Zhong Shenxiu looked at the four people who were overjoyed and chuckled softly.
The smile was faint, but it possessed an indescribable charm on his angular face. His vertical pupils held less of their usual aloofness and aggression, and more of a gentleness.
He didn't make another move. Instead, he put away the Wisdom King Dharma Image and the Light-Imperial Ninja Blade, stood in the center of the training ground, and looked at his four panting companions.
"Not bad," Zhong Shenxiu said.
There were only two words, but Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and Gu Yue all heard them.
Xie Xie got up from the ground, dusted himself off, walked over to Tang Wulin, and bumped his shoulder. "Did you hear that? Zhong Shenxiu said we're pretty good."
Tang Wulin smiled and nodded, "I heard you."
"He said it's good!" Xie Xie repeated, unable to stop smiling.
Xu Xiaoyan covered her mouth and laughed, " Xie Xie, you've said it twice already."
"Because it's worth saying twice," Xie Xie matter-of-factly.
Gu Yue didn't speak, but her gaze remained fixed on Zhong Shenxiu. She saw the faint smile on Zhong Shenxiu's lips and noticed the reduced aggression in his light golden vertical pupils, and a strange feeling welled up in her heart.
This Little Dragon-Man is still quite handsome when he smiles.
The training ground fell silent. Five people stood in the center, some panting, some wiping away sweat, and some lost in thought.
Just then, a clear, cold voice came from the entrance of the training ground.
"We're leaving tomorrow for Skysea City."
The five of them turned around at the same time and saw Wu Zhangkong walk in from the entrance. He was wearing a dark robe, his hair was loose over his shoulders, and his face was stern. Standing next to Zhong Shenxiu, they really looked like brothers.
Wu Zhangkong walked up to the five students, his gaze sweeping over each of their faces, and then said, "Class dismissed. Tang Wulin, stay behind."
Go to Skysea City?
Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and Gu Yue exchanged bewildered glances.
Xie Xie couldn't help but ask, " Teacher Wu, are we going to watch the Skysea Alliance Grand Competition?"
The Skysea Alliance Grand Competition a large-scale event jointly organized by all cities along the East Sea coastline. It is held every three years and is the largest and highest-level Soul Master competition in the East Sea region. Xie Xie had heard of this competition before, but had never had the opportunity to watch it.
Wu Zhangkong glanced at him and said four words in a flat tone.
"It's participation, not observation."
join?
Xie Xie's eyes widened suddenly, and his mouth opened wide, unable to close for a long time.
Tang Wulin was also stunned, almost dropping the Forging Hammer in his hand. He thought he had misheard, but seeing Xie Xie's reaction, he knew he hadn't.
Wu Zhangkong nodded. "Being able to hold your own against Shenxiu for so long is enough proof of your strength. This time, I want you to at least get a top-three finish in the junior group team competition."
Xie Xie and Tang Wulin exchanged glances, their lips twitching in unison.
Although Wu Zhangkong was praising them, something still felt off.
While it's true that he's not as good as Zhong Shenxiu, is there really any need to say it out loud?
Xie Xie muttered under his breath, " Teacher Wu, could you please stop using Zhong Shenxiu as a benchmark every time? We're working really hard too, okay?"
Wu Zhangkong glanced at him but didn't reply. Instead, he turned to Tang Wulin and said, " Tang Wulin, you stay. The rest of you can leave."
As soon as she left the training room, Xu Xiaoyan immediately moved closer to Zhong Shenxiu.
The cute and adorable girl affectionately hugged Zhong Shenxiu's right arm with both hands. Her figure, though not particularly voluptuous, was surprisingly supple, and she exuded a faint fragrance. Her face was slightly flushed, and her two light blue braids swayed gently behind her, making her look like a little koala clinging to Zhong Shenxiu.
"Brother Shenxiu, can you come to my house for dinner tonight? My dad has been talking about you for ages."
Xu Xiaoyan's voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of coquetry, and her light blue eyes blinked as she looked at Zhong Shenxiu.
Zhong Shenxiu glanced down at her, his light golden vertical pupils showing no emotional fluctuation, and simply gave a faint "hmm" in response.
Xu Xiaoyan immediately smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, and hugged him even tighter. "That's great! My dad will be so happy when he finds out. He said last time, 'Brother Shenxiu, you're much better than those scions of certain families. You're so composed and good at fighting. He told me to learn from you.'"
Zhong Shenxiu didn't speak, but continued walking forward. His pace was slow, but each step was steady. With Xu Xiaoyan hanging on his right arm, it seemed to him that there was no difference between having nothing hanging on him and not having anything at all.
Just then, a clear, cold voice rang out from the side.
" Xiaoyan, isn't it a bit much to monopolize your Shenxiu brother all day?"
Gu Yue walked up from behind, her long black hair swaying gently behind her, her black eyes coldly watching Xu Xiaoyan. Her steps were elegant, each one carrying a calm and unhurried rhythm, as if she were walking on clouds.
Before Zhong Shenxiu could answer, Gu Yue stepped forward and hugged Zhong Shenxiu's left arm.
Ever since deciding on the plan to abduct Zhong Shenxiu, the Little Dragon-Man, Gu Yue has been unable to suppress her powerful innate talent and growth.
If Xu Xiaoyan is a cute and cuddly loli, then Gu Yue already has the beginnings of a voluptuous and mature woman. She is tall and slender, with long, fair, and delicate legs that outline smooth lines under her training clothes. Her temperament is aloof and noble, like a fairy who has stepped out of a painting, but the way she is holding Zhong Shenxiu's left arm at this moment carries an undeniable domineering force.
Gu Yue said coldly, "There's always a proper order to things."
Xu Xiaoyan's smile froze for a moment.
She looked up at Gu Yue, a hint of nervousness flashing in her pale blue eyes. She wasn't afraid of Xie Xie, Tang Wulin, or Wu Zhangkong, but she was afraid of Gu Yue. Not of Gu Yue's strength, but of Gu Yue's black eyes. When those eyes looked at someone, they always carried an indescribable sense of oppression, like Giant Dragon looking down at an ant, making people unconsciously want to lower their heads.
But Xu Xiaoyan gritted her teeth and did not back down.
She knew what backing down at this point meant.
Grandma once said: When you encounter love, you should bravely charge headlong into it!
Xu Xiaoyan mustered her courage; although her voice trembled slightly, her tone was firm.
"First come, first served is true, but Sister Gu Yue, you didn't even get the job, so why do you say you were here first?"
Gu Yue's eyes narrowed slightly.
A dangerous glint flashed in her dark eyes, like the calm before a storm. Her lips tightened slightly, and the hand holding Zhong Shenxiu's left arm unconsciously tightened its grip.
Xu Xiaoyan felt the oppressive aura, and her body trembled slightly, but she didn't let go of Zhong Shenxiu's arms. Instead, she hugged him even tighter. She buried her face in Zhong Shenxiu's shoulder and used his arms to block Gu Yue's view.
"I don't care, anyway, Brother Shenxiu is coming to my house for dinner tonight."
Xu Xiaoyan's voice was muffled, coming from behind Zhong Shenxiu's shoulder, carrying a stubborn tone.
Gu Yue sneered, "What does it matter to him if your father grumbles about him? If he wants to eat, he can go to the cafeteria; there's no need for him to come to your house."
"Can the food in the cafeteria compare to what I cook at home?"
Xu Xiaoyan peeked out from behind Zhong Shenxiu's shoulder, her light blue eyes wide open, "My family owns the biggest restaurant in the entire Eastsea City. Since Brother Shenxiu likes to eat so much, of course he should eat at my house!"