Master of Nine Stars

Gao Lingwei pursed her lips into a smile and glanced at the reporter to her right. "He’s not ’other people,’ is he?"

The reporter: "..."

’Well, damn. Luring me in for the kill?’

’The tables have turned! Our roles are reversed!’

’I’m the reporter! I’m the one who’s supposed to be setting the traps!’

And so, the group of reporters continued to surround Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei as they walked on. After they passed, one reporter was left behind, standing foolishly in place, alone and utterly bewildered...

Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei finally met up with their two teachers and, under their escort, quickly entered the player tunnel.

Rong Taotao, however, leaned closer to Gao Lingwei’s side and gently took her hand. "You don’t have to deliberately shy away from the spotlight."

"What?" Gao Lingwei asked, a little confused, turning to look at Rong Taotao beside her.

Rong Taotao shrugged. "When they interview you, just answer them normally. You don’t need to redirect the questions to me. The victory is ours, both of ours, but I feel like you’re always pulling back."

"Hmm..." Gao Lingwei frowned slightly, as if she had only just realized that the change in her behavior stemmed from a change in her mindset.

After fighting alongside Rong Taotao, going through life and death together for so long, her mindset had truly changed without her even realizing it.

She thought back to that morning at Pine Soul Soul Martial, when they saw the winter sun again. The two of them had stood side-by-side at the fork in the road by the cafeteria, gazing at the sun they hadn’t seen for months, talking about their ambition to one day stand together on the highest stage.

Back then, Gao Lingwei had been determined to lead Rong Taotao forward.

But now...

Instead of "leading," it was more that... she wanted to walk forward alongside Rong Taotao.

She had once been the King of Guanwai, a proud Soul Martial Artist who stood in the spotlight, the center of everyone’s attention.

But at some point, the source of her pride and self-esteem seemed to have shifted. She found herself more willing to stand to the side and watch Rong Taotao ascend to the top, step by step.

That feeling, that sense of satisfaction...

’Is this even more gratifying than standing in the spotlight myself?’

"What are you spacing out about?" Rong Taotao asked curiously. Seeing her lost in thought, he couldn’t help but wiggle his fingers and gently squeeze her fingertip.

"Nothing." Gao Lingwei shook her head.

In that short moment, she seemed to have understood her own heart and the source of this subtle transformation. She fully accepted it, and even looked forward to their future together...

She looked at Rong Taotao and said, "Three matches left."

"Yeah," Rong Taotao grinned. "Three matches left!"

He remembered back in the hospital ward at Pine Soul Soul Martial University... yes, the time he had nearly killed her. He had sat by her bedside, telling her about his determination and his goals.

This feeling of achieving his goals one step at a time was simply incredible.

The road ahead was long. Both the Outer Region qualifiers and the national competition were just milestones. In truth, they were already standing on the highest stage in Huaxia. As for how many of the final three matches they would actually get to play...

That would depend on fate, and on their strength.

Looking at the bigger picture, the two of them were only just getting started.

Rong Taotao had always believed that compared to his ultimate goal, the national competition was a minor event—so minor that it was merely a decorative stop on his life’s path.

’So, when will I finally get to see her?’

’When will I be able to enter the Snow Realm Vortex and truly unravel the mysteries of that planet?’

Without a doubt, as Rong Taotao competed in the national tournament, he wasn’t just reaping honors; he was also laying the foundation for his future.

Potential Points were his greatest asset. By giving his all to obtain them, he would open up the possibility of reaching an even higher level of growth!

Just as the group was walking into the players’ locker room, Rong Taotao suddenly stopped in his tracks.

In the room that should have been empty, someone was sitting there?

A tall, handsome middle-aged man was sitting there, smiling cheerfully at the group in the doorway.

Rong Taotao blinked. "Dad?"

Rong Yuanshan’s gaze, however, fell upon the hand with which Rong Taotao was holding Gao Lingwei’s.

But Rong Taotao... he really wasn’t like other kids. He didn’t let go.

Besides, Rong Taotao wasn’t an ordinary student from an ordinary world. Trying to hold a Soul Martial Artist—someone who faced life and death every day, never knowing whether tomorrow or an accident would come first—to the standards of the mundane world was simply unrealistic.

Not only did Rong Taotao not let go, but the hand holding Gao Lingwei’s even tightened its grip a little...

A smile on his face, Rong Yuanshan stood up and extended a hand to Xia Fangran. "Coach Xia, I’ve heard so much about you."

"You’re Rong Taotao’s father?" Xia Fangran asked with a smile, reaching out to shake his hand.

"Yes. My son has caused you a lot of trouble, and I am so grateful for all the effort you’ve put into protecting him." Rong Yuanshan held Xia Fangran’s hand, placing his other hand on top of it in a show of deep gratitude.

"I’m a teacher at Pine Soul; it’s my duty," Xia Fangran said with a cheerful laugh.

"When my boy came to Imperial Capital City to train at the Starfield Vortex, he told me about you and the things you two went through." Rong Yuanshan seemed full of emotion as he said, "Thank you. You saved his life, and likely more than once."

"Heh." Xia Fangran chuckled and shook his head, showing a surprisingly humble side in front of Rong Yuanshan. "You could say Taotao and I helped each other out. We saved each other."

"Coach Xia, are you free this afternoon? Would I have the honor of treating you to a drink?"

Xia Fangran nodded. "Of course. My schedule revolves around my two apprentices, and I have to stick with them at all times. So, if you’re inviting me, you’ll have to invite them too. Otherwise, I can’t make it~"

"Haha," Rong Yuanshan laughed heartily, finally releasing his hand and turning to Yang Chunxi.

"Uncle Rong," Yang Chunxi said, greeting him with a poised and graceful smile.

"Good, good." The smile on Rong Yuanshan’s face was genuine, as was the fondness in his heart.

In truth, Rong Yuanshan and Yang Chunxi had met in person fewer times than they had spoken on the phone. But even just from their conversations, Rong Yuanshan always felt his own son wasn’t quite worthy of someone as outstanding as Yang Chunxi.

The main reason he felt this way was "time."

The nature of Rong Yang’s work made it very difficult for him to spend time with Yang Chunxi. Rong Yuanshan had always felt that his son had let her down.

But... this was ultimately a matter for the younger generation, and Rong Yuanshan knew his place, so he didn’t interfere.

"Yangyang certainly left you with a handful, didn’t he?" Rong Yuanshan teased with a smile.

"Not at all. I can’t get enough of him," Yang Chunxi replied with a beaming smile. Her response was intriguing, as the pronoun "him" could be interpreted in multiple ways.

Was she talking about one of the brothers specifically?

Or perhaps... was she referring to both of them?

Huaxia People value saving face. Her relationship with Rong Yang was a private matter, but Rong Yuanshan was his father, so... Yang Chunxi’s response was indeed very clever.

"Tch~" Rong Taotao pouted at his father. "We haven’t seen each other in months, and suddenly I’m not your beloved son anymore, just a ’handful’~"

Xia Fangran: "..."

’To be honest, I never in a million years expected Rong Taotao to actually dare talk to his father like that!?’

’Are we kindred spirits in suffering?’

’I thought I was the only one he sassed like this, but he even dares to talk back to his own father?’

’In that moment, Xia Fangran felt like he’d found a kindred soul! He would definitely have to have a few extra drinks with him later!’

Rong Yuanshan scolded with a laugh, "Don’t talk nonsense!"

Rong Taotao put on a sorrowful expression, turned to Gao Lingwei, and said mournfully, "He won’t even call me Taotao..."

Gao Lingwei: "..."

’I haven’t even formally spoken to your father yet, and you’re acting like this? Is that really a good idea?’

Annoyed at the thought, Gao Lingwei squeezed Rong Taotao’s hand hard.

"Hiss... Oh, right!" Rong Taotao winced from the painful squeeze, but then turned to Rong Yuanshan. "You’d better have a few extra drinks with Coach Xia later! To properly thank him."

Rong Yuanshan: "Why is that?"

Rong Taotao: "Before your ’humble son’ came to the Imperial Capital for the competition, he went to Songbai Town to meet the in-laws. Since you were too busy, Coach Xia went in your place."

Xia Fangran: "..."

Rong Yuanshan: "..."

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