"This art can last for another thirty seconds. Let's keep it brief."
As soon as Gu Qingshan finished speaking, a commotion rose outside.
It came closer and closer, growing louder.
"The spell fluctuations are coming from this way!" someone roared.
Powerful waves of energy surged toward the little courtyard like a storm.
A complicated look crossed the Black-Clothed Girl's face, as though she were struggling to make a decision.
"But I don't know how to tell you."
She shook her head.
At a moment like this, anyone else would probably have understood: she thought thirty seconds was too short to explain anything.
But Gu Qingshan had encountered every sort of situation in his life and met countless people. Just from her tone, he sensed the faint, hidden meaning beneath her words.
In that instant, he felt her growing distant from him.
Though she still stood before him, she had already withdrawn far away.
—It seemed she had become reluctant and hesitant.
What had caused their attitudes to change?
In a situation like this, it could only be something that endangered them.
Gu Qingshan's thoughts raced. He immediately said, "You once decided to help me. Now you should stand by your judgment."
The two women looked at him.
Gu Qingshan spoke more emphatically. "You were right to consider me one of your own. I would never betray friends who had fought by my side."
The Black-Clothed Girl looked at him in silence.
Gu Qingshan waited a moment.
Time suddenly stretched unbearably long, yet brimmed with danger.
The clamor outside grew louder and louder.
Countless surging waves of power drew closer.
"Whoosh—"
The spell's fluctuations began to fade.
The White-Clothed Girl said urgently, "Sis, decide now!"
"I'm leaving. We may never meet again. Give me a chance to help you!" Gu Qingshan