Chapter 0478: Chats in the Night

The enduring silence in the wake of the battle was tentatively broken by the chirping of crickets, and the forest gradually resumed its natural pace.

Li Luo stood perched on his tree top, a silent sentinel with both palms resting on his sword.

An aurora of colors flashed and danced in the valley behind him.

It was not enough to tempt the greed of any.

Although an anima cumulonimbus was a big prize, there was no realistic way they could obtain it, and it was just not worth sinking the entire school just for this.

The Astral Sage College had already played a powerful card, one on the level of the best in the game. Ordinary sage colleges could not compete.

Night deepened even further, covering the mountains in midnight blue.

In the darkness, only the valley continued to glow and shine like a jewel in the night.

Qin Zhulu was sitting in the lotus position on the left route, eyes closed as he recovered. Others were speaking in low voices.

Lu Qing'er was sitting with Si Qiuying. The two girls had not been close before, but this battle had helped them bond. While idling away the time, they often turned to chat with each other.

Even while they chatted, Lu Qing'er's eyes occasionally darted towards the top of the large tree, where Li Luo stood.

There was a soft look in her eyes. Li Luo had fought the three commanders alone, and even though the battle was over, he was not resting, instead standing guard against the hungry wolves that still prowled.

Si Qiuying sensed that Lu Qing'er's heart was not in the conversation. "Qing'er, are you... close with Li Luo?" she asked, immediately sensing what was on her mind.

"I've known Li Luo for many years. We've been schoolmates since Southwind Academy. Of course we're friends," Lu Qing'er answered.

Si Qiuying did not believe her regarding the friendship. "Do you… you know?" She hesitated.

"Like him?"

Lu Qing'er froze, then she smiled and blinked. "Why? Can't I?" If Yu Hongxi had asked her, she would never have admitted it, knowing her mother would never agree.

Si Qiuying was shocked. Lu Qing'er was one of the more famous girls in the One Star Hall. She was top class in every aspect—status, looks, and talent. Many of the One Star Hall guys had tried to make moves on her, and even seniors from other halls kept an eye and ear out for news of her.

But over the course of the last year, no one had managed to make any progress with Lu Qing'er. She had developed a reputation as an iceberg—beautiful but cool. Only now had Si Qiuying learned that there was a fire in that iceberg after all.

"But-but Li Luo's engaged," Si Qiuying blurted out.

Lu Qing'er nodded. "I know."

"Do you think Senior Jiang actually likes Li Luo?" Si Qiuying asked piercingly. "Likes him romantically, I mean." She was reeling a little from the developments. She was on good terms with Jiang Qing'e, and she worshiped the very ground she stood on. In her mind, Jiang Qing'e was as good as a girl got. Her talent eclipsed all of theirs, and even a highborn like herself felt inferior in comparison.

This was the reason why she had been so resentful when Li Luo first appeared on the scene, and why she had gone to meet him at the city outskirts to make trouble for the Tianshu bumpkin.

One of her more shameful memories.

But whether Jiang Qing'e and Li Luo were romantically involved was a question she didn't really have an answer to. Although Li Luo was very awesome in his own right, it was hard to imagine Jiang Qing'e getting worked up over a guy at all.

Still, she felt a need to defend Jiang Qing'e. "Li Luo and Senior Jiang's relationship can't be doubted. Li Luo is the most important person in her heart."

"I don't doubt it," Lu Qing'er agreed softly. "They spent their childhood together. Even though they're not blood-related, surely they must be closer than most sisters and brothers."

Si Qiuying felt that it was a little strange to label them as brother and sister.

Still, she had no idea as to the real nature of the relationship between the two either. After all, many had thought that the engagement was in name only, and they had assumed that Jiang Qing'e objected to it. She had been one of those people. But later on, they realized that the two were indeed very close.

Whatever it was they had, it was enough to prove the engagement was more than a formality.

But was it really romantic? It was hard to say sometimes.

"The engagement is unfair to both Li Luo and Senior Jiang," Lu Qing'er said serenely. "I have told Senior Jiang this as well."

Si Qiuying's mouth fell open. "Y-you spoke to Senior Jiang about it?" she repeated dumbly.

“You did what?! Lu Qing'er always looks cool, calm, and collected. Why would she do something so rash? We’re talking about Jiang Qing'e, for goodness’ sake. Some people go their entire school lives without mustering the courage to even say hi to her.”

"If the engagement is cruel to both of them, why would I not say something?" Lu Qing'er asked casually.

Si Qiuying kneaded her forehead. She had a newfound respect for Lu Qing'er's guts. She might well be the only one in the Astral Sage College who had the courage to challenge Jiang Qing'e.

"Well… what did Senior Jiang say?" she asked, burning with curiosity.

How would the great Jiang Qing'e respond to a challenge like that?

Lu Qing'er did not reply. She recalled the day that Jiang Qing'e had given her a brazen and blazing repartee, and she still blushed at the memory.

At the same time, she had to admire Jiang Qing'e for being a strong rival.

That said, she, Lu Qing'er, was not about to back down just because her rival was strong.

Wrongs needed to be righted. Lu Qing'er looked up at the tree again, and her eyes hardened. “Li Luo, I will definitely save you from that loveless engagement.”

The midnight blue gave way to the predawn sky of pinks and oranges, and day was almost upon them.

When the first ray of morning light broke through the thick clouds, an answering light from below reached back up to the heavens, and an alluring fragrance filled the air.

Li Luo was the first to open his eyes from his perch on the top of the tree. He was as vigilant as ever.

Everyone knew that the time of the anima dew's completion was upon them. This was the time of maximum danger.

After a good rest, Qin Zhulu, Bai Doudou, Wang Hejiu, and the others were all equally vigilant.

Luckily, no one had made a move on them since the end of the last battle.

Several long minutes later.

The rainbow-colored light behind them faded.

Bai Mengmeng ran towards them, waving her arms happily at Li Luo, her cute, little face glowing with pleasure.

She had managed to harvest the entire anima cumulonimbus.

Li Luo smiled brightly as well, the tension falling away from his shoulders. Their first anima cumulonimbus in the Hall-level competition.

26 drops of anima dew.

They needed 99 to be able to send one person to Dragonbone Island.

They would have to continue searching.

Li Luo gave the signal, and Qin Zhulu and the others all closed back in towards the valley.

Li Luo joined them last, and he cupped his fist to each of the four directions and then let loose with a piercing whoop.

Their first battle to defend an anima cumulonimbus had gone well, but they all knew that this was just the beginning.

As the competition progressed, more and more intense fights would continue to break out.

All to win the golden resonant tree brooch awarded to the strongest student.