"Here you go, kids! Don't drop them!"
After paying, the staff member placed four different flavors of ice cream into their hands.
Xu Yue had originally wanted to pay himself, but Xu Xiaoyan firmly snatched the chance away under the excuse of wanting to thank him.
Fortunately, some time had passed since the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and Xu Xiaoyan had recovered some of her Soul Power. She was no longer weak, and now, holding her ice cream, she stayed close at Xu Yue's side.
"Class Monitor..." Xu Xiaoyan spoke softly at that moment.
"What is it, Xiao Yan?" Xu Yue turned to look at her. "Is something wrong?"
"Um..." Xu Xiaoyan seemed a little bashful, but anticipation gleamed in her eyes. "I heard both sisters call you A-Yue. Can I call you Brother A-Yue too?"
Xu Yue could not help but laugh. "Of course. As long as you like it, Xiao Yan."
"Hehe!" Xu Xiaoyan's eyes curved into crescents, and her steps became lighter. "Then, Brother A-Yue, you can just call me Xiao Yan from now on!"
Holding their ice cream, the two quickly walked along the sidewalk and soon returned to Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin.
Xu Xiaoyan smiled and held one of her ice creams out to Ouyang Zixin.
"Big Sister, this is yours."
Ouyang Zixin accepted it with a smile and thanked her.
Meanwhile, Xu Yue held an ice cream out before Mu Xi as well.
"Big Sister Mu Xi, your favorite orange flavor."
Mu Xi was still emotionally unsettled by what Ouyang Zixin had said earlier.
As she looked at the ice cream in Xu Yue's hand, her gaze flickered.
On one hand, she did not want to accept something from Xu Xiaoyan. On the other, she could not bring herself to say no to the boy before her.
After waiting several breaths, Mu Xi silently accepted it in the end.
Ouyang Zixin took a bite of her ice cream, glanced over the group, and smiled as she bid Xu Yue farewell.
"Little Brother A-Yue, I have other things to do, so I won't be walking with you."
At that moment, Xu Xiaoyan spotted a Soul Guidance Vehicle parked by the roadside in the distance.
A man stepped out of the vehicle and waved in their direction.
Xu Xiaoyan looked at Xu Yue reluctantly and said softly, "Brother A-Yue, my brother came to pick me up."
"Okay, Xiao Yan. See you tomorrow."
Xu Xiaoyan nodded heavily, then gave him a sweet smile.
"See you tomorrow, Brother A-Yue."
With that, she ran toward the waiting vehicle, turning back every few steps.
Ouyang Zixin left together with Xu Xiaoyan.
As they passed the vehicle, she also greeted Xu Xiaoyu.
Xu Yue watched the two leave before turning to Mu Xi.
"Big Sister Mu Xi, let's go too."
However, to his surprise, Mu Xi, who was usually lively and cheerful and always played around with him—
This time, she said nothing and simply lowered her head as she walked ahead alone.
Xu Yue was left somewhat stunned by the sight.
It was not until he watched Mu Xi's figure gradually move farther away—
That he finally smacked his forehead after a long while, feeling annoyed with himself.
He had been immersed in the sensation brought by the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the Herrscher of Ice, and coupled with Xu Xiaoyan's weakness, he had failed to notice Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin beside him.
Only now did he suddenly realize.
Ever since they had left the park, Mu Xi had not said a single word beside him.
What exactly was the reason?
A vague answer had already formed in his heart.
Martial Soul Fusion Skills were something remarkably wondrous on Douluo Continent.
From the Golden Iron Triangle, Hell White Tiger, and Two-Pole Stasis Domain of twenty thousand years ago, to Huo Yuhao, Wang Qiu'er, Wang Dong'er, and their Purple Gold Dragon Butterfly Transformation ten thousand years ago, and so on.
For Soul Masters who possessed Martial Soul Fusion Skills, the feelings between them were always exceptionally complicated.
And when it occurred between members of the opposite sex, ninety-nine percent of the time, they would become lovers or spouses and spend the rest of their lives together.
Even those of the same sex might not necessarily escape it.
Passionate and heartless, isn't that right?
It was like the surprise Mu Xi had felt when she first sensed that attraction the day before yesterday, followed by her disappointment after hearing him deny it.
And today, she had witnessed him and Xu Xiaoyan truly form a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
No matter how slow Xu Yue was, he should have understood by now.
Thinking of this, he did not hesitate. He quickly followed the direction Mu Xi had gone and firmly took his place at her side.
At that moment, there was no need for explanations, nor could there be any.
Only the purest actions could prove her place in his heart.
Mu Xi's soft hand was clasped in his, but almost instantly, Xu Yue sensed the force of her struggle.
His grip gradually tightened, but with just the right amount of strength.
It ensured that he would not hurt her while also preventing her from breaking free.
Only after that soft hand struggled for a while and realized that it could not escape no matter what did it finally give up all resistance.
What an overbearing little bastard!
Mu Xi glanced sideways at Xu Yue walking beside her with her golden eyes, silently scolding him in her heart.
Yet that overbearingness completely steadied her previously wavering heart.
The two slowly walked down the familiar street.
As time passed, their footsteps grew slower and slower.
Because East Sea Intermediate Academy was already in sight ahead.
Only then did the silent Mu Xi speak to Xu Yue for the first time.
"A-Yue, do you think... we can keep walking down this road together forever?"
"Of course!" Xu Yue answered without hesitation. "We can walk this road together forever!"
The moment he finished speaking, he felt the jade-like hand in his palm tremble and slowly relax.
"But..."
Before Mu Xi could finish, Xu Yue immediately interrupted her.
"No buts! Big Sister Mu Xi, believe me!"
"I promise that we'll have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill of our own in the future too."
"Really?!"
"Of course."
The brief exchange ended.
Not only did the hand in his palm relax, but Mu Xi's shoulders, which had been tense all along, finally relaxed completely as well.
A smile gradually spread across Xu Yue's face as he suddenly let out a dramatic sigh.
"Ah... I never expected Big Sister Mu Xi to be this kind of person."
"What did I do?" Mu Xi looked over at him in confusion and asked.
"You actually wanted to abandon me?" Xu Yue's sigh grew even more mournful. "You know, when we were little, you once..."
Before he could finish, Mu Xi's cheeks flushed scarlet in an instant.
Her steps halted, and her long, slender leg lifted as if to kick him.
Yet when she looked at Xu Yue, she stopped again.
At that moment, some melting ice cream dripped onto her fair fingers.
A trace of coolness immediately startled her awake.
Without hesitation, Mu Xi directly shoved the ice cream in her hand into Xu Yue's mouth.
"Eat the ice cream your Little Sister Xiao Yan bought for you."
She looked toward the school gates right before them and angrily pulled her hand free.
"Hmph! I don't want to talk to you for the next three days!"
With that, she ran into East Sea Intermediate Academy as if fleeing for her life.
Xu Yue watched Mu Xi's retreating figure gradually disappear, smiling as he took the ice cream from his mouth.
Looking at the two ice creams in his hands, one orange and one blue, he swallowed them both in a few bites.
"Orange and blueberry are both delicious..."
"So... I want them all."
Only after Mu Xi's figure disappeared into the campus did he take out his communicator and dial a number.
"Hello, Big Sister Zixin, help me with something... Please, please..."
Ouyang Zixin's soft laughter came from the other end of the call.
"Little Brother A-Yue, that's not very nice of you! But... I don't mind helping you!"
"An equal exchange. You have to help me with something too."
"No problem."
"..."
Before you continue