Where Ice Holds Warmth

Lin Yichen had barely taken his seat when the match began.

Since Spirit Hall had fought only two matches that entire morning, the audience's interest was entirely focused on this afternoon's match.

After all, this was their home ground, so the cheers were naturally louder.

Chrysanthemum Douluo sprawled beside him and let out a lazy yawn.

Ghost Douluo stood some distance away, his arms folded across his chest, his gaze fixed on the arena, his expression unreadable.

"Watch carefully. They may be no match for you at all, but there could still be something worth learning from them."

Ghost Douluo's hoarse voice rang out, as gloomy as the man himself.

Leaning back in his chair, Lin Yichen swept his gaze across the resting areas on both sides of the arena.

On the left was Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Imperial Dou Team, while Blazing Fire Academy was on the right.

The members of both teams had already entered one after another and were making their final preparations.

The staff had placed all the rosters on the table. Lin Yichen picked one up and looked it over.

It contained the personal information for Heaven Dou Royal Academy and Blazing Fire Academy.

His memories were too distant. Searching through his memories of the original work, he could only vaguely recall that Blazing Fire Academy had the sibling pair Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu.

Lin Yichen shook his head. That lineup truly could not be mentioned in the same breath as his own.

As its name suggested, Blazing Fire Academy consisted entirely of fire-attribute members, perfectly countered by Lunar Jade Rabbit's yin attribute.

As for Heaven Dou Royal Academy—

Lin Yichen knew only one person there: Dugu Yan.

That little girl had already earned a place in his heart.

Thinking back to that little fragrant tongue in Star Dou...

Enough, enough.

By now, both teams had stepped onto the field and stood ready in their respective preparation areas.

However, Heaven Dou Royal Academy's captain, Yu Tianheng, had been staring at Spirit Hall's resting area.

His gaze was aimed directly at Lin Yichen.

What's this guy looking at me for? Am I really that handsome?

Lin Yichen muttered helplessly, his tone caught somewhere between resignation and amusement.

When he turned his head, he saw Zhao Anyang and the others beside him nodding vigorously, clearly approving of his thought.

Lin Yichen: "..."

"In a one-on-one match, Heaven Dou's chances of winning aren't high. Most of their members are better suited to team battles."

"So in a 1v1, they'll most likely only send out three people."

Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke lazily, even yawning as he did so.

"Keep an eye on them later, especially Yan. You and their captain are both assault-type beast martial spirits. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan still has some substance to it."

Yan nodded and continued watching the match.

At Heaven Dou Royal Academy's resting area on the other side,

Qin Ming looked at the members of Blazing Fire Academy and said, "Oslo, you go first this round. Most of them specialize in single-target attacks, so group battles are our advantage."

"Your goal is to wear down their soul masters. If you take one out, leave the field immediately. Don't hesitate."

"For one-on-one matches, we'll only send Oslo and Yu Feng. Everyone else will conceal their strength."

Everyone recognized Qin Ming's ability. Even at the royal academy, there were not many teachers at Soul Emperor rank or above.

Not to mention one so young.

But he still can't compare to Lin Yichen...

Dugu Yan could not help feeling a little upset as the thought surfaced in her heart.

At the edge of the arena, the referee had already signaled that both sides were ready.

The first to walk out from Heaven Dou Royal Academy was indeed Oslo.

Dressed in a fitted black outfit, his lean frame moved as he rolled his wrists on the arena floor, looking disdainfully at his opponent.

Blazing Fire Academy sent out Huo Lie, whose martial spirit was Fire Star.

He was a level twenty-nine soul master, likely sent by Blazing Fire Academy to test the waters as well.

"The match begins!"

"So boring."

Lin Yichen yawned as he watched the battle on the field.

There was nothing fresh about it, nothing worth learning.

It was merely the weakest member from each academy probing the other, and then that was it.

Yet the audience watched with great interest.

It had to be said, fire-attribute bombardment was indeed quite exhilarating.

But Lin Yichen was truly bored.

"This really has no use for you. If you're bored, you can leave."

Chrysanthemum Douluo fell asleep as soon as he finished speaking. To a Titled Douluo, a battle at this level was as simple as watching two children fight.

Lin Yichen nodded and was just about to leave when he heard Xie Yue say,

"Stop messing around. My sister can barely hold on." Yan's cold snort followed.

Lin Yichen laughed. Just who was messing with whom?

Still, he walked out of the hall.

But he thought to himself,

I'll come back when the team battle starts.

There was a half-hour break between the three match formats, more than enough time for Lin Yichen to return.

Lin Yichen strolled through Heaven Dou City with light, shuffling steps.

His wolf had been settled in the soul beast enclosure specially managed by Heaven Dou Soul Arena.

Soul masters did not actually need such a thing. He had only ridden it on the first day because the mood had struck him.

But it was also due to the royal family's requirements, perhaps because they wanted a display of power.

Taming a soul beast was indeed difficult, especially one at the thousand-year level.

That gave Lin Yichen a mischievous idea.

He could tame a soul beast himself and keep it for fun.

And since he himself was a soul beast, taming one would surely be easier.

Or perhaps... a soul spirit?

A contracted spirit beast, then!

Pokémon, gotta catch 'em all!

But he did not know necromancy magic...

He could think about those things later. Right now, his top priority was obtaining a few more attack skills.

Still, Lin Yichen had a feeling that his soul skills might evolve after he reached level seventy.

Perhaps he would gain attack skills then?

Lin Yichen immediately perked up, and his steps grew lighter.

"Lin Yichen."

Lin Yichen stopped and turned around to see Shui Bing'er standing beneath a locust tree by the roadside.

She was not wearing Heavenly Water Academy's uniform today. Instead, she wore a light-blue casual outfit that made her seem a little gentler.

She carried a paper bag in her hand, though he could not tell what was inside.

"Little Shui? What wind blew you here?"

So it was his "rumored girlfriend." Then everything was fine.

Shui Bing'er's cheeks instantly flushed scarlet.

She seemed to have recalled what had happened in Soto City, as well as the Rose Hotel recommended by the auctioneer.

After returning, she had asked around about what kind of place the Rose Hotel was.

A couples' hotel for romantic intimacy...

She had been so embarrassed by it that she hid away for two whole days.

"Nothing. I came to see you."

She lifted the paper bag in her hand.

"I passed by a pastry shop and bought some on the way. Do you... want to try some?"

"Feed me."

Lin Yichen looked down at her, the corners of his lips curving upward as he blinked his large eyes.

"You!... You're insatiable..."

Though she said that, Shui Bing'er obediently opened the pastries and fed one into Lin Yichen's mouth.

The osmanthus cake tasted wonderful. He could not tell whether it was the soothing fragrance of the flowers or the intoxicating scent of her body.

"That ring on your hand—does it still feel comfortable to wear?"

Shui Bing'er suddenly asked.

Lin Yichen lowered his head and looked at the ring on the ring finger of his right hand.

Dugu Yan and I must have been overheard by Shui Bing'er back then.

Lin Yichen silently regretted it. He should not have talked about that outdoors.

"It's fine. If you want to change it, then change it. It's not as though—"

Before she could finish, Lin Yichen took her hand with his right hand.

"I'm not changing it. No matter what, I won't change it!"

A shy smile bloomed on Shui Bing'er's face. Rather than pulling her hand away, she lightly tightened her grip.

As Lin Yichen watched Shui Bing'er lower her head bashfully, a line suddenly came to mind.

Yet who knew that ice, too, could hold warmth and gentleness...

But he did not say it aloud.

He simply shifted their joined hands from side by side to interlaced fingers.

Shui Bing'er's fingers trembled slightly, then slowly curled back around his, one by one.

Neither of them spoke again as they walked side by side along the street.

Sunlight slipped through the gaps in the leaves, scattering flecks of gold across their clasped hands.