Food Street

Weekend afternoons had always been the liveliest time on Beta Town's Pedestrian Street.

Free from the pressure of classes and the worries of homework, many students slept in until afternoon after a lazy morning. When they woke, they were full of energy and had plenty of time to spare, so the Pedestrian Street—with its many bars, eateries, and shops—became especially popular.

Perhaps the wizard in charge of the weather thought the snow had fallen enough for the day. When Zheng Qing left Shuang Tang Ji with the Gypsy witch, only a few scattered snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky.

The wind gradually died down as well. Taking advantage of the remaining daylight and the still-beautiful snow, people who had stayed indoors because of the wind and snow poured outside in droves to stroll through the little streets amid the winter scenery.

As the most prosperous commercial street in Beta Town, the Pedestrian Street had had its central roadway cleared of snow by professional wizards long ago. Only the snow along both sides of the road and atop the roofs remained, gleaming white against the street's deeper colors and standing out all the more sharply.

Having already seen enough snowy scenery on campus, the young scholarship student naturally paid no attention to the lingering snow. One of his arms was linked through the Gypsy witch's, and his entire body was stiff as he dared not move carelessly, afraid that some flaw in his manners might offend the witch beside him.

Ilena, on the other hand, looked much more at ease than Zheng Qing.

They had not gone far down the main street when Zheng Qing caught sight of a small archway off to the side from the corner of his eye, and his feet immediately stopped.

"Didn't you say you wanted