"Something came up at home. Don't worry about me."
Long Yaochen murmured, but his gaze gradually darkened.
He had originally thought Wang Dong had gone back to obtain her third soul ring.
But tomorrow was the last day, and no matter how urgent it was, one night would not make a difference.
Given her personality, it was even more impossible for her to leave without showing off first, leaving behind only a note.
Fortunately, the handwriting was indeed Wang Dong's, and there were no signs of a struggle in the freshman dormitory.
So...
Had the Clear Sky Sect taken her away?
A trace of realization flashed through Long Yaochen's eyes, but the next moment, he frowned again.
Little Scoundrel, what are you up to now?
It took him only 0.1 seconds to guess who was behind this.
However, Long Yaochen was not in a hurry.
Even if that person had not intervened, Wang Dong would naturally have returned to the Clear Sky Sect when the holiday began tomorrow.
Shrek's break was only a month long. He could ask that Silly Goose once school started again.
What mattered more now was that he had officially reached Rank 40. It was time to set out for the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
"Second martial soul..." Long Yaochen muttered to himself.
When the new term began, what expression would Wang Dong have when she saw his second martial soul?
As he pondered this, he took the Black Dragon Scale from his storage Soul Tool.
Teacher, the time has come. Please come quickly and lend me your aid.
The next instant, a low dragon's might emanated from the depths of the scale.
The corners of Long Yaochen's lips lifted slightly.
It seemed his teacher had been waiting for this as well.
He put the dragon scale back into his storage Soul Tool, then let his gaze fall upon the note on the table again.
After hesitating for a moment, he put the note into his storage Soul Tool as well, then turned and left the dormitory.
The next day.
After the final class ended, Zhang Lexuan briefly explained the rules, and the holiday officially began.
Amid the freshmen's cheers and laughter, Long Yaochen followed Zhang Lexuan back to the office.
"Senior Sister, do you still remember what I told you before?" Long Yaochen asked after closing the door.
Since it concerned his life, he naturally would not wait until the last moment to bring it up. He had already given Zhang Lexuan advance notice.
"I remember..." Zhang Lexuan poured Long Yaochen a cup of hot water, then sat down beside him. She hesitated before asking, "Can my martial soul really help you?"
"Of course." Long Yaochen nodded seriously.
"That's good." Zhang Lexuan let out a long breath.
It was not that she did not want to help him. On the contrary, she wanted to help Long Yaochen too much, which was why she felt so worried.
A Fourth Soul Ring. A second martial soul.
If it were anyone else, Zhang Lexuan would have thought they were joking with her.
But him...
"Long Yaochen, sometimes I really feel that you don't seem like an Outer Court student."
"Hmm?"
Long Yaochen paused with his teacup suspended in midair and looked at Zhang Lexuan beside him in confusion.
The setting sun fell across Zhang Lexuan, tinting her black hair with a faint warm hue.
"Instead, you're like a sun." Her voice was very soft.
"You can feel its warmth, but it is so far away.
Fortunately... this time, I can go with you."
Long Yaochen froze for a moment.
Before he could speak, Zhang Lexuan had already leaned gently against him.
She said nothing more, merely resting her forehead against the side of Long Yaochen's shoulder.
Long Yaochen's body stiffened for a moment. Then he raised his hand and gently held Zhang Lexuan's arm.
"If you get too close, the sun will melt you." Long Yaochen chuckled, but his voice suddenly grew more serious. "But the moon won't."
"Then let me be your moon."
Zhang Lexuan slowly closed her eyes, a faint smile on her lips.
Over the past year, through countless nights of breakdown and despair, Long Yaochen had pulled her back from the abyss time and time again.
Now, she finally had something to rely on as well...
As long as that ray of sunlight did not leave, even if she were burned to ashes—
She was willing.
The office fell quiet as the sunset stretched their shadows long.
Until—
Bang!
The door was suddenly pushed open.
"Long Yaochen, are you ready? If we don't leave now, I'll—"
Ma Xiaotao's voice came to an abrupt stop.
She stood at the door, staring at the scene before her, her entire body frozen as if struck by lightning.
Zhang Lexuan was leaning against Long Yaochen's shoulder, while Long Yaochen's hand was still holding her arm.
There was no way Ma Xiaotao could believe they were merely discussing class matters.
Her lips moved, and even her voice trembled. "Senior Sister... you!"
Although she knew she could not keep someone like Long Yaochen entirely by her side.
She had never imagined she would see something like this.
She had guarded against everyone, but not her respected Senior Sister!
Zhang Lexuan's body stiffened, and she immediately rose and stepped half a pace away.
Her face remained calm, but the tips of her ears visibly flushed a faint red.
"Xiaotao, you came at just the right time." Long Yaochen coughed lightly and casually adjusted his sleeve. "Teacher will be here soon. Let's head to the Sea God Pavilion first."
Ma Xiaotao stared at him in disbelief. "You really dare to act like nothing happened?"
Long Yaochen said solemnly, "We were discussing end-of-term class matters."
Ma Xiaotao sneered. "Discussing them to the point where Senior Sister was leaning on you?"
"Xiaotao..." Zhang Lexuan said softly.
"Senior Sister, don't say anything." Ma Xiaotao drew a deep breath, her gaze fixed firmly on Long Yaochen. "I knew it. You've been running to the office every day for the past eight months. You definitely weren't just helping organize documents."
Long Yaochen pondered for a moment. "Actually, I did organize quite a lot of documents."
Ma Xiaotao gritted her teeth in anger and stomped her feet repeatedly. "Long Yaochen!"
Seeing that Ma Xiaotao's temper was about to erupt, Long Yaochen immediately changed the subject. "By the way, this trip to Sunset Forest concerns not only my Fourth Soul Ring, but also your Evil Fire problem."
"Naturally, I won't let you work for nothing. This opportunity is not just for me; you and Senior Sister will have a share as well." At this point, he looked at Ma Xiaotao, his expression becoming more serious.
Ma Xiaotao had originally wanted to flare up.
But upon hearing that, the anger on her face paused slightly. "Is it the opportunity you mentioned, the one that can completely transform my martial soul?"
"Of course." Long Yaochen gave a mysterious smile. "And only you and Senior Sister are the most suitable for this opportunity."
Senior Sister...
Ma Xiaotao cast a resentful glance at Zhang Lexuan.
What happened to being good sisters?
Zhang Lexuan lowered her head under that gaze, somewhat at a loss as she tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear.
Ma Xiaotao turned her gaze back to Long Yaochen and finally snorted coldly. "I'll settle the score with you when we get back."
Long Yaochen inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "I won't disappoint you."
Zhang Lexuan watched the two of them, a trace of complexity flashing through her eyes before she quickly regained her calm.
"Let's go."
"First, we'll go to the Sea God Pavilion and bid Elder Mu farewell."
Before you continue