The rest of the dinner was a whirlwind of Ning Rongrong's enthusiastic, if slightly haphazard, planning.
Between bites of food, she sketched out a future where they all enrolled in one of the premier advanced academies in Heaven Dou City, her hands gesturing wildly as she painted vivid pictures of the city's grandeur—the towering architecture, the bustling markets filled with wonders from across the continent, and the famed academies where the most promising young talents gathered.
She spoke of renowned teachers, legendary graduates, and the electric atmosphere of a true spirit master hub.
By the time the last plate was cleared and they walked her back to the hotel, the idea, which had once been an abstract "someday," had transformed into a tangible, exciting prospect, its edges defined by her passionate descriptions.
Their farewell at the hotel steps was filled with a new, genuine warmth and the sincere promise to "think it over."
The walk back to Nuoding Academy was slower, a deliberate contrast to the day's earlier frantic energy.
The night air was cool and clear, carrying the faint, sweet scent from a nearby garden.
The usual sounds of the city were muted, replaced by the soft chirping of crickets and the distant, comforting hum of life carrying on behind shuttered windows.
The setting perfectly matched their contemplative mood, the world itself seeming to hold its breath as they processed the day's events.
The excitement that had buzzed between them during dinner and the thrill of their forest adventure had now mellowed into a deep, shared introspection.
Xiao Wu, usually a bundle of constant motion, had quieted, her steps measured and soft on the cobblestones. She occasionally glanced up at the moon, her expression thoughtful.
Tang San's gaze was forward, but his eyes were unfocused, his mind clearly turning over the practicalities and implications of Ning Rongrong's words like a complex engineering problem.
Mei walked between them, feeling the weight and warmth of their silent companionship.
She could almost feel the shift in the air around them—the childish concerns of the academy day melting away, replaced by the first, sobering awareness of the vast world that awaited and the choices they would have to make.
"It really does sound like the best path, doesn't it?" Xiao Wu mused, breaking the comfortable silence. She swung her arms, her steps light.
"An advanced academy. All those resources... and that tournament!" Her eyes shone with anticipation.
"Can you imagine? Competing against the best from everywhere! It sounds way more fun than just staying here."
Tang San, walking beside her, nodded in agreement. His mind, ever strategic, had already been analyzing the benefits.
"It is the most logical step for rapid growth. The structured environment, the high-level competition, and the access to knowledge we lack here would be invaluable. Rongrong's assessment was correct."
Mei listened to them, a soft smile on her face. Their dreams were aligning, their paths converging.
It felt right. As they passed under the arching boughs of a willow tree, its leaves trailing in the moonlight like silver ribbons, she asked a question that stretched even further into the future.
"And after the advanced academy? When we've learned all we can there... what do each of you want to do then? What's the dream at the very end?"
The question hung in the quiet night, more profound than any they had considered that evening.
Tang San was the first to answer, his voice calm and certain.
"I wish to found a sect," he stated.
"One dedicated to the art and science of the hidden weapons I am developing. A place where knowledge and precision are valued above raw power, and where this... legacy can be preserved and advanced."
It was a goal that felt intrinsically, methodical and ambitious.
Xiao Wu was uncharacteristically quiet for a moment, her gaze drifting upward to the moon. "I... I need to get powerful," she said, her voice losing its usual playful lilt and gaining a rare, steely edge.
"Really, really powerful. There's... someone I need to beat." She didn't elaborate, and the others, sensing the gravity in her tone, didn't press. It was a personal quest, a driving force they quietly accepted.
Tang San then turned his gaze to Mei, his expression gentle. "And you, Mei. You aim to become a Top Idol across the entire continent, isn't it?"
Mei nodded, her heart swelling with a mixture of determination and vulnerability.
"It is. That's the dream I carried with me when I came here. To stand on the biggest stage and move people's hearts with my performance."
Xiao Wu, her brief solemnity passing, looked at Mei with bright, curious eyes. "But how? How do you become a 'Top Idol'? Do you just sing in bigger and bigger cities?"
Mei's smile turned a little wistful.
"That's the question, isn't it? To be honest... I don't have a solid plan for it yet." She admitted, the confession felt both frightening and liberating.
"Here... the path isn't so clear. But I know that staying in one place won't make it happen. Going to a central hub like Heaven Dou City, a place filled with talent and ambition, feels like the right first step. It's a place where opportunities can be found, or made."
She looked from Tang San's thoughtful face to Xiao Wu's eager one, feeling the strength of their friendship solidify her own resolve.
"So," she began, her voice gaining strength,
"I've decided. After graduation, I'm going to Heaven Dou City. And I want us to go together."
She reached out, placing a hand on Xiao Wu's shoulder and meeting Tang San's gaze.
"I want to achieve our dreams together. It wouldn't be the same without you both."
Xiao Wu immediately threw her arms around Mei in a tight hug.
"Yes! Of course we'll go! It'll be an adventure! Our adventure!"
Tang San's calm demeanor broke into a genuine, warm smile.
"A shared goal will make the journey more meaningful. If this is the path we choose, then we cannot afford to slack off. We must cultivate diligently so we are strong enough to graduate early and be accepted into a worthy academy."
"Then let's set a goal," Mei suggested, her mind latching onto a practical, middle-ground solution.
"Rushing could lead to injury, and that would only delay us. Let's not wait until we're twelve, but let's not force ourselves to break before we're ready either. How about we aim to graduate together... when we all turn nine years old? That gives us time to build a solid foundation, without losing our momentum."
The proposal was perfect. It was ambitious, yet reasonable. It was a promise they could make to each other under the witness of the moon.
"Together at nine," Tang San agreed, his voice firm.
"Together at nine!" Xiao Wu echoed, her excitement bubbling over once more.
As they finally reached the gates of Nuoding Academy, the future, which had once seemed like a distant, blurry horizon, now felt close and clear. They had a destination—Heaven Dou City.
They had a timeline—their ninth year. And most importantly, they had each other, a trio of dreamers bound by friendship and a shared resolve to carve their names into the very stars above.
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