After they chatted for a while, He Caicai waved at the two of them. "All right, all right, off you go. I still have to find Teacher Fan Yu and hand in my training report."
She took two steps, then suddenly looked back at Huo Yutong, a meaningful smile curling her lips. "Little junior sister, remember you owe me a grilled fish dinner."
"I remember." Huo Yutong made an OK sign at her.
He Caicai turned and left, her figure soon disappearing ahead of them.
Huo Yutong watched her walk away, then turned to Gu Xingyue, barely restrained anticipation hidden in her eyes. "Shall we head to the market now? The frame for the grilled fish stall is set up, but I'm still short on seasonings and charcoal. I want to stock up."
"Let's go." Gu Xingyue slipped his hands into his pockets and followed her out.
The two followed the outer court's main road toward the market in Shrek City.
Afternoon classes had just ended.
Students in uniform dotted the road in twos and threes, some hurrying toward the library with books in their arms, others heading toward the dining hall with their arms slung over one another's shoulders.
Walking through the crowd, Gu Xingyue distinctly noticed the subtle glances cast his way.
He had long since grown used to such attention. Without so much as turning his head, he focused on talking to Huo Yutong.
"How are you planning to do the grilled fish?" he asked.
"Since I've decided to do it, I should put some care into it." Huo Yutong counted on her fingers. "I've prepared two flavors, original and spicy. Once I get the hang of it, I'll gradually add new varieties."
"What about the prices?"
"Five copper soul coins per fish for original, six for spicy." As she spoke, she suddenly gave him an uncertain look. "Do you think... anyone will buy them?"
"Could you have a little confidence in yourself?" Gu Xingyue turned to look at her. "If I were you, I'd charge one gold soul coin. Most students at Shrek Academy are from noble families. They're not short of that little bit of money. Besides-your fish is worth that price."
His words made Huo Yutong's eyes curve with amusement, but she still shook her head. "Small profits, high sales. I'll build a reputation first."
Gu Xingyue did not try to persuade her further.
They passed through the outer court's main gates and turned onto the main street leading to Shrek City.
The afternoon market was quieter than in the early morning, but still bustling.
Stalls lined both sides of the flagstone road, and the mingled aromas of fried and charcoal-grilled food drifted through the air.
Huo Yutong threaded her way among them with practiced ease, first stopping at a seasoning stall to pick out a jar of coarse salt and a packet of spices.
She lifted the jar to her nose and sniffed lightly, then turned and offered it to Gu Xingyue. "Smell this. Isn't it more fragrant than the kind I used before?"
Gu Xingyue took it and sniffed, then nodded. "This one's good."
Huo Yutong gestured to the stallholder, took out a few copper soul coins, counted them, and placed them in the other person's palm.
Next, they went to a charcoal shop. She picked out a basket of fine silverfrost charcoal-it burned for a long time, produced little smoke, and gave steady heat, making it ideal for grilling fish.
Gu Xingyue took the initiative to carry the charcoal basket. Huo Yutong glanced at him and did not refuse, only letting the corners of her lips quietly curve upward.
Halfway back, she suddenly remembered something. "Right, we haven't bought a container for the fish. It needs to be insulated, or the fish I bring out of the dining hall won't be fresh by evening."
Gu Xingyue thought for a moment. "Couldn't you make a soul tool with a freshness-preserving function?"
Huo Yutong froze, then seemed to have a sudden realization. "Oh, right... I could modify the low-temperature circuit of a Class 2 soul tool to make a simple freshness-preserving box. The practical training room has all the materials, so I can make it when we get back." As she spoke, she started laughing herself. "I nearly forgot."
They walked side by side on the road back to the academy, the slanting sunset stretching both their shadows and those of the things they carried long and thin.
By the time they returned to the outer court, it was evening.
Then they arrived at the stall, where the wooden sign bore the words: Little Huo's Grilled Fish.
What followed was the busiest time at Shrek Academy's market.
Huo Yutong began grilling fish.
The charcoal crackled, fat dripped, and the aroma spread in every direction.
Soon, people followed the scent over.
One student bought a fish. His eyes lit up the instant he took his first bite, and he could not help exclaiming, "Now this is real food!"
He abruptly looked up at Huo Yutong. "Give me another skewer-no, make that ten!"
As time passed, more and more people gathered before Huo Yutong's stall, forming a long, winding queue.
Just then, a figure slowly approached.
Long black hair, a hime cut, and eyes that seemed to hide a trace of scarlet in their depths.
The moment she approached, the surrounding students actually parted of their own accord, as though she exuded an invisible pressure.
Watching the busy Huo Yutong, she raised one finger, her tone flat yet leaving no room for refusal. "One serving of grilled fish, please, with plenty of rich sauce. And a large mug of chilled alcohol."
"Sorry." Huo Yutong looked a little troubled. "My grilled fish is already sold out. These last few have all been reserved by the customers ahead of you, so..."
"How dare you!" A boy behind her who appeared to be an attendant immediately stepped forward and shouted sternly, "Do you know who's standing before you? The esteemed young mistress of the Netherworld Sect, one of the outer court's twin jewels, 'Eternal Defense,' the wielder of a super martial soul-Young Mistress Xu Shanshi!"
"Pfft-"
Gu Xingyue suddenly burst out laughing.
The next second, he realized everyone had turned to look at him in unison.
Without batting an eye, he switched back to a serious expression and said mildly, "Please continue."
"Brat, what are you laughing at? Come out and have a go!" the attendant snapped.
Gu Xingyue stood and leisurely picked at his ear.
The next instant-
His Thunderclap Infernal Prison Vine martial soul possessed him, purple lightning coiling into a whip that lashed viciously at the boy before anyone could react!
Five Lightning Whips!
Five lashes in one second!
The first lash sealed his mouth to stop him from begging for mercy; the second broke his legs to stop him from running...!
"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!"
The five sharp cracks rang out almost as one. The attendant was sent flying sideways and crashed heavily to the ground, wailing without pause.
That whip packed a punch!!!
At last, Xu Shanshi spoke, her voice a few degrees colder. "I failed to discipline him properly, but you were far too heavy-handed. We're all fellow students. Show some mercy, and we'll have an easier time facing each other in the future."
"Shut up." Gu Xingyue shot her a cold glance. "Careful, or I'll whip you too."
Xu Shanshi froze.
Never in her life had anyone dared speak to her like that.
She narrowed her eyes, her tone carrying a somewhat condescending warning. "Junior, you look unfamiliar. You must be a new student, right? Let your senior give you some advice-young people shouldn't be so hotheaded, lest they do something they regret."
"If we weren't hotheaded, could we still call ourselves young?"
Gu Xingyue laughed, a hint of wild arrogance in his smile.
He took a step forward, looked her straight in the eye, and said slowly, "Besides, strength has always done the talking between soul masters. All that nonsense about high and low, noble and common-it's all bullshit. Beat me, and I'll apologize immediately. But if you lose-"
He paused, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"Then hand over a Xuanwu Pill."
Hearing this, Xu Shanshi was utterly stunned.
This junior... actually dared challenge her?
Challenge her, one of the strongest students in the outer court?
How... truly laughable.
The corners of her lips lifted slightly. "There's certainly nothing wrong with what you said, junior. Let's settle a dispute between soul masters in the soul dueling arena."
Before you continue