Lin Songmei’s techniques weren’t anything to speak of at the moment. There was Crystalline Arrow, Butterfly Steps, Crystal’s Strengthening, and her new technique, Growth.

Demonstrating her techniques to Yan Mingqing, Han Youhong, and Wang Taigang wasn’t anything too fancy. What did impress them though was Growth. Although an innocuous sounding technique, mundane sounding even, Growth was arguably the technique Songmei had that had the most potential.

“It’s the classic trend isn’t it...” Youhong muttered, assuaging his stresses as always with his love, lychee jelly, “The more simple the name, the better the technique.”

Shifting on her feet, all Songmei could do was shrug. “I mean... at the current moment, there’s not too much too it. All I can do is... this.”

Extending her palm out, Songmei channeled Qi through to her fingertips. Letting the Qi diffuse out through her palm and fingers, the Qi condensed, bit by bit, creating a small fingernail-sized crystal that fell to her hand. “That’s about it.”

His eyebrows furrowed, Youhong shook his head, “I knew it!! The trend holds true, it really is some broken technique! Once we’re up there in realms, you’re going to be jumping around creating literal crystal castles, aren’t you?! Like that children’s movie with the princess who makes ice! The trend really is true, the shorter the technique name, the better!”

“Well...” Taigang mused, laughing at Youhong’s passionate outburst, “I can see a world where it loops back around, you know?”

“Yeah,” Mingqing agreed, drumming her fingers on the table with a slight smile cracking onto her face, “If there’s a technique called like... Ravager of Falling Stars Eighth Form: Comet’s Disintegration, I feel like you better just start running. No point in even trying to block.”

“... True,” Youhong relented, giving an apologetic nod towards Songmei, “Anyway, continue Songmei.”

“No worries,” Songmei shrugged, walking back over to the table and sitting down, “there isn’t much else I can show you all. My bow and my arrows are all pretty dispensable at the moment, once I become proficient enough with Growth, I'll just grow my own arrows in the moment, and probably craft a soul connection weapon.”

“That’s probably smart...” Youhong nodded, “That’s what Mingqing and I have, well... we didn’t craft ours, but yeah. Also, just ignore Taigang, his soul connection weapon is just his meaty-ass fist, it really makes it easier to fight with one.”

“What?” Taigang interjected with fake annoyed, exasperated snort, “I’ll probably craft one too once I get some more techniques. I’m thinking about a pair of gauntlets or a pair of brass knuckles.”

“I see...” Songmei murmured, trying to take a neutral stance between the incoming Youhong and Taigang verbal spar. “I mean I think a pair of hefty golden gauntlets would really fit you well...”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Hearing Youhong begin to retort about how Taigang’s fists were enough, Songmei turned back towards Mingqing, lacing her fingers into Mingqing’s.

“I’m glad they’ve gotten closer,” Mingqing murmured, giving Songmei’s hand a squeeze. “I mean... that’s all I can really say though.”

“They’re certainly closer,” Songmei agreed with a hesitant nod, “I don’t know if I’d say more friendly, but banter is just another friendship dynamic.”

Watching Taigang and Youhong give each other a mutual middle-finger, Songmei coughed and cleared her throat to change the topic. “So... What do you all want to do now? I think, Taigang, you mentioned you wanted to do a duel? We could do that right now, or we could order some food?”

Scratching the back of his head, Taigang leaned back, his signature smile on his face as always. “Sure? I’d be willing to duel, but it’s up to Mingqing, I’m not going to just one-sidedly attack her.”

“I’d be willing,” Mingqing answered without an ounce of hesitation, pushing herself up, “We can get food later Songmei. The duel won’t last long anyway.”

Raising his eyebrow, Taigang extended a hand out to Mingqing anyway. “Even with your reputation as the cold-blooded, ruthless heiress of battle among the children of the upper elite, I’ll give you a run for your money, I’ll be the one to thaw you once and for all.”

“... Sure,” Mingqing laughed, shaking Taigang’s hand as a smug, icy smirk appeared on her face, pulling out a dull-sparring sword. “You’re awfully confident who almost lost to Youhong.”

Shell-shocked, or whatever the closest mood to that was, Songmei opened and closed her mouth a few times before looking over to Youhong and whispering, “A... Are you just going to let that slide?”

Popping a lychee jelly into his mouth with no reaction, Youhong affirmed, “Yep.”

“Is... Is Mingqing always like this?” Songmei questioned, watching Mingqing continue to antagonize Taigang as they walked over to their respective positions.

“Honestly? Yep.” Youhong answered, popping another lychee jelly into his mouth. “Taigang was probably exposed more to Mingqing than I was, but I still heard all the rumors.”

Motioning for Youhong to continue, Songmei switched chairs to get a better view of the upcoming battle.

Youhong, on the other hand, kicked his legs up and leaned back with a satisfied sigh. “I’m ready to see Taigang get smacked to hell and back, this is going to be a nice duel.”

“I’m... I’m pretty sure it might be decently close, though,” Songmei murmured, pouring some tea for herself. “Wait, back up though, what are the rumors you heard about growing up?”

“Well,” Youhong hummed, tapping his chin as his lychee jelly hand paused in midair. “She just has a reputation of either not talking or just antagonizing everyone. Especially in duels, she trash talks to the heavens and back. To everyone’s sadness though, she can back it up really well, having never lost to someone in the same year as her before.”

Surprised, Songmei opened and closed her mouth a few times before shutting up again as Youhong continued on with a slight shudder before breaking out into a smile and cracking up. “I honestly thought the rumors had a lot of credence when I first met her... Never in my life have I felt so cold in my life while standing under the sun. Not even when it was snowing. Also, wait, I’ll say more later, the duel’s about to start.”

With Youhong’s words still on the tip of his tongue, he and Songmei watched as Taigang asked to use the bathroom followed up by Mingqing who also decided that she’d also take a trip.

“Really? Realy? Just when I said that?” Youhong complained, letting out a long defeated sigh as Songmei suppressed a giggle. “Alright... seems like I have more time to explain the collective trauma of every child of the upper elite.”