Master of Nine Stars

It was important to remember that Gao Lingshi and Gao Lingwei were nearly identical in appearance and build. For Rong Yang, it was as if the cruel enemy who had nearly killed him was standing right before his eyes.

Rong Yang was already in a fragile state. He was afraid that if his focus wavered for even a moment and he showed the slightest hint of hostility, it would be detrimental to Gao Lingwei, or rather, to the developing relationship between Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao.

”Birds of a feather flock together” is a very interesting saying.

And indeed, Rong Yang and Yang Chunxi, two gentle-hearted people, had found each other.

While Gao Lingwei was inwardly stunned, the two brothers had already bumped fists.

Rong Yang spoke first. ”I should have been the one looking after you, but I never expected that you’d be the one to save me instead.”

Rong Taotao said, ”We’re family. That goes without saying.”

Whether intentionally or not, Rong Taotao put extra emphasis on the two words ”we’re family.”

Rong Yang smiled, raising a hand to vigorously ruffle Rong Taotao’s head of natural curls.

”You brat, don’t play your little word games with me!” Fu Tiance grunted from behind his desk. ”Your brother has been recuperating and isn’t on active duty. He only came to sit here because he heard you two were coming today.”

”Hey, Captain Fu,” Rong Taotao said with a cheeky grin, greeting him.

”What’s so ’hey’ about it? Attention! Stand straight and salute me, soldier!” Fu Tiance put on a stern face, playing the part convincingly.

Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei, taken aback for a moment, hastily saluted.

Despite their student status being a cover, they were, after all, bona fide soldiers of the Snow Burning Army, and now their positions were official.

Fu Tiance said, ”Sheep.”

”Here,” Rong Yang responded.

”Go on, see to Coach Yang from Pine Soul Soul Martial.” As he spoke, Fu Tiance couldn’t help but chuckle. ”You’re supposed to be recuperating from a serious injury. Stop hanging around in my office.”

”Yes, sir,” Rong Yang said.

Rong Yang and Yang Chunxi walked out of the office, leaving Fu Tiance alone with Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei.

”So, how’s that Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon Soul Skill? Working out for you?” Fu Tiance asked casually as he leaned over and rummaged through a cabinet beneath his desk.

”I’ve embedded mine, but Ling Wei hasn’t. She’s saving it as a secret weapon,” Rong Taotao said quickly. ”It’s amazing. The Illusion World is so realistic it can make you question your own sanity.”

”Mm, as long as it’s useful.” With that, Fu Tiance pulled two masks out of the cabinet, one after the other, and placed them on the desk.

”Whoa!” Rong Taotao was stunned.

The appearances of both the pig and the dog masks far exceeded his imagination.

’This isn’t a dog’s head, it’s clearly a wolf’s head!’

’Its fur is a mix of gray and white, and its expression is so ferocious?’

’And this pig... This isn’t a domestic pig, black or white. This is a damn warthog, isn’t it?’

’Why does it have two tusks?’

Rong Taotao’s eyes were glued to the ferocious-looking pig mask. He examined it from every angle, then suddenly slapped his forehead. ”Ah! I remember now!”

Fu Tiance looked at him dubiously. ”Remember what?”

Rong Taotao pointed at the pig mask and said, ”Pengpeng!”

Hearing this, Fu Tiance was even more baffled. ”What’s a Pengpeng?”

”Come on! Didn’t you have a childhood?” Rong Taotao explained hurriedly. ”Pengpeng and Timon!”

Fu Tiance: ???

”It’s from that cartoon...”

SLAM! Fu Tiance slapped his hand on the desk. ”Shut up! Attention! Stand up straight!”

Rong Taotao immediately snapped to attention. Beside him, Gao Lingwei was caught in the crossfire, and she too quickly stood ramrod straight with her chin up.

’Fu Tiance really had never watched any cartoons, and he refused to believe that any cartoon protagonist would have such a terrifying design. Wouldn’t it scare children half to death?’

Little did he know that the mask on his desk was, in fact, a terrifying and ferocious version of Pengpeng...

Fu Tiance began, ”For your pursuit of the Red-clothed Merchant, Mi Tu, and Cold Flower, you have rendered great service and are to be commended. Due to your special status, I’ve requested Soul Pearls from the army on your behalf, which have already been issued to you. I hope you will perform well at the World Cup.”

”Thank you, Captain Fu,” Gao Lingwei said softly.

”Mm.” Fu Tiance picked up a key ring from the desk, detached two keys, and said, ”You’re now official members of the Twelfth Squad. These are your office keys.”

Rong Taotao stepped forward and took the two keys. ”We get an office?”

Fu Tiance said, ”It’s not much of an office. Think of it as a lounge, a communal dormitory of sorts. Hundred Corps Pass is a big place, and this building is a sign of the Snow Burning Army’s high regard and affirmation of our squad.”

”However, we spend most of our time braving the elements and rarely come back here. In the future, if you’re on missions in areas like the Third or Second Wall, you can just find lodging in the nearest soldiers’ barracks.”

”If you’re operating within Hundred Corps Pass, try to come back here. The Twelfth Squad is normally split into three fireteams, so this is a rare chance for everyone to see each other.”

”Of course, you don’t need to worry about that for now. I’ll keep my promise. You two continue with your schooling, and I’ll recall you to the squad when necessary.”

”Understood. Thank you, Captain Fu,” Rong Taotao nodded.

Fu Tiance was right. For instance, around the Lunar New Year last year, Captain Fu and the Twelfth Squad had taken Rong Taotao, Gao Lingwei, and Lu Mang on an operation inside the First Wall, and they had truly been roughing it.

They had been out in the field for over a month, only returning to Hundred Corps Pass once a week, and that was just for the sake of the three Little Souls.

Each time they returned, Rong Taotao and the other two had stayed in the Social Practitioner dorms, never with the squad leaders. ’So this is where they went, back to their home base,’ he thought.

”Alright then, you have the keys. Find your office on your own in a bit; they’re all on the second floor. Oh, right. Put on the masks. Let me see how they look,” Fu Tiance said.