After the group had enjoyed a simple yet satisfying dinner of white rice, braised fish, and salted vegetables, they were eager to make their way toward the Academy's main gate. Yi Ming, having finished his meal ahead of everyone else, had already headed to Master Zhang's study for a game of Weiqi.

Lingqi, however, found his thoughts haunted by the remnants of a strange dream. Fragments of a shadowy figure and a suffocating veil of darkness flitted through his mind, elusive and ephemeral, like grains of sand slipping through his fingers.

"Are you okay, Lingqi?" Yuyan asked, her voice tinged with concern as she noticed his distracted expression.

"Huh?" Lingqi snapped back to reality, turning his attention to her. "Oh, sorry, I'm just a little nervous, I guess."

"Well, perk up!" Gao said, ruffling Lingqi's hair playfully, much to his chagrin. "We're doing this for you, remember? We're not going to let you be all depressed!"

Lingqi laughed, swatting Gao's hand away and trying to fix his hair. "Don't worry, we'll make sure to show you a great time," Yuyan reassured him. "It's not every day that you get to sneak out of the Academy, after all."

"Yeah, and the first thing we're going to do is get some street food!" Chen declared.

As they walked, they noticed Li Bie had already surged ahead, eagerly trotting toward the capital.

"Hey! Wait up!" Chen yelled, beckoning his friend to slow down.

Li Bie stopped and turned around, looking at his peers with a perplexed expression. "Hurry up! There's a lot to do, and not a lot of time to do it!"

The others chuckled at Li Bie's newfound enthusiasm. Funny, he had been against the idea of leaving the Academy earlier, but now it seemed like he couldn't wait.

"Alright, alright, we're coming," Gao called out.

"Yeah, let's get going," Yuyan said.

They continued their journey, moving beyond the Academy's gates and toward the capital city of Huadu. As they approached, the city's opulence became increasingly apparent. Large houses of red brick, their walls painted white, dotted the outskirts, each boasting expansive courtyards. The waning sun made the structures appear radiant like columns of flames.

A massive wall surrounded the capital, its height formidable, built from layers of meticulously stacked stones. At the entrance stood two stone lions, their faces stern and imposing, each holding a sphere carved into the shape of the sun. The spheres' edges were lined with jagged rays, and their centers were etched with intricate geometric patterns.

"This is amazing!" Lingqi exclaimed, his eyes wide. This was only the second time he had seen the gates, but now he truly noticed the statues' details, the architecture's intricacy, the entrance's magnificence.

"Well, don't just stand there, let's go in," Chen prodded.

As they entered, Lingqi's breath caught in his throat at the city's grandeur. His eyes darted from the towering walls to the bustling streets, a mix of wonder and trepidation filling his chest. Memories of his arrival in a caravan with Elder Zhu and other orphans flashed through his mind, recalling the spectacle of bustling streets, merchants peddling their wares, children playing, and the sheer variety of life.

Now, the city seemed even more vibrant. People were out in droves, mingling, bartering, conversing. The smells overwhelmed him: the scent of cooking food, spices, sweat, animals, and countless other aromas assaulted his nostrils.

"Wow..." was all Lingqi could say.

"Come on, let's get some food!" Chen shouted, moving ahead toward a street vendor.

"Didn't we just eat dinner?" Li Bie wondered, a bemused expression on his face.

"Well, yeah, but this is the capital! We can't leave without tasting the local delicacies," Chen explained, his excitement evident. "Look! They have sweet dumplings!"

"Oh, oh! And there's fried fish!" Gao pointed to another stall.

"And over there is a noodle cart!" Yuyan pointed toward a crowd where a vendor was busy selling bowls of steaming soup and noodles.

"Let's just get it all on me!" Chen exclaimed. "I'm not leaving here without tasting everything the city has to offer!"

The group nodded enthusiastically and made their way through the marketplace. Chen bought several plates of fried fish, dumplings, and roasted meat skewers. Though the portions were modest, there was plenty for everyone to sample once they arranged the plates on a wooden dining table.

Chen quickly dug into his fried fish, and the others followed suit. Lingqi picked up a piece of the crispy batter and took a bite. The flavor was exquisite—the batter crispy yet slightly chewy, the fish succulent and flaky, the frying oil imparting a rich, savory taste.

The rest of the group joined in, and soon the plates were wiped clean.

"That was delicious!" Chen exclaimed, patting his stomach. "What else should we try?"

"I don't think I can eat another bite," Lingqi leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach.

"Yeah, I'm stuffed," Gao added, a satisfied smile on his face.

Yuyan spotted a gathering around a particular vendor. She saw patrons attempting to throw a wooden object at a target, with a fee for each attempt and prizes for those who succeeded.

"Hey, guys! Come check this out!" Yuyan pointed toward the booth.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Oh, a game!" Gao's eyes lit up. "I want to try it!"

Gao, Lingqi, and the others followed Yuyan to the booth, where an elderly man stood behind a counter, smiling at his potential customers. The crowd had dwindled due to the game's low success rate, leaving it relatively unattended.

"Hello there, youngsters! Would you like to play?" the old man asked, a toothy grin on his face.

"Sure!" Gao responded, digging a few bronze coins from his satchel.

The elder nodded, accepting the payment and handing them five wooden balls, each the size of a fist.

The targets were small triangular wooden platforms, their bottoms lined with sandbags, their tops adorned with painted rings, placed on a rack about a dozen feet away from the counter.

"You must score at least a three to pass. The farther you hit, the more points you get," the elder explained.

The students glanced at one another and smirked.

"The farthest, huh?" Gao mused.

"Easy," Chen boasted.

"Right," Li Bie added.

Lingqi stared at the prizes lining the merchant's booth, deciding which he would like. There was a variety of toys and trinkets, though a pair of matching red ribbons caught his eye. They looked nice, and he imagined them as a gift for someone special.

"Well, good luck, youngsters!" the old man smiled, stepping aside.

Gao narrowed his eyes, focusing on the topmost platform. With a quick, fluid motion, he released the ball. It sailed through the air, striking the target dead center with a satisfying thud.

The merchant, surprised but smiling, nodded appreciatively. "Three points, good job!"

A few patrons began to gather around, impressed with Gao's skill.

Chen stepped forward next, tossing his ball underhanded at the top platform. His powerful throw smashed into the target, knocking it completely off the rack.

"Ha, direct hit!" Chen cheered, pumping his fist.

The spectators cheered, applauding Chen's impressive display.

"Nice job!" Yuyan patted him on the back.

The merchant, again surprised, forced a smile. "Three points! Nice shot!"

Li Bie steadied his ball, aiming for the top platform. His toss moved in a straight line, hitting the target with just enough force to dislodge it.

The crowd roared with approval, and the spectacle grew even more popular.

The merchant, now in shock, watched as these boys knocked down the targets one by one.

"My turn!" Yuyan stepped forward. She steadied her breath, then tossed the ball with alarming speed, shattering the target on impact.

The crowd cheered louder, and the merchant stared at the wooden shards in disbelief.

"Three points, good job!" the elder managed to say, clearly shaken.

Lingqi stepped forward, the crowd's anticipation at a fever pitch. His target perched on the uppermost platform, the last one. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, then opened them and threw the ball. It moved slowly at first, seeming off course, but curved at the last moment to strike the target dead center.

The spectators erupted in cheers, and the merchant stood stupefied, his jaw agape. How could these children knock down every top-row target?

"Okay, okay! That was quite a display, young ones!" the elder exclaimed. "Please choose your prizes."

Gao took an antique lion statuette, grinning. "This one's mine."

Chen chose a wooden boat toy, Li Bie selected a set of toy soldiers, and Yuyan picked a spinning top. Lingqi chose the red ribbons, pleased with his selection. They were finely crafted, vibrant, and smooth to the touch. He blushed at the thought of giving them to Yuyan before leaving for the Opal Palace.

"What about you, Lingqi? What did you get?" Gao asked.

"Oh, uh," Lingqi hesitated, showing the ribbons.

"What is it?" Li Bie asked.

"Red ribbons," Gao answered, perplexed. "For who?"

Lingqi's face reddened further. "Um, well, someone..." His eyes darted to Yuyan before looking down.

Gao laughed. "Aw, Lingqi's got a crush! Who's the lucky girl, huh?"

He ruffled Lingqi's hair, pulling him close.

"Lingqi is in love, huh? Wow, they grow up so fast," Chen nodded sagely.

"So, that must be why he really wanted to sneak into the capital…” Li Bie mused aloud, nodding along with his conclusion.

"Give us a hint!" Yuyan prodded, playfully bumping her elbow into his shoulder.

"N-no, I'm not telling!" Lingqi shook his head, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"D-Do you guys like anyone?" Lingqi retorted.

"Oh no, I don't think so, Lingqi," Gao chuckled. "We're not the ones swooning over a pair of red ribbons."

"Come on, you have to tell us!" Chen pleaded, approaching Lingqi to shake him by the shoulders, the urgency of the matter was not lost on him. It would be a chance for him to help his talented junior in the matters of the heart - a matter that was of grave importance. "I can help you! I'm an expert on romance!"

"What do you know about romance, Chen? You've never had a girlfriend," Li Bie pointed out with a scoff.

"I know more than you!" Chen retorted.

"Oh really? Then tell us, how should Lingqi give the ribbons to his crush?" Li Bie folded his arms.

Chen thought for a moment. "He should... uh..."

"Well?"

"... Put it inside her favorite food. That way it's a surprise!" Chen nodded.

The students burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Inside her favorite food?!" Gao doubled over in laughter and wrapped his arms around his stomach and wheezed, eyes watering.

"I can't believe you said that, Chen!" Li Bie chuckled, leaning on Gao for support as he laughed with him, completely losing his composure.

"Yeah, that's stupid," Yuyan added, shaking her head. She wasn’t as amused, more so disappointed. Or perhaps she felt sorry for Chen’s future love interest, whoever that would be.

"What? That's a good idea, right?" Chen exclaimed.

"Yeah, sure it is," Yuyan said, rolling her eyes.

"Well, I don't see any of you coming up with better ideas," Chen retorted.

Li Bie cupped his chin thoughtfully, having regained his composure. "He should take her somewhere quiet and give the gift directly."

"That's too straightforward!" Gao shot back. "You need more finesse than that, Li Bie."

"Really? And how would you do it?" Li Bie fired back, folding his arms.

"I'd take her somewhere special, somewhere exclusive, and then give her the gift. That way, she'll appreciate the gesture," Gao answered with a proud nod.

"Pfft. What a load of garbage," Chen snorted as he leaned against the wooden table of a nearby bench.

"Not all girls are superficial," Li Bie countered.

"Whatever, you have to set the mood," Gao replied, taking a seat by Chen.

"Boys, none of you thought to ask the only girl here for advice?" Yuyan interjected, hands on her hips.

The boys stared at Yuyan.

"Huh? Oh, right," Gao rubbed his neck. Would it be wrong for him to say that he thought of Yuyan as another one of the boys? Perhaps, so he instead kept that thought to himself.

"Yuyan, how would you do it?" Lingqi asked, his heart raced as he looked up at her, eyes sparkling with thinly masked anticipation.

"Hm," Yuyan pondered. "I think you have to really know the girl and what she likes, and then cater to her."

Silence lingered as Lingqi contemplated her words, as did the other boys. Only the sounds of the buzzing capital market streets filled the air, the backdrop now a mere glimmer of white noise.

And then…

"Nah, sounds boring," Chen spoke up dismissively.

"Sounds like a lot of pressure," Li Bie shook his head, not buying her words.

"Not to mention dull," Gao added, his conclusion came as rapidly as the others.

Yuyan rolled her eyes. Should she really have expected anything more? "Boys."

Lingqi, however, pondered her words deeply. Cater to her... what does she like?

"Lingqi," Gao interrupted, breaking him from his stupor.

"Which one of us makes the most sense to you?"

Lingqi glanced around the group. "Um, well," he fumbled. "They all kind of make sense, I guess. Except for maybe what Chen said. But I'm sure if a girl liked food as much as him, she'd appreciate it."

"Ha! See? I told you guys!" Chen triumphed.

"He didn't agree with you, you idiot," Gao groaned.

"It still counts! Take that!" Chen folded his arms, smirking.

"Anyway," Li Bie interjected, rolling his eyes. The sky had darkened, the clouds tinged crimson. It was time to return.

"I think we should head back to the Academy. The sun's almost down."

"Agreed," Gao nodded, turning toward the Academy. "Let's go."

The group of students followed, weaving through the city's winding streets.