Dugu Bo wore a grave expression. After thinking it over carefully, he realized that things truly were unfolding that way.
With that understanding, his confidence firmed up, and it seemed he had made a decision of his own.
Yin Zhang had just stepped out of the room when Qiangu Yunying, who had been waiting for quite some time, immediately grabbed him and pulled him away.
"Sister Yunying, where are we going?" Yin Zhang asked as he was dragged toward the main street.
Qiangu Yunying stopped and turned back to look at him, a teasing smile on her lips.
"Now that we've finally become champions of the Elite Tournament, don't you think we should go out and relax a bit? Celebrate properly?"
Yin Zhang naturally had no objections. As Qiangu Yunying linked her arm through his, he asked with curiosity,
"Where are we going this time?"
Qiangu Yunying smiled faintly.
"The same place as last time. It's farther from here, so we can relax more freely."
Yin Zhang immediately understood. Seeing the eager look on Qiangu Yunying's face, he couldn't help but think to himself,
Is Sister Yunying holding back too much? We really haven't had any alone time these past few days…
It wasn't that they hadn't been close at all—but with everyone staying together, even though their relationship was already an open secret, they each stayed in separate rooms. At most, they exchanged information quietly in a corner, accompanied by nothing more than a light kiss.
Yin Zhang was fine; those few days had already satisfied him quite well. But Qiangu Yunying, on the other hand, seemed to have developed a taste for more.
They didn't return until evening.
The sharp-eyed Zhou Yuanyuan immediately noticed that the clothes they were wearing were completely different from what they had on when they left at noon.
Qiangu Yunying in particular looked as if she were being supported by Yin Zhang, her steps slightly unnatural. Yet her face was flushed with contentment, and her skin even seemed more supple than before.
By contrast, Yin Zhang looked refreshed and energetic, walking with an easy, spirited stride.
Zhou Yuanyuan instantly understood what had happened, and her expression darkened.
Meanwhile, her brother Zhou Wu walked straight over to them.
"Xiao Zhang, Sister Yunying, we've been waiting for you for a long time. Everyone's here now—let's head to the palace. It's very close, just a few minutes away."
Yin Zhang nodded with a smile.
"Alright, let's go."
Qiangu Yunying leaned against Yin Zhang as they walked, letting out a soft, satisfied hum. She didn't say much, though her body still felt a little strange.
Yin Zhang glanced at her and couldn't help but smile.
They had left at noon, and once they arrived at that place, they bathed—and that bath lasted the entire afternoon.
During the process, Qiangu Yunying kept letting out soft, restrained sounds from the heat of the water, while Yin Zhang carefully washed her. She felt extremely comfortable, and Yin Zhang found the whole process oddly enjoyable as well.
Afterward, Yin Zhang even paid extra gold coins to keep the hot water running. The innkeeper was so pleased that he declared the establishment would always welcome them.
The eleven members, including the reserve team members, boarded the luxurious palace carriage and headed toward the Heaven Dou Palace Hall for the banquet.
By the time they arrived, the Huang Dou Battle Team was already there.
The Huang Luo Team arrived shortly after.
"Yuqing, Mengran, are you alright today?" Yin Zhang asked with a smile as he saw Dai Yuqing and Zhu Mengran step down from the carriage arm in arm.
"Yes, Xiao Zhang. Thank you for showing restraint today. The brothers only suffered minor flesh wounds. After a single healing Spirit Ability, they were all fine," Dai Yuqing replied gently.
Watching the two chat so amicably, anyone unfamiliar with the situation would have thought they were old friends.
Earlier on the Spirit Dueling Platform, Qiangu Yunying's sixth Spirit Ability had only forced Dai Yuqing and Zhu Mengran out of their Martial Soul Fusion state. She had then lightly knocked them off the stage with the tip of her spear, leaving them coughing up a bit of blood but otherwise unharmed.
Soon after, nearly twenty people from the two teams walked together into the palace.
The moment they entered, most of them were stunned by the sight before them.
Inside the resplendent hall stood four long tables draped in magnificent silk. Even the chairs were inlaid with gold and gemstones.
At the longest table sat Xue Ye, Xue Qinghe, Xue Luochuan, Ning Fengzhi, and the captain and vice-captain of the Huang Dou Battle Team. Four seats remained empty—perfectly reserved for Yin Zhang, Qiangu Yunying, Dai Yuqing, and Zhu Mengran.
Seeing the four approach together, Xue Ye couldn't help feeling puzzled.
The Huang Luo Team had been decisively defeated that morning—how had they become so friendly so quickly, even appearing familiar with one another?
Still, he maintained the dignified bearing of an emperor and laughed heartily.
"Captains, please take your seats."
After exchanging glances, the four stepped forward and sat down.
The other three long tables were already full. With a wave of Xue Ye's hand, palace maids dressed in elegant attire began to approach, carrying trays of exquisite dishes. Their graceful figures, fair skin, and lovely faces made the scene a feast for the eyes.
Many people stared without blinking. Zhou Wu's gaze locked onto a young maid with a gentle, delicate face, only for Zhou Yuanyuan beside him to quickly pinch his arm and snap him back to his senses.
On Yin Zhang's side, Xue Qinghe—seated to Xue Ye's left—glanced at Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying sitting closely together.
A strange emotion stirred in her heart.
When Yin Zhang had unleashed Solar Beam repeatedly against Thunder Academy, Qian Renxue had developed a sense of recognition toward this man two years younger than herself—along with the subtle emotions a woman feels toward the opposite sex.
In the original timeline, her feelings for Tang San had also begun during the Elite Tournament. This was merely a quiet foreshadowing.
She was already familiar with both Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying.
As a child, she had even met Qiangu Yunying and knew she was the granddaughter of the Seventh Consecrated Elder. She had always had a good impression of this older sister, seven years her senior.
But she couldn't acknowledge her now, which left her feeling faintly melancholic.
How much longer will this undercover life last?
Perhaps… I should speed things up.
Qian Renxue thought quietly.
Once the banquet began, Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi chatted amiably.
When the topic turned to the outcome of the team competition, Xue Ye sighed with regret.
"The first All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament was held in my Heaven Dou Empire, yet we only managed third place."
Ning Fengzhi smiled.
"Your Majesty need not worry. By the next Elite Tournament, I believe the Huang Dou Battle Team's results will improve."
The captain and vice-captain of the Huang Dou Battle Team lowered their heads in embarrassment, while Xue Ye sighed again.
"I fear even that will be difficult. Young Miss Yunying is only twenty, and Xiao Zhang is only eleven. According to the tournament's age limits, they'll both still be eligible next time. By then, their strength will have grown even further—how could our teams possibly compete?"
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