Banquet Intentions: Gentle Words Concealed, First Steps Beneath the Moon

Following Xiao Wu's voice, Tang San and Lin Zhixia quickly returned to the edge of the bamboo grove. Ning Rongrong held up a purse and beamed. "My treat today! We're going to Zui Xian Lou, the most famous restaurant in Heaven Dou City, to properly celebrate everyone's breakthroughs and welcome Third Brother!"

"Great, great!" Ma Hongjun was the first to cheer. He rubbed his hands together, his eyes full of anticipation. "I've heard Zui Xian Lou's Roasted Spirit Deer Meat is especially delicious. I'm definitely going to eat my fill today!" Dai Mubai patted his shoulder and teased with a grin, "All you know is eating. Be careful not to eat so much that it affects your training. Master will make you run laps again tomorrow." Zhu Zhuqing stood nearby, and even her cool face revealed a faint smile as she nodded lightly. "Zui Xian Lou's medicinal cuisine is quite good. It'll be perfect for consolidating the Soul Power we just broke through to."

Laughing and chatting, the group headed toward Zui Xian Lou. Xiao Wu naturally looped her arm through Tang San's, waving the Lovesick Heartbreak Red in her hand. "Third Brother, look at this flower. It was glowing in the sunlight just now. Isn't it amazing?" A faint halo still clung to its petals, trembling gently with her movements and reflecting the joy in her eyes.

Looking at her smile, Tang San recalled what Lin Zhixia had just said, and his heart began to race again. He slowed down deliberately, falling behind the others, and asked softly, "Xiao Wu, you said earlier that you wanted this flower to stay with you forever?"

Xiao Wu froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing slightly. She quickly lowered her head, her fingers gently brushing the petals. "Yes. This flower is so beautiful, and... and Third Brother brought it back. Having it with me feels like having Third Brother by my side." Her voice grew quieter and quieter, yet every word reached Tang San clearly.

Tang San's heart felt as though it had been lightly tickled by a feather, warm and itchy. Just as he was about to say something else, Ning Rongrong suddenly turned and called out, "Third Brother! Xiao Wu! Stop dawdling, we're almost at Zui Xian Lou!" The two could only quicken their pace. Neither spoke again, but where their arms touched, the warmth quietly rose.

Zui Xian Lou's private room was spacious and bright. Everyone gathered around a round table and quickly ordered their dishes. Oscar excitedly took out the new soul skill he had been researching—Recovery Sausage—and handed one to each person. "Try it, everyone. This batch has pollen from the Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid added to it, so it restores Soul Power even faster!" Ma Hongjun took the sausage and bit down hard, his eyes lighting up at once. "Delicious! It smells even better than before. Oscar, your cooking just keeps getting better!"

Ning Rongrong raised her teacup and smiled at everyone. "Come on, let's use tea in place of wine. Here's to everyone's breakthroughs, and to Shrek's success in the Elite Competition!" Everyone raised their cups. Crisp clinks rang out, and the private room brimmed with lively cheer.

During the meal, Lin Zhixia intentionally—or perhaps unintentionally—created opportunities for the two. Using the excuse that "Zui Xian Lou's sour plum soup is especially good," she pulled Ning Rongrong downstairs to get some. Dai Mubai caught on as well, finding the excuse of "discussing tomorrow's training tactics" and taking Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing to talk by the window. Before long, only Tang San and Xiao Wu remained in the private room.

The atmosphere suddenly fell quiet. Tang San watched Xiao Wu lower her head to drink her soup, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the Sachet Lin Zhixia had given him. Its warm touch calmed him somewhat. He drew a deep breath and gathered his courage. "Xiao Wu, have you... have you ever thought about who you'd want to stay with at Shrek forever?"

Xiao Wu looked up, her clear eyes fixed on him, and answered without hesitation, "Of course I want to be with Third Brother! And Sister Zhixia, Rongrong, and everyone else too. How wonderful it would be if we could all stay together." As she spoke, she seemed to remember something and added, "But if I could only choose one person, I'd still want to stay with Third Brother. We've been together ever since Nuoding Academy. If we were separated, I wouldn't be used to it."

Tang San's heart lurched, nearly leaping from his throat. Looking into Xiao Wu's earnest eyes, he was just about to speak the words hidden in his heart when a commotion suddenly arose downstairs. The private room door was pushed open, followed by a familiar voice. "Well, if it isn't everyone from Shrek Academy. What a coincidence."

Everyone looked up to see Dugu Yan standing at the door with two members of the Imperial Dou Team, her expression carrying a hint of arrogance. Her gaze swept over the group before settling on Tang San. With a cold snort, she said, "Tang San, you only beat me at the Soul Dueling Arena last time by luck. The next time we meet, I'll make you taste the snake venom I've been cultivating!"

Tang San frowned, about to respond, but Dai Mubai had already risen to his feet and stepped in front of the others. "Dugu Yan, this is Zui Xian Lou, not the Soul Dueling Arena. If you want trouble, you'll have to see whether we agree to it first!" Soul Power rippled faintly around him. The pressure of his level forty Soul Power made the members behind Dugu Yan involuntarily retreat a step.

Dugu Yan's expression changed, but she still forced herself to say, "I only came to say something to Tang San. What does it have to do with you?" Just then, an aged voice came from outside the door. "Yan Yan, do not be rude." Dugu Bo slowly entered the private room, his gaze settling on Tang San as he spoke mildly. "Young man, I couldn't find you at the academy earlier. So you were here."

At the sight of Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan immediately reined in her arrogance and obediently moved aside. Tang San stood and clasped his hands in salute. "Senior Dugu, did you need something from me?"

Dugu Bo smiled and walked to the table, picking up a piece of pastry. "Nothing important. I merely wanted to tell you that I've found the herbs you mentioned last time for balancing the toxins. When you have time, come to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye and take another look for me." He paused, his gaze passing over the others. "You're participating in the Elite Competition, aren't you? If you run into trouble, come find this old man. In Heaven Dou City, no one dares refuse me respect." With that, he left with Dugu Yan.

The atmosphere in the private room eased once more. Ma Hongjun let out a sigh of relief. "Good thing Senior Dugu Bo was there. Otherwise, Dugu Yan would definitely have kept pestering us." Lin Zhixia looked at Tang San with a teasing glint in her eyes. "It seems Senior Dugu Bo truly approves of you. Now we have another powerful backer in Heaven Dou City."

After dinner, everyone returned to the academy together. It was late, and moonlight spilled over the streets, silver radiance covering the ground. Upon reaching the academy gates, Ning Rongrong pulled Zhu Zhuqing and Oscar away first. Dai Mubai urged Ma Hongjun off to train as well, leaving only Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Lin Zhixia.

Lin Zhixia patted Tang San's shoulder and gave him a meaningful look. Then she turned to Xiao Wu with a smile. "Xiao Wu, I have something to report to Master. Go take a walk around campus with Third Brother first. The moon is so lovely tonight; it's perfect for a stroll." With that, she quickly left.

Now that only the two of them remained, Tang San looked at Xiao Wu and courageously held out his hand, gently taking hers. "Xiao Wu, let's go for a walk by the lake behind the mountain. The moonlight is even prettier there." Xiao Wu's hand was soft and warm. The instant he held it, her cheeks flushed bright red, but she did not pull away. She only nodded softly. "All right."

Hand in hand, the two walked down the path behind the mountain. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, scattering mottled shadows across the ground. A gentle breeze drifted over the lakeside, carrying a faint floral scent. Xiao Wu leaned against the railing by the lake, looking at the moon's reflection in the water as she spoke softly. "Third Brother, do you think Sister Zhixia deliberately sent everyone away today?"

Tang San paused. He had not expected Xiao Wu to ask that. Scratching his head, he said somewhat awkwardly, "Maybe... maybe Zhixia wanted us to have some time alone."

Xiao Wu turned to look at him, her eyes serious. "Third Brother, is there something you want to tell me?" Moonlight shone over her face, and her long eyelashes cast faint shadows. Her gaze was clear, yet held a trace of anticipation.

Looking into her eyes, Tang San could no longer hold himself back. He took a deep breath and said softly, "Xiao Wu, I..."

Just then, Master's voice suddenly called out from afar. "Tang San! Xiao Wu! Get back to the dormitories! You have training early tomorrow, so don't stay out too long!" The two could only stop. Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, his eyes full of reluctance, but he still nodded. "Let's go. We'll talk tomorrow."

On the way back, they still held hands. Neither said a word, yet both could feel the warmth of the other's palm and the rhythm of the other's heartbeat. At the dormitory entrance, Xiao Wu stopped and took out a small Lovesick Bean from her pocket, handing it to Tang San. "Third Brother, this is for you. I picked it up by the lake today. They say a Lovesick Bean makes people think of the person they like."

Tang San accepted the Lovesick Bean. It was small and faintly red. He closed his hand around it, looked into Xiao Wu's eyes, and said earnestly, "Xiao Wu, when training ends tomorrow, I have something very important to tell you."

Xiao Wu's cheeks reddened again, and she nodded gently. "All right. I'll wait for you." With that, she turned and ran into the dormitory.

Tang San stood at the dormitory entrance, looking at the Lovesick Bean in his hand before touching the Sachet tucked against his chest. The corners of his lips rose uncontrollably. He knew that tomorrow, he would tell Xiao Wu everything in his heart. And the moonlight by the lake continued to shine softly, as if bearing witness to the feelings that were about to break through the soil.