Phoenix Fury

Ding!

The soul-guided elevator reserved exclusively for the Pagoda Master and Vice Pagoda Masters began to open. Gu You stepped inside at an unhurried pace, studying the platinum privilege card in his hand with a strange look in his eyes. Only after asking around and looking into it did he learn that the Spirit Pagoda possessed only twenty-five such cards. Eighteen were held by the masters of its eighteen major branch pagodas, while the rest were distributed among high-ranking Federation officials and certain powerful individuals. Leng Yaozhu's card was the most special of the twenty-five, custom-made for her.

The fact that Leng Yaozhu had given him this card was enough to show how highly she regarded him. Thinking of that, Gu You actually felt a pang of bitterness. She had handed him something so important, yet not only had he failed to thank her, he had ignored her for three years. Even if Leng Yaozhu wanted to beat him up now, Gu You would accept it.

A pair of flame-filled eyes stared at the sky beyond the tower, clearly deeply displeased. Her hands tightened around the alloy table before her. With such tremendous force, she actually crushed off one corner of it.

"You little brat! You still dared to come back? If I don't straighten you out today, then I'll have lived up to the name Heavenly Phoenix." Leng Yaozhu could not forget what had happened a few months ago, when Ya Li came to see her. According to Ya Li, Gu You had somehow become her godson. At first, Leng Yaozhu had refused to believe it, but... after investigating, it turned out to be true. She had nearly exploded with anger at the time. Who outside didn't know that she, the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, secretly loved the Sky Pillar Douluo? Yet his disciple had actually... actually... Leng Yaozhu tried her best to restrain herself. That damned Ya Li had even given her a piece of Heavenly Forged Crimson Flame Iron. Her mood had improved quite a bit at first, but then Ya Li said it was tuition for a master teaching her disciple!!

Damn it! Do I need you to pay me to teach someone?! ...

It was fine! She would be able to vent her anger soon enough. Leng Yaozhu stopped dwelling on it and instead sent a voice transmission to Long Yali, telling her to bring Gu You over.

"Long time no see, Sister Yali." Gu You sneezed twice. Strange. Could his master be cursing him?

"Mm." Long Yali did not say much.

"We're here!"

Whether it was an illusion or not, Gu You thought he saw pity in Long Yali's eyes.

Looking at the metal-framed door before him, Gu You reached out to touch it and found it slightly stiflingly hot.

"Open the door," Gu You said softly.

The sound of machinery turning rang out. The gap between the doors slowly widened until they were fully open.

Sister Yali! Save me!

Gu You instantly turned to run, but a wisp of flame flew out from the doorway and filled the entire space.

Ah! I won't dare do it again!!

After the flames faded, Gu You curled up in a corner and looked at Leng Yaozhu somewhat miserably.

"What good is not daring? Do you know how much face you made me lose this time?" Leng Yaozhu sounded somewhat aggrieved instead.

A million curses raced through Gu You's heart. You were the one who forced me to become your disciple in the first place. Now that I caused trouble, you're blaming it all on me again. But he did not dare say those words aloud.

"Master, what I did this time was indeed a bit excessive, but... I still believe I did the right thing." Gu You remained stubborn.

Ya Li, standing to the side, was utterly dumbfounded. He was not apologizing—he was talking back?

"You!"

"Master, the face you're talking about is nothing more than Yun Ming. You like him, but in the end, he did not choose you. You feel miserable inside, and I understand all of that. But sometimes, reality is simply like this. We have to accept what can no longer be changed. Rather than that, it would be better to become friends. At least then, it would not have been a wasted bond." Gu You intended to put an end to Leng Yaozhu's last lingering fantasy.