The scenic route was really picturesque.

  Uncle Jian took them past the market, and in the mood for it, Yin bought a few trinkets for the people at Shrek, as she was reminded of her friends while walking past. A pair of carrot hairpins for Xiao Wu, a small pearl neckce for Ning Rong Rong, a small decorative knife for Tang San, sea shells and stars keychains for Oscar and Ma Hongjun, including a brand new hair decoration for Zhu Zhuquing and a notebook with a white tiger shark for Dai Mubai.

  The two of them were in no hurry, so they also got food at the market stall. The seafood smelled delicious, and biting into the savory grilled fish, Yin had a taste bud explosion. She stared at Uncle Jian with rge eyes.

  "I will be living off grilled fish from now on," she informed him, wide-eyed, and continued feasting on her fish. She got a seaweed snack while passing another stall when they finally arrived at the Arena.

  It was a lot bigger than the Soutou Combat Arena. Less towering, though, as it seemed to be half stretching out towards the sea.

  "Sea spirit masters often fight in the sea arena, with only water. Matches between nd and sea masters are fought in the in-between, and nd spirit master matches are fought on the nd part," Uncle Jian expined to her. "We are meeting up with the arena's management."

  "Alright, what does Seven Treasures have to do with Vast Seas Arena management?" she asked him, and he flicked her forehead lightly.

  "That is cn matters. You will have to stay in the waiting room. You are my student but not a member of Seven Treasures," he told her, and with understanding, she nodded.

  "Alright."

  "Good, then come along." He headed ahead, and Tang Yin followed him as she looked around. There were many spirit masters with peculiar looks talking amongst themselves.

  She tried listening in; most of them spoke with an accent that sounded so unfamiliar that she needed to concentrate and could barely make out what they were talking about as they passed by.

  They were picked up by an elegant woman in her mid-twenties, wearing a short bob and the deep blue uniform all employees in customer service here seemed to wear.

  She bowed to them. "Master Jian and...?"

  "My student, Miss Tang," Uncle Jian introduced her.

  "Miss Tang." The woman bowed to her as well. "If you'd kindly follow me."

  They followed her while the others made way for them, curious gnces grazing them as they were led to an office waiting room.

  "Yin, go ahead and make yourself comfortable, but stay within earshot, will you?" he said, and Tang Yin nodded, settling on one of the chairs next to the window.

  Down below was the Arena. Slowly, it was te midday when most stores started closing, so people started to gather and flock together for evenings with their friends. It was a busy time for the Arena—the best matches were always starting to be scheduled around this time—and she had a VIP view.

  "I'll just watch the fights," she told Uncle Jian. "Don't worry."

  "Good." He nodded and headed inside the office, leaving Yin to look out the window.

  The first match was between a nd spirit master and a sea spirit master.

  When their nicknames were announced, Yin suddenly got curious.

  "Today, we have a battle between the Vicious Sea Serpent, who is on a five-win streak, and our mysterious recent nd spirit master champion, Fallen Petals, who has remained unbeaten in the st eight matches," the woman announced. Behind her, the screen came alive. "This is the first match of the evening. Please give both contestants a warm welcome."

  Tang Yin ignored the info stats and looked downwards into the Arena. The first one to step out was the sea spirit master—a wiry man with a mustache and a sly smile, waving both hands at the now almost completely packed Arena. Then, suddenly, once he took the position, the nd spirit master entered. Unlike the sea master, he wore a veil over his face.

  It was deep purple. His clothing, too, was white with streaks of purple that emitted an almost multicolored hue.

  Tang Yin blinked the slender frame, and his walk was strangely familiar. Then suddenly, he raised one hand in an inviting gesture. She found herself on her feet, staring down, eyes wide open.

  It couldn't be. Wasn't he supposed to be somewhere entirely else?

  Behind the first contestant, a sea serpent rose. In contrast, the other contestant raised his arm, and suddenly, in a thousand colors, brilliant and shining flower petals filled the Arena and its surroundings.

  The woman announced the start, and the spirit petals started dancing around the nd spirit master with an ominious red sheen to them. Tang Yin was on the edge of her seat. She couldn't believe it.

  "Oh my god," she shouted, as the petals started to have a reddish sheen. "No way. What are the chances?"

  Uncle Jian hummed curiously behind her. She turned around. "Yes?"

  "You know one of them?" Uncle Jian asked her, and Tang Yin nodded excitedly.

  "I think so," she said, then watched as the hundreds of petals started to set themselves afme as they hit and bombarded the other spirit master. "That's another member of the Literary Department," she pointed out to Uncle Jian, who looked at her curiously.

  "That department of yours in Tang Sect is interesting." Uncle Jian noted, his curiosity unhidden as he looked at the spirit Arena. He had not thought he would encounter another member of the Literary Department of the Tang Sect anytime soon.

  "Well, we are quite a bunch of misfits." Tang Yin turned around and giggled as she continued watching the fight. "Say, do we have time so I can greet him downstairs?"

  "Yes, we do," Uncle Jian told her, and then Tang Yin jumped down and ran, a rge smile spreading on her face.

  Yu Hua.