In the afternoon on the East Sea Coast, the sea breeze scattered the sunlight into flecks of gold across the shimmering waves.
The fierce water-gun battle on the beach had long since ended, giving way to a more leisurely sort of laziness.
In the pools left behind by the ebbing tide, little crabs scuttled every which way, prompting Luo Ziyan to chase them with a twig.
Xia Yuan was still wearing the short jacket and skirt of his Archer form.
But instead of holding a water gun, he now sat cross-legged on a cooling mat beneath a beach umbrella.
An enormous watermelon sat before him, droplets of water still clinging to its emerald-green rind.
"Next up, the blindfolded watermelon-splitting challenge." Xia Yuan's clear voice rang out as his emerald eyes swept over the group.
"The rules are simple. Put on a blindfold, spin three times, and split it with one strike. Anyone who fails to split it or cuts crooked has to grill all the meat tonight."
"Objection!" Mei Mei jumped up first. "This is obviously targeting me! I'm just a shut-in!"
"I object too!" Luo Ziyan hurriedly raised her hand. "I'm short! Spinning three times will make me dizzy!"
The corners of Xia Yuan's mouth curled slightly. He did not force them, merely picking up a black cloth and leisurely tying it over his eyes.
"Then I'll demonstrate."
He stood, spun three times in place, and raised the fruit knife.
Xia Yuan merely tilted his head slightly, as though sensing the air currents around him.
The next second, he moved.
The ordinary table knife used for cutting fruit became a streak of silver in his hand.
Crack!
With a crisp snap, the watermelon split open, so neatly it looked as though the cut had been measured by a laser.