The dust had settled on the new Twelve Young Masters.
Yun Qing slowly exhaled, the swirling nebulae within his double pupils gradually growing still. His gaze swept across the crowd below, where brothers and sisters who would soon fight beside him stood among thousands of cheering clansmen. Higher still, behind the rosy clouds, those golden eyes that saw through all things had also turned their gaze upon them.
Outside the arena, Yun Poxiao had only just stirred awake. Before he could gather his wits, an embrace like an iron hoop crushed him tight!
His father, the burly, full-bearded man, clutched his son and wept torrents of tears and snot, babbling nonsense like "Grandpa, thanks for all your hard work!" and "You've brought glory to our ancestors!" Those around them burst into laughter, even as emotion stirred in their hearts.
Not far away, Yun Li whispered something to Yun Yao. The girl froze, then blushed scarlet, stamped her foot in annoyance, and turned away, though the corners of her lips secretly curled upward. Looking at the unbroken string of White Jade Lily of the Valley bells around her wrist, Yun Li felt the frozen chill in his eyes finally melt a little before that spark of life.
Yun Jinglei stopped hiding and leaped out of his own accord. Like a restless monkey, he circled Yun Ge, who sat upright regulating his breath, and clamored, "Brother Ge! Brother Ge! Stop playing dead! Give us a rendition of 'Victory's Command' to celebrate! Or 'The General Breaks the Enemy Ranks' will do!"
Yun Ge's brow twitched at the racket. He was about to speak when Yun Hua and Yun Pengxing, who had come to check on him, stepped forward in perfect accord. One flicked her brush through the air to seal off Yun Jinglei's