There was no response from outside, but the knocking stopped for a moment, as if waiting for him to act.
"Ah…"
Dai Chengfeng exhaled a long, resigned sigh.
After all, anyone coming to see him at this time would definitely be someone he knew.
Reluctantly leaving the warm embrace of his bed, Dai Chengfeng reluctantly propped himself up and gently placed the sleeping golden "fur ball" in his arms onto the fluffy pillow.
Qiu'er only grumbled a couple of soft "meow" in discomfort but didn't wake up. She continued to curl up with her large tail, forming a warm little bundle.
Meanwhile, Dai Chengfeng grabbed his robe, threw it over his shoulders, and yawned as he reluctantly went to open the door.
"Squeak—"
With the slight creak of the door hinge turning, the cool morning air and the light from the corridor outside rushed in together.
Dai Chengfeng squinted his eyes and, upon seeing who stood outside, couldn't help but pause slightly. A genuine look of admiration then flickered across his eyes.
Two girls, each exuding a completely different aura but equally captivating, stood side by side at the doorway.
On the left was a figure clad in a sleek black combat outfit that hugged her curves, outlining a slightly youthful yet already alluring figure.
Her waist-length black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, shimmering with a lustrous glow under the morning light.
Her face was flawlessly exquisite, but her expression was as cold as ice. Her feline-like eyes carried an innate sense of aloofness. This was Zhu Zhuqing.
The morning mist had yet to fully dissipate, and droplets of moisture clung to her long black lashes, resembling frost on grass leaves in the early winter dawn. This added a fragile beauty to her already icy profile.
On the right, however, was an entirely different kind of charm.
Her shoulder-length chestnut hair had a playful bounce, the ends naturally curled. She wore a fitted battle skirt in white and gold, perfectly accentuating her seductive allure.
Her face needed no deliberate effort to captivate—it was naturally enchanting. Every glance of her eyes exuded a thousand kinds of charm, her innate allure radiating an irresistible magnetism.
This was Hu Liena, the future Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall.
Upon recognizing the two "culprits" who had disturbed his peaceful slumber, the annoyance on Dai Chengfeng's face instantly gave way to surprise and a hint of curiosity.
He leaned casually against the doorframe, his tall figure blocking most of the doorway. His gaze lingered on their dew-kissed, beautiful faces. "So it's you two."
"But how is this possible? The sun must have risen from the west for you two to come together?"
Upon hearing this, both Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing instinctively turned their heads slightly, their gazes briefly meeting in the air.
A faint trace of 'hostility' flashed in Hu Liena's eyes, while Zhu Zhuqing's cold cat-like pupils flickered with emotion, becoming even colder.
Indeed, how could this be such a coincidence?
They hadn't come together at all. Each had independently planned to be the first to arrive…
As if whoever arrived first would gain some inexplicable, subtle "priority."
But fate had other plans. They had arrived almost simultaneously, bumping into each other at the door, resulting in this awkward situation.
"Is this what they call chemistry?"
Both girls thought silently, but quickly shook their heads subconsciously. "I'd rather die than share any chemistry with her."
Dai Chengfeng observed their silent exchange with amusement, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "What's this?"
"Did you two collide so hard that you forgot how to speak?"
"I…"
"I…"
Almost in unison, both girls began to speak.
Then, realizing they were speaking at the same time, they stopped abruptly and looked at each other. "You go first!"
"You go first!"
Again, their responses overlapped perfectly, their words clashing once more.
"I'll go first…" x2
Watching this amusing scene, Dai Chengfeng finally couldn't hold back and chuckled softly. "Never would have guessed. After just one day, your chemistry has skyrocketed."
"It seems yesterday's soul battle had remarkable effects. Excellent, truly excellent!"
He deliberately emphasized the phrase "chemistry skyrocketed," his teasing gaze lingering on them. "At this rate, mastering our three-way spirit fusion technique is just around the corner!"
"We might even create an unprecedented spirit fusion technique in the history of Douluo Continent!"
"I don't want any chemistry with her!" x2
Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing's voices overlapped again, denying the notion. After speaking, they immediately locked eyes.
"…" x2
For a moment, the air fell silent.
Dai Chengfeng watched the now-silent duo, savoring this rare, "synchronization overload" between the two beauties of ice and fire. Finally, he slowly stopped laughing and decided to stop teasing them.
He steered the conversation back on track. "Alright, alright. I can guess why you're here so early, blocking my door."
"You're eager to get to the soul arena, can't wait to fight, right? Hmm?"
At the mention of soul battles, Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged another glance.
This time, there was less hostility in their eyes and more recognition of their shared goal.
After a brief silence, Hu Liena spoke first. "Right! I don't want to waste a single second! Although… teaming up with a certain icy wildcat is still a bit irritating."
She shot a sidelong glance at Zhu Zhuqing. "But, as long as it helps me grow stronger and master a powerful spirit fusion technique sooner…"
"This humble servant can overlook minor grievances!"
"Hmph~"
Zhu Zhuqing let out a cold laugh. "That statement suits you perfectly when returned verbatim."
Afterward, her bright eyes turned to Dai Chengfeng. Though she said nothing, her gaze seemed to ask: Are we leaving now?
Dai Chengfeng, watching the two girls who were eager to grow stronger yet still competing with each other, shook his head helplessly. "Your intentions are good, and your enthusiasm is commendable."
"However, I'm afraid I'll have to delay our trip to the soul arena a bit today."
"A bit later?"
Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing asked almost simultaneously, their faces showing curiosity.
"Yes, a bit later."
Dai Chengfeng nodded confidently and explained, "I need to… meet someone first."
"Meet who?!"
This time, their simultaneous questioning was perfectly synchronized.
Dai Chengfeng looked at the two equally beautiful yet questioning faces before him and smiled. "Someone who can make our spirit fusion technique easier."
"Liu Erlong?" x2
Both girls had heard Dai Chengfeng mention the day before that his experience with the three-way spirit fusion technique came from Liu Erlong, the principal of Blue Tyrant Academy.
Since Dai Chengfeng mentioned meeting someone who could make their spirit fusion technique smoother, it naturally had to be Liu Erlong, right?
"Clever!"
Dai Chengfeng smiled at the two girls but didn't deny it.
"Can we come along?"
At this point, Hu Liena asked curiously.
"Well…"
Dai Chengfeng instinctively wanted to agree, but thinking back to Liu Erlong's strange behavior at the last moment the previous day, he hesitated. Slowly, he shook his head.
"Next time…"
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)