Everything had been fine just a moment ago. How had it suddenly turned into this?
Never mind. Time to slip away.
Arthur, out of habit, made to sneak off. "I've suddenly got the feeling, today's the day I break through in my soul forging. You all go ahead and have fun, I'll head over to the Blacksmith Association."
With that, he moved to leave.
"Hmph. Trying to run?"
Xu Xiaoyan, breaking from her usual style, summoned her star staff. Invisible starforce swept over him instantly, pinning Arthur rigidly in place. A faint chain of starlight wound tightly around him.
"Xu Xiaoyan, you've picked up some bad habits." Arthur smiled scornfully. "But how long can you actually hold me?"
Before he'd even finished speaking, Gu Yue seamlessly took over control, sealing off the space around him. An invisible force of space bound Arthur firmly where he stood.
Arthur's mouth twitched. "Gu Yue?"
Gu Yue raised her eyes and gave him a flat glance. "Hm?"
"Fine, fine, fine!" Arthur perked up. "These are all just cheap tricks. Watch me break free in an instant... wait! Na'er!"
He saw that Na'er had already slipped silently around behind him and, in an instant, wrapped her arms around him as though she meant to melt him right into her embrace.
"Trying to run? No way!"
She raised a hand and pressed Arthur's head firmly against her chest. "You're not going anywhere today. Just sit tight and keep me company!"
Out in public like this, even Arthur, thick-skinned as he was, felt his face heating up.
Unlike the closeness of childhood, back then, this kind of contact with Na'er had never stirred anything in him.
But now, Na'er's figure had filled out, and the curves unique to a young woman were faintly visible beneath her thin clothing.
He could feel, with startling clarity, the soft touch and warm heat radiating from behind him.
And mixed with that was the faint scent of milk and sweets that clung to Na'er, which froze him completely.
This was bad!
"N-Na'er, let go of me first-"
"No!" Na'er clung to him tightly, her voice muffled. "You were just trying to run off, so there's no way I'm letting go!"
Off to the side, Xu Xiaoyan stared, her eyes going wide, the star staff in her hand nearly slipping to the ground. Dizzy with envy, she gestured with both hands, imagining what it would feel like to hold Arthur in her own arms.
No, this was too much to bear.
She coughed once and deliberately raised her voice. "Na'er, doing this is going to give people the wrong idea."
Na'er's face flushed red, but she still refused to let go. "Let them get the wrong idea! Arthur is mine anyway!"
Ye Xinglan quietly turned her face away, the tips of her ears faintly reddening. "Ahem. Would you two mind your surroundings."
Gu Yue's gaze lingered on the two of them for a moment, especially on Arthur. A faint, almost imperceptible ripple flickered through her eyes before her expression settled back into calm. "Na'er, you're holding him too tight. He can't breathe."
Only then did Na'er loosen her grip slightly, though she still refused to let go entirely. "Fine, I'll hold on a little looser."
Arthur could only think that his earlier decision to slip away might have been one of the worst choices he'd made in his entire life.
"So, um." Arthur forced the words out with difficulty. "Can we figure out today's plans first? Like, maybe go shopping? Or to an amusement park?"
Xu Xiaoyan's eyes lit up. "An amusement park! I've never been to one!"
Na'er immediately chimed in. "I want to go too! The snacks there must be delicious!"
Ye Xinglan frowned. "An amusement park? Is that kind of place... suitable for cultivation?"
Gu Yue tapped the table lightly. "Relaxing every once in a while helps adjust one's condition too."
She looked at Arthur. "Where do you want to go?"
"Do I actually get a say in this?" Arthur asked, genuinely surprised.
"Of course not. Amusement park it is, then." Gu Yue stood up. "Let's go."
Only then did Na'er, reluctantly, let go of Arthur, though she kept a firm grip on his sleeve. "Behave yourself. Don't even think about trying to slip away."
It wasn't just Xu Xiaoyan. Na'er had started acting strange too.
What was wrong with all of them today?
Chatting and laughing the whole way, before long a massive ring-shaped building came into view.
A towering statue stood at the entrance of the park, holding a huge crystal ball in its hands, within which colorful lights swirled endlessly.
The line at the entrance was long but orderly, and everyone's face carried a smile of anticipation.
"Wow, it's so lively!" Xu Xiaoyan excitedly tugged at Arthur's arm. "Let's go on that roller coaster first!"
Na'er immediately protested. "I want to go try the park's limited-edition snacks first!"
Ye Xinglan frowned. "A roller coaster? What's fun about riding something like that? Sounds boring."
Gu Yue shot the three of them a disdainful glance.
A bunch of hopeless amateurs. They couldn't even manage a date properly.
She checked the time. "Let's buy tickets first."
She walked to the ticket window and soon returned with five tickets in hand. "Let's go."
The moment the five of them stepped into the park, they were immediately drawn in by all the novel attractions.
"Roller coaster first!" Xu Xiaoyan grabbed Arthur and rushed straight for the most thrilling ride.
Not to be outdone, Na'er clamped down hard on Arthur's other arm. "No, snacks first!"
Ye Xinglan stood rooted in place, unable to stop herself from rubbing her forehead. "Could you two show a little order."
Gu Yue said flatly, "Let's go to the roller coaster first."
She looked at Arthur. "What do you think?"
Arthur laughed dryly. "Heh heh... whatever makes you all happy."
In the end, the five of them went to try the roller coaster first.
The moment the car plunged down from the top of the track, everyone else was caught up in the thrill.
Only Gu Yue kept a calm expression throughout, though her hand quietly slipped over to hold Arthur's.
Gu Yue: Were you all actually here to play?
Calling this a date? Do any of you even know what a date is?
Knowledge changes destiny.
When the ride ended, Arthur, still feeling the lingering warmth in his hand, gave Gu Yue an odd look.
On the other side, Xu Xiaoyan and Na'er were happily plotting out their next attraction.
Ye Xinglan stayed silent the whole time, quietly following along.
The five of them went from ride to ride, having a thoroughly good time. Partway through, they stopped to rest at a dessert shop inside the park.
Arthur slumped over the table, utterly drained of the will to live, every part of him feeling off.
On the way here, he'd practically been felt up by Gu Yue from head to toe.
"Wow, this limited-edition rainbow sundae is so good!" Xu Xiaoyan kept exclaiming as she ate, marveling at every bite.
Na'er, meanwhile, was cradling a giant milkshake, drinking it with her eyes narrowed into slits from delight. "Arthur, you should try some too!"
Just as Arthur was about to decline, Na'er shoved the cup straight against his mouth.
Arthur: "..."
Ye Xinglan watched them, picked up a small cake, and ate it in small, careful bites. She found it all a little strange; she had spent her whole life training with the sword and had never experienced anything like this before.
After resting for a while, the five of them continued wandering around the park.
Before they knew it, they had wandered to the edge of the park, where the attractions were quieter, mostly small experience-type activities.
"That up ahead looks like the staff passage." Gu Yue glanced at the sign. "Let's head back."
Just as they were about to turn around, a familiar figure walked out from the passage entrance.
She was wearing the park's staff uniform, her short hair slightly disheveled, beads of unwiped sweat still on her forehead.
Her eyes stood out strikingly in the sunlight.
The King of Part-Time Jobs, Yuanen Yehui!
"Huh?" Arthur blurted out on reflex. "Yuanen?"
Yuanen Yehui froze for a moment, then recognized him. "What are you doing here?"
Her gaze lingered on Arthur for a moment before sweeping over Gu Yue, Xu Xiaoyan, and Na'er, her expression turning subtle. "Is this..."
"It's a day off. Just relaxing today." Arthur explained.
"Oh." Yuanen Yehui nodded.
The mention of a day off reminded her of what Arthur had said before, and she spoke up. "About what you said last time, about coming to my place..."
Xu Xiaoyan immediately went on alert. "Coming to your place? What's going on here?!"
Na'er bristled too. "Arthur, when did you arrange to go to her place?"
Gu Yue spoke flatly. "Explain. Now."
There's a second round to this?
Arthur: Fine, fine, fine. So that's how we're playing this.
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It's been a while since I wrote a slice-of-life chapter, so here's a bit.