsill and looked at the "sleeping" Rong Taotao inside. "It’s noon. Still not up?"

’What a familiar voice.’

"Huh?" Rong Taotao turned his head in surprise, only to see Lu Mang outside the window, frowning at him.

Rong Taotao asked curiously, "Why are you back? School doesn’t start for another half a month. Didn’t you go to cultivate the Heart of the Ocean?"

In truth, Lu Mang’s reasons for returning home were different from everyone else’s.

Not only did he not go to cultivate the Heart of the Ocean, but after returning to the north from Shanghai City, he had also stayed for a long time in Songbai Town, several dozen kilometers away from the school.

Moving was never a simple task, let alone making a home in an unfamiliar place.

Settling one person down was far more complicated than Lu Mang had imagined. The two generations had different ways of thinking, and for Father Lu, it was still a bit too early to be thinking about living out his golden years in retirement.

Although the process was difficult, the outcome was good. A new life had begun. The father and son not only had a home of their own, but with the school’s financial support, Lu Mang had even found a storefront and helped his father start a small business.

It was a very small shop. Lu Mang stayed with his father through the difficult early days after opening. Thanks to their combined efforts, everything was getting on track.

Though it wouldn’t lead to great wealth or status, it offered a stable life, which was far better and much more relaxed than Father Lu’s previous life, exposed to the wind and sun on the streets.

A young man’s ambition shouldn’t be a house.

They should be hunched over their desks, writing furiously, or pouring sweat into their dreams, imagining their own bright futures.

A young man’s dream shouldn’t be just about making a living.

They should be wanting to collect all seven Dragon Pearls or fantasizing about owning a Pikachu.

But Lu Mang was clearly different from the others. Everything he had done this past month had fulfilled all of his dreams.

As for what came next, Lu Mang just wanted to get stronger.

And he had to get stronger. He couldn’t allow himself to fall behind. He had to be the best, to show Songjiang Soul Martial his value and not disappoint the school’s high expectations.

"You’re hurt?" Outside the window, Lu Mang asked, looking at Rong Taotao who still hadn’t gotten up.

"Yeah." Rong Taotao grimaced. "Come in, the door’s unlocked. How did you know I was here?"

Lu Mang pushed the door open and came inside. "The school sent me. How did you get hurt?"

Rong Taotao thought for a moment and said, "Si Huan Nian is my instructor now."

’That answer wasn’t wrong, per se.’

’Besides Si Huan Nian, no one else would pull something like what happened last night.’

Rong Taotao: "Why are you back early?"

Lu Mang: "I came back early to train so I don’t fall too far behind you."

Rong Taotao’s expression was strange. ’What does he mean? He didn’t go cultivate the Heart of the Ocean at all? Did he waste this entire month?’

"It was pretty hard to get in. The city and the school are on lockdown." Lu Mang sat down in a chair, but then he noticed a napkin tucked under a water glass. On the visible part was the signature "Gao Lingwei."

Lu Mang picked up the glass and saw the eight words written above the signature: Fine robes, swift horse; let youth run its course.

Lu Mang said softly, "Nice handwriting."

"Heh~ The person is even better, just too outstanding. I’m currently worrying about how to pursue her," Rong Taotao grumbled.

Lu Mang turned his head in surprise and looked at Rong Taotao. "You? Chasing a girl?"

"Yeah, what’s wrong with that?" Rong Taotao said, disgruntled. "Am I not worthy of having a girlfriend?"

Lu Mang pressed his lips together, hesitating for a long moment before advising, "Don’t let Li Ziyi and Sun Xingyu distract you. You should focus more on your studies. They aren’t always so lovey-dovey all the time."

’Rong Taotao: ???’

Lu Mang: "A couple is bound to argue eventually."

Rong Taotao: "Oho? You’ve had a puppy love romance before?"

Lu Mang glanced at Rong Taotao in silence. ’It’s pointless talking to this idiot!’

He asked, "The school arranged for me to come to the Martial Arts Hall and have Coach Si Huan Nian train me for a while. Where is she?"

"You’re here too? Great! Go get her some food..." Rong Taotao was delighted. ’An errand boy has arrived!’

"You little brat. Not much skill, but you’re quick to order people around." A woman’s voice suddenly came from outside the window.

Lu Mang quickly stood up, his expression respectful. "Coach Si."

"Mm." Si Huan Nian nodded. "Go get food. Second floor of the cafeteria, faculty dining hall. Bring back three meals."

Lu Mang: "Yes."

As Lu Mang left, Si Huan Nian also walked in. Seeing Rong Taotao’s look of utter misery, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "Still hurts?"

Rong Taotao: "Yeah."

Beside the pillow, Rong Taotao’s phone suddenly lit up.

Because of Si Huan Nian, Rong Taotao always kept his phone on silent inside the Martial Arts Hall.

Seeing the phone light up, the Cloud Dog folded its two big ears together, lifted the phone, and brought it to Rong Taotao’s hand.

Rong Taotao hesitated, holding the phone that had been placed in his hand, but he didn’t raise it.

"Need help?" Si Huan Nian asked with a smile, looking at the patient on the bed.

"Sure," Rong Taotao said immediately. ’An opportunity to order Si Huan Nian around? I can’t possibly miss it.’

"A message from someone named Gan Lin. She’s asking where you went and why you didn’t go to the cafeteria to get food." As she spoke, Si Huan Nian held the phone screen in front of Rong Taotao’s eyes, watching him with great interest.

Gan Lin was Gao Lingwei’s best friend. Her username on Weibo was "SweetRainAfterALongDrought."

Only then did Rong Taotao remember the arrangement he had made with her last night. He would bring his dog, Gan Lin would bring Gao Lingwei, and they would meet at the coffee shop today at 11:30 AM...

Of course, it wasn’t a date. It was Gan Lin and Gao Lingwei getting coffee, and Rong Taotao would just happen to be passing by and "coincidentally" run into them...

"Go on," Si Huan Nian said, pressing the "record voice message" button and holding the phone to Rong Taotao’s mouth.

Rong Taotao started, "Sorry, I can’t make it. I got screwed over by Si Huan Nian last night. This injury will probably take a few days to heal."

Si Huan Nian swiped her finger up and to the left, canceling the message. She pressed the record button again, held the phone to Rong Taotao’s mouth, and said, "Say it again."

’Rong Taotao: ???’

He grimaced, and after a long pause, he said, "Coach Si taught me a lesson last night and crippled me. Let’s meet up in a few days when I’m healed!"

Si Huan Nian swiped her thumb, canceling the voice message, and once again held the phone to Rong Taotao’s mouth. "Again."

’Are you a demon?’

’I’m f*cking losing my mind...’

Rong Taotao’s chest felt tight with anger. He blurted out, "Si Huan Nian is a woman of noble character and integrity, a model for all teachers, a radiant beacon of light, her glory will be recorded for eternity! Si Huan Nian! Eternally divine!"

Si Huan Nian shrugged as if she completely agreed and sent the voice message.

Rong Taotao: "..."

Si Huan Nian casually tossed the phone onto the bed. "Who’s this girl?"

Rong Taotao: "An innocent young woman who’s about to be deceived by lies."

A faint smile played on Si Huan Nian’s lips as she reached out and gently poked Rong Taotao’s chest. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"HISS..." Rong Taotao winced in pain, baring his teeth. He quickly blurted out, "Gao Lingwei’s best friend! Gao Lingwei’s best friend!"

Si Huan Nian raised an eyebrow slightly. "Gao Lingwei? This year’s Outer Region champion?"

Rong Taotao: "Yup."

Hearing this, Si Huan Nian’s expression turned a little strange. She looked Rong Taotao up and down. "Why are you getting close to her best friend?"

Rong Taotao didn’t say another word. He simply closed his eyes and played dead.

Si Huan Nian scoffed, seemingly understanding what Rong Taotao was trying to do. She turned, pushed the door open, and left, her voice drifting back from a distance, "You sure know how to dream big."

’Rong Taotao felt a pang of frustration. ’Does the whole world think I’m not good enough for her?’’

’But... but what if?’