Cousins

Near the square of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, inside a spacious, brightly lit pavilion.

Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Osler, and Yu Feng, the six members of the Imperial Fighting Team, stared in stunned disbelief at Lan Si and Ye Lingling as they walked toward them side by side.

When had Ye Lingling, hailed as the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's most untouchable beauty and known as an ice beauty, started getting so close to a man? The two were only walking together, and hadn't done anything particularly intimate, but this was Ye Lingling—the Ye Lingling whom even Dugu Yan, one of the Imperial Fighting Team's only two women, rarely got to approach.

"Lingling, Lan Si, you..." Dugu Yan asked, her voice catching.

Ye Lingling's face was as cold as ever, but the corners of her mouth beneath her veil lifted in a faint, almost imperceptible smile. She stopped and introduced him to the Imperial Fighting Team. "He's my cousin."

"Your cousin?" Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and the others stared wide-eyed.

Just then, Qin Ming walked over from a distance and asked with a smile, "Everyone's here. What's going on? It's quite a lively scene."

"Teacher Qin Ming, why don't you ask the two of them?" Dugu Yan pointed at them.

Qin Ming turned his head, looking at Lan Si and Ye Lingling in surprise.

Under Qin Ming's and the six team members' gazes, Lan Si gave an awkward smile and explained briefly, "Actually, I only found out yesterday. It turns out my mother is Lingling's aunt. But for certain reasons, I don't want many people to know about it just yet. I'd appreciate it if you could keep it a secret for now."

Qin Ming rubbed his chin and said with sudden understanding, "No wonder Lingling's father, Ye Renxin, the head of the Nine Heart Begonia clan, came to our academy yesterday. So he was here to see you. Don't worry. Since you're the one involved and don't want this getting out, we won't go running our mouths."

With it confirmed, the other members of the Imperial Fighting Team perked up, their gazes turning toward Lan Si. As they nodded in agreement, they felt more or less relieved. They might not know Lan Si well, but they had seen the power of Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul. If Lan Si's Cyan Lotus Martial Soul had mutated from the Nine Heart Begonia, then it all made sense. Otherwise, it would be unbelievable for a Soul Master from a common background to surpass them so easily.

"All right, that's enough about that. Over the past two days, you've all gotten to know one another. Next, I'll begin your first stage of training: actual combat." Qin Ming clapped his hands. His smile faded as he grew serious. "I'm sure you, Tianheng, have all learned a lot during your seven days at the Great Soul Arena in Heaven Dou City."

"Yes. Actual combat really is the best way to improve your strength in a short time." Yu Tianheng nodded in agreement.

Qin Ming said solemnly, "In two years, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament will begin. You'll be facing elite prodigies from Soul Master Academies across the continent. Individual strength alone won't be enough to decide the outcome of a battle. You'll have to rely on teamwork if you hope to win the championship you've dreamed of. By the way, according to some inside information from a few members of the Education Committee, Spirit Hall, the tournament's organizer, will offer three Soul Bones over ten thousand years old as the final champions' reward."

"Soul Bones?" At those words, everyone except Lan Si, who already knew, had their eyes light up. Even Ye Lingling, usually so composed, couldn't hide a glimmer of interest in her beautiful eyes.

Standing beside Lan Si, Qin Ming took in everyone's reactions. Once the mood had built enough, he continued, "For the next six months, I'll take you to different cities to compete in Soul Fights. This will not only improve your combat experience but also help you learn more about different types of Soul Masters and their fighting abilities. My requirement is that in every city, you earn the team Silver Soul title as well as the individual Silver Soul title—and even the Gold Soul title."

"Any objections?"

"None," all the Imperial Fighting Team members answered in unison, brimming with confidence. As far as they were concerned, those Soul Elders at the Soul Fights were nothing special. Few of them even had the best Soul Ring Configuration. Dealing with people like that would be a piece of cake.

Qin Ming nodded in satisfaction and turned to Lan Si and Ye Lingling. "Lan Si, we've all seen your strength. With you, the Imperial Fighting Team now has eight members. Lingling is a Support-type Soul Master, so she can't compete in solo Soul Fights. You'll pair up with her for the two-person matches. As for the team matches, you won't need to participate for now. Observe the others for a while. Once you're familiar with their fighting styles, I'll have you take someone's place."

"No problem." Lan Si nodded with an easy smile.

"Good. We'll meet at the academy gate in half an hour. Go get ready. Once we leave, we may not be back for three or four months." After settling the itinerary, Qin Ming sent everyone off to prepare.

The group dispersed, each going their own way.

Lan Si and Ye Lingling walked side by side along a shaded path on the academy grounds, making a striking picture that drew envious looks from the onlookers nearby.

Ignoring the spectators, Lan Si said a little shyly, "Lingling..."

"Call me cousin." Ye Lingling lightly tapped the top of Lan Si's head with the edge of her hand.

Lan Si was dumbfounded. Then Ye Lingling said, "A-Si, do you remember me holding you when we were little? I was three, and you wet all over me."

"Uh..." Lan Si rolled his eyes, grumbling inwardly, How could I possibly remember? I was still a baby then.

Ye Lingling continued on her own. "At the time, I thought you wet all over me because you hated me, so I cried. Only later did I learn that all babies did that. I'd even wet my aunt's clothes when she held me. But before I had the chance to apologize to you, you..."

At the end, Ye Lingling stopped walking and clutched the hem of her skirt with both hands. A glimmer of tears shone in the corners of her eyes as she gazed silently at Lan Si.

Meeting Ye Lingling's gaze, Lan Si felt a pang in his heart. Under the astonished eyes of the onlookers in the distance, he raised a hand and gently wiped away the tear at the corner of her eye. "Isn't everything all right now?"

"I know, but all these years, you and Aunt and Uncle..." Ye Lingling's voice was lovely, yet filled with sorrow.

Lan Si shook his head, drew Ye Lingling into his arms, and gently patted her back. "It's all right. It's all in the past now."

At the sight of this, the onlookers in the distance erupted. Before long, rumors were spreading that Ye Lingling, the untouchable beauty of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, had been won over by a new student.