Osmanthus Cake on Rest Day

The easygoing air of a rest day felt especially precious at Shrek Academy. There was no piercing wake-up whistle, no Master assigning training with a cold face. Even the sunlight streaming through the dormitory windows seemed soft and gentle, far kinder than usual.

Xiao Wu practically bounced into Xiao Xiaoxiao and Ning Rongrong's room. Her suspended arm swung back and forth, but it did not seem to hinder her much. "Get up, get up! No training today, so let's go wander around Suotuo City! I heard a new dessert shop opened there, and their Double Skin Milk is so smooth it sticks to your tongue!"

Ning Rongrong rubbed her eyes and sat up. Rarely, she did not complain about Xiao Wu being noisy. Instead, her eyes lit up. After so many days of intense training, it was about time they went out and relaxed.

Xiao Xiaoxiao was awake as well. Her Spiritual Power had mostly recovered, leaving her refreshed and clear-headed. She smiled and nodded. "Sure. We can get some fresh air. If we stay in the academy any longer, we'll go moldy."

The three girls quickly got ready, tucked away the spending money Dean Flender had given them, and headed out excitedly. Just as they reached the academy gates, they ran into Oscar and Ma Hongjun, who were likewise carrying money and planning to head into the city.

"Well, where are these three beautiful ladies off to?" Oscar sidled up to them, his Peach Blossom Eyes narrowing into slits as he grinned mischievously.

"To Suotuo City. What, you want to come along as our free wallet?" Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips and deliberately teased him.

"Of course! Serving beautiful ladies is my honor!" Oscar gave an exaggerated bow, making Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong burst into laughter.

Ma Hongjun rubbed his hands together beside them, his little eyes gleaming. "I heard a new circus came to Suotuo City, and there's also..." Before he could finish, Oscar clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Fatty, shut up! Don't go blurting out your little schemes and scaring the girls!"

The five of them made their way noisily toward Suotuo City. Passing the training ground, they saw Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing sparring. Their movements were fast and ruthless, sweat flying beneath the sun. Clearly, they had no intention of wasting this rare rest day. Under an old locust tree not far away, Tang San sat alone with a blueprint spread across his knees. His fingers occasionally traced across it, his brows slightly furrowed as he studied it with intense focus.

"Xiao San! Aren't you coming into the city with us?" Xiao Wu called loudly.

Tang San lifted his head, drawing his gaze away from the blueprint. He looked over the group and shook his head. "You go ahead. I'm working something out." His eyes paused on Xiao Xiaoxiao's face for a moment. He gave her a slight nod in greeting, then lowered his head and resumed studying the blueprint.

"What a cultivation maniac." Xiao Wu stuck out her tongue. She did not press him, instead pulling Ning Rongrong and Xiao Xiaoxiao onward while muttering, "By the time he finishes researching, all the shops in the city will probably be closed."

Suotuo City was as bustling as ever. Street stalls were packed full, all sorts of wares dazzling the eye. Crowds squeezed past one another, while the scent of food mixed with vendors' cries and rushed over them. The long-missed liveliness of the city made the young men and women, who had been cooped up in the academy, feel even more cheerful.

Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong were quickly drawn to the sparkling hair clips at an accessory stall, gathering there to pick through them. Oscar and Ma Hongjun headed straight for the snack stalls. Ma Hongjun especially stopped at nearly every skewer stand, swallowing as he stared at the sizzling, grease-dripping meat. Xiao Xiaoxiao followed the girls around until, at a cluttered stall selling old trinkets, her attention was caught by a small silver bell.

The bell was tiny, with blurry patterns carved into its surface. Its chime was not crisp when shaken, but somewhat muffled and hoarse. Yet for some reason, it made her feel at ease.

"You have a good eye, miss. It's an old thing. The older generation said it could calm the mind." The stall owner was a smiling old man, still fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.

After thinking it over, Xiao Xiaoxiao took out some money and bought it. The next time her Spiritual Power acted up, perhaps it really would come in handy.

At noon, the five chose a restaurant that looked clean and ate to their hearts' content. Oscar faithfully fulfilled his duty as the "wallet." Though he was spending the funds Flender had given them, he still wore a generous smile. Ma Hongjun ate until his mouth was slick with grease, clutching a braised pork knuckle as if he might swallow the bone too.

"Want to see the circus this afternoon? I asked earlier, and they've got trapeze artists today!" Ma Hongjun wiped his mouth and made the suggestion again. This time, no one objected. Everyone wanted to watch the fun.

The circus performance was indeed lively. Doves conjured by the magician fluttered through the air, the daring trapeze artists made everyone clench their fists, and the clown on stilts had the audience roaring with laughter. Xiao Wu shouted excitedly as she watched, forgetting to eat the sugar figurine in her hand. Ning Rongrong smiled until her eyes curved, occasionally gasping at the more dangerous stunts. Oscar and Ma Hongjun applauded with all their might, nearly clapping their palms red.

As Xiao Xiaoxiao watched the stage, her mood lightened as well. Still, she occasionally reached for the little bell in her pocket without thinking. Amid the clamor, her mind kept wandering. Had Tang San eaten back at the academy? Had he figured out what was on that blueprint?

The moment the thought surfaced, she smiled to herself. Why am I worrying about that? Tang San is so capable. He definitely won't let himself go hungry.

By the time the performance ended, the sun was already slanting westward. The five headed back carrying armfuls of purchases. Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong had bought piles of hair clips and scarves. Ma Hongjun had packed up half a roast chicken and two pounds of braised beef, while Oscar carried several bags of nuts that were supposedly good for staying alert.

By the time they returned to the academy, night was beginning to fall. Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing had just finished sparring and were eating in the dining hall. Tang San was there too. He had barely touched the food before him, and the blueprint was still in his hands. His brows were drawn even tighter, as if he had become stuck on some difficult problem.

"We're back!" Xiao Wu bounced into the dining hall. She tossed the things in her hands onto an empty chair and immediately began showing off her new hair clips. "Rongrong, look at this one! Isn't it especially pretty?"

Ning Rongrong smiled and nodded, taking several boxes of pastries from her bag to share with everyone. "These are the specialty desserts from that shop. Try them." Oscar and Ma Hongjun hurried to unwrap them, praising how delicious they were between bites.

Xiao Xiaoxiao walked over to the table, hesitated for two seconds, then took an oil-paper packet from her canvas bag and gently set it beside Tang San's barely touched plate.

Tang San looked up from the blueprint, a trace of confusion in his eyes as he looked at her.

"Um... I passed by a pastry shop, and the osmanthus cake seemed to be selling well, so... I bought some while I was there." Xiao Xiaoxiao tried to make her tone sound casual, but her fingers quietly clenched the corner of her clothes. "I heard sweets can restore energy. You... must use a lot of brainpower researching this, right?"

Tang San froze for a moment. He looked at the packet of osmanthus cake, still faintly warm, then looked up at Xiao Xiaoxiao. Her gaze wandered, as if she did not quite dare to meet his eyes, and the tips of her ears were slightly red.

"Thank you." After several seconds of silence, he spoke softly. He reached out and took the osmanthus cake. The lingering warmth on the oil paper passed through his fingertips, warm and gentle.

"You're welcome." Xiao Xiaoxiao let out a breath of relief and quickly turned to take some of the desserts Ning Rongrong had shared, concealing the inexplicably quickened beat of her heart.

Xiao Wu was tying a scarf around Oscar's neck when she caught sight of this. She winked at Ning Rongrong. Ning Rongrong pressed her lips together and smiled without saying anything. Dai Mubai picked up a piece of dried meat and chewed it, looking at Tang San and the incongruous sweet pastry in his hand with an amused smile at the corner of his mouth. Ma Hongjun was too busy eating braised beef to notice anything at all.

Tang San seemed unaware of the attention around him. He opened the oil-paper packet and picked up a piece of snow-white osmanthus cake. It was soft, carrying a faint fragrance of osmanthus. He took a small bite, and the light sweetness melted across his tongue. It was not cloying, but just right. He ate with refined, unhurried movements, chewing slowly. He did not say whether it tasted good, but he finished that piece completely, even picking up and eating the crumbs that had fallen onto the paper.

After dinner, everyone returned to their dormitories. The rest day was nearly over, and they would be heading to the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow. They needed to rest well.

Back in the dormitory, Xiao Xiaoxiao washed up and lay on her bed, fiddling with the silver bell. Its muffled chime spread through the quiet room, truly making her feel at ease. Her fingertips traced the carved patterns on its surface, while the faint flicker of emotion that had passed through Tang San's calm eyes when he accepted the pastry in the dining hall appeared in her mind again.

She shook her head, placed the bell beside her pillow, and forced herself to close her eyes. What am I thinking about this for? We're going to the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in the boys' dormitory.

Tang San sat on the edge of his bed, the blueprint still spread across his knees, but his gaze was somewhat unfocused. His fingertips tapped unconsciously against his knee, as though savoring the sweetness of the osmanthus cake from earlier. After a while, he stood and took out a pile of metal components and tools from Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night. By the light of the oil lamp on the table, he began carefully polishing them. Whenever he paused, he would pick up the oil-paper packet beside him and take another small bite of osmanthus cake. His furrowed brows gradually eased.

The night deepened, and Shrek Academy slowly fell silent. The easygoing air of the rest day quietly faded, replaced by an indescribable tension that gradually spread through the academy. The shadow of the Star Dou Great Forest seemed already to hang over the old, shabby grounds. Everyone knew that tomorrow's soul ring hunt would not be a game. Danger and opportunity had always been bound together.