The orange-yellow wall lamps cast a bright light as the waiter pushed open the heavy door of the private room and presented a whole plate of freshly grilled barbecue skewers to the round table.
The pale, ice-cold beer was still bursting with cool bubbles. Yu Yaya gripped the glass handle and took a big gulp. Her cheeks flushed, she leaned down and easily pulled Qian Yuelong into her arms. The smell of alcohol mixed with the tempting aroma of roasted meat filled her nostrils. She hooked her arms around his neck and said:
"Yuelong, want to try some beer? This place has amazing ice-cold beer, brewed using a special family recipe!"
Forced to experience the bittersweetness of oppression, Qian Yuelong almost shook her head like a rattle: "No, no, Sister Ya Ya, I'm a sweet tooth, I prefer milk tea."
"Yuelong, this won't do. You're a big kid now, why do you still like drinking milk tea?" Yu Yaya pouted as she watched Qian Yuelong nimbly slip away from her arms.
Mu Yi took a bite of the beef skewer and said lazily, "Ya Ya, are you drunk? Yue Long is just a child. It's right that children shouldn't be exposed to alcohol."
Blushing but still stubborn, Yu Yaya looked up and retorted confidently, "Nonsense! Drinking should be cultivated from a young age! Look at me, I've been drinking since I was a child, and now I rarely get drunk!"
Mu Yi paused almost imperceptibly, then casually changed the subject, looking at Qian Yuelong who was standing next to Helan Shu, and said, "Yuelong, are you participating in the Soul Battle Tournament tomorrow? If you don't have any plans, I'll book you in advance."
Qian Yuelong, who had just sat down, paused, the smile on her lips fading slightly, and said in a softer voice, "That might not work."
"Huh?" Mu Yi was taken aback, and everyone else looked at Qian Yuelong. Even Yu Yaya, who had been chattering incessantly, fell silent, her eyes fixed on Qian Yuelong. Although her cheeks were flushed and her speech was slurred with intoxication, her gaze now held a sharp, clear-headed quality. It was impossible to tell whether she was truly drunk or not.
"I came back this time to say goodbye to everyone." Qian Yuelong put down her milk tea, looked up, and her light purple eyes were calm, without much sadness, as if she were talking about a very ordinary little thing.
A dark glint flashed in Wen Xing's eyes as he asked, seemingly casually, "Have you completed your training mission at the Martial Soul Arena? Are you preparing to move on to a new location?"
"Well, not entirely. I didn't actually complete the teaching tasks assigned to me by the teacher. There was just a little accident along the way, so I 'graduated' from the Martial Soul Arena early." Qian Yuelong smiled frankly.
Upon hearing this, Gray exclaimed, "I never expected that after Brother Guan, you would be the second to 'graduate.' By the way, Yue Long, will you also be going to the Spirit Hall's Knight Camp next?"
The Spirit Hall's Martial Soul Arena is essentially a large-scale recruitment ground for those who have been trained in combat, but overall it is a healthy competitive selection process because those who come to the Martial Soul Arena are all determined to join the Spirit Hall.
The Spirit Arena is where people are initially selected. After reaching the Spirit Master level, they will officially join the Spirit Hall and become a member of the Spirit Hall. They can then decide whether to continue their studies or choose to go to other Spirit Hall branches or Spirit Sub-Halls to serve as public servants.
Qian Yuelong thought for a moment and said, "Probably not. I might go to the advanced academy area of the Spirit Hall."
Gray was taken aback, then slapped his forehead: "Look at me! I forgot you're not even ten years old yet. Once you turn ten, you can go to the Advanced Soul Master Academy. Sigh, those of us who are over eighteen are way past the age of going to school."
Helan Shu glanced at the taciturn Shen He and said, "When Xiao He came to the Martial Soul Arena, he was only a little over 14 years old, but he's over 18 this year, so he can't go to the academy."
Shen He, who had just come of age this year, paused, looked away, and said calmly, "I'm not interested in academy life. I just want to improve myself, and it's the same in the Soul Arena." Besides, if he were to attend a Soul Master Academy, someone with mediocre talent like him would still have to pay tuition every year.
Even with the Spirit Hall's subsidies for Spirit Masters and poverty relief, it still costs a lot of Spirit Coins.
Shen He, who was struggling financially, said there was no need for him to go to the Soul Master Academy.
Qian Yuelong smiled and said, "It's alright, since we'll all be in the Spirit Hall from now on. I look forward to seeing you all among the elite Spirit Hall Knights, or perhaps even becoming instructors and working together."
These words greatly alleviated the melancholy of impending separation in the private room.
Oh right, I almost forgot. We'll all be members of the Spirit Hall from now on, so we'll definitely meet again. It's not like we'll be separated by mountains and rivers and never see each other again.
The atmosphere warmed up, and everyone ate and drank as usual until evening before dispersing.
Before leaving, Qian Yuelong stood at the crossroads of the street and waved to the Black Chess Team, smiling as she said:
"Well then, everyone, see you at the Spirit Hall in the future!"
See you at the Spirit Hall!
The members of the Black Chess Team waved goodbye to Qian Yuelong, promising a bright future.
She stood under the dim streetlights, watching the Black Chess team help each other away. Only then did the smile on her face fade slightly. She turned her back and walked towards a secluded alley. Her spiritual energy swept out from her center, and she said in a calm voice, "Come out."
"Whoosh—!"
The Dark Soul Guards, now dressed entirely in black, flashed out and landed neatly behind Qian Yuelong, forming three rows. Yun Yi and Fang Yi led the way, kneeling on one knee on the slightly damp ground and bowing their proud heads to Qian Yuelong.
"Young Miss".
Qian Yuelong said succinctly, "Check which Knight Training Camp of the Spirit Hall Guan Feng, the new Soul Master who came out of the Martial Soul Arena in Luger Town, went to. Also, send someone to tell the person in charge of the Martial Soul Arena that, starting today, he should write me a daily observation report on the Black Chess Squad every five days. This squad has great potential, and I am quite fond of them."
As for why we don't investigate which branch hall Guan Feng went to work as a public official?
Qian Yuelong was certain that, given Guan Feng's personality, he would never be content to stop here. He must want to go to a place where stronger Soul Masters gather to train and improve himself.
Over the course of nearly a year, she could see that each member of the Black Chess Team had their own story.
They didn't tell their stories, and she wouldn't investigate further, because she had seen how they treated her.
Now that it's within our authority, and we're all on the same side, it's not a big deal to give each other special treatment.
What's wrong with a saintly woman wanting to show favoritism?
Fang Yi and his group had no objections.
As long as Qian Yuelong doesn't risk her life or get involved in dangerous things.
The bright moon hangs high in the sky.
Qian Yuelong looked towards the empty alleyway behind them, and the faces of the Black Chess Team members flashed before her eyes.
She chuckled softly, beginning to look forward to their future working together.
—A side note—
Well, Shenhe sees Yuelong as a younger sister. If there were any other feelings between them, Shenhe is young but still an adult, while Yuelong is only seven years old!
Young man, your idea is quite outrageous (pointing and gesturing).
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