Seeing Xuan Zi's reaction, Mu En sighed again.
He felt like he had developed some kind of illness—every time he saw Xuan Zi, he felt exhausted.
When would he finally be able to retire...
"Alright, you've been locked up for months. If you have nothing to do, go take a walk."
Mu En waved his hand, signaling for him to leave.
Rather than letting him continue causing trouble here, he might as well lift the confinement order.
He truly did not want to say another word to Xuan Zi.
Xuan Zi's eyes widened abruptly. The dissatisfaction he had been feeling vanished the moment he heard that his confinement had been lifted, and his old face bloomed like a chrysanthemum.
I can finally go find something tasty... This old man was about to suffocate!
Humming a little tune, he said nothing more and turned toward the door.
As Xuan Zi passed Zhang Lexuan, his steps paused.
"Lexuan, how are your injuries?"
"They're fine now," Zhang Lexuan replied calmly.
"That's good. Your eighth Soul Ring is already a hundred-thousand-year one. The future of Sea God Pavilion depends on you." Xuan Zi patted Zhang Lexuan's shoulder with his greasy palm and smiled.
With that, he headed for the door.
Watching his retreating back, a trace of coldness flashed through Zhang Lexuan's eyes.
Why... could Elder Xuan still smile?
Could those junior brothers and sisters not compare to a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring?
Just then, the gaze fixed on Xuan Zi's back was suddenly blocked by Long Yaochen's flawless handsome face.
As if deliberately blocking Zhang Lexuan's view, he grinned at her.
The emotions rising in Zhang Lexuan's heart instantly faded considerably.
"Teacher, Elder Mu, you two can keep talking here. If there's nothing else, we'll be leaving first," Long Yaochen said, withdrawing his gaze from Zhang Lexuan.
"Hmph, I've got nothing to talk about with this old bastard." Long Xiaoyao snorted, flicked his sleeve, and strode toward the door. Without looking back, he said, "I knew it. Once you got yourself a wife, you'd forget your teacher. This old man is leaving."
The moment his words fell, Long Xiaoyao vanished from the entrance of Sea God Pavilion.
This trip to the Far North had completely put his mind at ease.
At the very least, the plan that boy had proposed was feasible. Even if life and death remained uncertain, it was still better than having no chance of survival at all.
Now, he could stay with Xishui without worry.
Only...
Those disgusting things under her command seemed to have started acting up again lately.
Dormitory 108.
The evening sun had already set, leaving the dormitory dim and dark.
Wang Dong had not turned on the lights. She merely sat alone on her bed with her head lowered, lost in thought.
"Seriously... You left without even telling me. I knew there couldn't be anything good about you suddenly cultivating." Wang Dong muttered unhappily.
It had already been eight whole days.
If she had not asked Senior Sister, she would not even have known that he had left the academy!
"You bastard, do you even still have a... roommate like me in your eyes?" Wang Dong said through gritted teeth, but she suddenly deflated before she could finish.
She was tired. She truly did not want to keep pretending anymore.
Should she switch back to her female form?
No—
At least she had to make it through this semester.
Wang Dong did not want to admit so early that her disguise had failed.
Just then, the door sounded.
"Yo, long time no see!" Long Yaochen greeted Wang Dong with narrowed eyes.
Seeing the familiar figure, Wang Dong froze at first.
Then she abruptly rose to her feet and rushed in front of Long Yaochen.
"Yo my ass!" Wang Dong stood on tiptoe and grabbed Long Yaochen by the collar. "You bastard! You left without even telling me!"
Long Yaochen raised an eyebrow. "You care about me that much?"
"Who cares about you? I was afraid..." Wang Dong glared at Long Yaochen, but as she spoke, a warm hand suddenly covered hers, making her words catch in her throat.
With a faint smile at the corner of his lips, Long Yaochen pressed down on the hand clutching his collar. "I saw how hard you were cultivating and was afraid of disturbing you."
Wang Dong quickly pulled her hand back. She felt the tips of her ears growing hot. "Y-You, what are you doing? I'm telling you, I'm not gay."
"Of course I know you aren't." Long Yaochen looked at Wang Dong with an amused half-smile.
Wang Dong felt that his gaze was far too scorching.
Could he know that I'm... Should I just confess?
She opened her mouth and was about to force herself to speak when Long Yaochen interrupted her first.
"I've been out for so many days. I'm exhausted and hungry. Xiao Dong, hurry up and get me some food."
As he spoke, Long Yaochen dove headfirst onto his bed.
Huh?
Why did it smell like Wang Dong here?
"What?" Wang Dong froze, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"What? Haven't seen me for a few days and now you can't hear?" Long Yaochen shot her a disdainful glance before continuing to say something infuriating. "I can't apply for special assistance for you. If you don't want to go, I'll use that to make you go."
"You bastard!"
Wang Dong stomped her foot fiercely, turned, and left the dormitory without looking back.
She had realized that all concern for this bastard was completely unnecessary!
Still, it was good that he had returned...
Half an hour later.
"Did you leave that very night?" Wang Dong could not help asking as she watched Long Yaochen wolf down his food.
"Of course," Long Yaochen replied without batting an eye.
He had indeed left the dormitory that night. He had merely spent one night at Ma Xiaotao's dormitory.
Wang Dong nodded and said nothing else. Watching Long Yaochen's profile, her eyes gradually lost focus.
Should I invite this bastard to Clear Sky Sect during the break?
No! No!
Big Uncle and Second Uncle are like that...
Wang Dong was startled by the thought that had suddenly popped into her mind.
Seriously, she was far too disappointing. How long had it even been?
Even if this guy was a little handsome and a little strong, that still did not mean—
It had to be that bastard's Mark of Sun Chasing causing trouble!
At that thought, Wang Dong secretly glanced at Long Yaochen a few more times.
"What are you sneaking looks for?" Long Yaochen put down his chopsticks and turned toward her.
Wang Dong: "..."
"It's been a long time since I cultivated automatically. Let me use whatever messy method you have tonight." Wang Dong crossed her arms and said with her head turned aside.
"Is that how you ask someone for a favor?" Long Yaochen pinched Wang Dong's tender cheek.
"Mmph... What else? You want me to beg you?" Wang Dong said indistinctly.
"Heh, after just a few days apart, you've gotten a lot more arrogant. Take this!" Long Yaochen suddenly reached out and tickled Wang Dong's waist, intending to teach her a lesson.
"Hahaha, what are you doing! Hahaha, you bastard!" Wang Dong laughed and cursed at the same time.
"Hm? Still not convinced?" Long Yaochen immediately increased the intensity.
"Hahaha, I surrender, I surrender! I was wrong!"
Dormitory 108 instantly turned into a sea of laughter.
But neither of them noticed that a faint Trident Mark on Wang Dong's forehead was flickering in and out of sight.
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