One Begets Two, Two Begets Three, Three Begets Gu Yue

(I read more comics, so I based the characters' appearances on the comics. Don't be surprised if some differ from the original descriptions.)

The afternoon sunlight slanted across the plaza outside Eastsea Academy's cafeteria, where students who had just finished class streamed toward the dining hall.

After making a few simple inquiries, Ye Yingluo quietly came to the outside of the cafeteria and found a spot with a wide view.

Her gaze swept over the passing crowd, and she quickly spotted that familiar teenage figure.

Chen An stood beneath the steps outside the cafeteria entrance, his hands tucked into his sleeves. He was clearly waiting for someone.

Ye Yingluo softened her steps and slipped behind a thick stone pillar. She pretended to fiddle with the Soul Tool communicator in her hand, but the corner of her eye never left Chen An.

Before long, two girls approached from the direction of the training grounds.

One had long pale pink hair, while the other had neat short hair. She stood half a head taller than girls her age and had delicate features.

Li Chushui had run herself breathless in class. Her clothes were soaked through with sweat, her shoulders sagged badly, and pain covered her face. The moment class ended, she could no longer hold back her loud complaints about Wu Changkong's harsh training.

"This conditioning isn't meant for humans! I was about to collapse after two laps, and he actually made us run a full twenty! It's killing me!"

She turned to look at Tang Wulin, whose breathing was still steady, her eyes full of amazement.

"What kind of physique do you have? Teacher Wu Changkong specifically made you run extra laps with added weight, and you still held up. I feel like my body's about to fall apart."

Fine beads of sweat also covered Tang Wulin's forehead, and strands of hair clung to her smooth temples. Yet she remained composed as she reached out to support the Li Chushui, who was nearly unable to stand, and smiled faintly.

"I've always been strong, and I developed faster than most. I guess that counts as a bit of talent. I'm pretty confident in my endurance, though."

"Wulin, I can barely feel my legs anymore..." Li Chushui wailed.

The two complained all the way there, finally dragging themselves to the cafeteria entrance.

Chen An had already been waiting there, two bottles of water in hand. He passed them to the girls.

Li Chushui took one, tipped her head back, and gulped it down. Her throat bobbed as she drank more than half the bottle in one breath before finally letting out a long exhale and repeatedly adjusting her breathing.

"Ah—I'm finally alive again! Thanks."

Chen An looked toward Tang Wulin beside her.

The girl appeared composed on the surface, but the fine sweat on her body and the slight tension in her shoulders and back showed that she had expended just as much energy.

"Sister Wulin, are you okay?"

Hidden behind the stone pillar, Ye Yingluo quietly observed them and made her own judgment. These two girls should both be new students at the academy.

She did not yet know their exact classes, so she silently committed their faces to memory and planned to investigate later.

Just then, Tang Wulin swayed slightly. Exhausted, she lightly leaned her shoulder against Chen An's for a brief moment.

After training, the girl had no strength left and merely borrowed his support to rest for a moment.

Seeing this, Ye Yingluo's heart stirred slightly.

But a moment later, she gently shook her head and mocked herself inwardly.

They're still just children. It's normal for them to be a little closer. I'm overthinking it.

A short while later, the three entered the cafeteria together.

After some time, Chen An came out of the cafeteria alone. Long-haired Li Chushui was beside him, while Tang Wulin did not come out with them. She was presumably still inside eating.

The two exchanged a brief farewell at the entrance, and Li Chushui turned to leave.

Chen An did not return to the dormitory. He remained standing where he was, seemingly waiting for someone else.

Ye Yingluo blinked, the doubt in her heart growing heavier. She decided to keep watching.

Before long, a blonde girl in an upperclassman uniform walked over and headed straight for Chen An.

Ye Yingluo recognized that face. She seemed to have seen her twice before.

"It's you. We meet again."

Mu Xi stood with one hand on her hip, naturally carrying herself with the haughty air of a young mistress.

A polite smile appeared on Chen An's face. "Hello, Senior."

"Mhm, good boy."

Mu Xi casually stuffed a neatly packaged bag of snacks into Chen An's hands. Taking advantage of her superior height, she raised a hand and rubbed the top of his head. Only then, satisfied, did she turn and leave.

Ye Yingluo watched the scene from afar, her brows knitting slightly.

This way of interacting seemed ordinary enough. Nothing appeared unusual. Was I worrying for nothing?

Was Chen An simply being approached by all kinds of people, or was something else troubling him?

Yet more than half of the students coming to eat had already left the cafeteria area, while Chen An still stood there without departing.

A girl with a straight posture, black bangs, and a high ponytail walked toward Chen An with cool, measured steps.

Seeing this, Ye Yingluo's pupils contracted slightly, and a thought involuntarily surfaced in her heart: There's another one?!

Chen An only felt a little guilty when facing Gu Yue.

He could not tell whether it was the guilt of having run around with Na'er, or because he was essentially like an undercover agent lurking within the soul beast faction.

Fortunately, they were both academy students now, so there was no need to be overly restrained. But he could not be too presumptuous either.

As a subordinate, Chen An did not look directly into Gu Yue's eyes and lowered his head slightly.

Even without looking up, he could imagine Gu Yue's cold and indifferent expression at this moment.

"Inside the academy, there's no need for honorifics. Please understand," Chen An said softly.

"It does not matter." Gu Yue's cool voice rang out. "Look up."

Chen An raised his eyes as instructed and met Gu Yue's gaze.

The instant their eyes met, the Roulette began spinning again.

This time, it was not an event that required a successful judgment to inspect its sections, but a direct bonus.

—A Glimmer of Insight: Soul Power +5 levels (20%)

—Refreshed and Rejuvenated: Spiritual Power +50 (20%)

—Irresistible Charm: Appearance +1 (20%)

—Forced Growth: Height +10 cm (20%)

—World-Shaking Wisdom: Intelligence -1 (20%)

It had to be Gu Yue. She gave quite a few buffs, but what was that fifth one supposed to mean?

Chen An felt that it would be too conspicuous in public.

"Should we find somewhere private to talk?"

"No need." Gu Yue's expression remained calm. "Now that I have arrived at the academy, there will be plenty of time. If anything important comes up later, I will summon you to a designated location."

Earlier, a small piece of her Dragon Scale had fused into Chen An's body. The Gold-and-Silver Dragon Kings possessed a special shared-origin perception, and he had also inherited the ability to conceal his aura.

She had come today to use that connection to ask him about the situation.

They avoided key terms and chatted by the roadside like ordinary academy students.

"You have been beside the target, Tang Wulin, for three years. Have you discovered anything unusual?"

Chen An's tone remained steady as he reported truthfully.

"On the surface, she is completely an ordinary human girl. The Golden Dragon King's power has been tightly locked inside her by a powerful seal.

I only fused with a small piece of Dragon Scale, and my own abilities are limited. I cannot investigate the seal's details any further."

Behind the stone pillar, Ye Yingluo was still watching intently.

Suddenly, a bag of popcorn was held out beside her face, and a cheerful female voice sounded by her ear.

"Want some?"

Ye Yingluo instinctively raised a hand and waved it away.

"No, thanks. I'm busy."

But the instant the words left her mouth, she suddenly came to her senses and sharply turned her head.