"A gentleman keeps his attire in order. Cultivation must be strong, but one's character cannot be lacking either. Of course, not everyone in this world follows the rules. If the other side resorts to underhanded tricks, we cannot be rigidly bound by them either; an appropriate response is nothing to be faulted for. But choosing to cross that line yourself and being forced onto it by someone else are two different things."
Huo Yuhao stared at him blankly, his lips moving slightly, but he said nothing for a long while.
He lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of his clothes.
He was so warm, just like Mom!
It would be wonderful if Brother Tang were my dad.
Only after several breaths did he nod very lightly, his voice carrying a faint, almost imperceptible hoarseness. "...I'll remember it, Brother Tang. Thank you for telling me this."
Tang Wulin smiled but said nothing more, turning his gaze back toward the arena.
Then his smile froze on his face.
On the arena, Wang Dong was swinging a heavy Clear Sky Hammer. Its head gleamed with a dark metallic luster as he smashed it again and again into the shield raised by the third-year senior opposite him, every blow carrying an unreasonable ferocity.
The hammer whistled through the air in his hands. Each strike landed with a dull crash, making even the seams between the arena's bluestone slabs tremble faintly. The third-year senior had already been forced to the edge of the arena, his footing growing more and more unsteady as the light on his shield visibly dimmed.
Tang Wulin's mouth twitched.
He remembered clearly that Wang Dong had never used the Clear Sky Hammer since enrolling.
Before outsiders, he had always revealed the Light Goddess Butterfly—beautiful, dazzling, and no slouch in attack power. Anyone who saw it would have thought that was his main martial soul.
Yet this guy had gone straight onto the arena and pulled out a hammer, fighting without holding anything back, swinging the massive thing in full circles and smashing away as though trying to beat his opponent to death.
Tang Wulin raised a hand to cover his face, his voice muffled between his fingers. "This guy... hasn't he always kept his Clear Sky Sect identity hidden? Why is he immediately using the Clear Sky Hammer to smash people the moment he gets onstage?"
Beside him, Huo Yuhao wore an equally bewildered expression, clearly not yet recovered from Wang Dong's sudden switch in martial souls.
Gu Yuena, on the other hand, watched with great interest. Her violet eyes curved into crescents as she gently shook the hand Tang Wulin was holding, as if cheering Wang Dong on.
On the arena, the third-year senior finally could not hold on any longer. His shield shattered beneath the final hammer blow, scattering into points of light across the air. He staggered back several steps and nearly tripped over the Soul Power pillar at the arena's edge.
After steadying himself, he cupped his hands toward Wang Dong, his face carrying a wry yet admiring smile. "That hammer of yours... it's far too unreasonable. As expected of what was once the number one tool martial soul in the world. I concede."
Wang Dong stood in the center of the arena with the Clear Sky Hammer resting on his shoulder. Several strands of his blue-pink short hair had been blown up by the wind, and his face held an expression of delighted surprise, as if even he had not expected it to work so well. He smugly raised his chin toward Tang Wulin in the stands.
Tang Wulin lowered the hand covering his face. Looking at the proud fellow on the arena with a hammer on his shoulder, he drew a deep breath, then slowly let it out.
He turned to Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena, his tone carrying a helpless hint of amusement. "...I seriously suspect this guy is copying me."
Huo Yuhao nodded while holding back a laugh.
Indeed, the way Wang Dong stood in the center of the arena with the hammer on his shoulder was practically identical to Tang Wulin's posture after he finished swinging the Clear Sky Hammer.
Even the angle at which he raised his chin was nearly the same. The only thing missing was tucking his hands into his sleeves.
Tang Wulin noticed it too. His mouth twitched, but in the end, he said nothing, merely shaking his head lightly.
Just as he was about to turn and grumble to Huo Yuhao, two brisk sets of footsteps sounded behind him. Then Bei Bei's voice drifted over from the stands' passageway, carrying the bright enthusiasm unique to young men. "Wulin! Yuhao! You two really are here."
Tang Wulin turned around and saw Bei Bei striding toward them, a thin sheen of sweat still on his forehead. He had clearly jogged all the way over.
Tang Ya walked beside him with light steps, her long black hair swaying gently as she moved. She wore a bright smile and lifted a hand to wave at them.
"Wulin, Yuhao, who are these two?" Bei Bei stopped in front of Tang Wulin. His gaze first fell on Gu Yuena, then shifted toward Wang Dong, his eyes filled with friendly appraisal and curiosity.
Tang Wulin turned sideways and gave both sides a brief introduction. "Gu Yuena and Wang Dong are both classmates from my year. This is Bei Bei, and this is Tang Ya. They're both seniors from the Outer Court and members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. She's the Tang Sect's sect master, and an old acquaintance of mine."
He then turned to Bei Bei and added with a smile, "Why do you two have time to come to the Outer Court today? This isn't somewhere you usually visit."
Before Bei Bei could speak, Tang Ya cut in. She leaned forward half a step, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Huo Yuhao. "I came to find Yuhao! Wulin, you don't know this, but ever since you came back from the Star Dou Great Forest, I've been thinking about Yuhao's grilled fish. These past few days, all I could think about while cultivating was that aroma. I simply couldn't stand it anymore, so I told Bei Bei to come find you."
Huo Yuhao's ears reddened again at such direct praise. He lowered his head to look at his toes and answered softly, somewhat embarrassed. "...Then I'll grill some more for you."
Tang Wulin laughed and clapped his hands as he stood. "All right, then what are we waiting for? Let's go. I'm hungry too. The open space below the dormitory is spacious. We can set up a grill there—it'll be much more comfortable than eating in the cafeteria."
"Won't that violate the school rules?" Wang Dong asked after giving it some thought.
Tang Ya said with a grin, "It's fine. We have one of the people who makes the rules with us. No one can bother us."
As she spoke, Tang Ya glanced at Tang Wulin.
He spoke as he headed outside. Gu Yuena naturally followed after him, a few strands of her silver-white hair lifted by the breeze and brushing lightly against his elbow.
Wang Dong quickly followed as well, muttering under his breath. No one knew what he was grumbling about, but he did not fall behind by a single step.
Huo Yuhao walked at the very back, his lips pressed together and a warmth he could not suppress shining in his eyes as he silently followed along.
The group settled down in the open space behind the Outer Court dormitory buildings, a small bluestone-paved patch between the dormitories and the cafeteria. Several crooked locust trees stood beside it, their afternoon shade covering just over half the sunlight. It was a fine place to chat and set up a stove.
Tang Wulin volunteered to catch the fish and made his way to the shore of Sea God Lake. The wind by the lake carried moist water vapor toward him, mixed with the crisp scent unique to aquatic plants.
He crouched at the shore and stretched out a hand toward the lake's surface. Blue Silver Grass extended from his palm, azure vines silently slipping into the water. Several breaths later, he suddenly pulled.
Before you continue