A Clash of Light and Shadows
Leaving the cafeteria and its newly imposed limits behind, the group drifted through the academy's lantern-lit avenues. "Let's explore a bit more," Yao Xuan suggested. "Classes start tomorrow. Our free time will be scarce." The proposal met with unanimous agreement.
They soon turned onto a vibrant, bustling street, a stark contrast to the serene academic zones. Shops glowed with warm light, and the buzz of student life filled the air.
"What's that place?" Xu Xiaoyan pointed to a particularly lively establishment with wide windows.
Xie Xie darted ahead to investigate, returning with an excited report. "It's a drink bar! They have them here too! Come on, let's get something!"
"Yes! I want ice cream!" Xu Xiaoyan chirped. Tang Wulin nodded, always amenable to food.
Yao Xuan glanced at Gu Yue. "Shall we?"
"Very well," she agreed softly.
As they entered the cozy, noisy interior, Yao Xuan felt a flicker of fate's peculiar weave. A drink bar. If the threads of destiny held true, this was where they would cross paths with the other two.
They found a vacant booth. A waitress approached—a young woman with short, fiery red hair, large, dark eyes, and a fragile air that seemed at odds with the setting. She handed them menus with quiet efficiency.
'Yuanen Yehui,' Yao Xuan noted internally. 'And if the pattern holds…' He ordered juice and ice cream for the table.
The treats were exorbitantly priced but exquisite. The ice cream was rich, perfectly balanced, and even Gu Yue, ever-discerning, ate hers with a small, appreciative smile.
The peaceful moment shattered with a voice from a nearby table—arrogant, domineering, and brimming with entitlement.
"Waitress. Give me your soul communicator number."
A boy of fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a crisp white suit, leaned back in his chair. He was handsome, with slicked-back blond hair and dark gold eyes that radiated an innate, haughty light. Le Zhengyu.
The familiar, uncomfortable scene played out. Le Zhengyu's demand was refused. He escalated, summoning the manager, then the owner. When met with steadfast refusal to compromise their employee's privacy, he simply bought the bar on the spot and renewed his demand.
Yuanen Yehui's response was a cold snort. She untied her apron, placed it neatly on the counter, and walked toward the exit without a backward glance.
"How interesting," Le Zhengyu sneered, rising to follow.
"Shameless!" Xie Xie's voice cut through the bar's murmur. He stood up, his sense of justice overriding caution. "Is this what passes for behavior in Shrek City?" He moved to block Le Zhengyu's path. From the doorway, Yuanen Yehui paused, casting a single, grateful glance at Xie Xie before melting into the night.
"Out of my way," Le Zhengyu said contemptuously, shoving past him.
"I'm not moving!" Xie Xie planted his feet, blocking him again. "Using your power to harass someone? That's not right!"
"I suspect she's an evil soul master. Now, move, before you waste more of my time." Brilliant golden light erupted from Le Zhengyu. A pair of pure white wings unfurled from his back, and three purple soul rings rose from his feet, filling the bar with a pressurized, holy aura.
"The Holy Angel… the Le family?" Xie Xie breathed, recognition dawning with a hint of dread.
"If you know, then you know better than to interfere." Le Zhengyu brushed past him again and shot out the door after his quarry, his entourage scrambling behind him.
The group hurried outside in time to see the brief, spectacular clash in the street ahead—a burst of golden holy light meeting a surge of profound darkness from Yuanen Yehui's own revealed Fallen Angel martial soul. The conflict was halted almost instantly by the swift arrival of Shrek City's enforcers. After a brief investigation, they cleared Yuanen Yehui of the evil soul master accusation and dispersed the crowd with a warning.
Yuanen Yehui, from a distance, gave Le Zhengyu a scathing thumbs-down gesture before her eyes found Xie Xie again. The gratitude in that look was clear and intense. Then, she was gone, vanishing into the network of shadows between buildings.
Frustrated and humiliated, Le Zhengyu turned, his fury seeking a new outlet. His gaze landed on Xie Xie.
"You," he spat, striding over. "Very brave, interfering with the Le family. You've ruined my mood. Kneel. Kiss my boots and apologize, or you will learn what regret truly means."
Xie Xie stiffened, his fists clenching. The weight of the Le family's name—a powerhouse with Limit Douluo and military command—pressed down on him. Refusal meant potentially dire consequences, not just for him, but for his own family. Compliance was unthinkable. He stood frozen, caught in an impossible vise.
Before Xie Xie could force a response, a calm, steady presence stepped in front of him.
Yao Xuan moved without haste, placing himself between Xie Xie and Le Zhengyu. He wasn't significantly taller, but his bearing held a deep, unshakable stillness that seemed to absorb the chaotic energy around them. He looked down, meeting Le Zhengyu's furious dark-gold eyes with his own tranquil gaze.
"The Le family name grants you status," Yao Xuan said, his voice quiet yet carrying perfectly in the sudden hush. "It does not grant you the right to demean my brother. Watch your tone."
The air crackled with a new kind of tension. This was no longer a bully confronting a lone defender. This was a sovereign presence, calmly and definitively drawing a line.
Gu Yue watched from just behind Yao Xuan's shoulder, her violet eyes cool and analytical, her fingers faintly shimmering with gathered elemental energy—not a threat, but a silent, ready promise of support. Tang Wulin shifted his weight forward, a subtle golden gleam in his pupils. Xu Xiaoyan gripped her staff.
Le Zhengyu's eyes narrowed, his holy light flaring brighter as he took in this new, unexpectedly formidable obstacle. The night, which had seemed so clearly his to command, had suddenly become complicated.