No. 33: Being Thought About

After Gu Yue left, she realized Tang Wulin and the others hadn't followed her. She couldn't help frowning.

She felt that just one night had passed, yet Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan had all changed! No, Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan had been fond of the Twins ever since they enrolled, but what was going on with Tang Wulin?

Normally, he would have caught up with her by now!

Gu Yue couldn't figure it out.

She stood beside Sea God Lake, gazing toward Sea God Island in the lake, her expression grave.

Just who were the Twins?

"Why are you standing here spacing out all by yourself?" Just as Gu Yue was frowning in thought, a voice came from beside her. It was very pleasant to the ear. Gu Yue turned toward it and saw silver-haired Na'er walking over at an unhurried pace.

Her hair fluttered in the wind as she smiled and watched Gu Yue.

"You're actually smiling at me?"

Seeing Na'er approach with a smile, Gu Yue couldn't help making a snarky remark.

"We're one and the same! If you can't even stand yourself, what's the point of living?" Na'er stopped beside Gu Yue and looked at her. "Why the long face? Is it because of someone? Tang Wulin, or the Sun-Moon Twins?"

"Both, I suppose." Gu Yue sighed.

"Have you not always been indifferent to humans? And now you're gloomy over something involving them?" Na'er looked at Gu Yue and asked with a smile.

Gu Yue said, "I keep feeling that Yun Qianzhao and Yun Qianyue, those siblings, know where I came from!"

Na'er shook her head without hesitation. "That's impossible! For tens of thousands of years, not even the strongest humans have known about our existence. There's no way they would."

"You're in the inner court, so you have the advantage of being close to them. You can help us investigate." Gu Yue looked at Na'er and made her request.

But Na'er shook her head. "No! I won't help you. At least, not right now!"

Hearing this, Gu Yue didn't get impatient. She smiled softly. "I forgot that you're on humanity's side! But I'm definitely going to win. Because I believe Tang Wulin will choose me."

"That's fine. There's still plenty of time. There's no need to rush the outcome of our bet." Na'er shook her head, unconcerned.

She had sensed a trace of uncertainty in Gu Yue when she said that.

Gu Yue had never seemed so unsure before.

Had something happened recently?

Na'er didn't know, and she didn't care.

Just then, Gu Yue's soul communicator rang. She picked it up and saw messages from Tang Wulin and Xie Xie asking where she was.

Seeing their messages, Na'er was a little surprised. "So you had a fight? Because of the Sun-Moon Twins?"

Gu Yue put away her soul communicator and turned back. "That has nothing to do with you! I'm going back."

Watching Gu Yue leave, Na'er's curiosity about the Twins soared. "They managed to become Yun Ming's disciples, and even made Gu Yue take a loss. Just who are they?"

Yun Qianzhao and Yun Qianyue had no idea that Na'er had taken an interest in them. Her curiosity was harmless; neither the Sun nor Moon's radiance had given any warning of danger.

After Yun Qianzhao discussed teaching Xu Xiaoyan to cultivate with Old Jin, Yun Ming naturally gave his approval. He even directly authorized Xu Xiaoyan to come and go from Sea God Island as she pleased! Even though they were Zhuo Shi's granddisciples, they weren't allowed to enter the inner court without an escort.

When Xie Xie heard the news, he looked even more dejected. "How come you're allowed on Sea God Island, but I'm not?"

"How is that the same?"

Xu Xiaoyan looked at Xie Xie and snorted. "I have a proper reason to find Uncle Master Qian Zhao! What proper reason do you have to find Uncle Master Qian Yue?"

"I..."

Xie Xie was at a loss for words. He muttered, "I have a proper reason too!"

Xu Xiaoyan rolled her eyes at him, then happily packed her things and headed to Sea God Island.

At that moment, Yun Qianzhao was sparring with Qiangu Zhangting.

Although Qiangu Zhangting had gradually reduced his activities at Shrek Academy over the past year or two, he still came by from time to time. Even if he was only putting on a show, Shrek Academy didn't stop him.

However, Qiangu Zhangting was only at the three-ring level, so he was no match for Yun Qianzhao.

When Xu Xiaoyan arrived, they had just finished a bout. Qiangu Zhangting looked at Yun Qianzhao with a gloomy expression and said, "I really don't get it! We grew up together, so how did your cultivation shoot ahead so fast?"

"Read more, dream less." Yun Qianzhao looked at Qiangu Zhangting and tossed out that remark.

Qiangu Zhangting: "..."

"Uncle Master Qian Zhao!" Xu Xiaoyan waved to Yun Qianzhao from the side, looking excited.

Qiangu Zhangting glanced at Xu Xiaoyan and said, "Looks like someone's here for my brother. I'll go find Qian Yue, then. Farewell!"

Yun Qianzhao shot Qiangu Zhangting a cold look. "Don't call me your brother. You're my brother!"

"Heh, I'm off!"

Qiangu Zhangting chuckled and vanished in a flash.

Yun Qianzhao fell silent. If not for the Spirit Pagoda behind Qiangu Zhangting, how could he possibly have allowed that guy to act like that in front of him?

Seeing how exhausted Yun Qianzhao looked, Xu Xiaoyan hurriedly took out a cup and offered it to him ingratiatingly. "Uncle Master Qian Zhao, are you tired? I have some water here. Why don't you take a break?"

Yun Qianzhao accepted the cup but didn't drink.

Xu Xiaoyan blinked and asked curiously, "Uncle Master Qian Zhao, who was that person just now? I heard him call you brother. Is he a relative?"

Yun Qianzhao shook his head. "That's the Spirit Pagoda Master's grandson, Qiangu Zhangting."

"He's Qiangu Zhangting?"

Hearing the name, Xu Xiaoyan stared in surprise a few times in the direction Qiangu Zhangting had left.

Seeing her reaction, Yun Qianzhao frowned. "What? Do you have feelings for him? If so, I can help set you two up."

That way, perhaps Qiangu Zhangting would stop bothering Yun Qianyue.

But Xu Xiaoyan hurriedly shook her head. "No, no, no! I absolutely have no interest in him! Really, Uncle Master Qian Zhao, you have to believe me!"

She denied it so vehemently, as if she were afraid Yun Qianzhao might think she had feelings for Qiangu Zhangting.

Yun Qianzhao could see what was on Xu Xiaoyan's mind. He rubbed his brow and handed the cup back to her. "We don't have much time. Get ready first."

"Get ready for what?" Xu Xiaoyan stared at him, bewildered.

"To fight me!"

Yun Qianzhao looked at Xu Xiaoyan and said calmly, "The insights gained in battle are the most profound! What you learn from books always falls short; no matter how many times I explain the essentials, it can't compare to putting them into practice once."

Xu Xiaoyan was stunned. She hadn't even considered that she'd have to fight Yun Qianzhao right from the start!

How could she possibly be a match for Yun Qianzhao?