Dawn was just breaking, yet the atmosphere in Shrek Academy's Outer Court felt somewhat oppressive.
Gu Yue had been distracted all day. Her beautiful face, usually as cold as frost, was now frighteningly pale. Her long silver hair hung loose and disheveled, and her once-lively silver eyes were bloodshot. Clearly, she had not slept all night. Countless times, she had wanted to rush out to find Tang Wulin, yet she feared seeing the disappointment in his eyes. All she could do was suffer in despair and self-reproach.
Naturally, such unusual behavior could not escape the companions who spent every day with her.
On the training grounds, Ye Xinglan stopped swinging her heavy sword and fixed her sharp gaze on Gu Yue. Seeing her friend looking so utterly lost, she frowned. In the end, she sheathed her sword, walked over to Wu Siduo, and asked quietly, "What's wrong with Gu Yue? She's in terrible shape."
Wu Siduo paused at her words. She glanced at Gu Yue, who stood in a daze some distance away, then at the empty entrance to the training grounds—the Class Monitor who usually arrived first, wearing a gentle smile, still had not appeared today.
"What else?" Wu Siduo said, her tone tinged with coldness and resignation. "Something happened at the Spirit Pagoda yesterday. That guy called Qiangu Zhangting came out to provoke them and insulted Tang Wulin. Gu Yue didn't handle her 'friend' properly, and Tang Wulin ended up storming off."
"Storming off?" Ye Xinglan's frown deepened. "Tang Wulin is missing?"
"Yes." Wu Siduo nodded, a trace of dissatisfaction with Gu Yue in her voice. "According to word from the Inner Court, he didn't return to his dorm at all last night. Who knows what corner he's hiding in, shutting himself away? There's no point in Gu