Gu Yue Suddenly Leaning In, Guang Long

The streets, not particularly wide, were packed on both sides with snack shops, each with its own unique character, bustling with a constant flow of customers.

As soon as they reached the entrance of the street, all sorts of enticing aromas rushed toward them.

The clamor of voices, the steam from the food, and those mouth-watering scents all mingled together.

It filled the entire street with a thick, vibrant atmosphere of everyday life.

At the corner of the street.

Inside a small shop with a sign that read "Pot-Stewed Beef."

Xu Yue looked at Xu Xiaoyan, who was buried in her meal beside him, his face showing helplessness, though his eyes were full of doting affection.

"Brother A-Yue, this Pot-Stewed Beef is so delicious!"

Xu Xiaoyan swallowed the food in her mouth and, meeting Xu Yue's gaze, said sweetly.

There was even a grain of rice stuck to her pink, delicate lips.

Seeing this, Xu Yue shook his head, pulled out a tissue, and gently wiped it away for her.

"Eat slowly, no one is going to steal it from you."

In his memories, the story of Pot-Stewed Beef was just as memorable as the flatbreads from ten thousand years ago.

When they reached the street corner, he had suggested it to Xu Xiaoyan, and to his surprise, the taste was as good as he had expected.

Xu Xiaoyan enjoyed the thoughtfulness Xu Yue brought her, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed as she obediently let him wipe her face.

Just then, a cold, clear female voice cut in.

"Excuse me, may I sit here?"

The two looked toward the source of the voice. Xu Xiaoyan exclaimed in surprise immediately.

"It's you? That girl from Class Five!"

A flash of surprise also crossed Xu Yue's eyes.

Standing by the table was the only girl from the trio representing Class Five in the Class Promotion Tournament, the one who possessed a thousand-year Soul Ring.

The Silver Dragon King incarnate, Gu Yue.

Xu Yue scanned his surroundings calmly; there were clearly empty seats elsewhere in the shop, yet she had chosen this specific spot.

He understood Gu Yue's intention, but he felt a bit puzzled.

However, he didn't refuse, gesturing toward the empty seat opposite them.

"Please, sit."

"Thank you." Gu Yue nodded slightly, sat down, and placed her own portion of Pot-Stewed Beef on the table.

She didn't start eating immediately, her gaze landing directly on Xu Yue with a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

Xu Yue felt her scrutiny and took the initiative to speak, pointing to himself and Xu Xiaoyan: "My name is Xu Yue. This is Xu Xiaoyan, and we are both from Class One.

Though, you must have already known that, classmate, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have specifically chosen to sit here."

He directly pointed out Gu Yue's deliberate approach.

"Gu Yue!"

Gu Yue softly stated her name, which served as a response to Xu Yue's question. "I heard that classmate Xu Yue reached the rank of Soul Elder before graduating from the Primary Academy, so I was a bit curious."

"I see," Xu Yue said with realization. "Shall we eat and talk?"

Gu Yue nodded at his words.

The two then began to finish the Pot-Stewed Beef in front of them.

Beside them, seeing this situation, Xu Xiaoyan's pink, delicate cheeks puffed up in annoyance.

It was supposed to be a date between her and Xu Yue, but a third wheel had suddenly appeared, which was truly frustrating.

However, she wasn't the type to drive people away, so she had to take her frustration out on the food, burying her head and eating rapidly.

While conversing with Gu Yue, Xu Yue finished his own portion, wiped his mouth, and looked at Gu Yue, getting straight to the point.

"Classmate Gu Yue, you're asking about Soul Power Level and inquiring about Martial Souls..."

"You wouldn't be doing this to prepare for the Class Promotion Tournament in a few days, would you?"

He really couldn't fathom Gu Yue's thoughts right now.

Previously, the two could be said to have had no interaction at all, and their brief eye contact on the arena stage could barely count as their first meeting.

Logically, shouldn't she be revolving around Tang Wulin to fulfill her promise to Na'er?

What was she doing wandering in front of him and fishing for information?

Other than the Class Promotion Tournament, he couldn't think of any other possibility.

It was just that she didn't seem like someone who was particularly obsessed with the tournament, which made her actions all the more baffling to him.

Having obtained some information, Gu Yue's cold face seemed to soften slightly, and the corners of her lips curled up in an imperceptible arc.

"That's right! What, is classmate Xu Yue afraid of losing?"

"Brother A-Yue would never lose!"

Xu Xiaoyan had finished her meal by then, and she immediately glared at Gu Yue with puffed-up cheeks, preempting Xu Yue to answer for him.

Xu Yue simply smiled, neither confirming nor denying it, and seeing that everyone had finished, he suggested they leave.

Seeing Gu Yue also make a move to stand up, alarm bells rang in Xu Xiaoyan's heart.

Could it be that this Gu Yue actually wanted to tag along?

Thinking of this, she immediately changed her mind, reached out to grab the arm of the rising Xu Yue, and shook it while acting spoiled.

"Brother A-Yue! I still want to eat the meatballs at the end of the street!"

"Xiaoyan, you're still not full?"

Xu Yue looked at her with some surprise, but he was defeated by her soft, expectant look and couldn't bear to refuse.

"Alright, wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."

"Thank you, Brother A-Yue!" Xu Xiaoyan immediately beamed like a flower.

Xu Yue smiled, not thinking much of it, and turned to look at Gu Yue: "My apologies, classmate Gu Yue, please excuse me for a moment."

Watching Xu Yue's retreating back, Xu Xiaoyan glanced at Gu Yue opposite her with a hint of triumph, the meaning in her eyes quite obvious.

See that? You're nothing but a latecomer.

Receiving this gaze, Gu Yue's cold, clear face remained unruffled, though she evaluated it indifferently in her mind.

The ridiculous possessiveness of a human female cub... childish!

However, as she recalled the information gathered during their conversation just now, her black eyes grew even deeper.

Star of Eden? A Martial Soul I've never heard of... judging by his age, it should coincide with the timing of that Heavenly Change?

Is it a special stellar-type Martial Soul mutated under the influence of that Heavenly Change? Interesting!

If only I could see him in action with my own eyes, I would certainly learn more...

Still, I'll be able to see it in the Class Promotion Tournament in a few days...

She was pondering these things when—

Suddenly, a harsh, noisy commotion erupted at the shop entrance.

Immediately following, the clattering sound of clay pots shattering exploded into the air!

"Don't smash it! You can't do this! This is how I make my living!" Uncle Li pleaded with a sobbing tone.

The sudden turn of events immediately drew Xu Xiaoyan's attention, her gaze snapping from Gu Yue toward the entrance.

She saw that the stove at the shop door had been overturned, the clay pots used for the Pot-Stewed Beef lay shattered all over the floor, and the rich, fragrant broth flowed everywhere, steaming and creating a complete mess.

"Stop! What are you doing!" After a brief moment of shock, Xu Xiaoyan stood up abruptly and shouted in anger.

Gu Yue also frowned and stood up, following her over as she looked coldly at the few burly men causing trouble at the door.

That Pot-Stewed Beef tasted quite good just now; I might come back in the future...

Thinking of this, the soul power within her began to circulate quietly.

Xu Xiaoyan's angry shout caused the few big men at the door to turn their heads.

The bald man in the lead saw that the ones speaking out were two such beautiful girls, and his eyes lit up as he grinned.

"Yo, interesting. Two little sisters playing the hero? This Li fellow dares not pay his protection money, which means he doesn't take me, Guang Long, seriously! But then again..."

However, before Guang Long could finish his sentence, he noticed that the expression of the Xu Xiaoyan opposite him had suddenly turned joyful.

Even Gu Yue, who had been keeping a cold face, relaxed her tense body and watched the scene about to unfold with composure.

The bald man, Guang Long, hadn't even realized what was going on.

The next second, an iron-like hand slammed onto his shoulder, and a low voice rang in his ear:

"But what... why don't you say it so I can hear it too?!"