Master of Nine Stars

Rong Taotao’s right hand ached under Si Huan Nian’s grip. He struggled gently. ”Coach Si.”

Finally, Si Huan Nian eased her grip. A white glow spread from her palm, healing the puncture mark on the back of his hand.

Rong Taotao shifted his body and said, ”I’m going to the bathroom.”

”Mm.” Si Huan Nian pushed off the floor with her foot, sliding backward in her chair.

The chair legs scraped against the floor. The sound was especially jarring in the dead of night inside the Martial Arts Hall, a place where any noise felt out of place.

Rong Taotao quickly got out of bed, strode into the attached bathroom, turned on the faucet, and haphazardly splashed water on his face.

’Everyone has their own story, their own path in life,’ Rong Taotao thought. ’I’m just lucky to have met Si Huan Nian here, to have found a teacher who cares for me and protects me.’

’But… what can I do for her?’

’In the beginning, she said it was all in the past.’

’But is it really over?’

Rong Taotao had rarely seen Si Huan Nian lose her composure. She clearly had just now—she had been on the verge of crushing his hand.

Rong Taotao’s mind was a mess. He walked deeper into the bathroom and reached for the shower, only to realize he hadn’t grabbed a change of clothes.

’Hmm…’

After a moment’s hesitation, Rong Taotao walked out of the bathroom. In the moonlight filtering through the window, he could see her sitting motionless in the chair, lost in thought.

An idea sparked in Rong Taotao’s mind. He glanced up at the clock hanging on the door. Ten-thirty.

He walked over to his locker. As he rummaged for clothes, he asked, ”Want to go out and get something to eat?”

Hunger was practically the leitmotif of Rong Taotao and Si Huan Nian’s lives. No matter the time or place, the two of them were never not hungry.

Si Huan Nian leaned back, tilting her head to look at Rong Taotao. ”Not a bad idea.”

”Okay, be right there.” Rong Taotao took his clothes into the bathroom and took a quick shower. When he came out, Si Huan Nian had already changed into a white outfit.

In truth, Rong Taotao hadn’t figured out how to comfort her, but she didn’t seem to need it. She was back to her usual self, as if the last few minutes had never happened.

’She’s a strong person,’ he thought. ’She just needed to vent to a specific person at a specific time. And then… life doesn’t change. It has to go on.’

The two of them went downstairs. Rong Taotao pushed open the main doors of the Martial Arts Hall. ”How about Pine Soul First Grade?” he suggested. ”We haven’t been in a while.”

”Alright.”

The master and disciple left the campus, strolling down the streets of Songjiang Soul City. Under the dim yellow streetlights, they could occasionally see flecks of frost and snow drifting past.

CLICK. CLICK…

With a few soft clicks, the streetlights along the wide avenue went out one by one. In the blink of an eye, Songjiang Soul City was plunged into darkness.

It was 11 p.m., lights-out for Songjiang Soul City.

Seeing this, Rong Taotao turned to look at Si Huan Nian beside him.

A small smile played on Si Huan Nian’s lips. She seemed to be remembering the time last year when she had taken him out for a late-night meal.

WHOOSH…

With a wave of his left hand, Rong Taotao summoned the White Lantern Paper Cage. It materialized and rose, swirling above his head. ”You think we’ll run into poachers again this time?”

”Unlikely,” Si Huan Nian said offhandedly. ”Security in both Songjiang Soul City and Songbai Town has always been tight. After those few incidents with you and Gao Lingwei, it’s a hundred times stricter. There’s little room for them to operate.”

”Just like last time,” Rong Taotao said after they crossed an intersection. He pointed to a flickering neon sign in the distance. ”They’re the only ones still open.”

The two of them walked up to the entrance. Rong Taotao placed a hand on the restaurant’s door handle, then turned to Si Huan Nian and suddenly quipped, ”Sorry, we’re closed.”

Si Huan Nian arched an eyebrow, only to watch Rong Taotao push the door open and walk inside.

Inside the restaurant, the slightly chubby proprietress was wiping down a table. Hearing the door chime, she turned around with an apologetic smile. ”Sorry, we’re closed.”

”Heh.” A smile touched Si Huan Nian’s lips. It was clear her mood had improved considerably.

It was the first time Rong Taotao had seen her smile since waking up that evening.

”Ah, it’s you two…” The proprietress looked at them, clearly remembering something. The series of events from that night last year had left a deep impression on her. She never would have imagined that those seemingly ordinary customers had been rookie poachers.

This time, the proprietress didn’t try to send them away. Instead, she said, ”The chef already went home before lights-out. If you want to eat, Coach Si, I’ll have to cook for you myself.”

She had addressed her as ”Coach Si” this time. She must have learned more about the Pine Soul instructor after that incident.

”That’s fine.” Si Huan Nian waved her hand dismissively and plopped down onto a chair. She gestured to Rong Taotao. ”Go on, order.”

Rong Taotao didn’t need a menu to order at an authentic Northeastern hole-in-the-wall like this.

”Sautéed Pork Slices, Double-Cooked Sweet and Sour Pork, Flash-Fried Pork Kidney, Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork…”

”No vegetable dishes, Champion?” the proprietress asked as she jotted down the order, a smile spreading across her chubby face.

”Hehe,” Rong Taotao chuckled sheepishly. ”You can decide. Just make whatever’s easiest. The two of us can really eat, so don’t worry about any of it going to waste.”

”You got it.” The proprietress nodded and headed for the kitchen.

The proprietress knew exactly what Rong Taotao meant by ”can really eat.” The last time the master and disciple were here, they had cleaned every plate the second it hit the table…