"What's going on?"
A guard's shout rang out.
Ma Hongjun's face instantly turned terribly grim.
He glared at the tearful twins.
But when he saw the city guards drawing near, he could only force down the Evil Fire rising in his heart.
Picking a fight with guards in Heaven Dou City would only bring trouble down on himself.
"Damn it, you two got lucky!"
Ma Hongjun cursed under his breath, stamped his foot hard, then turned and shoved through the crowd, hurrying away without looking back.
Meanwhile, at Skywater Academy.
The rippling blue waters of Skywater Lake, at the center of the academy, looked like a giant sapphire set in a carpet of green.
Beside the lake, beneath a weeping willow.
Lan leaned against the thick trunk, looking relaxed as he flipped through a hefty book titled The Essential Guide for Soul Masters.
The summer breeze skimmed across the lake, carrying a hint of moisture, but it still couldn't dispel the heat in the air.
For Lan, who had grown up in the Far North, it was a rather novel experience.
He quietly weighed it over in his mind.
After getting used to the endless, frozen snowfields, he found the height of summer in Heaven Dou City almost unbearable.
It was time.
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament was being held in Heaven Dou City.
Just as he was about to close the book, a clear, melodious voice called out from nearby.
"Lan!"
Lan looked up to see the sisters Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er walking toward him together.
Shui Bing'er was as cool and composed as ever. She wore a pale blue dress, and her waist-length blue hair swayed gently with each step.
Shui Yue'er was much more lively. She hurried ahead like a cheerful little bird and reached Lan first.
"Captain, are you slacking off and reading here again?"
Shui Yue'er gave him a playful wink and plopped down beside him without asking.
Lan put away the book and smiled faintly.
"I'm not slacking off. It's just a little hot."
He took a thin booklet from his Soul Tool and handed it to them.
"This is for you."
Shui Bing'er came closer and accepted the booklet curiously. Three small, archaic-looking characters were written on the cover: Clear Heart Technique.
"What is this?"
"A technique for calming the mind," Lan explained.
"It isn't much use to me anymore."
"But it should help you. It can make the mind as still as water, without a ripple. My guess is that it'll greatly improve the speed and stability of your Martial Soul Fusion Skill."
At the words "Martial Soul Fusion Skill," Shui Bing'er's eyes lit up.
Her beautiful blue eyes were fixed intently on the booklet in her hands. Her slender fingers gently opened the first page, as if she were touching some peerless treasure.
She sat very close to Lan. A faint fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, and as she moved, a mischievous strand of blue hair even brushed lightly against his arm.
"Captain, you're so good to us!"
Shui Yue'er, however, paid little attention to the technique. Her big eyes were filled with Lan's reflection.
As if by magic, she produced a bottle of chilled water from behind her back. Tiny beads of condensation glistened on its surface.
"Here, Captain. I just chilled it!"
She eagerly offered it to him.
Lan didn't refuse. He took the bottle, unscrewed it, and tipped back a large gulp.
The cool liquid slid down his throat, driving away some of the heat.
"Thanks."
He set the bottle aside and continued.
"You can have the other members of the Skywater Team practice this technique too."
"If you work well together, you might even master a Seven-in-One Fusion Skill."
"Captain," Shui Yue'er chimed in with a grin, correcting him, "it should be a Seven-in-One Fusion Skill."
Lan paused.
Seven-in-One?
He looked at the sly glint in Shui Yue'er's eyes and immediately understood.
That little rascal had counted him in too.
He smiled helplessly and got to his feet.
"I'll be going. You two can practice on your own."
With that, Lan's figure flickered a few times and vanished at the end of the path beside the lake.
Shui Yue'er remained where she was, watching the way Lan had gone with a smug smile of a plan well executed.
Her gaze slowly drifted down to the bottle of water Lan had just drunk from.
Indirect kiss: achieved!
Shui Yue'er felt her cheeks grow warm, and her heart thumped a few beats faster.
She carefully cradled the bottle as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.
With a lovestruck smile, she drew a deep breath over the bottle's opening, just about to taste the flavor of "Captain" for herself.
A hand suddenly patted her shoulder.
"Little sister, what are you grinning about?"
Shui Bing'er's cool voice sounded by her ear.
"Ah!"
Shui Yue'er jumped in fright, and her hand jerked.
"Clatter!"
The chilled water that carried all her girlish dreams fell squarely to the ground. Its clear liquid quickly seeped into the grass and disappeared.
Silence.
A deathly silence.
The next second—
"My water—!!!"
A wail tore through the serenity of Skywater Lake.
After leaving Skywater Academy, Lan didn't pause for a moment.
Skywater Academy was built in the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, not far from the grand imperial city.
His destination was clear.
Heaven Dou Imperial City.
It was certainly bustling here.
The broad avenue paved with bluestone was wide enough for eight horse-drawn carriages to travel abreast. Shops lined both sides of the street, and the banners of taverns and teahouses fluttered in the breeze.
The cries of vendors, the rumble of carriage wheels over stone, and the chatter of passersby blended into a roaring torrent, a striking contrast to the utter silence of the Far North.
Lan walked at an unhurried pace, his gaze calmly sweeping over the bustling scene.
His destination was the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, Xue Qinghe's residence.
As soon as he reached the entrance to the Eastern Palace, a warm voice rang out.
"Captain Lan."
Lan turned toward the voice and saw Xue Qinghe standing on the steps, dressed in elegant moon-white robes and smiling as if he had been waiting for some time.
He was tall and slender, with a refined bearing. The smile on his face was like a spring breeze, inspiring goodwill without anyone even realizing it.
"You're right on time."
Xue Qinghe walked down the steps and came over to Lan.
Lan gave a slight nod.
"Your Highness."
His voice was as cool as ever, with no unnecessary pleasantries.
"There's no need to be so formal."
Xue Qinghe waved a hand, his manner friendly.
"I saw your performance in the tournament. It was excellent. With someone like you as captain of the Skywater Team, it seems the championship is all but yours."
Lan didn't reply. He simply watched him in silence.
Xue Qinghe seemed accustomed to his quiet nature and wasn't the least bit awkward. Instead, his smile deepened.
"Come on, I'll show you around the city."
He fell into step beside Lan and began telling him about Heaven Dou City's local customs, chatting easily about everything from historical sites to neighborhood gossip.
Most of the time, Lan simply listened, occasionally responding with a quiet "mm."
One spoke, the other listened; one moved, the other stayed still. Yet somehow, they fell into a curious harmony.
As they walked, a rich fragrance suddenly drifted out from a nearby restaurant, making their mouths water.
Xue Qinghe stopped and turned toward Lan with a smile.
"I imagine you're hungry too, Captain Lan."
"I've reserved a table at Heavenly Fragrance Tower. We can eat while we talk."
With that, he led Lan into the restaurant.
Upstairs, in a private room.
The dishes soon arrived one after another.
Lan ate quietly. His movements were elegant, but he didn't eat slowly; clearly, he was hungry.
Xue Qinghe poured himself a cup of wine but didn't drink. He merely held the cup, watching Lan across the table with interest.
"Come to think of it, Captain Lan, you really don't say much."
He spoke softly.
Lan glanced up at him but didn't answer, instead picking up a piece of Soul Beast meat and putting it in his mouth.
Xue Qinghe didn't mind. Suddenly, he leaned forward a little, moving closer as he lowered his voice.
"But..."
A faint scent of dragon's saliva incense wafted toward Lan as Xue Qinghe leaned in.
"When I'm with you, I feel strangely at ease."
He gazed into Lan's eyes, a hint of playfulness now showing in his gentle expression.
"If you were a woman, perhaps I'd make you my Crown Princess."
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