Miss Meng's Open Favor, Ye Guyi: I Think I Was Here First, Hongchen Class Selection Tournament (4K)

By the time they left the braised offal shop, the sky had gone completely dark.

A bright moon hung high in the heavens, gently spilling silver radiance as though shrouding the entire city in a hazy dream. Under the Soul Guidance Lamps, the rigid, cold lines of the steel buildings had taken on a rainbow of colors.

On either side of the street, Soul Guidance Streetlamps stretched as far as the eye could see. The roadside stalls glowed with warm orange signs, their light mingling with the streetlamps' golden glow. From afar, the whole street blazed with light, like a brilliant river of stars cascading into the mortal world.

Meng Hongchen walked on Lin Qing's right, her steps seemingly even lighter and more buoyant than on their way there. She held a freshly bought watermelon slush, a layer of condensation coating the clear plastic cup filled with enticing pink ice.

"Slurp-"

She brought the straw to her lips, her fair cheeks tightening slightly.

"So good..."

Meng Hongchen narrowed her ice-blue eyes and let out a deeply satisfied sigh.

Meanwhile, Lin Qing silently lowered his cup. His lemonade had bottomed out, leaving only a thin layer of pale yellow liquid.

The fishy stench of Gray Juice remained painfully fresh in his memory. He urgently needed lemonade to rinse his mouth!

Even after he had downed an extra-large lemonade, a lingering trace of Gray Juice still stubbornly occupied the back of his tongue. Lin Qing looked down at his empty cup, debating whether to buy another.

"Can't get rid of the taste?"

Noticing his movement, Meng Hongchen leaned toward him and teased him with a grin.

Lin Qing did not answer that painfully obvious question. He simply sank a clean three-pointer, sending his empty cup straight into a roadside trash can.

Meng Hongchen could not help bursting into laughter. The night breeze carried her silver-bell laughter far down the street.

Her snow-white hair danced lightly beneath the clear moonlight. Turning toward Lin Qing, she said with perfect seriousness, "The older generation always says Gray Juice is a treasure handed down by our ancestors. One cup a day adds years to your life. You'll be fine once you get used to it."

"Then did the older generation ever mention how descendants who really can't get used to it can quickly forget that wondrous, terrifying flavor?"

Meng Hongchen tilted her head, her eyes darting about before she suddenly came up with a mischievous idea.

She raised her watermelon slush and offered it to Lin Qing as though seeking praise. The lights of Mingdu filled her beautiful ice-blue eyes, twinkling like stars.

"Watermelon slush will do the trick. It effectively suppresses Gray Juice."

The pink slush sparkled, and the straw still bore the faint, freshly made imprint of the girl's lips.

This map of Yan was astonishingly short-the dagger was already showing. Or perhaps Miss Meng had never intended to hide anything at all. She merely followed her true feelings and boldly declared her intentions, barreling down the highway of romance like a hundred-ton truck.

"I'll pass."

Lin Qing pushed the slush away with a fingertip. This was progressing a little too quickly. An indirect kiss on the first day-what they might do on the second was downright terrifying to contemplate.

"Boys shouldn't back down! You need to learn to accept kindness, then bravely launch a head-on charge!"

She swirled her half-full watermelon slush, somehow making the plastic cup look like a stemmed wineglass. Miss Meng transformed into a worldly veteran of romance and offered earnest advice.

"There's no such thing as kindness without a reason. There's usually a sharp hook beneath the bait," Lin Qing said with amusement.

"Quite the opposite. I don't believe that!"

Puffing out her cheeks slightly, Meng the pufferfish returned. "Believe that everyone in this world deserves love without a reason.

"You ought to learn from Xiao Hongchen in that regard. At least before you two stepped onto the tournament stage and decided a winner, my brother was always brimming with confidence, wherever and whenever I saw him. He welcomed everyone's affection and admiration with open arms. Who cares about all the rest? Accept it first!"

"Your brother... really does have an impressive mindset."

To challenge ultimate metal with a metal attribute-Lin Qing had to admire Xiao Hongchen's fearless courage.

"Then... would you try accepting me?" Meng Hongchen gazed earnestly into Lin Qing's silver-gray eyes. "When I was little, I loved reading love stories. But so many of them had heartbreaking plots where one person couldn't voice the love in their heart, and the two ended up missing their chance.

"So I swore to heaven that I would never repeat those characters' mistakes in this life. I'd love someone openly and lay my heart bare for him without reservation."

"If you act that way, aren't you afraid of gossip, or falling for the wrong person?" Lin Qing asked softly, lowering his eyes.

"I'm not afraid. Liking someone is a beautiful thing in itself. There's no need to deliberately hide it. Even if it ends in failure, that's fine. I want to show my favoritism openly."

She was taking the initiative, and she was sincere.

At that moment, the girl's feelings burned freely like wildfire, heedless of time or place.

She had already realized that Lin Qing was completely different from her. He had built layer upon layer of defenses around his heart. Logically, she should not charge into them headfirst. She should wear them down slowly, like drops of water piercing stone, deepening their bond until love naturally flowed into place.

But a slow, leisurely conquest plan absolutely did not suit Miss Meng's personality!

She insisted on cutting through the tangled mess with one swift stroke!

What defenses? Who put up these illegal structures? Tear them down! Tear every last one down!

A girl beautiful enough to topple cities and kingdoms stood within arm's reach. She represented more than herself; behind her stood the Hall Master of Mingde Hall and the entire Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

All Lin Qing had to do was open his arms and embrace her, and he could smoothly become the Hongchen Family's prospective prized son-in-law, parting ways with a life of toil forever.

"We still haven't discussed your Class 6 Soul Tool Armor in detail."

He politely declined a confession from someone he had known for only a few days. Meng Hongchen had her approach, and Lin Qing had his own definition of love. Getting to know each other better in the future mattered more than a momentary impulse tonight.

"Mm-hmm."

Hearing that, Meng Hongchen's smile did not diminish in the slightest. Naturally, it would have been best if Lin Qing had accepted, but his refusal was within her expectations too.

Little Meng's demolition crew would never give up. One day, she would clear every obstacle away.

She had even prepared her "revenge plan" in advance. Once they were together with nothing held back, after an entire shameless night, she would look down at him from above and mischievously rub his cheeks.

Well, well, well. Isn't this Lin Xiaoqing, defender of his boundaries? Didn't you end up bowing beneath Princess Little Meng's skirts after all?

Imagining Lin Qing's embarrassed annoyance, his mouth protesting while his body told the truth, Meng Hongchen promptly returned to business. Counting on her slender, jade-like fingers, she listed:

"The Soul Tool Armor I have in mind has thirteen parts in total, including arm guards, leg guards, a breastplate, folding wings, and so on. The weapons will be a pair of slender ice-attribute swords. They must withstand the Vermilion-Sun Ice Toad's poison and allow it to travel along the blades, entering the enemy's body through their wounds."

"Understood. I'll try to draw up an overall armor design within a week. We'll sit down and discuss whether anything needs improving, then draw detailed designs for each of the thirteen parts before finally moving on to production. You'll just have to wait a little longer."

"That's fine. The Soul Tool Armor is a trump card for the Soul Master Tournament. I won't need it for everyday fights," Meng Hongchen said understandingly.

As they walked together, they settled the manufacturing procedures for the Soul Tool Armor. Without Lin Qing having to ask, Miss Meng waved her fair hand and increased his payment fivefold. Having read a thousand romance novels, she understood love all too well.

Qing and Meng parted at an intersection. Meng Hongchen said with a beaming smile:

"In a few days, I'll take you to try Mingdu's specialty rice noodle rolls. They're even better than braised offal. The older generation always says all the world's heroes are like rice rolls passing through sauce!"

"Sure. Next Friday, then. We can discuss the designs too."

Having agreed to Meng Hongchen's perfectly reasonable request, Lin Qing slowly walked toward Zhanghua Garden, recalling the memorable first outing they had shared that night.

How strange. What's with the upward curve at the corners of my mouth...?

Stupid mouth. Stop smiling!

Silently cursing himself-Lin Qing, you're hopeless-he arrived outside a tall-walled residence not far from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

Renovation work after six in the evening disturbed the neighbors. Qing and Guyi were both law-abiding citizens who followed city regulations and opposed uncivilized behavior.

Still, renovating twelve courtyards was a truly enormous undertaking. The underground chamber Ye Guyi adored was also being constructed at full steam.

When he entered the courtyard, Ye Guyi was like an obedient schoolgirl. She had already opened her books and prepared a page of questions, waiting to consult Teacher Qing.

"I'm back."

My dear wife, I'm back from fooling around outside.

Looking at the figure approaching draped in moonlight, Ye Guyi involuntarily added a few key words to his declaration.

"I brought you a bowl of Gray Juice, a specialty drink from Mingdu. It nourishes the brain and replenishes your blood and vitality. Remember to try it tonight."

Afraid Ye Guyi might judge a drink by its appearance, Lin Qing specifically stressed its brain-nourishing benefits, precisely striking Miss Angel's weak point: her eagerness to absorb knowledge.

"Thank you."

Ye Guyi was delighted. She had not expected Lin Qing to remain true to his original intentions, always remembering the old companion waiting so miserably at home.

"You just had dinner and walked around for a while?" Miss Angel fished for information.

"That's right." Lin Qing's expression did not change, nor did his heart skip a beat. "Meng asked me to make her a custom set of Class 6 Soul Tool Armor. We settled it tonight."

Upon learning that Meng Hongchen had placed an order for a full suit of armor, Ye Guyi said enviously, "I wish I could be a rich woman and buy whatever I wanted. Unfortunately, I'm someone destined to do great things. Until the Evil Soul Masters are eradicated, the angel will not return. A Holy Angel cannot neglect her responsibilities for selfish desires.

"By the way, Lin Qing, doesn't Meng have an especially likable personality? So straightforward, innocent, and cute."

"She is pretty cute."

As expected...

Hearing that, Ye Guyi wore an expression that said she had seen it coming. A boy finding a girl cute was already a sign that he was falling in love.

Miss Angel admitted that Qing and Meng were an excellent match. But she had been here first! Neither her looks nor her talent fell short of Meng Hongchen's, yet Lin Qing seemed completely uninterested in her. Was it because she had always kept within the bounds of propriety?

What if... I let my feelings show just a little?

Straightening her back and lifting her head, she looked directly into his silver-gray eyes with her beautiful golden ones. A faintly sweet smile curved her red lips. For the first time in her life, Ye Guyi tried her best to display a Holy Angel's warmth and gentleness:

"Lin Qing, you're so amazing! You can actually make such a complicated full set of Class 6 armor!"

A completely different smile appeared on Miss Angel's sacred, inviolable features.

At that sight, ripples instantly spread across the lake of Lin Qing's heart. His handsome face turned into a bright red Fuji apple at a visibly rapid pace, and he spoke straight from the heart:

"What are you being sarcastic for? I can't make it yet! That's a preorder!"

"Bang-"

As though she had taken Medusa's Gaze head-on, Ye Guyi's gentle smile vanished as urgently as a great wave retreating from shore. Besides petrification and numbness, a faint trace of regret appeared on her pure, sacred face.

Angel God above, if I ever make that embarrassing, stupid face at him again, I'm a blessed idiot!

Three months of study and daily life passed in a flash. Under Jing Hongchen's vigorous promotion, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy welcomed a grand event: an academy-wide selection tournament.

Today marked the selection tournament's opening ceremony. The dean led all of the academy's senior staff in attending.

In the dean's office, Jing Hongchen, Hall Master of Mingde Hall, stood before a full-length mirror. His round, bloated body was stuffed into an extravagant black-and-gold formal outfit. Turning to inspect himself from every angle, he frowned and said:

"Jiayi, for some reason, the dean's uniform seems to have gotten tighter again."

Swallowing the observation that this was the extra-wide, extra-large outfit made at the start of the current school year, Lin Jiayi maintained a serious expression to preserve his position as director of studies. "The tailor must have cut corners. Next time, we'll ask a Court Artisan to make one to your measurements. It will be flawless."

Releasing a layer of soul power to wrap around his formal outfit and ensure it would not suddenly burst apart, humiliating him before thousands of students, Jing Hongchen said:

"I'm increasingly pleased with my decision to establish the new class. I'd never seen Xiao train so hard that he forgot food and sleep before.

"Even Meng has been motivated by her brother to work harder. Her visits to the academy library and simulated cultivation grounds have reached an all-time high.

"Healthy competition truly is the surest rule for encouraging youngsters to advance on their own initiative. The results are immediate."

"Your wisdom and might are unparalleled, Hall Master," Lin Jiayi said, keeping his duty as a yes-man firmly in mind.

"Qing, Xiao, and Meng-those are the Sun Moon Royal Trident. For next year's tournament, I'll personally take them to Star Luo City to broaden their horizons and clash head-on with Shrek Academy.

"They're all under fifteen. They'll appear as reserve team members for their first tournament. Even if they lose, it won't matter."

Jing Hongchen clenched his fist. "The following Soul Master Tournament, six years from now, will be the stage of the Sun Moon Royal Trident.

"When the time comes, we'll hold our home ground in Mingdu. With the timing, terrain, and people all on our side, we'll drive our trident clean through Shrek's heart and claim the Sun Moon Empire's first Soul Master Tournament championship in four thousand years!"

"May the empire rise again and spread the glory of Sun Moon!"

Lin Jiayi spared no effort in his flattery. After a brief pause, he brought up an important matter. "Hall Master, we still haven't decided on a name for the new class. Do you have anything in mind?"

"The class name: Hongchen!"

"...Isn't that name a little too subtle?" Lin Jiayi hinted cautiously.

"That's precisely the effect I want!"

Jing Hongchen stopped pretending altogether. He threw back his head and laughed with abandon. Xiao Hongchen had truly inherited every bit of his grandfather's arrogant nature.

In naming the Special Class, the Hall Master of Mingde Hall had thoroughly abused his authority for personal gain.

Hall Master Hongchen intended to turn the Hongchen Class into the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's second continent-shaking calling card after Mingde Hall. He would funnel resources into nurturing generation after generation of top geniuses, ensuring that the Hongchen Family's name would endure forever alongside the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

And Jing Hongchen, founder of the Hongchen Class, would naturally leave a fragrant name for all eternity!

"Come, Jiayi. Accompany me and enjoy the spectacular battles of our academy's young generation!"