Poor Tang Wulin! Gu Yue Wasn't Interested!

Spirit Pagoda

Qiangu Family Conference Room

Qiangu Dongfeng leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, his gaze fixed on Leng Yaozhu's face.

Leng Yaozhu sat opposite him, her eyes as calm as a deep pool of water.

She didn't rush to speak, but simply sat there quietly, as if waiting for a play whose ending she already knew.

Qiangu Dongfeng looked into those calm eyes and said:

"Tell me, what do you want to collaborate on?"

"I already knew the result. I never expected it, Yaozhu, that you would find such a good disciple."

He leaned back and tapped his fingers on the armrest again.

"But do you really think you can use this to hold me hostage?"

"You underestimate my Qiangu Dongfeng."

Leng Yaozhu remained silent, her gaze calmly fixed on him.

Qiangu Dongfeng felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, looked away, and paused for a moment on the armrest.

His heart was in turmoil:

Why isn't it someone from our side?

Leng Yaozhu's disciple topped the Youth Genius Ranking, but the Qiangu Family had no successor.

He recalled the face of Qiangu Zhangting, which always carried a mixture of arrogance and affability.

His own grandson was quite talented, but compared to Bai Yuan, he was simply no match.

That disparity stirred a subtle, almost imperceptible, sense of unease within him.

He snapped out of his reverie and looked at Leng Yaozhu again:

"Tell me, what exactly do you want?"

Leng Yaozhu finally spoke:

"I want your Qiangu Family to support the Leng Family's proposal in the next council meeting."

Qiangu Dongfeng's pupils contracted slightly.

He didn't answer immediately, but looked at Leng Yaozhu for a long while before slowly speaking:

"You really know how to pick your timing."

Leng Yaozhu looked at him, a tiny smile curving her lips:

"I'm just making the right request at the right time."

The Qiangu Dongfeng remained silent for a long time:

"I need to think about it."

Leng Yaozhu stood up:

"Certainly."

She walked towards the door, stopped at the door, and said without turning her head:

"The Qiangu Dongfeng, but times are changing."

"Some games cannot be won by simply defending."

The door closed gently behind her, and the living room fell silent.

Qiangu Dongfeng sat alone in the main seat, his gaze fixed on the chair where Leng Yaozhu had just sat, and lingered there for Jiujiu.

He was still calculating and weighing the options.

Is Leng Yaozhu's request worth granting?

He knew in his heart that the woman chose to make her move at this time because she had calculated that he didn't have many options.

The news of Bai Yuan topping the Genius Ranking has spread throughout the entire Spirit Pagoda, Leng Family's reputation is rapidly recovering.

Those forces that were originally wavering between the Leng Family and the Qiangu Family are gradually leaning towards the Leng Family.

If he rejects Leng Yaozhu now, it will completely ruin their relationship.

This will further solidify the support of those who were previously hesitant to side with the Leng Family.

But if they agree, it would be tantamount to admitting that the Leng Family's position in the council is catching up with that of the Qiangu Family.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

A trusted aide pushed open the door and entered, bowing slightly.

"Pagoda Master, a message just came in..."

On Bai Yuan's side, several Shrek Academy students volunteered to join the Spirit Pagoda.

Several of them were on the Youth Genius Ranking.

The Qiangu Dongfeng paused for a moment:

"Oh? I didn't know it could have this function."

His eyes flickered slightly.

"It seems many people have grasped the situation and started betting on him."

"Leng Yaozhu's demands are probably also aimed at Bai Yuan."

He leaned back in his chair and remained silent for a moment.

"In that case, Bai Yuan the maximum licensing authority."

The trusted aide paused for a moment:

"Ah? This... Pagoda Master, this--"

The Qiangu Dongfeng waved its hand:

"Do you think my Qiangu Family is so petty as to prioritize the interests of the Spirit Pagoda?"

When he gets back, I'll have him come over and talk to me.

The trusted aide withdrew immediately.

The moment the door closed, Qiangu Dongfeng's expression suddenly darkened.

He suddenly stood up, grabbed the teacup on the table, and smashed it hard on the ground.

Porcelain shards flew everywhere, and tea soaked the carpet, but his anger did not subside in the slightest.

The Qiangu Family is in a bad situation recently.

Many families used the Leng Family to test the bottom line of the Qiangu Family in the council.

He took a deep breath, sat back down in his chair, and stared at the pile of shards:

"A bunch of despicable people! Wait until my father comes out of seclusion, then let's see what you'll do!"

He clenched his fist, then slowly relaxed it.

This game is far from over. Does Leng Yaozhu think that winning one round means she can have the last laugh?

The Qiangu Family hasn't revealed their trump card yet.

Two months later

Bai Yuan pushed open the dormitory door.

I was momentarily blinded by the light in the hallway.

Because of the overflow of the Core Flame, he spent two months in arduous practice!

He stretched his somewhat stiff shoulders.

Just as I was about to go find something to eat, my gaze inadvertently fell on the lawn downstairs.

A silver-white figure was standing under the shade of a tree, with another figure beside him.

They were circling around her, saying something as they went.

Bai Yuan looked closely and saw that the black-clad figure was saying something.

He was gesturing with his hands, as if describing something interesting.

The silver-white figure stood still, arms crossed, expression indifferent.

When Bai Yuan went downstairs, Gu Yuena had already seen him, as if she had finally found a savior:

"Bai Yuan, you're finally out! Tell me about him—he's so annoying!"

She turned her head to the side, and the relief in her eyes was all too obvious.

Tang Wulin turned around as well, and the moment he saw Bai Yuan, his clear black and white eyes lit up:

"Big Brother Bai! Long time no see!"

He waved at him with a grin, as if he were seeing an old friend he hadn't seen in years.

Bai Yuan looked at his smiling face.

He glanced again at Gu Yuena's face, which was filled with the expression of "help me," and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Xiao Tang, what are you doing here?"

Tang Wulin scratched his head:

"I'm already a member of Shrek!"

"By the way, I'd also like to meet Big Brother Bai!"

His voice lowered slightly when he said the second half of the sentence.

His gaze drifted somewhat awkwardly towards Gu Yuena.

"I heard Big Brother Bai is at Shrek, so I came to try my luck..."

Bai Yuan watched him trying so hard not to seem too deliberate:

"Try your luck?"

Tang Wulin scratched his head and stammered:

"I just... wanted to see how Big Brother Bai is doing here."

"I've come to learn from you!"

"Big Brother Bai, you're amazing!"

Congratulations on reaching the top!!!

As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Gu Yuena.

"And then... I thought I might run into you guys."

Gu Yuena stared at him expressionlessly, offering no reply, but instead turned half a step toward Bai Yuan.

"It's rare for you to come out, let's go, I actually have something to tell you."

Bai Yuan looked at Gu Yuena, who seemed eager to escape.

Oh!

Poor Tom!

I looked again at Tang Wulin's expectant face:

"Xiao Tang, you go ahead and do your thing. We'll talk another day."

Tang Wulin paused for a moment, then nodded, as if he had expected this outcome:

"Okay, Big Brother Bai, I'll come find you another day!"

He waved to Bai Yuan, then turned and ran in another direction.

He ran a few steps, then stopped, glanced back in Gu Yuena's direction, and then continued running away.

Gu Yuena watched the figure run away into the distance before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

"He's been coming over every few days for the past two months."

"You said you were looking for me, but you were always cultivating."

"Then it just kept circling around me."

Seeing her helpless expression, Bai Yuan turned his head and looked in the direction where Tang Wulin had disappeared:

He came to see you, not me.

He looked away, his voice very soft.

You know that, right?

Gu Yuena paused slightly in her steps:

"... have no idea."

"I don't like him circling around me!"

"How's your cultivation going these past two months?"

Bai Yuan looked at her:

"Almost there, just one last step."

Gu Yuena continued speaking to Bai Yuan:

"Then you can go to class tomorrow!"

"This is a good opportunity to make up for the exam you missed!"

"..."