An Evening on Food Street
Time, in the rhythm of training, study, and quiet companionship, flowed forward like a steady river. Another weekend arrived, painted in the soft, late-afternoon light of a Donghai City winter.
After a productive session at the Blacksmiths' Association—where the ring of hammers was a language of its own—Yao Xuan and Tang Wulin made their way back to the academy grounds. Tang Wulin's progress was solid, his innate talent slowly but surely unlocking the secrets of Thousand Refinements. Yao Xuan estimated another month would see the boy achieve the rank of a Tier Three Blacksmith—a remarkable feat for one not yet ten, though it would inevitably be overshadowed in the eyes of the world by Yao Xuan's own meteoric rise. Yao Xuan felt a complex mix of guidance and deliberate restraint towards Tang Wulin. He saw him not as an enemy like his father, Tang San, but as a pawn in a larger, crueler game—a son used as a vessel and a tool. Yao Xuan's path required claiming certain opportunities, but he had resolved a clear boundary: he would not harm this earnest, hardworking boy. A life of peace and modest prosperity would be his.
Entering the Class Zero dormitory, they were met by Xie Xie's characteristic energy. "Hey, Boss! Wu Lin! Back from beating metal?"
"The metal put up a good fight," Tang Wulin replied with a grin, flexing his arms. "I think I'm finally starting to hear what the steel wants to say during Thousand Refinements."
"Already? You're a monster too!" Xie Xie exclaimed, then his eyes lit up with an idea. "If you've had a breakthrough, we should celebrate! How about hitting the food street? A proper feast!"
The mention of Food Street instantly captured Tang Wulin's imagination. After the incident with Guang Biao over a month ago, Instructor Wu had imposed a strict curfew, but weekends were free territory. "I could definitely eat! Brother Xuan, you'll come too, right?"
"Of course," Yao Xuan said. Then, almost as an afterthought that was anything but, he added, "Let me see if Gu Yue wants to join."
He walked the short distance to Gu Yue's dormitory door and knocked softly.
Less than ten seconds later, the door opened. Gu Yue stood in the frame, and Yao Xuan's breath caught for a fleeting moment. It was a rest day, and she had foregone her usual academy uniform. She wore a simple, elegant dress of pale cream that contrasted beautifully with the waterfall of her silver hair, left loose today. A delicate hairpin shaped like a winter berry held a few strands back from her face. But it was her eyes—clear, luminous silver pools—that held him. They softened as they landed on him, and a gentle, genuine smile touched her lips, banishing any lingering trace of the academy's ice queen.
"Yao Xuan? What is it?" Her voice was a melody, softer than usual.
"We're heading to Food Street for a meal. Would you like to come with us?" he asked, his own voice unconsciously lowering to match her tone.
Her smile widened a fraction. "Together? Of course." The answer came without hesitation. Had it been anyone else, she might have preferred the solitude of cultivation. But for him, the choice was simple.
Soon, the four of them were walking through the academy gates towards the bustling, aromatic labyrinth of Food Street. Yao Xuan and Gu Yue fell into step side-by-side. After a few paces, his hand found hers—a natural, unspoken gesture. Her fingers were cool and slender, fitting perfectly within his. A wave of simple, profound contentment washed over him.
For Gu Yue, the touch was an anchor. The warmth of his hand, the subtle, comforting resonance of his Ancestral Dragon aura so close, sent a quiet thrill through her. The analytical part of her noted the strategic value of public bonding, but that thought was drowned out by a warmer, more instinctive response—a blend of Na'er's absolute trust and her own growing affection. She found herself leaning in slightly, her shoulder brushing against his arm as they walked, a silent testament to her comfort and closeness.
To their left, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie walked together. Tang Wulin watched the pair with a happy, brotherly satisfaction. Xie Xie, however, wore a faint, enduring scowl, his arms crossed. He was still nursing a grudge over past encounters with Gu Yue's 'violent' side, and seeing her so close to his revered boss was a bitter pill.
Their arrival on Food Street initially went unnoticed in the evening crowd. But soon, a sharp-eyed shopkeeper frying dumplings over a roaring flame did a double-take.
"Hey! Isn't that the young hero who dealt with that Light Dragon scoundrel?" he called out, wiping his hands on his apron and stepping forward.
Yao Xuan offered a modest smile. "I just did what anyone would have."
"Nonsense!" the shopkeeper boomed, his face sincere. "That leech was sucking us dry! Business is honest again, thanks to you! Come, come, eat at my stall! On the house!"
After a polite but futile attempt to decline, Yao Xuan, touched by the man's earnestness, accepted with a gracious nod. He led his friends to the stall's simple stools and table.
Word traveled down the narrow street with the speed of sizzling oil. Soon, other vendors whose livelihoods had been squeezed by Guang Biao's extortion emerged from their stalls. Their faces lit up with recognition and gratitude. One offered skewers of glazed meat, another pushed bowls of steaming noodle soup towards them, a third insisted they try her special sweet rice cakes.
Caught in this tide of heartfelt appreciation, Yao Xuan and his companions found themselves on an impromptu culinary tour. Yao Xuan, Gu Yue, and Tang Wulin—each possessing metabolisms fueled by extraordinary constitutions—accepted the offerings with genuine delight, savoring each flavor. Gu Yue, usually so restrained, seemed to relish the simple joy of the shared meal, her occasional, soft-spoken compliments to the cooks bringing proud smiles to their faces.
Xie Xie, however, was hopelessly outmatched. He tried to pace himself, taking only a bite or two at each stop, but the sheer volume and richness were overwhelming. Halfway down the street, he was groaning, clutching his stomach, leaning heavily on a chuckling Tang Wulin for support. He could only watch in a mix of awe and dismay as Yao Xuan, Gu Yue, and Tang Wulin continued to partake with undiminished enthusiasm.
Two hours later, under a sky now dusted with stars, they finally reached the end of the street. Their bellies were full, their hearts warmed by the vendors' generosity. After a chorus of farewells and well-wishes from the grateful shopkeepers, the group turned back towards the academy.
Yao Xuan and Gu Yue walked hand-in-hand once more, the comfortable silence between them filled with the lingering echoes of shared laughter and good food. Tang Wulin supported a groaning, but ultimately good-humored, Xie Xie. The night air was cool, carrying the distant, happy clamor of the food street—a symphony of ordinary life they had briefly, warmly, been a part of. It was a simple memory, but in its simplicity, it wove another strong, bright thread into the fabric of their growing bond.