The journey continued smoothly.
Within just a few days, Godwind Academy and Blazing Academy had quietly finalized their alliance agreement. Naturally, this information was kept strictly confidential—no one outside their two teams would hear of it until the Grand Finals began.
Meanwhile, the members of Crimson Rose Academy were enjoying a rare period of peace.
Each day, they gathered inside their carriage to cultivate, talk, and grow closer. Even the usually reserved Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling had become more comfortable and affectionate with the group.
Every time they stopped to rest, Li Chang'an would think of some new way to surprise everyone—grilling meat, stir-frying dishes, or preparing snacks. Thanks to him, the atmosphere in the team stayed light and cheerful.
Fortunately, this time there was no trouble along the way. Tang San had not yet revealed his Clear Sky Hammer, and even if he had, the Spirit Hall would likely only take notice—not attempt an ambush.
The road to Spirit City was calm. Ten days passed quickly, and the group was already halfway through their journey.
With five hundred Royal Knights serving as escort, the convoy's presence resembled that of a royal procession. Every city they passed welcomed them with the highest honors. They encountered no danger whatsoever.
---
On the eleventh day, they had not reached a town by nightfall, so the group decided to make camp in the open fields.
As usual, Li Chang'an took command of the kitchen.
"Brother, what's for dinner?" Xiao Wu asked, rubbing her stomach as she watched him set up the cooking gear.
"Tonight, I'm keeping it simple," Li Chang'an replied. "Plain noodles in clear broth with chopped scallions. Something light for a change."
He tossed a few fresh scallions into the air. Zhu Zhuqing, their quiet little "cat," caught them deftly and obediently went to chop them.
"Good idea," said Liu Erlong, dressed in an elegant black gown, her tone teasing. "We've been eating meat every day. I feel like I've gained weight. And besides, Chang'an—your noodles are always… quite satisfying."
Liu Erlong looked healthier and more radiant than ever. Her complexion glowed with the vitality of a young woman, her skin soft and luminous. Combined with her mature allure, she truly embodied the charm of the "beautiful neighborly aunt."
Li Chang'an smiled and nodded, controlling the Ultimate Flame in his palm to heat the pot evenly.
Just as he was about to pour in the water, a calm, cool voice interrupted him:
"If I were to provide the water… could I have a share of the noodles?"
The speaker wore a pale blue uniform. Her long azure hair shimmered softly, her blue eyes serene yet proud. Her beauty was crystalline, cold, and flawless.
It was none other than Shui Bing'er.
"Of course," Li Chang'an said pleasantly. Though he didn't know why she'd come, his tone was welcoming.
Shui Bing'er nodded politely to the girls, then raised her delicate hand. A clear stream of icy water appeared from thin air, misted with cold vapor. Under her precise control, it flowed smoothly into the pot.
Li Chang'an responded by adjusting the fire with his right hand while adding ingredients with his left—fresh greens, mushrooms, and seasoning.
Before long, a pot of fragrant noodles was ready, steam curling into the night air.
---
"Please," Li Chang'an said, ladling a bowl himself and offering it to Shui Bing'er.
Inside, the pale yellow noodles floated atop a light crimson broth, garnished with scallions, mushrooms, and greens. A delicate aroma rose with the steam—simple, yet irresistibly comforting.
"Thank you," Shui Bing'er said softly, taking the bowl and sitting down nearby.
Her first bite was gentle and graceful—but after that first taste, all restraint vanished.
'So good!' she thought, quickly abandoning her composure and eating heartily.
Li Chang'an chuckled quietly, serving bowls to each of his girls. Even Zhu Zhuqing received one from his own hand. His attention to such small details touched them more deeply than words could.
When everyone had eaten, Xiao Wu and Meng Yiran still weren't satisfied—they helped themselves to seconds.
Li Chang'an, meanwhile, turned toward Shui Bing'er.
She wasn't the kind to show up just for a free meal.
---
"Miss Shui Bing'er," he began, "you can tell me what's wrong. If it's within my power, I'll help."
Shui Bing'er hesitated, fingers nervously clutching the hem of her skirt. "Honestly, I wouldn't be here if I had any other choice. I thought about it for a long time… and you're the only one I could ask."
After a pause, she finally spoke.
Skywater Academy, she explained, had always been considered a civilian academy, lacking the powerful patrons that supported other schools. As such, they often suffered under noble pressure.
Certain aristocrats had taken an interest in Skywater's beautiful students—offering them "positions" as bodyguards, though everyone knew what those positions truly entailed.
While lesser nobles feared Skywater's reputation enough to stay in line, great lords were another matter.
Recently, one such noble—a Prince of the North, the Duke who governed the northern borders—had demanded that Shui Bing'er and her teammate Xue Wu enter his household upon graduation as "attendants."
If Skywater refused, he threatened to reclaim the land their academy stood on.
In the Heaven Dou Empire, a prince held nearly sovereign power within his territory. And this particular one—the Prince of the Northern Marches—was especially dangerous. He commanded heavy troops and wielded great authority.
The academy could not afford to offend him. His demand wasn't overtly illegal; he hadn't crossed any formal line.
But everyone knew the truth. And Shui Bing'er would rather die than become one of his "favorites."
Desperate, she had sought help from other academies—the Four Elements among them—but none dared defy the Northern Prince. Only as a last resort had she turned to Li Chang'an, the mysterious prodigy of Crimson Rose.
---
"The Northern Prince…" Li Chang'an repeated, frowning. The name was unfamiliar—but he quickly connected the dots.
In the original timeline, during Xue Beng's final stand against the Spirit Hall, the northern army that sided with him had been commanded by a powerful regional lord.
If his guess was right, that man was this very prince.
A northern prince, a noble of Heaven Dou…
---
"So," Li Chang'an asked mildly, "if I help you… what do I gain in return?"
"I…" Shui Bing'er bit her lip. "I'll join Crimson Rose Academy. I'll dedicate myself to your team—forever, if I must."
A bold promise—born of desperation.
Before Li Chang'an could reply, Hu Liena, who had been listening nearby, rolled her eyes.
"Don't take him seriously. He's teasing you. Of course we'll help. He'd never ignore something like this."
Her tone was light, but her gaze held warmth. After all, the Spirit Hall's own reforms—championing the rights of commoners—had been Li Chang'an's idea to begin with. How could he turn a blind eye now?
"R-Really?" Shui Bing'er asked, eyes wide. Her heart raced as she met his calm, confident face. He was handsome in a natural, effortless way—the kind of beauty that grew stronger the longer one looked.
Li Chang'an nodded. "Of course. Don't worry. I'll handle this personally once the tournament's over."
"Thank you…" Shui Bing'er bowed deeply, her voice trembling. Everything had happened so quickly—it felt almost unreal.
He simply smiled. "Believe me, Shui Bing'er. The days when nobles could trample commoners…"
He paused, his eyes gleaming like molten gold beneath the firelight.
"…are coming to an end."