Chapter Forty-Eight: What a Coincidence!

On the dining table sat a massive roasting pan, upon which lay a plump, three-foot-long grilled fish, surrounded by an array of side dishes. Coals burned beneath the iron pan, and the bubbling broth released the heady aroma of the roasted fish, filling the room with its tantalizing scent.

Even though the fish skin was roasted a crisp golden-yellow, Gao Wu could still make out the six-pointed golden stars dotting its surface.

He was a little surprised. “Is this a Golden Star Grouper?”

The Golden Star Grouper was a rare deepwater fish from another realm, renowned for its delicious flesh. It was said to be incredibly hard to catch, and its price was exorbitant.

A three-foot Golden Star Grouper—who could guess how much that would cost!

“Yes.” Song Mingyue raised her glass to Gao Wu. “To celebrate, and to thank you for all your help, cheers.”

The golden-red liquid in her crystal glass rippled gently, releasing a rich bouquet that even overwhelmed the aroma of the grilled fish.

Gao Wu didn’t know what kind of wine it was, only that it must be fine—expensive, no doubt.

He raised his glass and gently clinked it against Song Mingyue’s. “To our friendship. Cheers.”

They drained their glasses in one go. The rush of alcohol brought a rosy flush to Song Mingyue’s fair cheeks, but Gao Wu seemed unaffected; his physique gave him a tremendous advantage when it came to drinking.

Song Mingyue exhaled softly and lifted her glass again. “To friendship—one more. No, to my only friend in the world—let’s drink three more.”

She downed three more glasses with abandon, and Gao Wu accompanied her. He thought Song Mingyue was unusually exuberant tonight—hadn’t she failed to slay the otherworldly spirit?

He didn’t ask; now wasn’t the time to dampen the mood. Better just to drink.

After four glasses, Song Mingyue’s earlobes and neck were flushed, and a gentle haze glowed in her bright eyes.

In that state, Song Mingyue looked more like an ordinary girl—charming and adorable.

At last, Gao Wu couldn’t help but ask, “What’s made you so happy? Didn’t you fail to kill the spirit?”

“The spirit’s root lies in the Nether Realm, but I managed to slay its physical form. Though the spirit survived, my mental power broke through.”

As she spoke, Song Mingyue’s blushing face lit up with genuine joy.

She had waited a long, long time for this day. At last, she had taken this crucial step and entered a new stage.

From now on, the world was wide open before her; the tangled web of family relations that once plagued her no longer mattered.

Such happiness defied words. She could only share it with Gao Wu.

Yet she couldn’t explain all the details, so even sharing her joy felt incomplete.

Gao Wu, though unaware of the specifics, understood one thing: for the aloof Song Mingyue to open her heart, it must be an extraordinary triumph.

He was sincerely happy for her and didn’t press further—he simply kept her company and drank with her.

“It’s a pity I didn’t completely destroy the spirit.”

Song Mingyue sounded a bit regretful. “I’m afraid it’ll be hard to find the Nether Realm’s entrance again any time soon.”

“As long as you succeeded, that’s what matters. The Nether Realm would only be trouble for me, anyway.” Gao Wu was unconcerned. Owning a Nether Realm was attractive, but he had neither the power nor the resources to manage such a space.

If the Nether Realm were like an unfinished building handed to an ordinary person for free, they’d still lack the means to do anything with it.

But the Nether Realm was far more valuable than that; if others discovered he possessed it, it would only bring him endless trouble.

“Normally, the spirit shouldn’t have escaped. Maybe it has a master, with roots in the Nether Realm, which allowed it to cross between spaces.”

Song Mingyue considered this. “Some demon-god cultists worship these spirits and can control them through certain rituals. If you ever encounter someone tainted by spirit energy, be very careful—they’re likely a cultist.”

“Yes, yes.” Gao Wu nodded obediently. He knew nothing about such spirits, so it was best to heed Song Mingyue’s advice.

They chatted about spirits for a while. Then Song Mingyue suddenly asked, “Do you want to attend Anjing University?”

“Yes.” Gao Wu looked at her in confusion. Why did she bring that up—did she have a way to get him in?

“Then I’ll go to Anjing University, too.” Song Mingyue had originally planned to leave North State and distance herself from her family, but tonight she changed her mind. Being classmates with Gao Wu was more important than leaving.

“Oh…” Gao Wu gave a dry laugh. “I don’t have enough points. I might not get in.”

“My relationship with my grandfather is decent—I can ask him to write you a recommendation. As long as you pass the interview, you’ll be admitted.” Song Mingyue had faith in him; with his abilities, he’d pass easily.

“That’s not really appropriate…” Gao Wu truly didn’t want to trouble her further. “I plan to compete in the Xuetao Cup. If I win, I’ll have enough points to take the entrance exam for Anjing University.”

“That works too.” Song Mingyue nodded in agreement. She, like Gao Wu, disliked asking for favors. Solving things themselves was always preferable.

The topic reminded Gao Wu of Huang Hai. He recounted the day’s events. “What do you think Huang Hai is up to?”

“The Jinsheng Hotel is a public arena, and you’re quite famous now. Huang Hai probably wouldn’t dare make a move.” Song Mingyue was puzzled too. If Huang Hai meant Gao Wu harm, it didn’t make sense—Gao Wu was in the spotlight, and if anything happened to him, Huang Hai would be the first suspect.

Gao Wu and Song Mingyue drank and talked, eventually finishing all four bottles of Golden Leaf wine. Song Mingyue was tipsy, swaying as she walked, while Gao Wu felt perfectly fine.

Still, the wine and fish were rich in primal energy and various nutrients—even with his constitution, Gao Wu felt a bit hazy…

That night, he and Song Mingyue only drank and talked, nothing more. Yet he felt completely satisfied.

Both were relaxed and at ease; their aimless conversation overflowed from the depths of their hearts. In moments like these, the reality of true friendship became palpable—moving and joyful.

“It’s getting late. It’s not safe outside. You should stay in the guest room tonight.” When Song Mingyue saw Gao Wu nod in agreement, she smiled happily and floated upstairs.

Gao Wu also took his sword and headed to the guest room. He came here almost every day and was already familiar with the villa.

The guest rooms were on the second floor, with a nanny’s room at the corner and the master bedroom on the third floor. His guest room was the largest, with a small sitting area, a dressing room, a bathroom, and a balcony—very comfortable.

He rested for a while, letting the effects of the wine fade, then took his sword to the martial arts hall on the first floor. The wine and fish were invigorating; he needed intense training to absorb all that energy.

Aunt Lan watched him practice from the second floor. After over an hour, seeing he still showed no sign of stopping, she went to the master bedroom to find Song Mingyue.

Song Mingyue had just bathed and was sitting on the bed in her robe, holding her head. She had drunk too much that night; her mind was clear, but her body couldn’t handle the alcohol, making her feel all the worse.

Aunt Lan came over to gently massage her head, sighing, “That young man is so diligent—he drank so much Golden Leaf wine, yet still completes all his daily training. Truly exceptional!”

“Gao Wu is exceptional.” Song Mingyue was not surprised. Without such determination, Gao Wu would never have achieved so much.

Seeing her attitude, Aunt Lan grew worried. “Have you really chosen Gao Wu? Isn’t it too soon?”

“He’s my friend—there’s nothing to choose.” Song Mingyue had no desire to discuss this; she found it pointless.

Aunt Lan sighed softly. Letting a young man stay overnight would harm Song Mingyue’s reputation if word got out.

And it would be impossible to keep secret. The security at Yunhu Villa would notice if Gao Wu didn’t leave, and rumors would spread.

“Aunt Lan, I’m grown up now. There’s no need to fret over such trifles.” Song Mingyue understood Aunt Lan’s concerns—that her reputation might suffer, making it hard to find a good husband.

She cared little for such things. Though Aunt Lan was a mid-level warrior, she could hardly comprehend Song Mingyue’s mindset—much less realize she had truly come into her own.

At this point, even without relying on her family, she would be just fine. There was simply no reason to explain this to Aunt Lan…

The next morning, Gao Wu woke up and jogged for over an hour in the martial arts hall, completing his daily training.

After breakfast with Song Mingyue, he rode his bike to school. There were fewer onlookers today, and people spoke to him more naturally.

In the afternoon, Gao Wu went early to the martial arts gym to train; the wine and fish from yesterday still hadn’t been fully digested, and he needed intense exercise.

He was lifting weights furiously when a sudden chill crept over him.

There was no air conditioning in the gym; the temperature hovered a few degrees below zero. But this coldness was different—sinister and snake-like.

Gao Wu looked up and saw Coach Huang Hai walking toward him. His heart gave a jolt. “Don’t tell me it’s really him?!”

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