Master of Nine Stars

Night fell, and a hush settled over Qianshan Pass.

Thick, heavy snow, like goose feathers, drifted down, swept across the entire city by the fierce wind.

At this moment, even the normally bustling stables had fallen silent. The Snow Night Shock herd had returned to their stalls, and the clatter of hooves and the neighing of fine horses could no longer be heard.

Rong Taotao lay on his side, curled up under the covers and cuddling his Snowball Cat, fast asleep.

In the midst of a sweet dream, he felt someone calling his name.

”Taotao...”

”Taotao?”

Rong Taotao’s eyes snapped open. ”Hm?”

He instinctively turned his head toward Gao Lingwei’s bed across from his, but in the pitch-black room, he couldn’t tell if she was awake.

”Taotao.” A voice sounded in his mind again.

’Ah, Bro, what is it?’ Rong Taotao hurriedly replied in his mind. ’What’s going on in the middle of the night?’

Rong Yang: ”Are you training over by the Second Wall? With your coaches?”

”Yeah, but we’re inside Qianshan Pass right now. The first phase of our training is over, so we’re resting,” Rong Taotao replied.

”Mm, I know you’re in Qianshan Pass. You up for a mission right now?” Rong Yang asked.

Rong Taotao replied without hesitation, ”Okay. Where?”

Between brothers, there was no need for discussion. If Rong Yang asked, Rong Taotao would do it, provided he was able.

Rong Yang: ”Go to the South Gate of Qianshan Pass now. The Yin Hu Squad is on their way back from the Third Wall. Wait for them at the South Gate, then come here with them.”

Rong Taotao: ”Should I get Coach Xia and the others?”

Rong Yang: ”It’d be great if they can protect you, of course.”

The Twelfth Squad’s call for reinforcements was timed perfectly!

Calling on Rong Taotao was as good as calling on Xia Fangran and Li Lie as well. They were two top-tier Pine Soul coaches, both at least at the Upper Soul School level!

”Da Wei!” Rong Taotao scrambled out of bed, fumbled his way to the door in the darkness, and flipped on the light.

Gao Lingwei sat up and asked with concern, ”What’s wrong?”

”My brother’s at the First Wall, I think. He wants us to go on a mission,” Rong Taotao said urgently. ”You get dressed first. I’m going to find our coaches.”

”Mm,” Gao Lingwei replied casually, yet she turned her head to look out the window.

Sure enough, she saw the heavy, goose-feather snow drifting outside the window.

The Twelfth Squad rarely asked them for missions. But whenever they did, it was always windy, snowing, and dark.

It was less that the Twelfth Squad wanted Rong Taotao for a mission, and more that they wanted Gao Lingwei... Well, at the end of the day, fine, the Twelfth Squad wanted the Snowball Cat for the mission...

Gao Lingwei walked over to Rong Taotao’s bed and scooped up the sleepy little cat, stroking its snow-white fur. ”Wake up, you little sleepyhead.”

”Mew?” The Snowball Cat gave a big stretch in Gao Lingwei’s arms, rubbing its face with its tiny paws.

Gao Lingwei thought it was about to wake up, but to her surprise, the Snowball Cat licked its little paws and fell right back to sleep...

”Heh.” Gao Lingwei couldn’t help but chuckle. She was about to try waking it again when she heard Xia Fangran’s grumbling and cursing from the hallway...

”I’m a Pine Soul coach! Not a soldier in the Snow Burning Army! Who the hell goes on a mission in the middle of the night?”

Rong Taotao said meekly, ”You’re not the one on the mission. I am. You’re just protecting me.”

Xia Fangran: ”...”

Xia Fangran was so exasperated he laughed. ’What the hell’s the difference?’

Reeking of alcohol, Li Lie staggered to his feet and started getting dressed without a word.

Rong Taotao looked worried. ”Coach Li, are you going to be okay?”

”Hah!” Li Lie waved his hand grandly. ”The more I drink, the stronger I get!”

Rong Taotao grimaced. ”Seriously?”

”Hmph,” Xia Fangran sneered. ”I can actually vouch for that. If you could get Coach Li drunk enough to pass out, he could probably tear down all of Qianshan Pass.”

Rong Taotao’s expression turned strange. ’They make it sound so grand, but isn’t that just being a violent drunk?’

’Tsk, tsk... Soul Martial Artists really are a different breed, huh?’

’A regular person on a drunken rampage might smash a table at most. But Coach Li on a drunken rampage could smash Qianshan Pass?’

”Go get changed! What are you standing around for?” Xia Fangran said, chiding him with a laugh. ”I’m already helping you with the mission, do I have to help you put on your clothes too? Oh, and bring extra chocolate bars.”

Xia Fangran’s words were harsh, but he really did care.

”You got it~” Rong Taotao hurried back to their room, just in time to see that Gao Lingwei had already changed and was sitting on the edge of her bed, leaning over to tie her shoelaces.

Rong Taotao didn’t even bother changing out of his pajamas. He pulled a pair of snow-camo pants on right over them and stepped into his combat boots.

’This camo-pajama combo is simply perfect!’

’Put on the jacket to go to battle, take it off to go to bed...’

Seeing how anxious he was, Gao Lingwei stood up and walked over. ”You put on your jacket,” she said.

As she spoke, Gao Lingwei knelt in front of him and considerately tucked his pant legs into his combat boots. She then picked up his laces and quickly tied them in a bow.

Rong Taotao froze for a second, but then he hurriedly pulled on his jacket, zipped it up, and fastened the buttons, looking down as she finished tying the laces on his other boot.

’Too bad I don’t have my phone...’

After tying his laces, Gao Lingwei stood up and saw Rong Taotao’s dazed expression. She couldn’t help but ask, ”How long will we be gone? How much candy should we bring?”

”Oh, right!” Rong Taotao snapped out of it and grabbed a hiking pack from the top bunk.

RUSTLE RUSTLE... Rong Taotao dumped out more than half a bag of candy and chocolate bars, then slung the backpack on, grabbed Gao Lingwei’s hand, and pulled her out the door. ”Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.”

As soon as they stepped out the door, they saw a neatly dressed Xia Fangran and a disheveled Li Lie.