Elsewhere, on another narrow path in Wutan City, Xiao Yi, the instigator of it all, was not faring much better than Xiao Yan.
He was likewise soaked through, water dripping from the tips of his hair. His handsome face bore a bright red, fish-scale-shaped mark identical to Xiao Yan's, looking both ridiculous and bedraggled in the sunset's fading glow.
Unlike Xiao Yan, who was hopping mad, however, Xiao Yi did not seem particularly affected.
He even had the leisure to hum an off-key little tune from Blue Star, his steps light, as though that childish "war" had been nothing more than an amusing appetizer before dinner.
Just then, the gourd hanging at Xiao Yi's waist swayed gently. Paul slowly poked his head out of its mouth, draped several nimble tentacles over Xiao Yi's belt, and asked through soul fluctuations that only Xiao Yi could understand.
"Hey, isn't your real goal something huge? Why keep it buried so deep instead of telling anyone?"
Xiao Yi stopped and glanced sideways at the octopus clinging to the gourd, a mysterious smile curling his lips. He reached out and lightly flicked Paul's smooth head.
"Plans succeed in secrecy and fail when loose tongues let them slip. It's enough that I know my own plan. I won't tell anyone."
His gaze was deep, as though it concealed an unknown expanse of stars. Then he changed tack and asked with interest, "Come to think of it, how did you know I had a 'huge goal'?"
The question seemed to provoke some tremendous reaction in Paul. His eight tentacles instantly went rigid, then flailed extravagantly through the air as though a born drama queen had possessed him. His entire body rose out of the gourd's mouth as he gesticulated excitedly, his soul's roar echoing in Xiao Yi's