"When did those three teams become so close?"
At the villa district of the Five Element Academies, Shui Yue'er looked bewildered as she watched the massive crowd of dozens of people walk toward them.
"Godwind's Feng Xiaotian, Elephant Armored's Hu Yanli, Blazing's Huo Wu…" The long, straight black-haired Xue Wu's gaze swept over the crowd, finally stopping on the white-robed young man in the very center. "Who is that person?"
"Sword Wine." Shui Bing'er answered calmly.
Having arrived in Heaven Dou City yesterday, she had gone straight to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy to inquire about the four-academy exchange.
She already knew—
That a genius called Sword Wine had defeated Feng Xiaotian with a single sword.
She also knew—
That Sword Wine was not a member of the Heaven Dou Battle Team.
But…
She didn't believe it.
"This Sword Wine must be the hidden trump card of the Heaven Dou Battle Team."
A flicker of light flashed in Shui Bing'er's eyes as she turned to head back toward their residence.
Shui Yue'er and Xue Wu softly repeated "Sword Wine" under their breaths, then quickly followed.
...
"Brother Zhexian, that's the Heaven Dou Academy's Skywater Team." FenFeng Xiaotian said in a serious tone, "Skywater Academy is located in the northern border, so we know very little about them."
"But it's said that when Shui Bing'er enrolled, she was immediately named captain of the team."
"Her strength shouldn't be underestimated."
Huo Wushuang and Hu Yanli both nodded in agreement.
They too had heard Shui Bing'er's name.
Li Zhexian's lips curved into a faint smile.
The possessor of the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul would naturally not be weak.
But—
This had nothing to do with him.
He wasn't competing in the Spirit Master Tournament anyway.
"Oh, right, Brother Zhexian…"
Huo Wushuang suddenly asked: "Why don't we see Yu Tianheng?"
"And what about the Heaven Dou Imperial Team?"
"They may have a guaranteed spot in the finals, but they still have to attend the opening ceremony, right?"
At this, Li Zhexian's brows furrowed slightly.
When he'd left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Dugu Yan had said their training would last another month.
That time had long since passed.
Yet not only was the Heaven Dou Battle Team nowhere to be seen—
Even Yu Tianxin, captain of the Thunderclap Team, had not appeared.
"With Senior Thunder Douluo here, there shouldn't be any major problems."
Li Zhexian thought to himself and said, "Their training hasn't finished yet. They'll definitely make it back before the tournament starts."
Hearing this, Feng Xiaotian and the others could only sigh in admiration, "The Heaven Dou Battle Team must have grown even stronger again."
...
For the next half a day, the various teams were busy with registration, rehearsals, and other tasks.
Li Zhexian and Feng Buyu, on the other hand, became idle people.
Their stomachs were already sick and tired of the continuous big restaurant meals for the past few days, so they casually found a stall to eat at for dinner and then went their separate ways.
Li Zhexian returned to his quiet courtyard.
He had barely reclined on a lounge chair to rest—when a soft knock came at the door.
Thump, thump—
He sat up, looked toward the door, and a smile appearing on his face.
When he opened the door, a clear fragrance wafted toward him.
Zhu Zhuqing stood gracefully outside the door. She wore a sleeveless, long, light-purple dress that revealed her pale and delicate collarbone.
Her small earlobes were adorned with seven-colored jewels, and her long black hair cascaded like a waterfall, making her fresh and pretty face even more enchanting.
She stood tall and graceful, like a lavender spirit herb in its first bloom.
"Li… Li Zhexian!"
Zhu Zhuqing subconsciously raised her hand and brushed a wisp of hair from her ear, trying to hide her shyness, but she still couldn't help but lower her eyes.
"Sister Zhuqing," Li Zhexian's smile was warm as he welcomed her into the courtyard.
Zhu Zhuqing's lotus-like steps moved lightly as she entered the small courtyard she had been to once before.
The familiar scenery—
Exactly as it had appeared so many times in her dreams.
She sat beneath the plum tree, facing Li Zhexian.
Half a year apart—
and their reunion left them both a little awkward, at a loss for words.
The courtyard lay in silence.
Only the sound of wine being poured into cups could be heard.
Plum blossoms drifted down, weaving a quiet rain between them.
Zhu Zhuqing felt her cheeks burn hotter and hotter.
The words she had turned over in her heart a thousand times—
now dissolved into a muddle, not a single one coming to mind.
"Li Zhexian..."
"Sister Zhuqing..."
They called each other's names at the same time.
Their voices collided softly among the falling petals.
Both froze.
Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed deeper red.
She lowered her head even more, tightly wringing the corner of her skirt.
Li Zhexian lightly pushed the cup. The wine, flashing with lightning arcs, rippled with a shimmering light in front of Zhu Zhuqing. "Sister Zhuqing, try some."
"It's a newly obtained fine wine called Thunder Lotus Brew."
"O-Okay..."
Zhu Zhuqing nervously picked up the wine cup and took a small sip.
A strange wine aroma, mixed with a numbing sensation, instantly spread throughout her body.
"It's delicious!" Her beautiful eyes slightly opened, and a captivating rosy blush spread across her cheeks. "Li Zhexian, you always have such magical wine!"
Li Zhexian looked at her slightly intoxicated and delicate face. "When did Sister Zhuqing arrive in Heaven Dou?"
"How have you been these past six months?"
This kind of casual greeting was the kind of opening a long-awaited reunion should have.
Perhaps it was because she was slightly intoxicated by the wine, but Zhu Zhuqing also relaxed. She gave Li Zhexian a blaming stare.
"And what about you!" she said, a trace of resentment in her tone. "Why didn't you come to find me?"
"Do you..."
"Have to wait for a girl like me to come find you every time?"
A hint of helplessness flashed across Li Zhexian's face. "Sister Zhuqing, I really didn't know when you would arrive in Heaven Dou City."
"I've been guarding the city gate for the past few days, both to wait for old friends and to hope that you would come."
"It's just that..." His eyes were clear as he said, "I didn't get to wait for you."
Zhu Zhuqing's heart softened. How could she bear to blame Li Zhexian?
"Okay, okay, I was just kidding."
"Actually, I arrived two days ago. It's just that..."
"Some things were delayed, so I only came to find you today." She was really too embarrassed to talk about her conflicted feelings over the past two days.
Her pearly teeth lightly bit her red lips as she mustered up her courage and said, "Li Zhexian..."
"I never had the chance to properly see Heaven Dou City before."
"Will you take me on a night stroll? And also…"
Zhu Zhuqing's voice became softer. "My two good sisters want to see you."
Li Zhexian's expression was as usual, and he answered with a smile, "Of course."
He knew who Zhu Zhuqing's sisters were.
But, as he had said to Ning Fengzhi that day, if he were to see Ning Rongrong again, he would just treat her as a stranger.nger.
He wouldn't mock her, wouldn't ridicule her, and wouldn't have the slightest ripple of emotion.
A hint of joy flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.
Seeing Li Zhexian get up, she also quickly lifted the hem of her skirt and followed him, walking by his side.
Tonight, the moonlight spread long and bright,
as if a layer of frost had been laid upon the ground.
Li Zhexian and Zhu Zhuqing strolled the streets, happily sharing the tales of their half-year apart.
At some point—
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze fell upon their shadows cast side by side.
Close, but with the faintest line still between.
She blinked,
then quietly, carefully,
with secret delight, edged closer…
and closer…
until her shoulder brushed his.
On the ground, the shadows merged, inseparable.
Zhu Zhuqing's brows arched into a smile.
Her face blossomed with a sweetness she could not hide.
"Zhuqing, what are you smiling at?"
Li Zhexian, holding a newly bought lantern, tilted his head toward her.
Zhu Zhuqing quickly shook her head, cheeks aflame.
This hidden joy—
she wanted only to keep it quietly to herself.
...
At Jinxi Bridge.
Xiao Wu twirled the end of her braid, peering around.
Ning Rongrong kicked a pebble into the water, startling a few koi to dart into the weeds.
"Where are Zhuqing and her Sword Wine?"
"Why aren't they here yet!"