"Broad-minded?"
Tang Yuehua pouted.
Although she was happy that you praised her, and even happier that you said she was prettier than the Saintess, still... hmph.
She wandered down the street with great interest.
Lu Mingchuan, following behind her, was left speechless.
Wasn't she supposed to buy books and cultivate her tastes? Why was she shopping before they'd even arrived? Was she planning to skip teaching him today and just have fun?
Tang Yuehua wasn't actually looking to buy anything. She simply wanted to tire Lu Mingchuan out, so he'd know she wasn't someone to mess with.
However, when they reached South Market and saw that Lu Mingchuan's expression and breathing hadn't changed at all, she was the one who ended up looking like a clown.
[You're weak, sis. Don't assume you're fine just because you don't have kidney problems. Get it checked as soon as possible.]
"Hiss..."
"Teacher, are you all right?"
Lu Mingchuan hurriedly supported Tang Yuehua, who had twisted her ankle.
[You little punk, you really think I'm a good-for-nothing? My physical fitness isn't something you can compete with.]
He felt the hurried steps behind him. Who could've guessed she wouldn't watch where she was going and would step right on her own foot?
"Let's go sit in that teahouse for a while and see what's wrong with your foot."
Tang Yuehua was terribly embarrassed, but her physical fitness was clearly on the same level as a weakling's.
Just as Lu Mingchuan was about to take her to the teahouse, he noticed Tang Yuehua tugging at his clothes and shaking her head.
He raised an eyebrow at the sight.
[No way, this is the classic 'she falls and has to be carried' scene. I can't believe I've run into it. Should I drag her by the leg, or carry her by the leg?]
Tang Yuehua, who had fallen, was stunned and horrified. No, please!
Only when she felt herself rise into the air did she realize he'd picked her up.
[A little heavy.]
Tang Yuehua's ears turned red at once. W-who was heavy?
After Lu Mingchuan made that comment, Tang Yuehua was too flustered to hear what he said next. It was just too embarrassing.
The two of them settled at the very top of the teahouse, next to the bookshop.
Lu Mingchuan had chosen the spot, naturally. It was perfect for watching what was happening below.
He stood by the railing and watched the crowds passing by, looking for Yu Xiaogang's unmistakable buzz cut.
Behind him, Tang Yuehua had been set down and was cooling her foot with something. She watched Lu Mingchuan's back and slapped her cheeks with her palms.
Would Yu Xiaogang really show up, like that kid said?
After all, she hadn't actually seen it happen, so she had every right to doubt what Lu Mingchuan was thinking.
She'd never met anyone that eccentric. Hopefully, she'd get to see something new.
[I seem to remember Tang Yuehua knows Yu Xiaogang too.]
You little punk, make up your mind! What's with "seem to remember" and "too"? If you're not sure, don't say it.
Tang Yuehua smiled at Lu Mingchuan as he suddenly scratched his head and turned around. Once he'd turned back, she made a wild clawing motion.
[That's right, she knows him. After all, Gangzi has crossed paths with Haozi several times.]
[I met His Excellency, the Clear Sky Douluo, when I was young.]
[That's enough to say the two of them know each other at least. Tang Yuehua has a crush on Haozi, after all.]
Bang—
Something on the table made a loud noise, catching Lu Mingchuan's attention. He turned around and saw Tang Yuehua holding a teapot and pouring tea.
"Sorry, Teacher's leg isn't doing well, so I poured the tea a little loudly."
Lu Mingchuan nodded and turned back to keep an eye out for Gangzi. He'd thought Tang Yuehua had flipped the table.
Tang Yuehua stared at Lu Mingchuan's back.
What nonsense was that bastard spouting?
How could she possibly... have a crush on Haozi?
She wanted nothing more than to kick Lu Mingchuan over the railing. That guy was always saying whatever he pleased.
At that moment, Lu Mingchuan was watching the crowd when he finally spotted his target.
[Hao... I mean, Gangzi's here.]
Inside Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong laughed so hard at Lu Mingchuan's inner thoughts that she nearly fell over.
This guy was hilarious.
Of course, that was only if he wasn't talking about her.
Whenever he judged her, it was like his little mouth had been smeared with honey—sweet enough to kill.
She'd been right to grab a handful of melon seeds. Time to enjoy the gossip. This was the juiciest melon yet.
Tang Yuehua really was the kind to hide a burning passion.
Bibi Dong rubbed her chin. She'd heard that the Clear Sky Sect's current generation had three children: Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, and Tang Yuehua.
That Haozi was probably the second-born.
Tsk, tsk, tsk...
Was this melon ripe or not, Lu Mingchuan?
But who was the Clear Sky Douluo? Tang Hao? That couldn't be right.
Unable to make heads or tails of it, Bibi Dong could only keep listening to the gossip Lu Mingchuan was putting out.
She wanted something even juicier. She wanted to see a love triangle, a river of blood!
Yu Xiaogang, whom Lu Mingchuan had been watching the whole time, had also made his way through the crowd and arrived at the bookshop.
There was no story about someone looking down on him only to get slapped in the face. All there was was Gangzi eagerly playing the teacher.
Yu Xiaogang had changed into a different set of clothes.
But he hadn't shaved the stubble that made his face look so weathered. He'd even used something to cover up the fist marks on his face.
(What rotten luck. The first time I, Yu Xiaogang, came to Spirit City, I got beaten up like this.)
(Sigh... Good thing this Grandmaster's physical fitness is far beyond that of an ordinary person. Otherwise, I'd have kicked the bucket here.)
(But it doesn't matter. Any setback will only make me more valiant.)
Tang Yuehua hopped over to the railing with one leg raised.
She looked down at the man in plain clothes who nonetheless had a hint of flamboyance about him.
She'd heard that man's voice just now, but why hadn't she heard him before?
As for his looks...
Tang Yuehua didn't know how to describe him. Maybe he had character.
Yu Xiaogang rested one hand against his chest and stood with the air of a grandmaster, his hands behind his back. He strode into the bookshop with a rolling gait.
He glanced at the bookstall beside him and decided against choosing anything there.
Once inside, he spotted someone helping a young Soul Master who had only recently begun cultivating pick out books, so he swayed over toward them.
"No, your choices are completely wrong."
The moment Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth, he drew most people's attention. They gathered around him to hear his opinions.
[Come on, man. You can find what he's saying by flipping through the book in your hand. Why do you have to listen to him?]
[And that guy in the Spirit Hall Academy teacher's uniform—you're a teacher, aren't you? You don't even know this basic stuff he's talking about? Spirit Hall really needs to investigate. How did someone like that get in?]
[Still, it feels like something's missing.]
Lu Mingchuan scratched his head. Everything was normal. Yu Xiaogang was showing off, and things were going exactly as they should.
What was missing?
(Didn't the intel say that the Spirit Hall Saintess came here to buy books on this day every week?)
(Why haven't I seen her after standing here for so long? Could that profiteer have swindled me?)
(But it feels great to be admired by people.)
Bibi Dong, lying in Spirit Hall, listened.
Wait, what about my part? Am I supposed to go there?
Before you continue