Two Girls Compete for Changsheng, Tang San Eavesdrops Hiding in the Bushes?

After the debut match of the Spirit Hall Academy Team, the entire Spirit City was buzzing with discussion about that battle lasting less than thirty breaths.

Yunluo Senior Spirit Master Academy was not weak; every member was a Soul Sect with seamless coordination, considered a strong team in any tournament.

Yet when facing the Spirit Hall Academy Team, their formation seemed dismantled by an invisible giant hand.

The support was cut down, the crowd control fell into chaos, and the captain's sneak attack failed.

The one manipulating it all was not Hu Liena, Xie Yue, or Yan who possessed the highest soul power, but that seemingly gentlest white-robed youth.

Gu Changsheng!

This name was truly remembered by every academy for the first time.

That night in the inner city of Spirit City, along a bluestone path leading to the participating academies' quarters, Gu Changsheng was returning alone from the direction of the Pope Palace.

He had just concluded his review meeting; Bibi Dong was very satisfied with today's battle, but also reminded him that the further the Finals progressed, the more opponents would target his mental-attribute abilities.

At this moment, the Myriad Heaven Book floated in his palm, its pages recording the tactics exposed by various academies so far.

Unconsciously, his footsteps suddenly halted. Standing at the corner ahead was a pink figure.

Xiao Wu had her hands behind her back, her toe gently kicking the ground as if she had been waiting for a while.

Hearing footsteps, she raised her head and uttered a soft call:

"You're finally here."

Gu Changsheng looked at her, revealing a puzzled expression.

"You're waiting for me?"

Xiao Wu gave a light snort.

"Otherwise? Could I be here watching the moon?"

Gu Changsheng looked up; tonight the clouds were very thick, and the moon was invisible.

Xiao Wu's face turned slightly red, and she immediately glared at him.

"You're not allowed to look!"

The corners of Gu Changsheng's lips twitched.

"Looking for me for something?"

Xiao Wu turned her face away, her voice feigning casualness.

"Where is my handkerchief?"

Gu Changsheng paused slightly, looking a bit dumbfounded. Suddenly remembering something, he slowly said:

"It's with Senior Sister."

Xiao Wu started.

"Hu Liena?"

"Mn."

Xiao Wu's brows instantly furrowed.

"My handkerchief, why is it with her?"

Gu Changsheng said calmly:

"I brought blood back that night, she re-bandaged my wounds for me, and the handkerchief was taken by her."

Hearing the words re-bandaged my wounds for me, Xiao Wu felt inexplicably uncomfortable in her heart.

She snorted lightly:

"Your Spirit Hall Holy Daughter is really quite meticulous."

Gu Changsheng looked at her.

"Senior Sister has always taken care of me."

This sentence seemed to gently prick Xiao Wu.

She pressed her lips together, then lifted her chin.

"Then you tell her to return it to me."

Before Gu Changsheng could speak, a soft and charming voice came from behind.

"So Xiao Wu was looking for this."

Xiao Wu's body stiffened, and she turned to look.

Hu Liena appeared at the other end of the bluestone path at some point.

She wore a light gold long dress with her long hair cascading down, holding a folded light pink handkerchief in her hand.

A small rabbit was embroidered in the corner of the handkerchief, and Xiao Wu recognized it as her own thing at a glance!

Hu Liena walked over slowly, a just-right smile on her face.

"It's washed clean."

She handed out the handkerchief, but didn't let go immediately.

Xiao Wu reached out to take it, and their fingertips pressed onto both ends of the handkerchief at the same time.

The air inexplicably fell silent for a moment!

Hu Liena smiled:

"Xiao Wu is really quite meticulous. Bandaging my Junior Brother's wounds in the middle of the night."

Xiao Wu said immediately:

"I just did it by the way."

"By the way?"

Hu Liena's gaze shifted slightly.

"To be able to happen to do it by the way in the Old District dark alleys is quite a coincidence."

Xiao Wu was instantly at a loss for words, while Gu Changsheng stood to the side without chiming in.

He knew very well that saying anything at this moment would easily invite trouble onto himself.

Xiao Wu bit her teeth.

"I said, it was by the way. Besides, he was injured that night, if not for me..."

Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly stopped, and the smile in Hu Liena's eyes deepened.

"If not for you?"

Xiao Wu's earlobes turned slightly red.

"Anyway, I helped him!"

Hu Liena nodded gently.

"That's why I thank you on behalf of Changsheng."

She deliberately pronounced the two characters Changsheng very naturally.

True to form, Xiao Wu furrowed her brows slightly.

"Changsheng?"

Hu Liena smiled gently.

"We've cultivated together since we were kids; we surely can't keep calling him Junior Brother forever."

Xiao Wu tightened her grip on the handkerchief, feeling that she shouldn't care.

Yet hearing Hu Liena address Gu Changsheng like that, she just found it grating to the ear and felt very uncomfortable inside.

Xiao Wu looked at Gu Changsheng.

"Gu Changsheng, you just let her call you that? Is this how you treat your savior?"

Gu Changsheng said calmly:

"It's just a form of address, Xiao Wu, is this fine? I-I truly am very grateful that you saved me, didn't I also save you once?"

Hu Liena turned to look at him, her smile slightly cool.

"Just a form of address?"

Gu Changsheng: "Senior Sister... I..."

Xiao Wu had originally felt somewhat uncomfortable, but seeing Gu Changsheng blocked by a single sentence from Hu Liena, she suddenly felt a bit like laughing again.

Seeing the curve at the corners of her mouth that she couldn't suppress, Hu Liena's gaze flickered slightly.

"Xiao Wu seems very happy?"

Xiao Wu immediately straightened her face.

"No."

Hu Liena let go of the handkerchief.

Xiao Wu pulled the handkerchief back, only to find that the bloodstains on it were gone, and it even carried a faint fragrance.

She lowered her head to take a look, her mood complicated.

Hu Liena said indifferently:

"The item has been returned to you, you must keep it safe in the future."

Xiao Wu raised her head.

"What do you mean?"

Hu Liena's voice was gentle.

"After all, not every time will someone help you pick it back up."

This sentence sounded like a reminder, and also like a declaration.

Xiao Wu's eyes instantly gained a bit of unconvinced defiance.

"Hu Liena, you don't need to beat around the bush, I know what you want to say."

Hu Liena smiled slightly.

"Oh?"

Xiao Wu took a deep breath and looked at Gu Changsheng.

"I only came to take back my own thing."

"And also..."

She paused, her voice growing softer.

"That night's matter, thank you for not telling anyone."

Gu Changsheng looked at her.

"No need to thank me."

Xiao Wu bit her lip and turned to leave directly, but suddenly stopped again, unable to hold back from asking:

"Gu Changsheng, what on earth are you thinking?"

Hu Liena's gaze narrowed slightly, and Gu Changsheng did not answer immediately.

Xiao Wu raised her eyes to look at him, carrying a trace of stubbornness in her eyes that she herself hadn't noticed.

"You're clearly a person of Spirit Hall... yet you always remind me and help me."

"Are you treating me as a friend, or..."

She didn't continue, and Hu Liena's gaze landed on Gu Changsheng.

At this moment, she wanted to hear the answer too.

Gu Changsheng's expression was calm, but his voice was lower than usual.

"Both."

Xiao Wu was startled.

Hu Liena's gaze darkened slightly.

Gu Changsheng continued:

"You've helped me, and I also don't wish to see you die in a place where you shouldn't."

"But I won't deny that you are very important to Tang San."

Xiao Wu's expression changed slightly.

"So you've been using me?"

Gu Changsheng looked at her without dodging.

"Yes."

Xiao Wu's chest felt as though it had been gently struck.

This answer was too direct.

Direct to the point that for a moment she didn't know whether to be angry or relieved.

Gu Changsheng added:

"But being used doesn't mean I hope to see you get hurt."

Xiao Wu stared dazedly at him; she hated this kind of statement.

Yet what she hated even more was that she could actually tell he was speaking the truth.

Hu Liena stood to the side, complicated emotions swirling deep within her eyes.

She had long guessed that Gu Changsheng was using Xiao Wu to keep Tang San in check.

Yet hearing him say it aloud with her own ears, she still felt a stifling tightness in her chest.

Xiao Wu clenched the handkerchief tightly and said in a low voice:

"Gu Changsheng, you're really hateful."

Gu Changsheng nodded.

"I know."

Xiao Wu was thoroughly angered by his nonchalant attitude.

"Can't you even offer an explanation?"

Gu Changsheng said:

"Explaining would appear hypocritical."

Xiao Wu choked.

Hu Liena couldn't help letting out a soft chuckle.

Xiao Wu immediately looked toward her.

"What are you laughing at?"

Hu Liena said calmly,

"Laughing at you just now realizing how annoying he is."

Xiao Wu frowned.

"Since you know, why are you still so close to him?"

Hu Liena looked at Gu Changsheng, her voice soft yet serious.

"Because I know, annoying as he is, he doesn't deceive his own people."

Xiao Wu felt a lump in her throat once more.

Own people—these three words grated on her ears even more than Changsheng.

She lowered her head and tucked the handkerchief into her sleeve.

"I got the item, I'm leaving!"

With that, she turned to walk away.

Gu Changsheng spoke suddenly:

"Xiao Wu."

Xiao Wu's steps paused, though she didn't turn back.

Gu Changsheng said,

"In the latter half of the Finals, don't stray too far from Tang San."

Xiao Wu's body stiffened.

Hu Liena's gaze shifted slightly.

This sentence sounded like concern.

Yet she knew Gu Changsheng wouldn't issue a warning for no reason.

Xiao Wu turned back to look at him.

"Why?"

Gu Changsheng answered calmly,

"Spirit City is not Tiandou City."

"Certain gazes might not be watching just the match."

Xiao Wu's face grew slightly pale; she understood a fraction of his meaning, yet dared not think too deeply.

Gu Changsheng continued,

"This is all the warning I can give you."

Xiao Wu looked at him, her gaze complex.

"Are you helping me again?"

Gu Changsheng said,

"You could say that."

"And using me as well?"

"That too."

Xiao Wu bit her lip.

"You really don't know how to say a single nice thing."

Gu Changsheng said calmly,

"Pleasant words aren't necessarily useful."

Xiao Wu stared at him for a long moment before finally saying softly,

"Gu Changsheng, sooner or later I'll figure out what on earth you're trying to do."

Finished speaking, she turned and hurried away.

The pink figure quickly vanished at the end of the bluestone path.

Hu Liena looked toward the direction where Xiao Wu had left, silent for a moment.

"She has fallen for him."

Gu Changsheng did not deny it.

"Mhm."

Hu Liena turned to look at him.

"You really are composed."

Gu Changsheng said,

"I can't hide it from Senior Sister."

Hu Liena stepped closer, her voice dropping a fraction.

"And what about you?"

Gu Changsheng looked at her.

"What?"

Hu Liena's gaze was earnest.

"Have you fallen for her?"

The night wind blew, causing the lamplight along the bluestone path to flicker slightly.

Gu Changsheng was silent for a moment.

"No."

Hu Liena stared straight into his eyes.

"Really?"

"Really!"

Gu Changsheng's expression was completely earnest.

Hu Liena laughed abruptly.

Yet there was little ease within that laughter.

"Then that makes you even more detestable."

Gu Changsheng offered no rebuttal.

Hu Liena spoke softly,

"You knew full well she would be thrown into turmoil because of you, yet you drew her in step by step."

The corners of Gu Changsheng's mouth curved upward into a seductive smile as he said,

"Tang San is too steady. To beat him, one must shake his heart, and this is his weakness..."

Hu Liena asked,

"So Xiao Wu is a chess piece?"

Gu Changsheng said,

"She is."

Hu Liena asked again, disbelief flickering in her voice,

"Then what about me?"

Gu Changsheng paused slightly.

Hu Liena walked right up to him, looking up into his face as her gaze bared her emotions without concealment for the very first time.

"Gu Changsheng, am I also just a chess piece to you?"

Gu Changsheng remained silent. Hu Liena's voice grew softer, yet more dangerous.

"Look at me and answer me!"

Gu Changsheng looked at her and said slowly,

"No."

Hu Liena's eyelashes trembled slightly.

Gu Changsheng continued,

"Senior Sister is one of my own people."

Hu Liena gave a light laugh.

"Just one of your own people?"

Gu Changsheng paused, and Hu Liena closed the distance by half a step.

The space between them grew close enough to hear each other's breathing.

"You are so skilled at calculating human hearts—have you ever calculated why I was jealous?"

Gu Changsheng's gaze shifted slightly.

Without waiting for his answer, Hu Liena suddenly reached out and gently grasped his lapel.

"Gu Changsheng, you can use others, but you are forbidden from pushing me away! Do you hear me!"

Gu Changsheng looked at her, his voice softening.

"I won't. Senior Sister is Senior Sister! You're different from the others!"

The unease in Hu Liena's eyes finally faded somewhat.

She released her grip, returning to her usual charming and poised demeanor.

"Remember your words."

Gu Changsheng nodded.

"Mhm."

Hu Liena turned and walked forward.

After taking a few steps, she suddenly looked back.

"And another thing."

Gu Changsheng looked toward her.

Hu Liena smiled faintly.

"From now on, you are forbidden from accepting any other girl's handkerchief."

Gu Changsheng let out a helpless sigh.

"Very well."

In the shadows.

A blue figure stood quietly behind a pillar.

Tang San.

He hadn't heard the entire conversation, having only seen Xiao Wu leave from this spot and witnessed Gu Changsheng standing extremely close to Hu Liena.

Yet that was already enough.

Tang San's gaze grew dark.

Xiao Wu's recent abnormal behavior was indeed related to Gu Changsheng.

His fingers slowly clenched into fists.

Gu Changsheng...

Amidst the night, Tang San turned and walked away.

As if sensing something, Gu Changsheng turned his head and glanced back toward the pillars.

That place was already completely empty.

Hu Liena asked,

"What is it?"

Gu Changsheng said calmly,

"The fish has started taking the bait."

Hu Liena frowned slightly, then understood.

"Tang San?"

Gu Changsheng didn't answer, simply looking in the direction of the Shrek Residence.

His gaze was calm to the point of near-indifference.

Tang San's greatest weakness had never been his Martial Soul, but Xiao Wu!

Once that heart was thrown into chaos, even the most level-headed Control System Spirit Master would inevitably reveal an opening...