As night deepened, the streetlights on either side of the road cast a soft glow, stretching the pedestrians' shadows until they grew alternately long and short.
Yang Teng didn't hurry back to the hotel arranged for Skywater Academy. Instead, he wandered aimlessly through the bustling streets of Heaven Dou City with Gu Yuena.
With his hands in his pockets, he strolled leisurely, his gaze sweeping over brightly lit shops and fragrant food stalls.
"Tsk, human life sure has a lot of variety. Quite colorful, too."
Yang Teng remarked casually, as if talking to himself or perhaps to Gu Yuena beside him.
Gu Yuena walked quietly half a step at his side, her silver hair gleaming faintly under the lights.
This boisterous, lively "human world" was strange and complicated to her, harboring a distaste and tension she didn't wish to examine too closely.
As they passed a clothing store, Yang Teng came to a stop.
His gaze swept over the light, airy summer dresses. Then, as though he'd suddenly remembered something, he whipped his head around to look at Gu Yuena, sizing up her simple silver-white dress—which seemed never to change—from head to toe.
Under his undisguised scrutiny, Gu Yuena grew a little uncomfortable. Her brows furrowed, and just as she was about to speak, Yang Teng had already strode into the store.
"Hey, you..."
Gu Yuena instinctively tried to call after him, but Yang Teng had already disappeared inside.
Before long, Yang Teng came back out with two elegant shopping bags in hand. He walked straight up to Gu Yuena and held them out to her.
"What for?"
Gu Yuena didn't take them. Her violet eyes regarded him warily.
"Something different to wear."
Yang Teng answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, pointing his chin at her clothes.
"You wear that same outfit every day. I'm getting tired of looking at it. I bought you two outfits that suit the weather."
Gu Yuena froze. Then an inexplicable feeling welled up inside her, bringing a faint, almost imperceptible blush to her stunning face.
She pressed her lips together and made a dissatisfied little pout, her voice turning a few degrees colder.
"What's it to you? I like wearing this. It's comfortable."
"Hey!"
Yang Teng arched a brow. Rather than being put off by her icy expression, he moved closer and spoke with an air of righteous indignation, even a hint of shamelessness.
"How is it not my business? You're my bodyguard now! You ought to look the part."
"You..."
Seeing her like that, Yang Teng chuckled and shoved the bags into her hands.
"Take them. Try them on at the hotel. If they don't fit... they'll probably still be wearable."
Clearly, he wasn't very confident in his taste in clothes.
The two continued walking, the atmosphere caught in a strange, awkward stillness.
As they neared the hotel, Yang Teng suddenly took a cute little strawberry-and-cream cake from his Storage Soul Tool. It was packed in a clear box, and he held it out to Gu Yuena.
"Here. Take it."
His tone returned to its earlier casualness. "Walking around burns energy. Have some."
Gu Yuena looked at the cake, dotted with bright red strawberries and looking sweet and delicious, then at Yang Teng's roguish grin. After a moment's silence, she finally reached out and took it.
Yang Teng watched her cool, retreating figure, rubbed his nose, and ambled after her.
The second round of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament was in full swing.
After the draw, Skywater Academy's opponent was the veteran powerhouse Godwind Academy, one of the Four Elements Academies, famed for its swift attacks and fierce style.
Godwind Academy had long ranked first among the Four Elements Academies, and its strength was not to be underestimated. Its captain, Feng Xiaotian, possessed the Mutated Martial Soul Gale Twin-Headed Wolf.
A team member leaned toward Feng Xiaotian, whose brows were furrowed, and asked in a low voice.
"Captain, how should we deal with Skywater Academy? Their new guy, Yang Teng, is seriously bizarre! And then there's that Soul King, Gu Yuena!"
"Damn it, how would I know?!"
Feng Xiaotian irritably raked a hand through his hair.
He knew that Skywater Academy's captain, Shui Bing'er, and vice-captain, Xue Wu, possessed a powerful Martial Soul Fusion Skill. It had been one of the main things they'd studied and prepared for.
But not long ago, he'd received a piece of news that made his scalp prickle: that Yang Teng, who'd been admitted as an exception, had once broken through Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's Martial Soul Fusion Skill head-on, all by himself, while only a Soul Elder!
And then there was Gu Yuena, the Soul King on their team, whose strength was unfathomable. In the previous match, she'd suppressed six Soul Ancestors from Shrek all by herself!
Yang Teng alone was trouble enough. Add Gu Yuena to the mix... Feng Xiaotian felt his vision darken. Their chances looked grim.
As Feng Xiaotian waited for their opponents to enter, his heart heavy and his hopes nearly gone, Skywater Academy's team finally emerged from the passageway.
Feng Xiaotian instinctively focused his attention and quickly scanned the opposing lineup. Their captain, Shui Bing'er, was there. Xue Wu was there. So were the other familiar female team members.
Yang Teng was standing among them, looking lazy as ever... Wait!
Feng Xiaotian's eyes flew wide. He looked again and again to make sure.
She wasn't there! Gu Yuena—the silver-haired, violet-eyed girl who'd put him under immense pressure—hadn't taken the field! In her place was another female student who was only a Soul Elder!
"What...?"
Feng Xiaotian was stunned at first. Then an indescribable fury sprang up inside him!
The heaviness and unease he'd felt because his opponents were so powerful were instantly replaced by anger at being looked down on and insulted!
Sure, Godwind Academy didn't have Shrek's freak with a ten-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring or its lavish lineup of six Soul Ancestors, but they were the undisputed top academy among the Four Elements!
This was blatant contempt! Did they think Godwind Academy didn't even deserve to face Gu Yuena?!
"Skywater Academy! What's the meaning of this? Are you looking down on Godwind Academy?!"
The Godwind team members behind him were all scowling, feeling deeply slighted.
At Feng Xiaotian's challenge, Shui Bing'er furrowed her brows. She was about to explain that it was a tactical arrangement and a rotation of team members, not a sign of contempt.
But Yang Teng had already spoken first, his tone lazy.
He picked at his ear, looking as though he hadn't woken up yet. His casual manner was infuriating.
"Brother Feng, don't get worked up. We treat every academy fairly. We'll do the same in the matches to come."
"You...!"
Feng Xiaotian was so furious he nearly choked. He spat a silent curse.
Since they dared to underestimate them and bench their strongest, they couldn't blame them for seizing the opportunity!
"Good! Very good!"
Feng Xiaotian laughed in fury. "Let's see if you're still so relaxed in a moment!"
The referee confirmed that both sides were ready and announced loudly:
"Let the match—begin!"
"Divine Wind Team, attack with me!"
Feng Xiaotian roared. Four Soul Rings—two yellow and two purple—rose beneath his feet, and his third Soul Ring suddenly lit up!
"Third Soul Skill: Gale Wings!"
A pair of enormous green wings burst from his back. Like an arrow loosed from its string, he shot toward Skywater Academy's formation with unstoppable momentum.
His target was none other than the infuriating Yang Teng!
Green wind blades gathered around Feng Xiaotian. His speed was astonishing as they tore through the air with a shrill whistle. The Gale Demon Wolf Martial Soul granted him peerless speed and powerful slashing attacks.
Yet faced with this attack swift as the wind, Yang Teng stood motionless, not a ripple of emotion crossing his face.
"Gale Demon Wolf, huh?"
Yang Teng watched Feng Xiaotian's figure rapidly growing in his pupils. "A fine Martial Soul, with both speed and power. Too bad..."
He took a light step forward.
"...it won't work on me."
As the words left his mouth, a deep purple Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet!
Yang Teng extended his right hand and clenched it into a fist.
"First Soul Skill: Space Strangling."
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