Just Don't Like Him

Eastsea City, the second-largest city on the Sun Moon Federation's eastern coast, had a long history. Its cityscape still retained an ancient style, and many buildings in certain districts were even over a thousand years old.

The two walked side by side through the streets and alleys of the old district, looking around with interest at everything they saw. They occasionally bought some roadside snacks, giving them the air of childhood sweethearts.

"An Ping, can you walk faster?" Gu Yuena skipped along ahead of him.

An Ping, carrying a pile of things, shook his head helplessly and quickened his pace. "You said you were treating me to a day out, but it looks like you just needed someone to carry your stuff."

Gu Yuena flashed a playful smile. "How could that be? It's not like you haven't eaten what I bought. This place is so pretty. Let's take a picture."

"Fine, fine." An Ping silently formed a Mage Hand, which lifted the Soul Guidance Camera hanging from his neck and snapped a photo with a click.

"Come over here too." As she spoke, Gu Yuena ran over, grabbed An Ping, and pulled him toward the spot she thought looked best.

She took the Soul Guidance Camera from around An Ping's neck and stood beside him, leaning slightly against him. One arm hooked around his shoulder as she pulled him toward her.

Once their heads were pressed together, she raised the Soul Guidance Camera with one hand. "Come on, smile."

With a click, Gu Yuena picked up the Soul Guidance Camera, checked the result, and muttered softly, "This one won't do. Let's take another."

After fussing around for quite a while, she finally got a picture she liked. She hung the Soul Guidance Camera back around An Ping's neck and ran ahead again. An Ping muttered under his breath, "So she really did call me out just to carry things."

By the time the sky had begun to darken, An Ping looked at Gu Yuena, who was still full of enthusiasm ahead of him. "Gu Yuena, we should head back."

Still not fully satisfied, Gu Yuena said, "All right. We can come again when we get the chance."

Fortunately, the places they had visited were not far from the academy, and they managed to return before night fell.

Gu Yuena said, "I had a lot of fun today. Thanks for coming out with me. I'm heading back first."

An Ping shook his head. "I should be the one thanking you. You were the one who treated me."

Just then, a voice came from behind them. "An Ping, Gu Yuena, you two, come with me."

They turned around to see Wu Changkong standing some distance away, though neither of them knew when he had appeared.

The two followed Wu Changkong all the way to his office, where they saw two bedraggled figures standing inside. They were Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.

Tang Wulin's school uniform was merely a little dirty and disheveled, with no other visible injuries. Xie Xie, however, had a bandage around his arm and was clearly hurt.

"What did you two go out to do? Why are you back so late?" Wu Changkong asked coldly once they had stopped before him.

Gu Yuena said, "Wasn't there no training today? We went out to have fun. What happened to those two?"

An Ping nodded as well, indicating that Gu Yuena was telling the truth.

Wu Changkong's voice was somewhat icy. "Those two decided to play heroes and got into a fight. We'll put that aside for now. As a team, why didn't you go out together? Not only could you have built your relationship and improved your coordination, but if you encountered something like what happened to them today, you could have faced it together."

Gu Yuena said, "They didn't ask us to come along either. We couldn't exactly force our way into their plans."

Wu Changkong looked at Xie Xie and Tang Wulin again. "What do you two have to say?"

Xie Xie said, "I was the one who didn't invite them. I only asked Tang Wulin."

Tang Wulin lowered his head and pressed his lips together without saying a word. He felt somewhat guilty. If he had insisted on bringing Gu Yuena and An Ping along, perhaps Xie Xie would not have been injured.

Wu Changkong looked at the group with a headache coming on. There were only four people on the team, yet they had already managed to split into factions. He had never expected this.

"Now that Xie Xie is injured, only the three of you can participate in the upcoming Promotion Tournament. Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, you two can go back first. Get some proper rest." He then looked at An Ping and Gu Yuena. "You two stay."

After Tang Wulin and Xie Xie left, Wu Changkong looked at the two remaining students and said, "Although neither of you says it aloud, I can clearly sense that you both reject Tang Wulin somewhat. Can you tell me why? Is there something about him that you find unpleasant? Don't tell me it's because of his talent. I can tell that isn't the reason."

An Ping shook his head, somewhat puzzled. "Dislike him? I wouldn't go that far. Why would I dislike him?"

"If you don't dislike him, then why, after being together for so long as a team, are your relations still so strained? Look at Xie Xie. He can get along well with Tang Wulin, so why can't you? You need to understand that building coordination is extremely important for a team."

An Ping pondered for a moment. "Well, how should I put it? Everyone has a different personality. Tang Wulin is probably the passionate, somewhat childish type, so naturally he hopes his companions are the same. As for me, in Teacher Wu's words, I'm someone who fears death and clings to life. How could we possibly get along?"

With a cold snort, Wu Changkong looked at Gu Yuena. "What about you? Although you cooperate fairly well during training, I can sense that you don't particularly like Tang Wulin either. Tell me why."

Gu Yuena replied blandly, "I just don't like him."

"You don't like him? Why not?"

"There's no reason. I just don't like him. Why do I have to like him?" Gu Yuena looked somewhat confused.

Wu Changkong was helpless. These two troublesome children—one claimed their personalities did not mesh, while the other simply did not like him. He did not even know where to begin.

"Forget it. Go back and rest." After a long while, Wu Changkong waved a hand, signaling that they could leave.

The two left Wu Changkong's office. After saying goodbye to each other, they returned to their respective dormitories.

Soon, the next day arrived. Like the day before, the Promotion Tournament was held as scheduled after school.

Since only first-year classes were participating, there were not many spectators besides those from the competing classes.

First Year Class Three's homeroom teacher, Ye Yingrong, was a very beautiful female teacher. Because she liked Wu Changkong and hoped to leave a deep impression on him through the Promotion Tournament, she brought her Cadets to the field early.

After watching yesterday's Promotion Tournament, the Cadets of First Year Class Three were lined up neatly today as well. At the very front stood three handsome boys. The three looked exactly alike; anyone unfamiliar with them would have been unable to tell who was who.

Soon after, Wu Changkong brought the Cadets of First Year Class Five to the competition grounds as well. Xie Xie, with a bandage wrapped around his arm, stood out especially. Unable to participate in the upcoming Promotion Tournament due to his injury, he looked somewhat dejected.