Training Done, Time to Go Shopping

After the afternoon's mecha combat training ended, the entire training ground was steeped in an exhausted, dispirited atmosphere. Wu Zhangkong stood in the center of the field with a cold expression, his gaze sweeping over everyone like a blade before finally settling on Xie Xie. "Xie Xie, your focus was scattered, your footing unsteady, and your punches weak. Today's performance wasn't even thirty percent of your usual level." His icy voice echoed across the empty training ground.

Xie Xie lowered his head, his lips pressed into a straight line. He had no way to argue. His mind had drifted elsewhere all afternoon—to that greasy braised pork knuckle Gu Yue had eaten, and to Tang Wulin carefully serving Gu Yue food while tossing him a tiny rib with barely any meat on it. Every detail circled through his mind, leaving him restless and irritated. During training, his movements had been half a beat slower than usual, and his reactions far duller. Wu Zhangkong mercilessly called out every one of his mistakes, his tone growing harsher each time.

"Your arm is raised at the wrong angle. Again."

"Your stance is unstable. Do twenty more sets of squats."

"Your timing on the block was completely wrong. Did you leave your brain behind?"

Every sentence was like a tiny hammer pounding against Xie Xie's already agitated heart. He gritted his teeth as sweat ran from his temples into his eyes, stinging painfully. Xu Xiaoyan secretly gave him a comforting look, while Tang Wulin pursed his lips and furrowed his brow slightly, seeming worried for him.

"Zhangkong." A gentle voice cut in. Long Bing had somehow come to Wu Zhangkong's side and lightly tugged at his sleeve. "The children have been training all afternoon. Xie Xie might not be feeling well today, so don't be too hard on him." She looked at Xie Xie, her eyes warm and soothing.

Wu Zhangkong frowned, his lips moving as if he wanted to explain something—about the dangers of losing focus in battle, about how even the slightest lapse could one day cost someone their life. But seeing Xie Xie's pale face and Long Bing's disapproving gaze, he ultimately swallowed those harsh words, turning them into an almost inaudible sigh. "Bing'er... this... Fine. Rest for fifteen minutes, then continue."

Those fifteen minutes felt especially long to Xie Xie. He sat against the wall and closed his eyes, feeling as though every bone in his body had fallen apart. His training uniform was soaked through with sweat, clinging to him uncomfortably. He heard Gu Yue quietly saying something to Tang Wulin, her voice carrying its usual cheerfulness and a trace of barely perceptible excitement. He could not be bothered to listen.

By evening, when Wu Zhangkong finally announced, "That's enough for today," most of the trainees collapsed to the ground as if they had been granted amnesty, while others slowly shuffled toward the changing rooms. Xie Xie dragged his heavy feet, feeling as though he could fall asleep where he stood.

"Wulin! Wulin!" Gu Yue's crisp voice shattered the weary silence. She skipped over to Tang Wulin in a few steps, her eyes sparkling, looking nothing like someone who had just completed high-intensity training. "That big Soul Guidance Technology Lifestyle Store in the central district is having a limited-time sale today! Shall we go take a look? I heard they have the newest multifunctional Soul Guidance communicators and lots of fun portable Soul Guidance devices!"

Tang Wulin wiped the sweat from his forehead and gave Gu Yue's eager expression a somewhat helpless smile. "You still have the energy to go shopping?"

"Of course I do!" Gu Yue swung his arm. "Training is training, life is life! It's good to relax a little! Xiaoyan, come with us too, okay?" She turned toward Xu Xiaoyan, who was packing up her things.

Xu Xiaoyan hesitated, looked at the sky, then at Tang Wulin, and nodded. "Sure. I want to see whether they have any new Soul Guidance lighting fixtures."

Listening to their conversation, Xie Xie felt a profound despair well up inside him. He struggled to lift his eyelids, which felt as heavy as lead, his voice weak and lifeless. "Gu Yue... are you a monster? We trained all afternoon—high-intensity mecha simulation battles and extreme physical challenges. My soul power and stamina are almost depleted... Where did you get the energy to go shopping? I can't do it anymore. I'm really about to die... Right now, I just want to go back to the dorm and lie down, becoming one with my bed..."

Gu Yue glanced at him and snorted. "Who told you not to eat meat at lunch? Then you got distracted and scolded all afternoon, so you used up even more energy. Come on, come on. Moving around and getting some air will make you feel better. Wulin already agreed!" Without giving him any choice, she grabbed Tang Wulin with one hand and somehow yanked Xie Xie up from the ground with the other. "Hurry up! If we're late, all the sale items will be gone!"

"Hey! I haven't agreed yet... Gu Yue! This is kidnapping! And you ate all the meat—" Xie Xie's feeble protest was quickly drowned out as Gu Yue dragged him away. Tang Wulin gave Xie Xie an apologetic yet helpless look. Xu Xiaoyan covered her mouth and giggled before following after them.

And so, Xie Xie was swept into the evening crowd heading toward the shopping district, utterly devoid of the will to live. Like a soulless puppet, he staggered after the three energetic companions.

The moment they entered the brightly lit Soul Guidance Technology Lifestyle Store, which brimmed with futuristic flair, Gu Yue was like a fish returning to water. Pulling Tang Wulin along, she darted among the dazzling shelves and display counters.

"Wulin, look at this! The latest wristband-style soul power reserve monitor! It can record body data too!"

"Wow, this portable environmental simulation Soul Guidance device is so cute! It can simulate a starry sky! We should buy one for the dorm!"

"This set of combination-tool Soul Guidance devices is so comprehensive. It'll definitely come in handy when we make Soul Guidance components later!"

"This Soul Guidance thermos is said to maintain a constant temperature for seventy-two hours..."

Gu Yue wanted to pick up and inspect practically everything she saw, letting out little surprised cries from time to time. Tang Wulin could still carefully examine things and offer his opinion at first, but eventually even he found it hard to keep up. He could only smile helplessly and let Gu Yue hand him all the items she liked.

Meanwhile, Xie Xie's role was swiftly demoted from "companion" to "human mobile rack." The things Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan bought—the boxes were not especially large, but there were plenty of them—quickly filled both his hands, then began to hang from the crooks of his arms. There were beautifully packaged Soul Guidance instrument boxes, shopping bags holding cute little trinkets, and several metal cases that appeared to contain Soul Guidance materials.

"Xie Xie, hold this carefully. It's fragile." Gu Yue cautiously placed a box containing an exquisite Soul Guidance glass ornament atop his already overburdened arm.

"Brother Xie, could you carry this too..." Xu Xiaoyan somewhat apologetically handed over a long paper bag containing a new Soul Guidance lampshade.

Xie Xie wanted to cry but had no tears. His arms ached, the handles of the shopping bags cut painfully into his fingers, and some sort of soft pouch seemed to be hanging around his neck as well. Looking at Gu Yue ahead of him, still full of energy and browsing everywhere, then at Tang Wulin beside him, who was carrying a few bags but still looked fairly relaxed—clearly, Gu Yue's main target for "exploitation" was Xie Xie—he deeply understood what "unequal treatment" meant.

"Gu Yue... Sister Yue... isn't this enough?" Xie Xie's voice was pleading. "I can't carry any more... And my soul power really is running dry. My hands are shaking..."

Gu Yue turned around and looked at Xie Xie's pitiful state, swaying on the verge of collapse and surrounded by every sort of shopping bag. At last, her conscience stirred—or perhaps she had merely temporarily satisfied her shopping urge. She blinked. "All right, we'll stop here for today. Xie Xie, thanks for your hard work! I'll treat you to a drink later!"

Xie Xie no longer even had the strength to roll his eyes. He could only weep silently in his heart. His arms no longer felt like his own, and his legs felt as though he were walking on cotton. The road back seemed especially long, every step accompanied by the soft rustling of shopping bags bumping against one another and his own heavy breathing.

As the evening lights came on, the glow of Soul Guidance lamps spread across both sides of the street. Tang Wulin and Gu Yue walked side by side in front, quietly discussing the operating principles of some interesting Soul Guidance device they had seen that day. Xu Xiaoyan followed quietly beside them, occasionally adding a word. Xie Xie, meanwhile, hung his head like an utterly exhausted camel laden with cargo, trudging along at the rear one step at a time. All he wanted was to immediately, instantly, teleport back to his small but now incomparably warm and welcoming bed.

Tomorrow—tomorrow, he would definitely stay far away from every one of Gu Yue's "leisure suggestions." Xie Xie made the vow in his heart.