"Ruoruo! When did you get here?"
The moment Wu Ming saw the woman, her eyes lit up. The arrogant golden flames around her shrank away with a pop, like a punctured balloon. The Golden Crow's phantom vanished, and her six Soul Rings disappeared in an instant.
The "I'm the greatest under heaven" look on her face changed in a heartbeat, replaced by a sheepish, affectionate smile, like she'd just been caught in the act.
As if she'd found herself some backup, she pointed at Ma Xiaotao and complained coquettishly, "She started it! I was only joking!"
At the same time,
the violent crimson Phoenix Flame around Ma Xiaotao also surged and rippled.
When she saw who had arrived, most of the fury in her phoenix eyes faded, replaced by an almost overflowing sense of grievance. But more than that, she was embarrassed to have been caught "playing around like a child."
She pressed her lips together, glared at Wu Ming, then glanced at Long Jinyu.
Though she still seemed a little reluctant, she quickly withdrew her Martial Soul and Soul Rings. The enormous Evil Fire Phoenix phantom let out a low cry, then vanished.
"Ruoruo...." Ma Xiaotao's voice dropped a few notches, tinged with awkward obedience and stubbornness. "...She... she was the one talking nonsense first!"
Their simultaneous calls, carrying such different degrees of familiarity, immediately made the newcomer's identity clear—
There were few people who could make the two living volcanoes of the inner court lay down their arms and show such respect.
The woman before them was known for her gentle resolve, wisdom, and open-mindedness.
She held great prestige among the inner-court disciples!
Second only to Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan—
the "Inner Court's Number One Controller"!
The "Golden Fairy"—Han Ruoruo!
Han Ruoruo walked slowly between the two. Her gaze swept over Wu Ming's expression, which seemed to say she was enjoying the show, then settled on Ma Xiaotao, who was clearly weak but had forced herself to flare up. A look of understanding and concern flashed through her light brown eyes.
First, she spoke gently to Ma Xiaotao, who was still pouting:
"Xiaotao, you look drained, and your breathing is unsteady. You only finished suppressing your Evil Fire recently, didn't you? You've spent so much energy. Why aren't you resting properly? Why are you still fooling around with Ming'er?"
Then she shot Wu Ming a reproachful look.
"Ming'er, Xiaotao just suffered an Evil Fire backlash and needs to rest. Can't you let her have some peace? And making such a scene in front of the dining hall—what would people think?"
Called out, Wu Ming immediately grinned and sidled up to Han Ruoruo, linking her arm through hers.
"Aw, I know, I know! Ruoruo's the best! Xiaotao and I were only fooling around! See? I didn't even use a Soul Skill~." She tried to get out of trouble by acting cute.
A tall male student with bright orange-red short hair in the crowd had also taken in the scene.
His deep blue eyes followed Wu Ming closely.
Seeing her lively, spirited manner as she acted coquettishly toward Han Ruoruo, he watched with undisguised admiration—and a faint hint of disappointment.
Especially when he heard Wu Ming tell the beautiful new junior... junior brother? "Your big sister's got your back." His heart turned sour, and he couldn't quite say why.
Still, he quickly pressed the feeling down and shook his head helplessly, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
"Senior Sister Wu is still the same, so warm to everyone. But the way she speaks her mind is... pretty adorable."
When Ma Xiaotao was called out for having just suppressed her Evil Fire, the last of her temper vanished. She lowered her voice and said to Han Ruoruo, "...Mm. I understand, Ruoruo."
Han Ruoruo's gaze held a hint of curiosity and admiration as it discreetly swept over Long Jinyu's profile. If Ming'er hadn't just shouted "junior brother" at the top of her lungs, who would have guessed that such a beauty was actually a man?
"Ahem. Master Wang has really outdone himself today. He's made his signature dish, 'Ice Crystal Jade Marrow Soup.'"
"They say it's especially nourishing for fire-attribute Soul Masters. He even set aside two of the best portions for you. If we don't hurry... it'll probably get cold."
Long Jinyu watched from the side, eyes wide! His inner self was waving a handkerchief in excitement, tears streaming down his face.
"Wuwuwu! Ruoruo is the GOAT! Gentle big sisters are the best! Beautiful, kind-hearted, and so commanding! She's practically a living bodhisattva, here to save the suffering! Please accept my deepest respect!"
Han Ruoruo's champagne-gold hair and her light brown eyes, gentle yet authoritative, seemed to shine with a holy light in his eyes!
"Crisis averted."
Only then did Han Ruoruo turn her attention fully to Long Jinyu, giving him a reassuring smile.
She keenly noticed one of Long Jinyu's odd movements—
He was hurriedly covering his mouth with the back of his hand, his head turned slightly to one side as if hiding something. His face also looked a little paler than before.
"Junior, I'm sorry you had to see that. Those two just love to fool around."
"Welcome to the inner court. I'm Han Ruoruo. Come in—the food here is pretty good."
Concern tinged Han Ruoruo's voice as she naturally stepped closer, watching him with warmth.
"Are... are you all right? Do you feel unwell?"
Her gaze fell on the corner of his mouth, which he was trying to hide.
Long Jinyu stiffened slightly, realizing he couldn't hide it anymore. He lowered his hand, then awkwardly wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.
That only made the dark-red trace of blood stand out more starkly against his pale skin.
"Oh!"
Han Ruoruo gave a soft gasp. Her usually calm, gentle eyes filled with genuine worry and sympathy.
She immediately took a neat, understated silk handkerchief from her uniform sleeve pocket. It carried a faint, elegant scent of orchids.
With a motherly tenderness, she carefully pressed it to the corner of Long Jinyu's mouth and wiped away the offending bloodstain.
Through the thin silk, her fingertips could feel the soft, supple touch of the young man's skin.
"How did you get hurt?"
Han Ruoruo's voice was as gentle as a spring breeze rippling across a lake.
Looking at Long Jinyu's handsome, delicate face, pale and awkward, she felt even more tenderness toward him, on top of the natural fondness his startling beauty had inspired.
Once she had cleaned him up, she gently pressed the handkerchief into Long Jinyu's cool hand.
"Here, take it. You can wipe your sweat with it, too. You don't need to return it."
Her concern was so natural it left no room for refusal.
Her gentle, thoughtful manner left even Wu Ming staring for a moment.
"Little brat—!!!"
Han Ruoruo's words struck Ma Xiaotao like a thunderclap!
She turned to look at Long Jinyu, and the bloodstain that hadn't been wiped clean came into view.
Her mind went blank. All her anger, grievance, and embarrassment from moments earlier were replaced in an instant by cold panic and overwhelming guilt!
"What... what am I doing?!"
"He nearly used up all his Soul Power helping me suppress my Evil Fire, and he even coughed up blood! He's so weak..."
"And yet... over some trivial nonsense, I forced myself to flare up my Soul Power right in front of him?!"
"I'm such an... idiot!"
"Was he trying to stop me just now? Is he...?"
Ma Xiaotao's heart felt as if an invisible hand had clamped down hard on it.
She instinctively wanted to rush over and check on him, to send him some Soul Power, just as she had in the woods.
"Little brat, you... are you all right?! Were you just trying to...?"
But just as she started to move—
Long Jinyu, like a frightened young wife, had just let Han Ruoruo wipe away the blood and hand him her handkerchief.
Then, without drawing attention to it, he shifted half a step closer to Han Ruoruo.
He used Han Ruoruo's figure to block Ma Xiaotao's reaching hand and scorching gaze!
His eyes lowered, long lashes casting a small shadow across his pale face. He pressed his lips together and didn't look at Ma Xiaotao.
Instead, he quietly thanked Han Ruoruo. "Thank you, Senior Sister Han... I'm fine. Just a minor backlash. I'll be all right after a little rest."
His tone was polite and grateful, completely ignoring Ma Xiaotao, who stood close by, distraught and full of remorse.
That silent "avoidance"...
made his feelings clearer to Ma Xiaotao than any words could have—
He was disappointed!
Disappointed that she didn't take care of herself!
Disappointed that... she had just been saved by him, and then turned around and squandered everything he'd done for her!
And even more disappointed that... she hadn't taken his request to "stop pushing yourself" to heart at all!
They had only known each other for a few hours, but the price he'd paid was real.
That feeling of being "let down" left his weak, exhausted heart simmering with resentment. He didn't want to talk to her.
Ma Xiaotao's outstretched hand froze in midair. Her fingertips still yearned to touch him, but all she could do was leave them awkwardly suspended.
Watching Long Jinyu's profile, so clearly resistant and distant, and his fingers clutching Han Ruoruo's handkerchief,
she felt an indescribable bitterness and a surge of guilt well up, tightening her throat and making her eyes grow hot.
She parted her lips, but the words "I'm sorry" and "Let me take a look" caught in her throat, impossible to say.
"Uh..."
Wu Ming looked from Ma Xiaotao, stricken with remorse and unsure what to do,
to the pretty junior hiding beside Han Ruoruo, radiating an oppressive "stay away from me" gloom,
then to Han Ruoruo, who had gently stepped in to smooth things over.
In the end, she wisely chose to...
quietly enjoy the show✓
She also glared a few nosy inner-court students into backing off when they tried to poke their heads over for a better look.
Among them, she caught sight of a pair of blue eyes that had been watching her the whole time. The owner's ears turned bright red, and he "fled in disarray."
Wu Ming: "..."
Han Ruoruo keenly sensed the delicate, heavy atmosphere between Long Jinyu and Ma Xiaotao.
She patted Long Jinyu lightly on the shoulder and suggested gently,
"Little junior, you've used up a lot of energy. You need to rest and replenish it. Whatever's going on, why don't we talk after you've eaten and recovered a little strength?"
Ma Xiaotao felt anxious and pained. She forced down her churning emotions and suddenly stepped forward, moving around Han Ruoruo to stand directly in front of Long Jinyu, though he immediately turned his head away.
Still, she reached out without hesitation—not to grab his wrist, but to gently tug at his sleeve. Her grip wasn't strong, but it held a stubborn insistence that wouldn't let him pull free.
"Hey!"
Her voice carried a hint of forced calm. Listen closely, though, and there was a slight tremble in it. Her fiery red eyes stayed fixed on his turned-away profile.
"Don't... don't sulk! Let's go eat first! Your health matters!"
"If you... if you don't want me to touch you, I won't! But you have to eat!"
"After we eat... after we eat, you can do whatever you want!"
"So... I promise you! No matter what happens in the future, I won't act so rashly again!"
"Whatever happens... I'll think about the consequences first! I'll talk it over with you... first!"
"I, Ma Xiaotao, keep my word!"
Her final words were decisive, ringing out with absolute conviction.
It was the most serious promise she could make, especially when they had known each other for such a short time.
When Ma Xiaotao tugged his sleeve, Long Jinyu shuddered. Hearing her promise, he finally couldn't help glancing quickly at her.
Seeing the undisguised worry and remorse in her eyes, along with her... clumsy attempt at compromise, the resentment in his heart somehow melted away by more than half.
Still, he kept his face stiff and muttered stubbornly under his breath, so quietly that it was almost inaudible:
"...Who's sulking..."
"Senior... I'm hungry..."
He gave his sleeve a reluctant tug, but his grip was light. It was more like a token protest than a real attempt to break free.
Ma Xiaotao caught the softening in his voice and the words "I'm hungry."
At last, the heavy stone in her heart dropped!
Her expression brightened in an instant, and the corners of her mouth even lifted without her realizing it.
She didn't let go of his sleeve. Instead, she more naturally led him toward the dining hall.
"If you're hungry, then hurry up! What are you dawdling for? Old Wang's bound to have something good to help you recover!"
She also remembered to call back to Han Ruoruo and Wu Ming. "Ruoruo, Ming'er, hurry up!"
Watching Ma Xiaotao's lightning-fast change of expression and the way she clung to the junior's sleeve, Wu Ming couldn't resist leaning toward Han Ruoruo's ear to gossip excitedly in a whisper. "Ruoruo! Did you see that? Those two are ab-so-lute-ly up to something!"
Han Ruoruo only smiled gently at the young man and woman ahead, bickering even as the first threads of attachment between them began to form. She gave Wu Ming a light push. "All right, quit teasing. Let's go."
Ma Xiaotao half-dragged Long Jinyu forward.
He felt the warmth of her grip through his sleeve.
He looked at the fiery red figure beside him, who had brightened up as soon as he'd said he was hungry.
He sighed helplessly and put away the handkerchief, still warm with Han Ruoruo's body heat and carrying her delicate fragrance.
Without even noticing, the corners of his mouth curled up ever so slightly.
They stepped into the dining hall.
The room was warm and bright. The scent of food mingled with the distinctive energy of Soul Power ingredients, filling the air.
As if she had just remembered something, Wu Ming turned to Long Jinyu and suggested, "Little junior! Let Big Sister treat you to Old Wang's signature dish—'Sun True Fire Roasted Dragon Tendon'! How's that? It's super nourishing! Like cures like, right?"
"R-roasted dragon tendon?!"
The moment Long Jinyu heard the name of the dish, he stopped dead, his expression turning indescribably strange.
A sense of aversion and physical nausea made his stomach churn.
What the hell? Could it be the Dragon God Bloodline acting up? Why does hearing "roasted dragon tendon" feel like hearing that they're roasting one of my own relatives?
Long Jinyu hurriedly shook his head, suppressing the absurd thought.
Don't overthink it! I'm probably just too hungry!
"Little brat, what's wrong?" Ma Xiaotao noticed he'd stopped and tightened her grip on his sleeve.
"Why do you look so awful? Are you feeling unwell again?" she asked rapidly, full of concern.
Before you continue