Farewell

What was this woman even thinking...? Qin Yue stopped in helpless amusement. With a slight flex of his arm, he pulled Mu Jin back, while images of a gathering of distinguished figures flashed through his mind. He planned to give Mu Jin a powerful proof.

Thinking Qin Yue was too embarrassed to see a doctor, Mu Jin puffed out her cheeks. Just as she was about to speak, Qin Yue interrupted her:

"Mu Jin, I'm perfectly healthy—so strong that I simply can't get sick. I refused because I have something important to do next, and I really don't have time to go sightseeing with Ling Luochen."

"Then just treat it as a physical examination..."

Mu Jin's gaze inadvertently swept over a certain place, and she suddenly froze. As though shocked by electricity, she jerked her eyes away. She seriously suspected that she had seen wrong. How could it possibly be that big? Yet she was too embarrassed to look again and confirm it, so she stammered:

"S-Since you say so, then of course I believe you. But you have to be careful when you go handle your business. And whatever you do, don't miss the Grade Advancement Assessment."

After saying that, Mu Jin did not spare Qin Yue another glance. With her head lowered, she hurriedly tidied the podium, which had practically nothing on it, forcefully putting on an act that said she was very busy right now, so he should hurry up and leave her alone.

She blushes from just one glance, yet she dares look down on this body of mine, tempered a thousand times over and strong to the very limit! If not for an unspeakable divine beast holding sway over the universe, I'd personally show her what it means to respect one's teacher!

Qin Yue's eyes were full of disdain. Then he leaned forward slightly, moved close to Mu Jin's ear with a mischievous smile, and slowly said in an unprecedentedly gentle voice:

"Thank you for the reminder, Mu Jin. I'll definitely stay safe and try to come back early~"

Feeling warm breath brush past her ear, Mu Jin's breathing stopped. Her face reddened to the extreme, and at some point, her legs had tightly crossed together. Forget looking up at Qin Yue—she could not even speak.

Only after the classroom door closed and Qin Yue's undisguised footsteps gradually faded into the distance did a faint, mournful whimper squeeze from Mu Jin's throat. She staggered back against the blackboard, her hurried breathing especially clear in the empty classroom.

Mu Jin exhausted every ounce of effort before finally struggling free of that strange state. She swallowed against her dry throat, and when she recalled that fleeting glimpse from before, her eyes were filled with disbelief.

"Are you kidding me? Did I really not see wrong? He's clearly still a child. How could he... how could he..."

Mu Jin unconsciously let her thoughts wander in a deeper direction. Her eyes suddenly became unfocused, her silver teeth clenched hard around her lower lip, and the color that had just faded from her face returned once again.

After a while, the door to Grade 1 Class 1 reopened. Mu Jin emerged, her expression already calm again. She glanced down the corridor, which had long since become empty, then shut the door behind her and walked away step by step.

Turning back time just a little, Qin Yue, ever eager to lend a helping hand, casually closed the classroom door for Mu Jin. Then he hurried downstairs and met up with Ning Tian and Wu Feng, who were waiting outside the Teaching Building.

As their parting approached, a faint melancholy unknowingly seeped into the air. Though Ning Tian had many things she wanted to say to Qin Yue, she merely pursed her lips, unable to decide where to begin, and walked beside him in restless silence.

Even Wu Feng, usually lively and active, who was clearly never a match for Qin Yue yet always loved provoking him, had quieted down and silently followed behind them.

Although Qin Yue could see the two girls' hesitation and inner conflict, he did not feel anything special about their upcoming separation. It was only a short month, after all. It was not as if he were bidding farewell to Shrek forever starting today.

Besides, he had not told them about his plan to head for the Far North. This was far from a life-or-death farewell, so he was somewhat baffled by the situation. He could only assume that the two girls had accidentally entered some "adolescent angst" phase.

Sea God Lake, the cafeteria, the dormitory buildings... one familiar structure after another gradually fell behind the three of them. Just as they were about to leave the school gates, Ning Tian's reason could no longer suppress her emotions. In a hoarse murmur, she said:

"Q-Qin Yue, do you really not plan to come back to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect with us and take a look? Ever since Mother learned of your existence, she has kept urging us to bring you to the sect, so everyone can get to know each other better."

Wu Feng, who had been immersed in her own little world, also came back to herself and quickly echoed, "Yes, yes! After Grandfather learned about the Dragon Extreme Pill, he wrote to tell me that I had to bring you back. He wants to personally express his gratitude then."

Seeing that Qin Yue did not respond, Ning Tian bit her lip and spoke again. "Are you worried about your relatives and friends in the clan? Nothing major has happened in Forest Spirit City lately, and the Star Luo Empire and Dou Ling Empire cannot possibly suddenly go to war. The Qin Clan has three Soul Saints guarding it—it's as steady as Mount Tai."

Qin Yue, who had been chatting with Qiu'er through their spiritual link, came back to himself. Looking at the two girls beside him, who were watching him expectantly, he chuckled.

"It has little to do with the Qin Clan. I really do have something private and important to take care of this time. It's not that I'm deliberately avoiding dealings with the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."

"After spending these past months together, do you two actually see me as the sort of person who cuts ties after getting benefits? That's truly heartbreaking~"

"Of course not. I was too careless. I didn't realize that you had things to do, Brother Qin, and I kept causing you trouble."

Ning Tian hurriedly denied it. Qin Yue's willingness to hand the Dragon Extreme Pill's formula to her and let the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect take full responsibility for gathering the ingredients alone showed that he was absolutely not an ungrateful person.

Moreover, Sect Master Ning Xuanyin had not actually urged her as urgently as Ning Tian had claimed. The only one who placed such importance on inviting Qin Yue to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was Ning Tian herself.

As for the true reason hidden within that invitation... perhaps it was simply the desire to share. Ning Tian could not wait to share her sect, her family, and her preferences with Qin Yue. Likewise, she could not wait to learn about Qin Yue's clan, family, and preferences.

Perhaps this was a friendship pure to the extreme?

That was what Ning Tian thought.

Qin Yue replied to Qiu'er, then glanced in a certain direction beyond Shrek City. He took the initiative to stop and looked toward the two girls.

"All right, this is far enough. I also really want to know what the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, which has dominated the continent for ten thousand years, truly looks like. But this time is genuinely an unexpected situation. I've let down your and Wu Feng's kindness, and I'm truly sorry."

Understanding that Qin Yue had made up his mind to leave, Ning Tian opened her mouth, then forced out a smile. "Then it's a deal. The next time the academy has a break, I'll take you, Brother Qin, to visit the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!"

"Deal!"

Qin Yue passed between the two of them, stepped through the school gates, and blended into the bustling crowd.