Chapter 619 - 369: A Young Dream (Part 2)

On this particular topic, Shi Lou overcame her fear of Si Huan Nian and chose to speak up in defense of Rong Taotao.

Without a doubt, Rong Taotao’s status in the Soul Class was like that of a Deity, and he was the undisputed leader of all the Little Souls.

Si Huan Nian wasn’t angry. In fact, she was rather pleased to see this.

She hoped someone would carry the banner, someone who could unite the Little Souls and lead them forward together. Not like her, who, so many years later, was surviving all alone.

Hearing her sister’s words, Shi Lan was alarmed and quickly changed the subject. "Um, uh, right! Juanjuan didn’t just ask us two, but others as well. Jiao Tengda’s entire group has already agreed..."

Si Huan Nian tilted her head toward the distant desk and said, "My phone. Bring it to me."

"Oh." Shi Lan quickly strode over to Si Huan Nian’s desk on her long legs.

Si Huan Nian took the phone and, while dialing a number, said casually, "Find a place to sit. Don’t just stand there."

"I’ll stand, hehe, I’ll stand." Shi Lan ran a hand through her chic short hair, a bashful smile on her face.

「Meanwhile, at Wan’an Pass, Cyan Mountain Army Headquarters.」

Although it was just a small, single-story stone house, calling it "Headquarters" felt a bit shabby. But at least it was the Cyan Mountain Army’s own building. There were many different teams in Wan’an Pass, and only the most exceptional ones had their own separate base.

The lights were also on in Rong Taotao’s dorm room.

He was currently holding the clothes Yi Xin had brought him, trying them on for size.

Although the uniforms of the Cyan Mountain Army and the Snow Burning Army were the same—snow camouflage—the arm patches were different. And the patches weren’t just attached; they were sewn onto the clothes.

The large character for "Cyan" was indeed alluring.

Rarity creates value, after all. Look at the Twelfth Squad—no matter how special or powerful they were, didn’t their arm patches, just like most other teams, obediently bear the character for "Snow"?

Of course, the Cyan Mountain Army had another piece of gear that, while not valuable, was iconic.

A lower face mask.

Putting on this lower face mask, Rong Taotao transformed from a ferocious warthog into a mysterious assassin...

’Hm, pretty cool, huh?’

When Rong Taotao put on the pitch-black lower face mask, concealing everything below the bridge of his nose, even Gao Lingwei, who was standing beside him, couldn’t help but take a second look.

She had to admit, with the lower half of his face covered, Rong Taotao’s bright eyes stood out even more, especially when paired with his soft, naturally curly hair...

Even the beefy-faced Yi Xin could transform into a mysterious and intimidating assassin after covering the lower half of his face. What was Rong Taotao lacking? His looks were far better than Yi Xin’s...

Rong Taotao turned to Gao Lingwei and said, "Why do I feel like a ruthless bandit again?"

Gao Lingwei smiled, stepped forward, and gently tidied his head of natural curls with one hand.

Rong Taotao said, "When I first joined the Twelfth Squad, they all wore balaclavas. I felt like I’d walked into a den of bandits. Now, in the Cyan Mountain Army, this mask..."

Gao Lingwei didn’t respond. She just continued to arrange his hair, her beautiful eyes gazing quietly at Rong Taotao as if to etch this image of him deep into her mind.

"Do you still remember the dreams of your youth? Like a flower that never withers, accompanying me through wind and rain, watching the world’s unpredictability, seeing the vicissitudes of time..."

A female voice, slightly husky with a hint of languor, suddenly rang out in the dorm room.

Gao Lingwei raised an eyebrow slightly. Such a distinctive and beautiful voice—she could tell who was singing immediately.

’Si Huan Nian!?’

’How did you convince her to record a ringtone for you?’ Gao Lingwei wondered, even thinking she must be dreaming. That Si Huan Nian... how could she possibly record a ringtone for someone?

Rong Taotao grinned and walked toward the bed. "A little coaxing and a little trickery. It’s not like I can beat her in a fight."

Gao Lingwei: "..."

Rong Taotao’s Sinful Lotus was just a little brother in front of Si Huan Nian’s Imperial Lotus...

Rong Taotao snatched up his phone. The caller ID was indeed Si Huan Nian. Since he had just contacted the Little Souls, he had specifically switched his phone to ringer mode, afraid he wouldn’t hear it if they tried to reach him.

Rong Taotao answered the call. "Coach Si."

On the other end of the line came that languid voice, which perfectly matched the ringtone. "You haven’t even graduated. You’re only in your second year of college—you should really still be in your second year of high school. Are you going to Wan’an Pass now?"

’Geez, straight to the point, not even a hello.’

Rong Taotao plopped down on the bed, pulled down his lower face mask, and said, "I’m doing great, thanks for asking, Coach Si."

Si Huan Nian: "..."

’Is this kid talking back to me?’

’What’s that supposed to mean? That I’m being impolite?’

Noticing Si Huan Nian had gone silent, Rong Taotao’s heart tightened. He quickly said, "Um... uh, well, it’s vacation time anyway, and there’s no one at the university. If you’re bored, Coach Si, why not come hang out at Wan’an Pass?"

Si Huan Nian: "Hah. So you know Wan’an Pass is dangerous, and you want to drag me there to protect the Little Souls?"

Rong Taotao: "No, not at all! I was just thinking of you. If you’re bored staying at the university, you could take a trip."

On the other end of the line, Si Huan Nian’s smile was a bit strange. "What, you want to go out the city gate with me and stomp on that place a few more times?"

Hearing this, Rong Taotao opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn’t respond. He felt he had no right to get involved in or comment on Si Huan Nian’s family matters.

"You’re only in your second year. It’s one thing for you and Gao Lingwei to be special cases, but the others shouldn’t be enlisting this early, let alone going to garrison the Third Wall." Si Huan Nian pulled the conversation back on topic, raising her eyes to look at the two sisters standing obediently before her.

Rong Taotao thought for a moment and said, "It’s bound to be dangerous; there’s no denying that.

But, given that we both possess the Lotus Petal, the closer we are to a Snow Realm Vortex, the faster our cultivation speed.

The Youthful Spirit is an experimental class, cultivated by Songjiang Soul Martial University with its absolute best personnel, materials, and resources. They’re all destined for this path. After graduation, it’s not like they can go home to run a business or take the civil service exam.

The Cyan Mountain Army is in a special period of rebuilding. This is a rare opportunity. For students trained by the university to serve in the Snow Burning Army’s most elite unit—that’s something the university would want to see, isn’t it?

The achievements are mutual.

Ultimately, whether it’s Songjiang Soul Martial training and supplying talent, or the Snow Burning Army expanding and defending the frontier, the final goal of all these actions is to make the Snow Realm a more stable place, to make people’s lives safer, and to make all of Huaxia safer.

For decades, everyone has seen what’s been happening in the Snow Realm. Facts have proven that a purely defensive strategy leads nowhere. The only way to break the stalemate, it seems, is to explore the Snow Realm Vortexes.

One day,

someone will break into a Snow Realm Vortex and unlock its secrets.

I hope that person is me—is one of the Youthful Spirit from our Songjiang Soul Martial."

The other end of the line fell silent.

After a long while, Si Huan Nian said, "I am the teacher, and you are the student."

"Uh..." Rong Taotao’s demeanor switched seamlessly, his tone suddenly becoming obedient. "Hello, Coach Si~"

"Hah, you little rascal." Si Huan Nian snorted, but sighed inwardly.

’She had once thought of protecting Rong Taotao for four carefree years, letting him pass his university days in peace. But she never expected that by his second year, he’d already pushed his way into the special forces—the Twelfth Squad.’

’What was even more frightening was that the Twelfth Squad wasn’t the end of it. Now, Rong Taotao had pushed his way into the even more exclusive Cyan Mountain Army...’

’What did it mean to have limitless potential?’

’Perhaps, before long, you’ll be the one protecting me.’

’No, in fact, as a member of the Snow Burning Army, you’re already protecting me...’

Si Huan Nian looked at the Shi Family Sisters before her and said, "I approve. You may go."

"Thank you, Coach Si."

"Thank you, Coach Si." The two sisters nodded hastily and quickly left the dorm room.

Si Huan Nian watched the door close softly, then spoke into the phone. "I heard you almost died. When your Blast Pearl went off, your brother was still in the Martial Arts Hall. He was about to lose his mind."

Rong Taotao: "It couldn’t be helped. It was a skirmish. We were escorting a Neutral Soul Beast back to Wan’an Pass when we unexpectedly ran into a Soul Beast Army."

Si Huan Nian: "The people at the Martial Arts Hall only have a vague idea of what happened. You tell me."

Rong Taotao: "Come to the Third Wall. I’ll tell you the story in person."

Unfortunately, they were on the phone, so Rong Taotao couldn’t see Si Huan Nian’s eyes narrowing dangerously.

"You’ve certainly gotten bold."

Rong Taotao, however, continued as if talking to himself, "When you come, remember to bring lots of snacks. My stash is running low."

Si Huan Nian: "Go tell Principal Mei yourself."

Rong Taotao asked curiously, "I need to ask Principal Mei for permission just to buy snacks?"

Si Huan Nian said irritably, "I’m talking about me going to the Third Wall! You go tell Principal Mei!"

"Alright, alright." Rong Taotao pouted and mumbled, "Why are you yelling so loud..."

Si Huan Nian: "..."