Missing Rong Fist, Thoughts Gushing Like a Spring!

Afternoon.

On the training ground, several girls sat beneath a tree. Xiao Wu leaned against a wooden post, swinging her legs. Zhu Zhuqing quietly leafed through a book. Ning Rongrong held a glass of juice, a faint smile on her lips.

Lin Yuan came out of the dormitory and yawned.

Ning Rongrong stood and hurried over, offering him the juice.

"Lin Yuan, have some. I just made it. It's really good."

Lin Yuan glanced at her, took the glass, and had a sip.

He froze.

A burning sensation spread from his tongue down his throat. Lin Yuan set down the glass and turned toward the dormitory.

"How is it?" Ning Rongrong tilted her head and followed him a couple of steps.

"Not bad."

"Not bad?" Ning Rongrong blinked. "It isn't spicy?"

"No."

Ning Rongrong's smile stiffened. She lifted the glass to her nose and sniffed, then coughed twice as the smell hit her.

"...How is he fine?"

Xiao Wu watched Lin Yuan walk away, then glanced at the glass in Ning Rongrong's hand and asked curiously,

"What did you put in it?"

"Just... a little chili powder," Ning Rongrong muttered.

Evening.

Flender pushed open Lin Yuan's dormitory door and leaned halfway inside. Lin Yuan was propped against the headboard, a water jug beside him. The jug was empty.

"Headmaster."

Flender entered, rubbing his hands together with an ingratiating smile. He sat beside Lin Yuan and lowered his voice.

"How about a few more matches at the Great Soul Arena tonight?"

"This time will be different." Flender leaned closer. "We'll do two-on-two. A new combination could multiply the odds several times over."

Lin Yuan closed his book.

"Fine. Call Ning Rongrong."

Flender paused. "Have you two gotten that close? You're even Soul Fighting together now."

"Mm."

On the training ground, Ning Rongrong was still puzzling over why Lin Yuan hadn't reacted. When she saw him coming, she instinctively took half a step back.

"Ning Rongrong, come with me to the Great Soul Arena."

"What for?"

"Two-on-two. You'll support me."

"Me?" Ning Rongrong was a little surprised. "Didn't you always fight alone before?"

"Today's different."

Xiao Wu jumped down from the wooden post. "I'm coming too!"

"Fine."

Xiao Wu grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's hand. "Let's go!"

The Great Soul Arena. Evening light gilded its domed ceiling.

At the registration desk, the attendant looked up and glanced back and forth between the two of them.

"Signing up as a team? Combination name?"

"Zero-Zero Combination."

The attendant lowered his head to register them.

"Lin Yuan. Level twenty-nine Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. Martial Soul: Guga."

"Ning Rongrong. Level twenty-six Auxiliary System Tool Soul Master. Martial Soul: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

The attendant handed over their badges and remarked casually,

"A team of Soul Grandmasters against Soul Elders? You're entering a match above your level?"

Lin Yuan took the badges. "Yes."

At the arena entrance, Lin Yuan stopped and took a mask from inside his coat. It was pure black, covering his entire face except for two eyeholes.

Ning Rongrong's eyes widened.

"Why are you wearing a mask?"

"It's fun."

"What's fun about it?" Ning Rongrong stepped around to face him. "You wear a mask for Soul Fighting?"

"I don't want anyone to recognize me."

"You're not famous. Who would recognize you?"

"You never know."

Lin Yuan slipped the mask over his face and strode onto the arena.

In the arena.

Lin Yuan and Ning Rongrong stood side by side at the center. Opposite them were two Soul Elders: one at level thirty-five with the Iron Fist Martial Soul, the other at level thirty-four with the Wind Wolf Martial Soul. The two opponents saw Lin Yuan's mask and exchanged a glance.

"What a ridiculous act."

Ning Rongrong raised her hand, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared above her palm. Its crystalline body shimmered with seven tiers of precious light.

"Seven Treasures Have Names, First: Strength."

A beam of light fell over Lin Yuan.

"Seven Treasures Have Names, Second: Speed."

A second beam descended.

Ning Rongrong lowered her hand and stepped behind Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan raised his right hand and clenched his fist. With both strength and speed enhanced, a faint white glow wrapped around his knuckles, and his presence pressed down on the arena.

He drew a deep breath. Soul Power surged from his Dantian into his throat.

Then he shouted. His voice, wrapped in Soul Power, set the entire dome of the Great Soul Arena humming.

"Missing—Rong—Fist!"

Ning Rongrong blinked. What?

"Thoughts—Gushing—Like—a—Spring!"

His fist slammed forward. Before the Iron Fist Soul Master could block, the punch struck his chest. He flew into the guardrail, bounced back, and sprawled on the ground. The guardrail ropes kept vibrating for a long while.

One punch. Instant defeat.

Ning Rongrong stood rooted to the arena floor, her mind completely blank.

Lin Yuan drew back his fist and turned to face the Wind Wolf Soul Master. He raised his left hand, spread his fingers, and held his palm outward. He took another deep breath, sending Soul Power into his throat.

"Longing—for—Rong—Palm!"

Ning Rongrong jolted all over. She finally understood. Her face flared red, and she turned to run off the arena.

But she had barely taken a step. The referee hadn't declared the match over, and she couldn't leave the arena without permission. One foot landed at the edge while the other remained inside, leaving her frozen in place.

"Un—forget—table—Longing!"

He thrust out his palm. The air compressed into a visible ripple. The Wind Wolf Soul Master was halfway through a lunge when the blast struck him head-on, flinging him out of the arena. He rolled twice across the floor before coming to a stop.

The referee raised a hand, his voice trembling a little.

"Zero-Zero Combination wins!"

The audience fell silent for an instant, then erupted.

"Missing Rong Fist? Thoughts Gushing Like a Spring? He's shouting that girl's name!"

"Longing for Rong Palm! Unforgettable Longing! This guy has a real knack for naming moves!"

"That girl! Look at her! She's red all over!"

Thousands of eyes landed on Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong's ears rang. Red crept up her neck, over her ears, and across her cheeks. Then it finally hit her—the referee had made the call. She could run. She bolted off the arena faster than a rabbit.

In the stands, Xiao Wu slowly turned to watch Ning Rongrong flee. Then she couldn't hold it in any longer. She collapsed against Zhu Zhuqing, shaking with laughter.

"Missing Rong Fist! Thoughts Gushing Like a Spring! Hahahaha! Lin Yuan is awful!"

Zhu Zhuqing couldn't hold back either and laughed aloud. She patted Xiao Wu's back with one hand and covered her mouth with the other, her shoulders bobbing.

Below the arena, Ning Rongrong rushed up to Lin Yuan. Her lips trembled as she pointed at him.

"You—"

Lin Yuan pulled off his mask and tucked it into his coat, a wicked little smile on his lips.

"Let's go."

"Go?" Ning Rongrong's voice cracked into a squeak. "What on earth were you shouting?"

"Move names. What do you think? Sound good?"

"Like hell they do!" Ning Rongrong's voice shot even higher. "Missing Rong Fist? Longing for Rong Palm? You—you did that on purpose! You were getting back at me! Just because of the juice this afternoon—"

"What about the juice? Wasn't it pretty good?"

"You knew! You pretended nothing was wrong, then came here and—"

"Tried out some new moves and got a little revenge while I was at it." Lin Yuan grinned wickedly.

Ning Rongrong saw that grin and exploded.

"You're still laughing!"

"Am I not allowed?"

"No!"

Ning Rongrong was too furious to speak. She swung her fists through the air twice, wanting to hit him but not daring to do it.

Xiao Wu ran down from the stands, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. She draped one hand over Ning Rongrong's shoulder and held her stomach with the other.

"Missing Rong Fist—"

"Xiao Wu!"

"Thoughts Gushing Like a Spring."

"Stop saying it!"

Xiao Wu crouched on the ground laughing, tears streaming down her face.

"I can't, I can't. My stomach hurts."

Ning Rongrong couldn't take any more. She crouched and buried her face in her knees, her ears red enough to drip blood. Her hands balled into fists, and her whole body shook.

"You're—you're all awful."

Just then, a patter of tiny footsteps came from beside the arena.

Five Gugas had somehow made their way to its edge. They stood in a row below it, looking up at Ning Rongrong.

Guga stuck out its stubby little hands and copied Lin Yuan's pose, clenching a fist and punching forward. Its voice rang out high and clear.

"Missing Rong Fist, Guga! Thoughts Gushing Like a Spring, Guga!"

It switched to its left hand, spread its fingers, and pushed forward.

"Longing for Rong Palm, Guga! Unforgettable Longing, Guga!"

Dark Gold Guga stood to the side, still chiming in.

"Thoughts Gushing Like a Spring, Guga."

Starry Guga nodded.

"Unforgettable Longing, Guga."

Little Moon peeked out from behind Dark Gold Guga.

"Rongrong's face is red, Guga."

Xuanwu Guga had candy in its mouth, cheeks puffed out, but joined in too.

"Missing Rong Fist—Guga—"

Ning Rongrong jerked her head up.

"You—you little rascals!"

She charged. The Gugas scattered, their stubby legs pattering away. One ran toward the stands, another toward the passageway, and one leaped onto Lin Yuan's shoulder. Dark Gold Guga was the fastest, already several strides away. Little Moon and Starry Guga raced off.

Xuanwu Guga didn't react in time and stood blinking. It had just started to run when its stubby legs tangled after two steps, and it fell flat with a splat.

Ning Rongrong scooped Xuanwu Guga up.

Xuanwu Guga struggled in her hands, little legs kicking wildly in the air as it cried out around its candy.

"Guga—help, Guga!"

Ning Rongrong kneaded Xuanwu Guga's face with both hands. Its little cheeks went round, then flat, then round again.

"Are you going to say it again?"

"No, Guga! I was wrong, Guga!"

Ning Rongrong gave its face two more squeezes before setting it down. Xuanwu Guga held its cheeks and pattered behind Lin Yuan on stubby legs. It peeked out with half its head, looking at Ning Rongrong with wounded eyes.

Xiao Wu was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. She clutched her stomach with one hand and pointed at Xuanwu Guga with the other.

"The little guy—got caught—hahahaha—"

Lin Yuan lifted Little Moon off his shoulder and set it on the ground. He glanced at Ning Rongrong, still smiling.

"I'll use two new moves next time."

Ning Rongrong whipped around. "There's a next time?!"

"Maybe."

"What do you mean, maybe?"

Lin Yuan headed outside, the Gugas following behind him, their stubby legs pattering. Xuanwu Guga trailed at the back, holding its cheeks. Guga led the way, still muttering.

"Missing Rong Fist, Guga. So much fun, Guga."

Outside the Great Soul Arena, the night wind swept through the streets of Suotuo City. Ning Rongrong walked at the very back, head lowered, the flush on her face not yet faded. Xiao Wu walked beside Lin Yuan, glancing back at Ning Rongrong now and then and giggling to herself.

"Missing Rong Fist~"

"Xiao Wu, I heard that."

"Thoughts Gushing Like a Spring!"

"Xiao Wu!"

Xiao Wu laughed and ran ahead. Ning Rongrong chased after her, and the two of them raced down the street. Zhu Zhuqing walked behind them, smiling as she shook her head.

Lin Yuan led the way, several Gugas pattering along at his feet on their stubby little legs. Xuanwu Guga covered his face, still muttering under his breath.

In the distance, Shrek Academy's outline emerged from the night. Its wooden huts stood crooked, and the battered sign by the entrance swayed in the wind.

Ning Rongrong caught up to Xiao Wu and grabbed her sleeve.

"Don't recite it again!"

"Okay, okay, I won't." Xiao Wu raised both hands in surrender, then leaned close to Ning Rongrong's ear and lowered her voice.

"Unforgettable Longing."

Then she took off running.

Ning Rongrong froze for a second before giving chase.

"Xiao Wu, stop right there!"

Their laughter spread through the night.