As Ningyan ate, he watched Zhao Zihan enter the room with a new set of robes for him.
He had wanted… he still wanted to tell her that he didn't have any spirit crystal. But it had already been more than a week since he arrived at the inn, and she hadn't chased him out. He also hadn't dared to ask her about what was happening outside these walls.
He was afraid of what he would hear.
Bad news is inevitable, he kept telling himself.
Yet he still hadn't asked.
Zhao Zihan paused mid-step and turned toward him, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
"Are you going to stare holes into my head, or are you finally going to say whatever it is you're thinking?"
She met his gaze directly.
Ningyan's eyes widened slightly. He immediately grabbed his cup of water and drank it in one go, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand before taking a deep, steadying breath.
"Are you aware of what happened at the Celestial Beast Academy?"
