Master of Nine Stars

In the afternoon, Si Huan Nian walked into the Martial Arts Hall, eating a stick of candied haws.

She could afford to be so leisurely because the Martial Arts Arena was still under renovation. The grounds south of the hall were filled with construction workers instead of training students, so Si Huan Nian was practically on vacation.

CRUNCH. Si Huan Nian bit into the candied haws, the sugar coating shattering with a crisp sound. She leisurely opened her dorm room door, only to find someone else was inside.

Oh?

Si Huan Nian’s eyes lit up. ’Taotao’s awake? He’s been discharged?’

’From the looks of it... he’s not planning on moving out, is he?’

Si Huan Nian chewed her candied haw but realized Rong Taotao hadn’t noticed her enter. He was sitting on the windowsill, gazing intently out the window.

Not only that, but Rong Taotao was also holding a small dagger, sliding it back and forth over his palm and arm.

’What the...?’

’What’s going on? Since when does this kid have a masochistic streak?’

Si Huan Nian walked over, watching Rong Taotao curiously, until she saw his face... and she was truly a bit stunned.

This Rong Taotao... was so ”tranquil.”

Si Huan Nian wasn’t sure if that was the right adjective, but his smile was genuinely warm and looked incredibly pleasant. Sitting on the windowsill hugging his knees, he gave off a particularly leisurely and peaceful vibe.

Outside, the wind was clearly howling and heavy snow was falling—the weather was awful—but he seemed to be lazily basking in the sun on a bright and beautiful day.

’Where was the annoying little gossiper she knew?’

Si Huan Nian felt like she was going crazy. She shook her head hard, trying to clear it...

As the dagger in Rong Taotao’s hand slid across his arm, a bloody line appeared. Beads of blood welled up, and a Lotus Petal quietly covered his arm. A few seconds later, the wound was completely healed.

Once the wound was healed, the Lotus Petal, shimmering with a cyan light, vanished without a trace, revealing his arm once more.

Si Huan Nian strode over. Seemingly having finally heard her footsteps, Rong Taotao pulled his gaze away from the window and turned his head.

His eyes immediately locked onto the stick of candied haws in Si Huan Nian’s hand.

”What’re you looking at, kiddo?” Si Huan Nian couldn’t resist. She reached out, placed her palm on his head of natural curls, and gave it a gentle ruffle.

In the face of candied haws, Rong Taotao’s old self instantly resurfaced. He licked his lips, reluctantly tore his gaze away, and gestured out the window. ”Da Wei is learning a Soul Skill that’s compatible with her four-star Soul Technique.”

”Oh?” Si Huan Nian turned to look out the window.

CRUNCH. Rong Taotao quickly leaned forward and bit off one of the haws.

”Hey!” With one hand on Rong Taotao’s head, Si Huan Nian pushed him straight back, making the back of his head hit the wall beside the window.

Unquestionably, the haw had made it into his mouth.

Si Huan Nian’s brow furrowed. ”Stealing a bite?”

Rong Taotao chewed the haw with a ”CRUNCH CRUNCH” and grumbled, ”Couldn’t you have bought a few more sticks? Hiss... Why is it so sour?”

”If it’s sour, then don’t eat it!”

”I’ll eat it anyway~”

As the two bickered, waves of cheers came from the small grove outside the window. ”Da Wei! Da Wei! Da Wei!”

Si Huan Nian placed the candied haws in a safe spot beside her and looked outside again, only to see a chubby boy clad in impressive-looking armor, jumping up and down and cheering.

Not far away, between two large trees, Gao Lingwei stretched out a hand. Ice spread from her palm, forming a huge, thick wall that spanned the distance between the two trees, using them as pillars.

’Snow Realm Soul Skill - Ice Barrier?’

Si Huan Nian raised an eyebrow slightly. ”She actually advanced to four-star.”

”Yep.” Rong Taotao smiled. With the dagger in his right hand, he stabbed it straight through the palm of his left, creating a bloody hole.

Si Huan Nian’s breath hitched.

And when Rong Taotao pulled the dagger out, he was left with a gaping hole in his left hand—a mangled, gory mess. Two Lotus Petals quickly appeared, enveloping both the palm and the back of his hand.

Si Huan Nian had witnessed the wondrous uses of the Lotus Petal before, so she wasn’t completely shocked. After all, she had once decapitated the Red-clothed Merchant, and even his head had been swiftly reattached.

The problem was...

As Rong Taotao stabbed through his palm and used the Lotus Petal, he had reverted to that same quiet and serene state from before.

Although the smile on his face was indeed pleasant to look at, the scene as a whole was incredibly bizarre.

What’s more, Rong Taotao’s attention wasn’t even on himself; he was still looking out the window. The act of self-harm seemed almost unconscious. ’This kid...’

Si Huan Nian hesitated for a moment, then grabbed Rong Taotao’s right hand.

”Hm?” Rong Taotao turned his head in confusion to look at Si Huan Nian.

Si Huan Nian, however, pried open his right hand, snatched the blood-stained dagger, and tossed it to the other side of the windowsill. Frowning, she asked, ”Are you okay?”

Rong Taotao: ”I’m fine.”

Si Huan Nian: ”Then why are you hurting yourself?”

”Uh...” Rong Taotao scratched his head. ”I’m just getting familiar with the new Lotus Petals I acquired.”

”Who are you trying to fool? You need to ’get familiar’ with the Lotus Petal’s effects? Your mind isn’t on the Lotus Petal at all.” Si Huan Nian saw right through him. ”Tell me the truth!”

Rong Taotao hesitated for a moment before explaining, ”When I use the Lotus Petals, that’s when my connection to them is the strongest.”