Little Starlight in the Morning Mist

A pale blue dawn had just begun to spread across the horizon. Thin morning mist still drifted through the woods of the Shrek Inner Court, and the cool air carried the fresh scent of grass and trees. The surroundings were so quiet that only the fading chirps of insects and the soft rustle of leaves could be heard. Even the usually bustling training grounds stood empty at this hour.

Following his usual routine, Tang Wulin rose early, intending to consolidate his meridians while his soul power was at its most stable in the morning. He had just taken his position on the bluestone training platform and adjusted his breathing, ready to circulate his soul power, when a set of light, unhurried footsteps sounded behind him. They were neither loud nor disruptive, yet they reached his ears clearly.

He turned instinctively and saw Xu Xiaoyan standing a few steps away. Tiny drops of morning dew clung to her hair, and her cheeks carried a faint blush from just waking up. She gently held a notebook printed with star-track patterns against her chest, her steps soft as though she feared disturbing the tranquility of the morning.

"Tang Wulin, you came to train this early too?" she asked first. Her voice was soft, carrying the particular gentleness of morning. She lacked her usual reserve around their companions and seemed a little more natural.

"Mm, I'm used to getting up early to sort out my soul power. My condition is much better that way." Tang Wulin nodded slightly and naturally shifted half a step aside, giving her the widest spot on the training platform, where the spiritual energy was richest. His tone was open and gentle. "This is a good spot. You can train here."

Xu Xiaoyan softly acknowledged him and slowly walked to his side. They kept a perfectly appropriate distance between them, neither too close nor too far—clean and proper. Morning mist curled softly around their feet, enveloping the two figures in a gentle haze of light and shadow.

She lowered her head and opened the star-chart notebook in her arms. Her fingertip lightly tapped a dense trail of starlight on the page. After hesitating for a moment, she still looked up at Tang Wulin, her gaze earnest and carrying a small hint of expectation. "When I helped guide your meridians yesterday, I noticed that the circulation path of your Gold Dragon soul power fit especially well with the starlight paths of my Star Wheel Martial Soul... I happened to come up with a small technique that can help stabilize your soul power and keep your meridians from becoming sluggish. Could I... try it on you? It'll be quick."

Tang Wulin did not hesitate in the slightest. He smiled and nodded, his tone sincere. "Of course. Sorry to trouble you, Xiaoyan."

"It's no trouble."

Xu Xiaoyan gently raised her hand. Fine, soft starlight gradually lit up at her fingertips. She did not touch him directly, merely holding her hand near the meridians on the outer side of his forearm, separated by the faintest distance as she slowly guided the flow with the gentlest star power. Her eyes remained lowered, her long lashes trembling softly. She was exceptionally focused, even keeping her breathing light for fear of disturbing the circulation of his soul power.

Tang Wulin stood quietly in place, feeling a thread of cool yet gentle power slowly travel along his meridians. The lingering tension from yesterday's final gradually dissipated at that moment, leaving his entire body comfortable and steady.

"Is it too cold? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" she asked quietly, her voice as light as mist.

"No. It feels very comfortable. My soul power is much steadier now," Tang Wulin answered honestly.

After only a few dozen breaths, Xu Xiaoyan gently withdrew her hand. Her fingertips curled slightly, and the tips of her ears quietly flushed with the faintest trace of red, quickly concealed by the morning mist. She hugged the star-chart notebook a little tighter to her chest and lowered her voice even further, carrying a small distinction that only the two of them could understand. "This technique... was specially adjusted by combining it with my Star Wheel Martial Soul. It only works for you. I haven't told anyone else about it."

The words were so soft they seemed likely to be carried away by the wind, yet they concealed a unique favor and concern.

There were no flirtatious words and no boundary-crossing actions. Everything was so faint that it left no trace, yet it was enough to make one's heart stir slightly.

Tang Wulin paused for a moment, then a clean, bright smile rippled through his eyes. His tone was especially earnest. "Thank you so much, Xiaoyan. This is incredibly important to me. It'll save me a lot of trouble in future training."

Just then, Xie Xie's loud shouting came from the distance, accompanied by Ye Xinglan's mild reprimand. Their companions were chatting and laughing as they headed toward the training grounds. The quiet world the two of them had shared was instantly broken by the lively commotion.

Xu Xiaoyan immediately returned to her usual quiet and gentle demeanor. Without drawing attention, she stepped half a pace back and became once more the most proper, most natural teammate. The faint ripple in her eyes quietly disappeared as well.

Gu Yue walked up and stopped beside Tang Wulin, her aura naturally blending with his. Her gaze was calm and undisturbed.

Beneath the shadows of the trees, Adult Tang Wulin still stood quietly. From beginning to end, he had neither approached nor spoken. As he watched the scene, his golden eyes held only gentle relief, as though he were looking upon a pure and precious time from his youth.

Tang Wulin looked toward the companions arriving one after another and called out in a clear, powerful voice, "Everyone's here. Then today, we'll begin our formal training!"

The morning mist gradually dispersed, and golden sunlight pierced through the branches and leaves, falling upon the young men and women.

That small tenderness hidden in the morning mist, known only to the two of them, silently blended into the passage of time—faint, pure, and perfectly measured. No one could find the slightest fault in it, yet it quietly left behind a gentle mark.