Yu Hua left behind Tang Yin and Chen Xin, whom he only recognized because he had done quite some research into all currently active Douluos.

  An Elder of the Seven Treasured Gze, a Titled Douluo, one of the best swordmasters alive. Yu Hua had to hand it to Tang Yin — she always found the best and most interesting teachers. He headed out into the streets, having not quite told Tang Yin the entire truth.

  The truth was, he, in fact, would have had the time to be with her longer — there was no second Arena battle, not today, at least. Heading onto one of the side alleys, he took a deep breath and straightened his back. Not many walked the back alleys in these parts; it was unsafe.

  But people here knew him to a certain extent, and only very few dared try to make trouble in his presence. He sighed and then started navigating through the byzantine back alleys of Vast Sea City. After all, he had been here for a few months now. He crossed the waterways using his spirit power to leap over them, nodding at a few acquaintances. Eventually, close to the edge, he slowed down and walked over the cobblestones.

  He closed his eyes and conjured up Tang Yin's face. He wondered where she was now, how much spirit power she held. If she had grown anywhere near as fast in ranks as he remembered. She was probably bordering level forty at this point — and he was still below level thirty at sixteen.

  Biting his lower lip, he swallowed his frustration, unable to help the slight envy he felt at her talent. If only he had been born with such power, his cn and his family, no one would have treated him as they did.

  Still, it was useless to think about it.

  It was better to walk at his own speed. His — or rather theirs — Damian's, Gale's, and his situation had drastically changed since they parted ways at Nuoding. Damian had gone and opened his business against his father, against his stepmother, against all alongside Gale, whose gadgets the two sold at high prices.

  In front of him was a small house, nothing impressive, but it was his home now. A house they had worked for together, it was entirely theirs. The nd and house were bought and built on by their own efforts. Close by the sea, at the border to one of the many waterways of Vast Sea City.

  He opened the doors, and Damian greeted him with a tired smile.

  "Hua," he greeted him, and Yu Hua stepped inside. "You are damn early. We didn't expect you yet."

  He smiled as he made his way toward the kitchen. The table at the entrance was stacked full of papers, which had also found their way to the floor and spread out into the living room.

  Business matters mixed with blueprints—it was a mess, yet Yu Hua felt himself calm once he stepped over the first notebook and picked up a gss of water. A framed sketch from Tang Yin hung on the wall that showed all of the Nuoding Literary Department together. It was the only actual decoration inside the house.

  He turned around and saw Gale stumble down the stairs, his hair short and sticking in all directions as he sent a tired smile to Yu Hua.

  "Damian made dinner," he said and then settled into the empty table chair. "He is improving. But you're really early."

  Yu Hua let out a hollow ugh. If there was one thing Damian was bad at — or rather, terrible at — it was cooking.

  "I'd rather forgo dinner, considering Damian cooked. How was business today?" he asked, and Damian grinned with genuine joy.

  "We're getting there. Believe it or not, we have the third month with actual profits. We passed break-even today."

  Yu Hua hummed — that truly was good. After everything, things finally started to work out.

  "From next month on, we should be able to live fully off the store. No more fighting for you in the Arena for the money," Gale announced proudly as he stroked his hair back, and Yu Hua felt something warm tingle inside him. Excellent news.

  They had mostly lived off his earnings for the past half a year. Sipping at his water, he stared at the dubious food Damian had produced.

  "You know whom I met today?"

  Now, both of them turned toward him in curiosity.

  "Your future wife?" Gale asked, teasing him with obvious intent — a mischievous glint in his eyes.

  "Maybe his future husband," Damian threw in for good measure and blew him a kiss. "You'd make a handsome wife, after all."

  "Sadly, no wife nor husband," he pointed out, and the two turned quiet. "I met Yin."

  "Yin, as in Tang Yin?!" Gale was agape, and Yu Hua nodded.

  "You know another Yin this tall?" He held up his hand to his lower chest. "Pale as a sheet, raven-haired, slightly obsessed with sharp hairpins, wearing long bck silk gloves and a lot of moonflower embroidery made by my glorious hands?"

  "Holy sheesh," Damian settled on the couch. "I can't believe it. What is she doing here? I thought we were meant to meet up at the end of the year together with Feng, Tang San, and Xiao Wu."

  "Apparently, change of pns. She is heading to Haishen Isnds."He told them, and both quieted down.

  While none of them were Spirit Masters, both knew more about Spirit Masters than most Spirit Masters. Gale especially loved to study and absorb every shred the Grandmaster had taught them like a sponge. He had even written his own theorems — still did — for a small specialized magazine geared toward low-level Spirit Masters.

  "Poseidon Court," Gale said, almost whispering, as he connected the dots in his head. "No other reason she would go there."

  "Yeah." Yu Hua nodded. "In the company of the Sword Douluo, who is currently teaching her swordsmanship."

  "Seriously. Chen Xin?" Damian said, almost breathless. "Wow."Gale ughed in agreement. "Only one of the twins could reel a Douluo as a teacher." He, too, took a gss and poured in some water. "But then, with Tang Yin's level of spirit power and her potential, I guess it isn't surprising that a Douluo would take interest in her." He took a sip.

  Damian and Yu Hua both hummed in agreement. Tang Yin was a monster in terms of spirit power — over thirty at twelve years old.

  "Still, Poseidon…" Gale's gaze turned to Yu Hua. "... that's quite a step." They all turned silent. That, too, was true.

  Gale put down his gss and turned toward Yu Hua.

  "You should join her," he said. "We two will be fine at this point, and Poseidon was the reason you originally came with us to Vast Sea City."

  "And leave you?" Yu Hua raised his eyebrows. "You cannot live off your business. I will not risk your safety — and as you know, you are utterly helpless without me."

  "Yu Hua," Gale said with a sigh. "You can't continue putting your own life on hold for us. We'll be fine."

  "Gale," Yu Hua's voice was cold as ice. He didn't scream or shout. His intent was clear. Yu Hua had utterly no intention to leave the two of them behind.

  "Hua, Gale is right," Damian pointed out, but Yu Hua got up, took his pte with the food on it away, and walked up to his room.

  "Damn," Gale sighed and leaned back. Yu Hua stopped on his way upstairs, staying silent.

  "I don't know what we are supposed to be doing."

  "We need to think of something. It can't go on like this," Damian agreed with Gale, and Yu Hua felt his hands tightening around his food bowl. He continued upstairs until he couldn't hear them anymore.

  It was them who did not understand.

  He wouldn't leave his friends and his chosen family until he knew they were safe. Anything else would be a blemish on his honor, which he would never tolerate, not after what they had risked in helping him at Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.