Problem Child

Leaning against the wall, Wu Feng looked as though her spine had been pulled out. Her body went limp, and she slid down the wall to sit on the ground.

The ground was not particularly clean, but Wu Feng had no mind to care about that right now. She did not even notice that her hands had picked up dust from the ground.

Wu Feng's emotions were incomparably complicated. Calling them a tumult of mixed feelings would not be an exaggeration. Her once-delicate face had become somewhat unsightly because of her current state, and she looked as though tears had fallen like pear blossoms in the rain.

She subconsciously wiped away her tears, smearing dust together with them. Wu Feng now looked utterly bedraggled. If someone said she had been bullied, plenty of people would believe it.

"Idiot! Young Mistress, you're such an idiot!"

Her sobbing was especially clear in this relatively deserted place. Some passersby instinctively looked toward Wu Feng when they heard it, but upon seeing the Shrek Academy uniform on her, they hurried away.

Even in Shrek City, not everyone who lived there was a Soul Master. As long as they were ordinary people, there was an invisible boundary between them and Soul Masters, one that could never be crossed.

For ordinary people on the Douluo Continent, it was better not to get too involved with Soul Masters unless necessary, even if Wu Feng was only a student.

"You're crying so hard that anyone who didn't know better would think you'd been dumped."

"Y-You... why did you come over here? Weren't you with Young Mistress?"

"I came to see whether someone who was ready to die over a single decision made by her young mistress had gotten herself into trouble."

"And you didn't even refute what I said just now. Looks like even you think you've been dumped."

Only after hearing Jiang Yue's teasing did Wu Feng realize what he had said. Her tears stopped at once, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. Combined with her reddened eyes and dirty little face, the usually domineering Wu Feng looked extraordinarily pitiful at that moment.

Logically speaking, Wu Feng should have been angry at Jiang Yue's words. Yet she felt considerably better now. That sorrow had not faded and still lingered in her mind.

However, alongside the sorrow, Wu Feng felt an indescribable joy. It was an emotion that rose from the depths of her heart.

Wu Feng did not understand why such joy had suddenly appeared. She had been heartbroken only a moment ago, and the scene from before was still replaying endlessly in her mind. Yet the wonderful memories she had accumulated while growing up with Ning Tian were also surfacing one after another.

The sudden joy intertwined with the sorrow in Wu Feng's heart, leaving her unsure whether she should laugh or cry. In any case, she had stopped crying. The mixture of those two emotions had cleared her mind somewhat and restored her reason.

"Who got dumped?! Young Mistress and I grew up together! We're sisters from different parents! Among our sect's generation, Young Mistress and I have the best relationship, and I'm even the young mistress's bodyguard chosen by the sect! Our relationship isn't what you think it is!"

"Hehe, I don't think I ever mentioned who you were supposedly dumped by. Isn't that you giving yourself away?"

Wu Feng's mind spun rapidly, and she immediately realized what she had just said. Knowing that she had exposed her little secret, her intense embarrassment and naturally forceful personality made her glare fiercely at Jiang Yue, trying to conceal the panic in her heart.

Naturally, Jiang Yue could tell that Wu Feng was putting on an act.

"To be honest, quite a few people can probably see through your thoughts. But among people our age, there are likely very few who can. After all, your thoughts and feelings are a little ahead of your peers, and your identities and relationship with Ning Tian are right there in plain sight. Most people would probably only see you as master and servant with a good relationship, or perhaps sisters."

"But those adults, those old foxes—especially the people in power within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—can't possibly fail to see what you're thinking. The only reason they haven't taken action to eliminate you, someone who could potentially affect the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's plans, is because you and Ning Tian are still young."

"Once you and Ning Tian grow older, if you still feel that way about her, I'm not sure what will happen to Ning Tian. After all, she's the young sect mistress. Normally, as long as she doesn't betray the sect, she will be fine. But for you, even if elders in your family are willing to support you, the lightest punishment would be never seeing Ning Tian again for the rest of your life."

"I think that with your talent, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect won't compromise for someone like you, who's already one of their own. Your feelings will most likely come to nothing."

Wu Feng was only a Soul Grandmaster now. Her talent was indeed good, but it was far from enough for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Forget being together with Ning Tian—Wu Feng would be lucky if she could protect herself in the future.

Jiang Yue was not exaggerating. By normal logic, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would ideally want Ning Tian to find a suitable future partner at Shrek Academy. During that process, it would be best if Wu Feng also found someone with decent talent.

That way, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be tying down two geniuses at once. That was the best outcome they envisioned.

If that truly did not work, they could also have Ning Tian and Wu Feng bind themselves to the same peerless genius. After all, Wu Feng's status could, in a sense, be described as Ning Tian's dowry maid. The prerequisite was that the person's talent had to be truly exceptional.

However, the higher-ups of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect probably had not expected Wu Feng to grow crooked during her upbringing and want to become the person who always stood by Ning Tian's side.

"I think you understand all of this yourself. Since you want to be with Ning Tian, you couldn't possibly have failed to look into these matters. So you should have been prepared for it long ago, right?"

Faced with Jiang Yue's question, Wu Feng had nothing to say. In truth, she knew everything. She knew why the two of them had come to Shrek Academy, how much pressure Ning Tian would face as the sect master's heir, and that the sect was already beginning to lack promising successors.

"I know. I know everything you said. But I just don't want Young Mistress standing beside those people! I just want to stay with Young Mistress forever! I... I just can't control my feelings. What's wrong with that?!"

"There's nothing wrong with it. Everyone has people they like or dislike, and all kinds of emotions. Wanting to be with someone you like isn't wrong."

"Or rather, Wu Feng, I admire you. I admire that you dare to admit your special feelings for Ning Tian. But you've forgotten one thing: your feelings are your own business. You can't force them onto Ning Tian, and you shouldn't interfere with her too much. With you around, I doubt Ning Tian can even get close to any male students, can she?"

"I'm not saying this to tell you to hide or restrain your feelings. Don't worry. I'm only giving you a little advice as an observer. The people involved are often confused, while onlookers see clearly. Maybe my advice can genuinely help you."

"Well? Want to hear it?" Seeing the meaning in Wu Feng's gaze, Jiang Yue revealed his idea.

"Try working hard. Make yourself better and become the very best. Then you won't need to do anything—Ning Tian's gaze will naturally be drawn to you. Once you become someone capable of making your own decisions, I believe no one within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will oppose you anymore."

"Isn't that just nonsense?! I know my own talent. Reaching the level you're talking about would be impossible for me unless I found one of those legendary Immortal Herbs!"

Although Jiang Yue's influence and words had improved Wu Feng's mood considerably, she still rolled her eyes at him. Just as she had said, she knew her own talent.

Becoming a Titled Douluo would basically be the end of the road for her in the future. Whether she could become a Super Douluo would depend on luck. To make the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect tacitly accept her wishes, Wu Feng would need at least Rank 96 cultivation. Moreover, she did not have that much time. Given the situation within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Tian would definitely have to marry and bear children once she reached the appropriate age.

At most, she had twenty years. Wu Feng did not believe she could reach that level of cultivation within twenty years.

"How will you know you can't do it if you don't try? Go and try. At least then you'll have a tiny chance of succeeding. But if you give up now, failure will be your only outcome."

"Work hard. Even if you don't succeed in the end, at least you will have tried."

Wu Feng remained squatting on the ground, staring blankly at Jiang Yue. The instant her gaze met his eyes, a faint anger arose in her heart. That spark of fury ignited the "gunpowder" within her, and light returned to her previously dim eyes.

As if possessed, she grabbed Jiang Yue's hand and let him pull her to her feet. Only when his warmth reached her hand did she snap out of her own world. She hastily pulled her hand back, crossed her arms over her chest, and raised her head to look at Jiang Yue. She looked just like a rooster with its head held high.

"Let me make this clear first. I only think some of what you said makes sense, so I've decided to listen to you for a while. But if we meet in the elimination tournament, I'll still go all out!"

"Of course. I also want to see what Wu Feng looks like when she goes all out. Good luck. Show everyone your true strength, Wu Feng."

"I don't need you to tell me that! When the time comes, I'll definitely surprise everyone, including you, Jiang Yue! Just watch!"

Wu Feng raised her arm and shouted, declaring the ambition in her heart.

Looking at Wu Feng, who had now fully recovered, Jiang Yue silently withdrew the Spiritual Power and Soul Power that had been constantly influencing her. After confirming that the reinvigorated Wu Feng had no other issues, Jiang Yue finally relaxed slightly.

That was another job completed. He had successfully saved a heartbroken girl, and another sum of Gold Soul Coins would soon be in his account. Before long, Jiang Yue would have saved enough money.

Jiang Yue led Wu Feng back to the entrance of the Psychological Counseling Room. Seeing Ning Tian waiting there, Wu Feng awkwardly moved up beside her. There no longer seemed to be any barrier between the two of them, and they left together.

After seeing off the young mistress and her bodyguard, Jiang Yue looked at the sky, which was already nearly dark. He immediately closed the Psychological Counseling Room's door and headed back toward Shrek Academy.

In the dormitory, Jiang Yue had a room all to himself. Since he did not have any particularly close friends, almost no one ever came here. Over the past few months, there had even been so few knocks on his door that they could be counted on one hand.

He took out the small booklet Ning Tian had given him, which recorded the Distraction Control Technique, and flipped through it. Jiang Yue could finally begin learning this secret technique, which was highly compatible with his abilities.

Earlier, Jiang Yue had already found some descriptions of the Distraction Control Technique in Shrek Academy's library.

After ten thousand years of transmission, the Distraction Control Technique could practically be considered the hallmark of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's direct descendants. At its core, it was a basic technique that continuously trained one's Spiritual Power in order to achieve multitasking. At the same time, it could greatly reduce Soul Power consumption when a Soul Master used soul skills, improving endurance.

This technique also had certain requirements for Spiritual Power. Those without exceptional talent in that regard would progress incredibly slowly.

According to Jiang Yue's memories, the Distraction Control Technique only had five levels. The entry level was the Three Apertures Heart, while the highest was the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart. Perhaps because an Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had not appeared even once in those ten thousand years, no one in the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had researched the later stages of the Distraction Control Technique.

In other words, the Distraction Control Technique was incomplete. But that did not matter to Jiang Yue. For him, it was only a transitional technique.

Once he obtained the Living Gold and fully awakened Electrolux, once Electrolux recalled some of his insights into Spiritual Power cultivation from before his death, the Distraction Control Technique would be utterly incomparable.

Compared to the current Douluo Continent, where even the Spiritual Power system had yet to be perfected, the Holy Magic Continent from Throne of Seal clearly possessed a complete system. The Douluo Continent naturally could not compare.

Those were matters for later. Everything had to wait until Electrolux awakened and his remnant soul truly stabilized before they could discuss the future.

With Jiang Yue's Spiritual Power, it took him only a short while to memorize the contents of the booklet. Next, he only needed to study the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect member's insights on the Distraction Control Technique and attempt to get started.

He left the dormitory and went to a flowerbed beside the dormitory building. Squatting down, he picked up two branches from the ground and immediately focused completely, beginning his attempt.

Thanks to that old man deliberately making Jiang Yue practice with his left hand in the past, Jiang Yue was now quite adept at using both hands simultaneously.

He adjusted his breathing and focused all of his attention on his hands.

Drawing a circle with his left hand and a square with his right—something nearly impossible for most ordinary people—was truly accomplished by Jiang Yue on his very first attempt.

Thanks to his Spiritual Power, Jiang Yue succeeded in one try at something that normally required constant practice. What he needed to do next was repeat the process until drawing circles with his left hand and squares with his right became second nature.

At first, Jiang Yue was still rather slow, but gradually his speed increased. Half an hour later, Jiang Yue finally put down the two branches in his hands.

I'll stop here for today. The elimination tournament starts tomorrow. This time, all the freshmen who weren't eliminated during the round-robin stage, as well as the teachers and directors, will be watching. I should maintain a good condition.

Jiang Yue did not want to be like the original Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, punished with cleaning the teaching building for being late. With that time, his Psychological Counseling Room could have earned at least another sum of Gold Soul Coins.

As he passed the dormitory entrance, Jiang Yue's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the old man lying motionlessly in a reclining chair before the dormitory gates. Though the sun had already set, a faint smile still hung at the corners of his mouth.

Sensing Jiang Yue's undisguised gaze, Mu En opened his cloudy eyes and looked at the youth before him, whose talent seemed even greater than his own had been.