Chapter 12. A Walk Through Soto City
The day after their late-night conversation by the lake, Ye Chen and Ning Rongrong decided to take a break from training. The morning schedule was light — only basic warm-ups and theoretical lessons — and Zhao Wuji had announced that serious drills would resume the day after tomorrow. When Flender learned the students wished to visit Soto City, he merely nodded: "Do not linger past sunset and stay out of trouble. Take funds from the academy's common reserve — you have earned it."
They left through the Shrek gates immediately after breakfast. Ning Rongrong wore a light white dress with a short skirt that accentuated her slender legs and narrow waist without appearing overly provocative. Ye Chen was dressed in a simple black student robe — practical and comfortable. They carried nothing extra: all purchases would be stored in their soul storage artifacts.
A soul storage artifact — a spatial ring or pendant — was issued to talented students of Shrek. Ye Chen's had a capacity of 20 cubic meters — enough to hold several chests of clothing, weapons, and supplies. Ning Rongrong's measured 15 cubic meters — still considered generous for her age and level. Both had grown accustomed to using them: one simply visualized the item and touched it, and it vanished into the spatial pocket.
Soto City greeted them with its familiar bustle. The main streets were crowded with merchants shouting about fresh fruit, fabrics, jewelry, and low-level soul master equipment. The air carried the scents of roasted meat, spices, and sweet pastries.
They began at a fabric shop. Ning Rongrong spent a long time selecting bolts of silk — sky-blue, soft pink, and deep emerald. She mentally matched the shades to the colors of her Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda and ultimately purchased three large pieces.
"This sky-blue will match my new dress perfectly," she said, smiling at Ye Chen. "And the emerald… it is almost the same as your hat."
Ye Chen merely nodded, watching as she carefully folded the fabric and sent it into her storage artifact. He bought several meters of sturdy black material for training clothes and a few pieces of reinforced leather for gloves.
Next they entered a jewelry store. Ning Rongrong chose a delicate silver bracelet with a small nephrite pendant shaped like a flower.
"This will remind me of you," she said quietly, slipping the bracelet onto her wrist. "Even when we train separately."
Ye Chen selected a simple ring of dark metal with a tiny green stone — a symbol of their bond. He placed it on the middle finger of his left hand and clenched his fist — the ring warmed slightly, as though resonating with his soul.
They then visited an armory. Ye Chen examined a pair of lightweight throwing daggers — not for himself, but as a future gift for Tang San. Ning Rongrong bought an elegant metal-and-silk fan — it could serve as both a weapon and an accessory.
All purchases disappeared neatly into their storage artifacts. Ye Chen still had more than half his capacity remaining; Ning Rongrong had slightly less. They continued wandering, buying small items: sweets, aromatic oils, and a couple of books on soul master theory for shared reading.
By midday they had wandered into the quieter outskirts of the city. The streets grew narrower, the buildings poorer. Fewer people passed by, and they occasionally encountered homeless figures sitting against walls or begging for alms. The air became heavier, tinged with dampness and the scent of unwashed clothing.
They turned into a narrow alley to shorten their route back to the main road. Ahead sat several ragged figures — three middle-aged men, thin and dirty, lounging on the ground and smoking cheap pipes. They raised their heads as Ye Chen and Ning Rongrong approached.
Ning Rongrong suddenly stumbled over a loose stone — or perhaps pretended to stumble. She let out a small cry, lost her balance, and fell to her knees. Her skirt lifted high — well above mid-thigh — revealing smooth skin and tight-fitting pink panties that clung closely to her body.
The homeless men froze. Their gazes locked onto her — greedy, hungry, unabashed. One dropped his pipe; another licked cracked lips.
Ning Rongrong remained still for a heartbeat — as though deliberately allowing them to look. Then she quickly pressed her hands to her skirt, pulled it down, and stood up. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, breathing uneven.
"Sorry… I am so clumsy," she murmured, avoiding their eyes.
Ye Chen stepped silently to her side, placed an arm around her shoulders, and turned her toward the alley's exit. He said nothing, but his grip on her waist was firm and protective. The homeless men watched them leave but did not move.
They emerged onto the main street. Ning Rongrong was still trembling — not from fear, but from a mixture of shame and strange excitement. When they had walked far enough away, she leaned close to Ye Chen's ear and whispered, her breath hot against his skin:
"Did you… like it?"
Ye Chen paused for a moment. Then he leaned down and answered in the same low tone, lips nearly brushing her ear:
"Yes. Very much."
Ning Rongrong closed her eyes briefly, her cheeks burning even brighter. She gave no reply — simply squeezed his hand more tightly.
They returned to the academy as twilight fell. The sun had disappeared behind the horizon, and the sky had deepened to dark violet. At the gates, Dai Mubai simply nodded and let them through.
At the fork leading to the dormitories, Ning Rongrong stopped. She rose on her toes, kissed Ye Chen briefly but tenderly on the lips, and whispered:
"Good night. And… thank you for being there."
Ye Chen touched her cheek gently.
"Good night, Rongrong."
She smiled — a little shy, a little teasing — and hurried toward the female dormitory. Ye Chen watched until her silhouette vanished into the darkness.
He stood for another moment, gazing at the emerging stars. Inside him, the Nephrite Hat pulsed faintly — not demanding, not judging, simply… present.
Ye Chen turned and walked to his room.
Tomorrow would bring new training.
But today… today Ning Rongrong had taken a small yet significant step toward his desires.
And that mattered more than any level of power.