Post-Match Parade, Tender Affection, Meng Hongchen's Late-Night Farewell

The two walked out of the hotel one after the other and merged into the evening crowds of Star Luo City.

The lanterns lining both sides of the street had just been lit, casting a warm yellow glow on the stone pavement.

An old man selling sugar figurines was calling out at the crossroads, and several children surrounded him, vying to choose the patterns.

Ma Xiaotao walked beside Dai Huabin, with an arm's length between them.

"Where did you go today?" she asked casually.

"I took Ling Xi out for barbecue. That girl ate over a dozen plates of snowflake beef and still wasn't satisfied."

Ma Xiaotao chuckled, "Her Martial Soul is Golden Dragon, so she must have a big appetite. But only you spoil her."

"You can't help but get used to it."

The two chatted casually, their pace unconsciously synchronizing.

After walking for a while, Ma Xiaotao suddenly stopped in front of a jewelry shop. The shop was small, but inside hung all kinds of sparkly earrings and necklaces.

"You want to see?"

"No..." Ma Xiaotao lowered her gaze, "I just think this street is quite lively."

That's not what she meant.

What she wanted to say was that being able to walk quietly beside him like this, without competition, without Evil Fire, without all that messy stuff, was just fine.

Dai Huabin didn't ask any further questions.

The two continued walking and turned into a slightly quieter alley. Paper lanterns hung on both sides of the alley, and the sky overhead had darkened, with stars faintly visible.

"Huabin."

"Um?"

"That day..." Ma Xiaotao slowed her speech, "How much Soul Power did it take to get me out of the ice cocoon?"

Dai Huabin glanced at her for a moment. "Not many."

Your face was as white as paper.

"A little too much."

Ma Xiaotao didn't press the matter further.

She lowered her head, her long red hair falling to her chest, and the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

"Next time..." she said softly, "Don't lie to me."

Dai Huabin did not respond.

The two walked a little further and finally stopped in front of a stall selling sour plum juice. Dai Huabin bought two bowls and handed one to Ma Xiaotao.

Ma Xiaotao took the drink and sipped it; the sweet and sour flavors were just right. She looked up and saw the famous Star Moon Bridge of Star Luo City across the way, where couples were releasing river lanterns.

Looking at these couples, Ma Xiaotao suddenly smiled sweetly at Dai Huabin.

Dai Huabin looked at Ma Xiaotao and smiled.

They made no confessions or promises.

But some things have already been quietly confirmed in the air.

On the way back to the hotel, Ma Xiaotao's steps were much lighter than when she left.

Night had completely fallen.

Dai Huabin returned to his room and hung his coat on the hanger by the door. The sound of water came from the bathroom; Zhu Lu was taking a shower.

He sat down on the chair by the window, poured himself a glass of water, and was about to drink it when there was a knock on the door.

"Thump, thump."

Dai Huabin got up to open the door.

A girl with silver-white curly hair stood outside the door, her large, icy-blue eyes shining brightly in the dim light of the corridor.

It is Meng Hongchen.

She wasn't wearing her Soul Tool Armor today; instead, she wore a simple navy blue high-necked long dress, and her hair was loosely tied in a bun at the back of her head. Her entire demeanor had changed from the cold and stern one she wore on the field to Qingya.

"Meng Hongchen?" Dai Huabin was somewhat surprised.

"Excuse me." Meng Hongchen turned her head slightly. "Can we chat for a bit? I'm not going in, I'll stay here."

Dai Huabin leaned against the door frame and made a "please" gesture.

The Meng Hongchen is straightforward.

"Our team will return to the Sun Moon Empire first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes, it's right to go back early."

"Hmm." Meng Hongchen nodded, pausing for a moment.

The corridor was quiet.

After a moment's thought, Meng Hongchen asked:

"Dai Huabin, will we ever see each other again?"

He thought for a moment, then answered decisively, "See you again."

Meng Hongchen smiled.

When she smiles, a faint warm light shines in her icy blue eyes.

"You're special." She took a step back. "Throughout the entire competition, you're the only person who both my brother and Elder Ma are wary of. That feeling is rare."

"You flatter me."

"You flatter me," Meng Hongchen gently shook her head. "Then see you next time."

Dai Huabin leaned against the door frame, a smile appearing on his face.

"It's an honor to be remembered by you. I hope we can have another pleasant chat like this next time."

Meng Hongchen was taken aback.

Immediately, she raised her hand to cover the smile on her lips and lowered her voice:

"Don't forget me."

Beautiful girls always leave a lasting impression.

Meng Hongchen's smile deepened.

She didn't say anything more, turned around and walked back down the corridor.

The navy blue skirt trailed a short arc on the floor before quickly disappearing around the corner.

Dai Huabin looked away and closed the door.

As soon as he turned around, he saw Zhu Lu standing at the bathroom door wrapped in a bath towel, her wet hair plastered to her shoulders, looking at him.

"Who?"

"Meng Hongchen. Coming to say goodbye."

Zhu Lu said "Oh," and picked up a towel to start drying her hair.

She's very interested in you.

"The tournament is over, time for normal post-match socializing."

Zhu Lu paused for a moment while drying her hair, then continued. After a few seconds, she suddenly blurted out:

"What did you just say was a beautiful girl?"

Dai Huabin smiled and said, "You are a beautiful girl too."

Zhu Lu's head was turned away from him, so his expression was not visible.

"Help me comb my hair."

Zhu Lu handed over the towel and comb, her tone unusually indifferent.

Dai Huabin sat down behind her and began to comb her hair.

After combing her hair about five or six times, Zhu Lu suddenly spoke:

"I'm not jealous."

"Um."

"Real."

"I know."

"Be gentle with your comb, you're pulling it."

Dai Huabin quickly loosened his grip.

Zhu Lu's back was slightly tense, and it took her a while to relax.

"But."

"Um?"

"Could you say things like that to my face in the future?"

Dai Huabin paused.

Then he leaned down and whispered in Zhu Lu's ear.

"Beautiful girls always leave a lasting impression. May I say that again to your face now?"

Zhu Lu's ears turned red.

She reached out and snatched the comb away. "Shut up, I'll comb it myself."

For the next three days, the entire Shrek team completely let loose.

Ning Tian led Xiao, Cui Yajie, and Wang Dong'er on a tour of the Starlight Auction House from the first floor to the fourth floor, stopping to discuss almost every display case for a long time.

In the end, they didn't spend much real money, but the four of them had their tongues gleaming from haggling, mainly because they had worked so hard to negotiate with the stall owner.

Dai Yueheng and his group of four repeatedly darted between the hot spring resort, the restaurant, and the martial arts arena.

Gongyang Mo was dragged by Dai Yueheng to watch a Soul Fighting competition. After they returned, the two argued all night about "what is the strongest support".

The pairing of Xixi and Ling Luochen was the quietest. The two sat in a teahouse in the city for an entire afternoon, with Xixi talking the whole time and Ling Luochen listening the whole time.

Finally, even Xixi felt embarrassed and asked Ling Luochen if there was anywhere she wanted to go.

Ling Luochen thought for a moment and said one word, "No."

Xixi almost broke down on the spot.

On the evening of the third day, Zhang Lexuan gathered everyone in the hotel lobby.

"You've rested enough." Her voice was calm and gentle, but everyone immediately became serious. "We'll set off back to the academy first thing tomorrow morning."

No one objected.

Dai Huabin leaned against a pillar in the lobby and glanced at his teammates.

Ma Xiaotao's complexion had recovered to about 70-80%, and she was chatting and laughing quietly with Wu Ming.

Dai Yueheng and Gongyang Mo were still rolling their eyes at each other over last night's debate topic.

Wang Dong'er stood at the back of the line with her arms crossed, looking absent-minded, but her gaze would occasionally drift in his direction.

Di Lingxi stood quietly to his left, still holding half a pastry in her hand.

Zhu Lu was on his right.

All is well.

The next morning, the Shrek Academy team left the Star Emperor Hotel and headed towards Shrek City by carriage.

The carriage bumped along the official road.

Dai Huabin lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at the receding silhouette of Star Luo City, pondering what to do next.