Shen Bai thought for a moment. "In that case, when exactly will it be?"

Liu Wufeng shook his head. "It’s still to be determined. The exact date is never fixed; they just give us advance notice. But rest assured, if I hear anything, I’ll let you know ahead of time."

"If you manage to make a name for yourself outside of Fenglin State and become a true powerhouse, it would bring all of us here great honor. We’d be able to hold our heads a little higher when we speak of it."

"Alright. Since Lord Liu arranged it, I’ll attend when the time comes." Shen Bai stood up, holding Amber.

Seeing Shen Bai agree so readily, Liu Wufeng decided there was no need to say more. "In that case, you’ve been through a lot today and must be tired. Go get some rest."

Shen Bai didn’t refuse.

The day’s events had indeed been perilous, and even he felt a bit exhausted.

He left the clean-up to the others and departed, carrying Amber.

He had planned to go home and rest, intending to take the night off from grinding his Divine Power. After all, a little relaxation now and then could boost his drive later.

But unexpectedly, before he had even left the Observatory, Qin Shuang snuck up behind him.

"Shen Bai, let’s go get a late-night snack." Qin Shuang patted his shoulder, a hungry look on her face.

Even at this hour, there were still some late-night food stalls open.

Shen Bai considered it. The battle tonight had been exhausting, and he was a little hungry himself. It seemed like a good idea to get a bite to eat.

Eating with someone was better than eating alone, so he nodded in agreement.

The two of them left the Observatory and found a wonton stall in a nearby alley.

...

This wonton stall had been on this street for many years.

It was said to have been passed down from father to son for generations, and its business was always excellent.

Fortunately, it was late at night, and with most of Fenglin State’s citizens having just escaped the Nightmare’s Dream Realm, the stall was currently empty.

Shen Bai and Qin Shuang found a table and ordered two bowls of steaming hot wontons.

Once the wontons were served, Shen Bai and Qin Shuang began to eat.

A sip of hot broth, a bite of a wonton—Shen Bai ate with relish.

For him, eating was an extremely important matter, second only to grinding his Skill Level.

Life was about the simple pleasures of eating and drinking, and when it came to food, Shen Bai never shortchanged himself.

While he didn’t feast lavishly every day, he was still quite picky.

And as it happened, this wonton stall was right up his alley.

Throughout the meal, Qin Shuang remained quiet, a stark contrast to her usual self.

Shen Bai took a couple of bites, then set down his spoon. After a moment of thought, he asked, "What’s wrong? Is something on your mind?"

Anyone could see that she wasn’t her usual self today.

Qin Shuang snapped out of her reverie, her expression complex. "You’re participating in the internal tournament, aren’t you?"

The "internal tournament" was just a catchier name for the Observatory’s internal assessment.

Shen Bai nodded. "I am."

"Don’t tell me that’s what’s making you unhappy. Are you going to miss me?"

His tone was teasing.

To his surprise, Qin Shuang actually nodded in earnest.

"I am. You’re the first person I’ve ever been able to talk to this much, and the first one who’s ever made me this happy," Qin Shuang said, her voice sincere.

"After you compete in the internal tournament, your accomplishments will surely take you far beyond Fenglin State. We might have to part ways very soon."

As Liu Wufeng’s disciple, Qin Shuang was by no means weak.

She had already reached the Five Organ Realm, which was considered quite impressive among the younger generation.

In fact, Qin Shuang had competed in the tournament herself when she first joined the Observatory, but her performance had only been above average.

She knew Shen Bai was far stronger than her. He was sure to be a dazzling star in this tournament.

Shen Bai was a little stunned by her words. After a moment, he shook his head. "It’s not like I’ll be gone forever. You make it sound like I’m going off to die or something."

For Shen Bai, tonight felt a little special.

Ever since he arrived in this world, Shen Bai had kept his guard up.

He’d always felt as if he didn’t belong in this world.

But now, after meeting all kinds of people, his defenses seemed to have lowered considerably.

First there was Zhou Qing, then Qin Shuang, then Elder Mu, and even Liu Wufeng.

These people had all treated him exceptionally well, and in this environment, he was starting to feel like he was finally integrating into this world.

Qin Shuang shook her head, then nodded. "I know. The higher you climb, the greater your achievements will be. I’m just venting, that’s all. I won’t have anyone to eat like this with anymore."

When he heard that, Shen Bai’s expression turned serious.

It was the first time Qin Shuang had ever seen such a look in his eyes, especially while they were eating.

"What’s wrong?" she asked.

She wasn’t sure what was happening, but seeing his expression, she subconsciously sat up straighter.

Shen Bai thought for a moment, and the serious look on his face vanished. He reached out and patted her on the head.

"We’re people of the Jianghu. Acting like this is some kind of final farewell just makes you sound silly, you know?"

Teased like this by Shen Bai, Qin Shuang immediately huffed, narrowing her eyes slightly.