A Heart-to-Heart Talk in the Snow?

After Tianshui Academy lost to Spirit Hall, the situation in the Finals became increasingly clear.

The Spirit Hall Academy Team remained overwhelmingly strong, while Shrek continued advancing without pause.

Everyone vaguely sensed that these two teams would inevitably meet sooner or later.

That night, light snow fell over Spirit City.

After training ended, Gu Changsheng went alone to the outer hall corridor. Snowflakes landed on the bluestone steps, quickly melting into wet marks.

He had just opened the Myriad Heaven Book when footsteps sounded behind him.

"Young Master Gu."

Gu Changsheng turned around. Shui Bing'er stood not far away in a light blue cloak, her brows and eyes cool, though she wore a polite smile.

"Sorry to disturb you."

Gu Changsheng closed the book.

"An exchange between control-type Soul Masters?"

Shui Bing'er nodded.

"There are still some things I do not understand about today's battle."

Gu Changsheng gestured for her to sit, and the two sat down beside the corridor.

Shui Bing'er went straight to the point.

"How did you affect Ice and Snow Drifting? It was not an ordinary illusion. The direction of the snow flow was genuinely disrupted."

Gu Changsheng said,

"I did not alter the ice and snow itself."

Shui Bing'er was slightly startled.

"Then it was..."

"What I altered was your and Xue Wu's judgment of the ice and snow's direction."

Gu Changsheng tapped the page with his fingertip, and a faint curtain of light appeared.

The flow patterns of Ice and Snow Drifting emerged within the light screen.

"Your Martial Soul fusion skill requires mental perception to assist in controlling it. Where the snow falls and where the wind blows must all be judged by you."

"I merely caused the directions you saw to differ from their true directions."

Shui Bing'er fell into thought.

"So it was not destruction, but misdirection."

"Correct."

Gu Changsheng said,

"Your Ice and Snow Domain is powerful, but it relies too heavily on your own perception. Once that perception is affected, your control becomes unbalanced."

Shui Bing'er was silent for a moment before softly saying,

"I have learned from you."

Gu Changsheng glanced at her.

"You need not belittle yourself. Among control-type Soul Masters of your age, you are already very strong."

Shui Bing'er smiled faintly.

"How do I compare to Tang San?"

Gu Changsheng did not answer immediately.

Shui Bing'er said,

"It seems the answer is not an easy one."

Gu Changsheng replied calmly,

"Tang San's control is not limited to Soul Skills; it also lies in tactics. He is better at making use of his teammates and turning the entire battlefield into his web."

Shui Bing'er nodded.

"What about you?"

Gu Changsheng looked at her.

Shui Bing'er asked softly,

"You are also a control-type Soul Master. Would you treat your teammates as part of your web?"

Gu Changsheng said lightly,

"On the battlefield, everyone is a chess piece, myself included."

Shui Bing'er looked at him.

"Those words are cold, but they are also true."

Shui Bing'er did not argue.

The snow fell ever more thickly.

She suddenly said,

"Miss Hu Liena seems to care about you greatly."

Gu Changsheng paused slightly.

"She is my Senior Sister."

Shui Bing'er smiled faintly.

"Only your Senior Sister?"

Gu Changsheng fell silent.

Shui Bing'er did not press further, merely looking toward the curtain of snow.

"Actually, I envy her a little."

Gu Changsheng said,

"Envy what?"

"Envy that she can stand by your side."

Shui Bing'er spoke very softly, yet with complete candor.

Gu Changsheng looked at her.

Shui Bing'er's expression was calm, as though she were discussing something she had carefully considered.

"Do not misunderstand, Young Master Gu. It is not as though I feel anything for you because of a single match."

"I simply feel that a person like you is bound to have many storms around him."

Gu Changsheng said,

"That is not worth envying."

Shui Bing'er smiled.

"But the side of the strong was never peaceful."

At that moment, a voice came from the other end of the corridor.

"It seems I came at the wrong time."

Hu Liena slowly approached.

She wore a white fox-fur cloak, smiling with her eyes, though her gaze lightly swept between the two of them.

Shui Bing'er rose to her feet.

"Miss Hu Liena."

Hu Liena smiled and said,

"Miss Shui is still seeking guidance so late at night. How diligent."

Shui Bing'er caught the implication in her words, but she remained unruffled.

"Young Master Gu's guidance is very valuable."

Hu Liena walked to Gu Changsheng's side and naturally stood half a step closer to him.

"Then has Miss Shui finished asking her questions?"

Shui Bing'er glanced at Gu Changsheng.

"I have."

She gave a slight bow.

"Thank you, Young Master Gu. If there is another opportunity in the future, I hope I can continue seeking your guidance."

Gu Changsheng nodded.

"Certainly."

The smile on Hu Liena's lips faded by a fraction.

As though she had not seen it, Shui Bing'er turned and left.

Only after she had gone far away did Hu Liena softly ask,

"Certainly?"

Gu Changsheng looked at her.

"She has good talent as a control-type Soul Master."

Hu Liena said,

"So you intend to continue guiding her?"

"If it proves useful, she can be recruited."

Hu Liena gave a soft snort.

"You are becoming more and more skilled at recruiting people."

Gu Changsheng closed the Myriad Heaven Book.

"Senior Sister, are you jealous?"

Hu Liena narrowed her eyes.

"Hehe~ Did you only just notice?"

Gu Changsheng said seriously,

"I noticed before as well."

Hu Liena choked, then smiled.

"Then why did you deliberately provoke me?"

Gu Changsheng said,

"I did not do so deliberately."

Hu Liena stepped closer and reached out to brush the snow from his shoulder.

"Changsheng, do you know what I worry about most?"

Gu Changsheng looked at her quietly.

Hu Liena said in a low voice,

"I am not afraid of you using others, nor am I afraid of you plotting against Tang San."

"I am afraid that one day, you will treat every feeling as a bargaining chip."

Gu Changsheng was silent for a moment.

"I will not."

Hu Liena looked into his eyes.

"Why not?"

Gu Changsheng said,

"Because at least when it comes to you, I will not."

Hu Liena froze for a moment.

Snow settled on the tips of her hair, making the emotions in her eyes appear much softer.

She suddenly laughed softly.

"Those words sound far better than all your tactical analysis. I like it when you speak like that."

Gu Changsheng said,

"It is only the truth."

Hu Liena raised her hand and lightly tapped his forehead.

"Then remember this: Shui Bing'er may be recruited, and Xiao Wu may be used."

"But as for me, you are not allowed to push me away."

Gu Changsheng nodded.

"Alright."

Beyond the corridor, the sound of falling snow was silent.

Elsewhere, at the Shrek Residence.

Xiao Wu sat by the window, looking at the snow outside.

The handkerchief in her sleeve was taken out and put away several times. In the end, she slapped it onto the table in irritation.

Ning Rongrong walked in just in time to see it.

"Xiao Wu, you have been acting very strangely lately."

Xiao Wu immediately said,

"How have I?"

Ning Rongrong sat beside her.

"Whenever you see Gu Changsheng, it is like someone stepped on your tail."

Xiao Wu's face reddened.

"Rongrong!"

Ning Rongrong propped up her chin.

"Do you like him?"

Xiao Wu abruptly sprang to her feet.

"Impossible!"

Her voice was so loud that even she startled herself.

Ning Rongrong said nothing, merely watched her quietly.

Xiao Wu bit her lip and sat back down.

"I just... think he's very strange."

"He's clearly from Spirit Hall, yet he saved me."

"He admitted he was using me, yet he warned me to be careful."

"What he says is infuriating, but sometimes he also..."

She could not continue.

Ning Rongrong sighed softly.

"Xiao Wu, have you ever considered that this might be his method?"

Xiao Wu lowered her head.

"I know, but knowing is one thing. Your heart still gets confused, doesn't it?"

Xiao Wu fell silent.

Ning Rongrong said softly:

"Third Brother cares about you a lot."

Xiao Wu nodded.

"I know."

"Then don't make him worry."

Xiao Wu looked out at the snowy night beyond the window and said softly:

"Rongrong, I won't betray Third Brother."

Ning Rongrong took her hand.

"I believe you."

Xiao Wu added in a low voice:

"But... I can't stop myself from thinking about it."

The room fell quiet.

Outside the door, Tang San's hand, which had been about to knock, slowly stopped in midair.

He had heard that final sentence.

After a long while, he turned and left.

Snow covered the courtyard.

Tang San stood beneath the corridor, his gaze as heavy as the night.

He would not blame Xiao Wu. He would only place all of this on Gu Changsheng's account.

The next day, the drawing results were announced.

Shrek Academy would face Blazing Fire Academy in the next round.

Meanwhile, the Spirit Hall Academy Team had a bye.

Gu Changsheng looked at the bracket, his eyes shifting slightly.

Blazing Fire.

Huo Wu.

In this match, Tang San would likely become the center of attention once more.

Hu Liena stood beside him.

"Going to watch Shrek again?"

Gu Changsheng said:

"Tang San will reveal something new."

Hu Liena replied blandly:

"Or are you watching Xiao Wu?"

Gu Changsheng sighed helplessly.

"Senior Sister."

Hu Liena chuckled softly.

"Fine, let's go."

"I also want to see whether Tang San can remain calm after being thrown off by you."