The not-too-wide street was lined with distinctive snack shops, with customers coming and going in an exceptionally lively scene.
The moment they reached the street corner, all kinds of tempting aromas rushed toward them.
The clamor of voices, the heat from the food, and the enticing scents all mingled together.
They filled the entire street with the rich, earthy atmosphere of everyday life.
At the street corner.
Inside a small shop with a sign reading "pot-stewed beef."
Xu Yue looked helplessly at Xu Xiaoyan, who was burying herself in her meal beside him, though his eyes were full of affection.
"A-Yue, this pot-stewed beef is so delicious!"
Xu Xiaoyan swallowed the food in her mouth and sweetly spoke as she met Xu Yue's gaze.
There was even a grain of rice stuck to the edge of her soft pink lips.
Seeing this, Xu Yue shook his head, pulled out a tissue, and gently wiped it away for her.
"Eat slowly. No one's going to steal it from you."
In his memories, the story of pot-stewed beef was as unforgettable as the flatbread from ten thousand years ago.
When they reached the street corner, he had suggested it to Xu Xiaoyan. As expected, the taste was quite good.
Enjoying Xu Yue's tenderness, Xu Xiaoyan narrowed her beautiful eyes and obediently let him wipe her face.
Just then, a cool female voice cut in.
"Excuse me, may I sit here?"
The two looked toward the voice. Xu Xiaoyan immediately exclaimed in surprise.
"It's you? That girl from Class Five!"
A hint of surprise also flashed through Xu Yue's eyes.
Standing beside the table was the only girl among Class Five's three-person team in the Class Promotion Tournament, the one with a thousand-year Soul Ring.
The Silver Dragon King's other half, Gu Yue.
Xu Yue casually swept his gaze around. There were clearly empty seats in the shop, yet she had deliberately chosen this table.
He understood Gu Yue's intentions, but still felt somewhat puzzled.
However, he did not refuse and gestured toward the empty seat across from them.
"Please, sit."
"Thank you." Gu Yue nodded slightly and sat down with her serving of pot-stewed beef.
She did not begin eating right away. Her gaze landed directly on Xu Yue, carrying a trace of scrutiny.
Xu Yue sensed her appraisal and took the initiative to speak, pointing at himself and Xu Xiaoyan. "My name is Xu Yue. This is Xu Xiaoyan. We're both from Class One.
"But you probably already knew that, didn't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have deliberately sat here."
He directly exposed Gu Yue's intentional approach.
"Gu Yue!"
Gu Yue softly gave her name, answering Xu Yue's question. "I heard that Xu Yue reached Soul Elder before graduating from Primary Academy. I was a little curious."
"I see." Xu Yue understood. "Want to chat while we eat?"
Gu Yue nodded at his words.
The two then began dealing with their respective servings of pot-stewed beef.
Seeing this, Xu Xiaoyan's soft pink cheeks puffed up in annoyance.
This was obviously supposed to be a date between her and Xu Yue, yet a third wheel had suddenly inserted herself. It was truly frustrating.
But she was not the sort of person who could openly drive someone away, so she could only vent her anger on the food and lower her head to eat at a furious pace.
While talking with Gu Yue, Xu Yue also finished his own meal. He wiped his mouth, looked at Gu Yue, and got straight to the point.
"Gu Yue, you've been asking about my Soul Power Level and my Martial Soul..."
"Don't tell me you're preparing for the Class Promotion Tournament in a few days?"
He truly could not figure out what Gu Yue was thinking.
The two of them had previously had no interaction whatsoever. Their brief exchange of glances on the arena just now barely counted as their first meeting.
Logically, shouldn't she be circling around Tang Wulin and fulfilling her promise to Na'er?
Why had she come over to him to ask about his circumstances?
Other than preparation for the Class Promotion Tournament, he could not think of any other possibility.
Yet she did not seem like someone particularly obsessed with the Class Promotion Tournament, making her behavior all the more difficult for him to understand.
Having obtained some information, Gu Yue's cool face seemed to soften slightly, and the corner of her lips lifted in an almost imperceptible curve.
"Yes. What, are you afraid of losing, Xu Yue?"
"A-Yue will never lose!"
Xu Xiaoyan had also finished eating by then. She immediately glared at Gu Yue indignantly and rushed to answer for Xu Yue.
Xu Yue merely smiled without confirming or denying it. Seeing that everyone had finished eating, he suggested they leave.
When Xu Xiaoyan saw Gu Yue making as if to stand as well, alarm bells immediately went off in her heart.
Could it be that Gu Yue wanted to follow them too?
Thinking of this, she immediately changed her mind, reached out to grab Xu Yue as he was about to stand, and coquettishly shook his arm.
"A-Yue! I still want to eat those little meatballs at the street entrance!"
"Xiao Yan, you're not full yet?"
Xu Yue looked at her in surprise, but her soft, adorable, expectant expression defeated him, and he could not bear to refuse.
"Alright, wait here. I'll be right back."
"Thank you, A-Yue!" Xu Xiaoyan immediately beamed.
Xu Yue smiled and did not think much of it. Turning to Gu Yue, he said, "Sorry, Gu Yue. Excuse me for a moment."
As she watched Xu Yue's departing back, Xu Xiaoyan cast a somewhat smug glance at Gu Yue across the table. The meaning in her eyes was obvious.
See that? You're just a latecomer.
Receiving that look, Gu Yue's cool face remained calm. She merely commented inwardly.
The ridiculous possessiveness of a human female hatchling... childish!
However, recalling the information she had obtained during their conversation, her black eyes became even deeper.
Star of Eden? I've never heard of such a Martial Soul... Judging by his age, could it coincide with the time of that Heavenly Change?
Could it be a special stellar Martial Soul that mutated under the influence of that Heavenly Change? Interesting!
If only I could see him fight with my own eyes. I'd definitely learn more...
Still, I'll be able to see it in a few days during the Class Promotion Tournament...
Just as she was contemplating these matters.
A burst of piercing commotion suddenly came from the entrance of the shop.
Immediately afterward, the sharp crash of clay pots shattering erupted!
"Don't smash them! You can't do this! These are how I make my living!" Uncle Li pleaded tearfully.
The sudden disturbance immediately drew Xu Xiaoyan's attention, and her gaze snapped away from Gu Yue toward the entrance.
The stove by the shop entrance had been overturned onto the ground. The clay pots simmering beef had shattered everywhere, fragrant broth flowed in all directions, steam rose into the air, and the place was a complete mess.
"Stop! What are you doing?!" After a brief moment of shock, Xu Xiaoyan abruptly stood up and shouted angrily.
Gu Yue also rose with a frown and followed her over, coldly looking at the several burly men causing trouble at the entrance.
That pot-stewed beef had indeed tasted quite good. She might come here again in the future...
With that thought, Soul Power quietly began circulating within her.
Xu Xiaoyan's angry shout made the several men at the entrance turn around.
When the bald man in the lead saw that the ones speaking were two such beautiful girls, his eyes immediately lit up and he grinned.
"Oh? Interesting. Two little girls trying to play heroes? This Li brat dared not pay protection money, so he's clearly not taking me, Guang Long, seriously! But then..."
However, before Guang Long could finish speaking, he discovered that Xu Xiaoyan's expression had suddenly turned delighted.
Even Gu Yue, who had kept a cold face the entire time, relaxed her tense body and calmly watched the scene about to unfold.
The bald Guang Long had yet to understand what was happening.
The next second, an iron-pincer-like hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, and a low voice sounded beside his ear.
"But what... why don't you say it and let me hear?"
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