The curtain at the noodle stall lifted, and seven people walked in.
At the front was a tall young man. His looks weren't breathtaking, but his brows carried an imposing heroism, and his very presence radiated a commanding aura.
The girl at the very back drew even more attention. Dark red waves of long hair cascaded down to her waist, framing delicate features and skin fairer than snow.
She wore a short golden-red dress that bared a stretch of long, slender legs; one thigh was wrapped with a red leg ring, lending her an air of fiery, unrestrained allure.
The other five were all young men, dressed in identical gold-and-red combat uniforms.
The moment the seven entered the stall,
a wave of heat seemed to wash over the room —
as if even the stray fire-attribute energy in the air was stirred.
Li Zhexian's gaze swept over them, and he instantly understood.
With the Spirit Master Tournament approaching, the major academies had gathered in Heaven Dou City for pre-tournament exchanges and sparring.
And with attire this striking, there was no mistaking it—they could only be from one of the Five Elemental Academies: Blazing Academy.
"It has nothing to do with me," Li Zhexian thought. He went back to eating his noodles, his ears perked to listen to the storyteller in the wine stall across the street.
The seven people from the Blazing Academy ordered their noodles and started talking as if no one else was there.
"Vice-captain, didn't you go to the Spirit Arena?" one teammate asked.
"Didn't run into anyone strong?"
The wavy-haired girl was the vice-captain, Huo Wu.
She curled her lips and glanced casually around the humble stall.
"No, I'm tired of the Spirit Arena in Blazing City"
"I thought Heaven Dou City might be more interesting, but… it's nothing special."
The tall young man at the front was the captain, Huo Wushuang.
He picked up his teacup, and the cold tea in his hand surprisingly steamed with heat.
"I've heard there's someone here called Sword Wine—said to be formidable."
As soon as the words "Sword Wine" were spoken, the customers who had been deliberately lowering their voices to avoid this group of "uninvited guests" suddenly perked up.
Mention Sword Wine, and no one felt sleepy anymore!
Sensing the subtle shift in the stall's atmosphere, Huo Wu's lips curved in a playful smile.
"This Sword Wine the captain mentioned—I've heard of him too."
"Looks like in Heaven Dou City, his name really carries weight."
Just then—
The storyteller across the street raised his voice again. He was telling the story of "Sword Wine slaying the Evil Phoenix with a single sword." The members of the Blazing Academy team listened, their eyebrows slightly raised, and a look of deep interest appeared on their faces.
"Just from what this storyteller says, this Sword Wine… really is something."
Huo Wushuang sipped his hot tea and said slowly:
"I heard even the Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team's captain, Yu Tianheng, couldn't take a single move from him."
Huo Wu nodded.
"Storytellers often exaggerate…"
"But there's no smoke without fire—he must have real skill."
At that moment, steaming bowls of noodles were brought over.
Huo Wu glanced around.
She noticed that since they had entered, the other diners had quietly shifted farther away—
Only the white-clad young man at the next table hadn't moved, actually sitting a little closer than before.
She picked up the chili oil jar, leaned over with a smile, and asked:
"Little brother, you still need this chili?"
Li Zhexian looked at her, scooped a generous spoonful of red oil into his own bowl, and slid the jar toward her.
"Here. All yours."
Whether it was his calm composure before their fiery group, or the fact he was absorbed in listening to the storyteller talk about Sword Wine, Huo Wu couldn't tell.
As she took the jar, she tasted a mouthful of noodles, then asked with interest:
"Little brother, you like listening to Sword Wine stories too?"
Li Zhexian nodded.
"Mm. I like them."
"You've seen him fight in the Spirit Arena? Is he really as strong as the storyteller says?"
Li Zhexian smacked his lips.
Have him praise himself?
That… felt a bit embarrassing.
"Strong," he said with certainty.
"Stronger than the storyteller says."
"Oh?"
Huo Wu raised a brow.
The white-clad youth before her had a refined face and a calm, unassuming air—not the sort to boast idly.
This Sword Wine must be truly extraordinary.
A flicker of heat passed through Huo Wushuang's eyes.
"Hope we get a chance to see him in action."
The next day—
Xue Qinghe brought a food box and personally came to the door. The enticing aroma wafting from the box was Li Zhexian's favorite, Three Immortals Chicken.
When Li Zhexian opened the door and saw her, surprise flickered across his face—
But he naturally took the food box and led her into the courtyard.
"You're so busy, yet you have time to visit me?"
Xue Qinghe's gaze swept over the small courtyard, finally landing on the sandalwood armchair under the plum tree..
The chair had a polished sheen, a clear sign that it was used often
She nodded, satisfied.
"I'm stealing a moment of leisure. And also... to bring you something to eat."
Li Zhexian placed the food box on the stone table in the courtyard.
Xue Qinghe, clearly familiar with the place, went inside and fetched two sets of bowls and chopsticks.
The two of them sat beneath the plum blossoms, sharing the fragrant chicken with the breeze and the faint scent of flowers.
In the end—
They ended up squabbling over a single glossy chicken wing.
"Hah…"
Xue Qinghe finally claimed her prize, chewing contentedly and letting out a long breath.
She looked at the man across from her.
Much of the weariness between her brows from the past few days had melted away without her noticing.
What a strange thing.
This man often made her grit her teeth—
Yet she couldn't help wanting to be around him, as if just being in his presence could banish her fatigue.
"Alright, speak up," Li Zhexian said, taking a sip of wine and putting down his cup, his gaze on her face. "What do you need me for today?"
Xue Qinghe raised a slender eyebrow. "Is it that obvious?"
He curled his lip.
"What else?"
"If you didn't have something on your mind, do you think I'd have let you have that chicken wing?"
"You rarely come to me for anything—just say it."
Seeing her hesitate, Li Zhexian leaned lazily back in his chair and added:
"I owe you so much money."
"Between us, is there any need for beating around the bush?"
Xue Qinghe blinked, studying him for a long moment—
Then her lips curved in a genuine smile.
Actually... she had always been reluctant to ask Li Zhexian for a favor. She was always afraid that their rare friendship would be tainted with a sense of utility, which she disliked immensely.
But Li Zhexian's joke about "owing money" and his words "between " were like a gentle breeze, blowing away all her worries.
Composing herself, she said:
"Father's health is not good. The arrangements for the academy exchanges before this Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament have fallen to me."
She paused, then continued:
"The teams coming this time are all strong. The Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team represents the dignity of the royal family—we cannot lose in Heaven Dou City."
"Yu Tianheng and the others are powerful, and they might not lose, but I think… it's best to have an extra safeguard."
By now, Li Zhexian understood.
"You mean… if the Imperial Team falters, I step in?"
Xue Qinghe smiled, pouring wine into his cup.
"You know me well, Zhexian."
Li Zhexian raised his cup and drained it in one go. In his mind, he suddenly remembered the Blazing Academy team he had met the day before.
Under Xue Qinghe's smiling gaze, he nodded and said,
"Then I'll go stir things up a bit."