The Quartet
"You fought well, Yao Xuan."
Gu Yue's voice, as clear and melodious as a mountain spring, carried a note of genuine admiration as Yao Xuan approached. She stood a little apart from the celebrating crowd, an island of composed grace.
"It was merely a warm-up," Yao Xuan replied, his tone matching her quiet sincerity. "For us, these first-year opponents are not the true test. I suspect only the fourth-year students and above will pose a real challenge. That is when we will need to rely on each other completely."
He met her amethyst gaze, and in that moment, the noise of their classmates faded into a distant hum. There was an understanding there, a silent acknowledgment of shared strength and purpose that transcended words.
"Yes," Gu Yue agreed, a confident, subtle smile gracing her lips. "I believe that fighting side by side, even defeating the sixth-year class would be within our reach."
"Defeat the sixth grade?" Yao Xuan considered it, then gave a slow nod. "It is possible." Provided the senior students lacked a formidable Martial Soul Fusion Technique, the combined might of his Ancestral Dragon and her command of elements could indeed challenge the entire intermediate division. Yet, a thread of knowledge from his past life whispered a caveat—to preserve the pride of the upper years, Donghai Academy had been known to suspend cross-grade challenges. Their ambition might face administrative walls before combat ones.
Despite the clean victory, a flicker of dissatisfaction tempered Yao Xuan's satisfaction. The source was the System. Defeating the Class 4 trio had yielded a paltry one hundred Ordinary Evolution Points—a mere 0.01 when converted to the precious Golden Evolution Points he craved. With the second layer of the Creation Soul Forging Technique, a single cultivation session now netted him over a full Golden Point. This tournament victory was equivalent to less than a minute of meditation. His hope of efficiently farming points through the promotion battles was dashed. For substantial gains, he would need the sanctioned chaos of the Spirit Ascension Platform, where the System could harvest from fallen spirit beasts without moral or legal complication. That path lay ahead, beyond this tournament and within the promised resources of the elite class.
His musings were interrupted as Xie Xie and Tang Wulin bounded over, their faces alight with the thrill of victory.
"Boss! That was brilliant!" Xie Xie exclaimed, his usual cockiness amplified by adrenaline. "We should celebrate! Let's go out! My treat!"
"Celebrate? I could eat," Yao Xuan agreed readily. With evening training suspended during the tournament, the opportunity for camaraderie was welcome. "Where do you suggest?"
"Where else? The food street next to the academy! I know all the best spots—trust a local!" Xie Xie puffed out his chest, the proud native of Donghai City. "We're off to a flying start; we deserve a feast!"
Tang Wulin's eyes lit up at the word 'feast,' a gleam of pure, gastronomic anticipation that made Yao Xuan chuckle internally.
"Sounds perfect," Yao Xuan said. He then turned naturally to the quiet girl beside him. "Gu Yue, will you join us?"
"Okay," she replied, her smile sweet and immediate.
Xie Xie's triumphant expression soured slightly. "Hmph. Girls complicate things," he muttered under his breath, just loud enough to hear.
"Oh, Xie Xie?" Gu Yue's smile didn't waver, but a faint, cyan halo shimmered briefly behind her. The temperature around them dropped several perceptible degrees, raising goosebumps on Xie Xie's arms. "Would you care to repeat that?"
Xie Xie visibly deflated, the memory of her elemental prowess and the ice pick at his neck still fresh. "Fine, fine! You can come," he grumbled, crossing his arms. "But just so we're clear, I'm not paying for your food."
Yao Xuan fought back a smile. Xie Xie's private label for Gu Yue—'female tyrant'—was, in its own unintentional way, hilariously accurate, given her true identity as the Silver Dragon King. He kept that thought securely locked away.
"Money is hardly an issue," Gu Yue said with a faint, regal scoff. "If it were, I'm certain Yao Xuan would cover me. Isn't that right?"
"With pleasure," Yao Xuan answered, his gaze warm on hers.
Xie Xie rolled his eyes dramatically. "Ugh, let's just go."
Donghai Academy's policies were refreshingly lax. There were no gate checks or permission slips; students were free to come and go, trusted to return by curfew. The quartet soon found themselves on the bustling evening streets of the city.
They fell into a natural formation as they walked. Yao Xuan occupied the center, a steady anchor. Gu Yue walked on his right, close enough that the sleeves of their uniforms occasionally brushed—a faint, electric contact that was both innocent and profoundly intimate. A subtle, clean fragrance, like lotus after rain, emanated from her, a calming counterpoint to the city's smells.
To Yao Xuan's left was Tang Wulin, a solid and reliable presence, and beyond him, Xie Xie, who navigated with the confident stride of a tour guide, pointing out landmarks and grumbling good-naturedly.
After a five-minute walk, a symphony of aromas began to weave through the air—savory, sweet, spicy, smoky—growing richer with every step.
"We're here," Xie Xie announced, stopping at the mouth of a lively, lantern-lit lane. It wasn't wide, but it pulsed with energy. Shops and stalls lined both sides, their fronts open to the street, each offering a dazzling array of delicacies. The air shimmered with heat from grills and steam from pots. Vibrant colors of fresh ingredients, glossy sauces, and sizzling meats created a feast for the eyes even before one took a bite. The tantalizing scents were so potent they seemed almost tangible, making mouths water involuntarily.
For a moment, the four young soul masters, fresh from the sterile arena, simply stood and absorbed the vibrant, delicious chaos of the food street. The next challenge awaited tomorrow, but tonight belonged to friendship, simple pleasures, and the unspoken bond growing quietly between a dragon in human skin and the boy who carried an older, grander legacy within his own.