Qualifiers

The valley fell quiet for a moment, broken only by the gurgle where the springs met.

Ning Rongrong felt no awkwardness. She sat quietly beside Ge Duo, watching the strange sight of red and blue intertwining before her. A faint medicinal fragrance lingered at her nose, and time itself seemed to slow.

After a while, Ge Duo spoke again. "We'll stop here for today. You should head back. Sword Douluo is probably waiting outside the valley."

Reluctance flashed across Ning Rongrong's face, but she stood up obediently. "All right. Auntie Ge Duo, I'll come see you again."

"Mm." Ge Duo answered faintly and watched Ning Rongrong walk toward the valley entrance, looking back every few steps.

Only when that pale-green figure vanished behind the poisonous miasma did the faint, almost nonexistent warmth leave Ge Duo's face. Her habitual coldness and calculation returned.

"Feelings?" Ge Duo murmured, a trace of mockery in her voice.

"How convenient."

Whether they were real or not.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Lin Wan was a little surprised to find Snow White standing outside his dormitory door.

Today she wore an understated court gown. Her long golden hair was pinned in a simple bun, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck. She looked more composed than usual, in a way that suited her station.

But a barely perceptible awkwardness and resignation showed in her clear eyes.

"What brings you here?" Lin Wan stepped aside to let her in, then closed the door behind her.

When they had something to discuss, they usually contacted each other directly through the system. This was the first time she had come to his door.

Snow White entered and quickly surveyed the single room assigned to Lin Wan as a member of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team.

It was tidy,