Wu Changkong's Demands

The first light of dawn glimmered over the field, where the dusty scent of the earlier sparring match still lingered. At Wu Changkong's command, Class Five's morning training began again, but this time, a cool, aloof figure had joined their ranks.

Gu Yue walked silently in the line. Beneath her seemingly calm expression, her purple eyes seemed to hold a sea of stars. When her gaze happened to sweep over the back of the short-haired boy ahead of her, indescribable joy and warmth surged deep within her eyes. This was the presence that had haunted her dreams, the bond she would cross time and space to find. Yet she concealed that momentary lapse perfectly, merely quickening her steps to draw alongside him.

She tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a carefully measured, faintly shy smile. Holding out her hand, she spoke in a clear voice, deliberately maintaining the politeness of a stranger. "Hello, I'm Gu Yue. I was in a bit of a hurry during the run earlier, so I didn't get a chance to introduce myself."

Tang Wulin, who was panting heavily, turned at her words. Seeing that it was the transfer student who had effortlessly defeated Xie Xie, he quickly steadied his breathing and flashed his white teeth in a bright grin. "I'm Tang Wulin! You were amazing back there. You handled that ice and wind so smoothly!"

Hearing that familiar name, Gu Yue's heart skipped a beat. As she looked at the boy before her, with his short black hair and clear, bright eyes, she seemed to glimpse the golden figure buried deep in her memories. Forcing down the emotions churning in her heart, she raised a hand somewhat bashfully and scratched the back of her head with her fingertips, the gesture endearingly awkward.

"It wasn't much," Gu Yue said, lowering her eyes. Her long lashes hid the profound light that flashed through them as she assumed a modest tone. "There's really nothing to it. As long as you understand your Martial Soul deeply enough and can resonate with the elements, doing that much isn't difficult."

Tang Wulin stared for a moment, then scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "I don't get it. It sounds really complicated. I just rely on being strong and running fast."

Gu Yue looked up at him, a gentle smile glimmering in her purple eyes. She knew that he had not yet awakened, had not yet weathered those storms, but that did nothing to shake the certainty in her heart. She said softly, "A Martial Soul's potential is limitless. Yours must be special too."

"Special?" Tang Wulin blinked. Just as he was about to say something, Xie Xie, who had collapsed on the ground beside them, suddenly let out a wail, interrupting their conversation.

"Ow, my back..." Xie Xie lay weakly on the grass, staring at Tang Wulin and Gu Yue standing side by side as though life held nothing more for him. "Could you two stop hitting it off so well right in front of me? I just got thrashed. My heart hurts."

Tang Wulin laughed and was about to tease Xie Xie when Wu Changkong's tall, straight figure appeared in the middle of the field again, his icy blue gaze sweeping coldly toward them.

"Finished chatting? If you have, keep running. Gu Yue, join them. Start with ten laps to warm up." Wu Changkong's voice held not the slightest ripple of emotion.

Gu Yue's expression sharpened. She immediately put away her smile, straightened, and answered, "Yes, Teacher."

Tang Wulin gave her a sympathetic look and whispered, "Run a little faster. Teacher Wu is really strict."

Gu Yue smiled faintly, confidence sparkling in her purple eyes beneath the morning light. "Just what I wanted."

The morning training group had barely dispersed when Xie Xie flopped onto a bench beside the field, too exhausted to move even a finger. Watching Gu Yue laughing and chatting with Tang Wulin a short distance away left him feeling thoroughly stifled.

"Tch, what an act," Xie Xie muttered. His voice was quiet, but it carried distinctly across the silent field. "She's just relying on elemental control, isn't she? If she's so capable, she should compete with me in speed!"

Gu Yue had been discussing Martial Soul affinity with Tang Wulin. At those words, she turned and looked calmly at Xie Xie with her purple eyes. Her lips lifted slightly, carrying a trace of mockery. "Speed? Didn't someone get frozen in place earlier without even touching the hem of my clothes?"

"You!" Xie Xie sprang from the bench in fury, pointing at Gu Yue. "That was because I'd exhausted my stamina! If I'd been at full strength, I'd have poked you full of holes!"

Tang Wulin pressed a hand to his forehead helplessly. He knew Xie Xie all too well. This was a classic case of losing the fight but refusing to yield an inch.

Gu Yue was not annoyed in the slightest. She leisurely adjusted her sleeve and said in an indifferent tone, "Excuses are a fig leaf for the weak. As a Soul Master, you should bring out the utmost of your Martial Soul, no matter what condition you're in. If you can't even track the paths of the elements, then no matter how fast you are, you're nothing more than a headless fly."

"You... you're twisting the argument!" Gu Yue's unruffled manner infuriated Xie Xie. He felt as though he had punched cotton, with nowhere to put his strength. "The utmost of a Martial Soul, the paths of the elements—at the end of the day, your Martial Soul is just ridiculously overpowered!"

"Overpowered?" Gu Yue chuckled, a trace of disdain flashing in her purple eyes. "A frog at the bottom of a well. The mysteries of the elements are endless: the lightness of wind, the resilience of ice, the violence of fire, the swiftness of lightning... You haven't even scratched the surface, yet you're passing judgment here."

Xie Xie opened his mouth to argue, only to find that he could not come up with a single word. Though he usually had a ready tongue, faced with an opponent as knowledgeable and logically rigorous as Gu Yue, he was suddenly at a loss. After struggling for a long while, he finally shouted, his face crimson, "I... I can't be bothered to reason with a woman like you! If you've got the guts, fight me again!"

As he spoke, Xie Xie started to charge forward, but Tang Wulin reacted swiftly and grabbed him.

"Enough, Xie Xie," Tang Wulin said helplessly. "You just finished twenty laps. Going at her now would only serve you up on a platter."

Xie Xie struggled briefly, but finding that he could not break free of Tang Wulin's grip, he could only glare furiously at Gu Yue, his eyes practically breathing fire.

Watching Xie Xie restrained by Tang Wulin, Gu Yue's eyes flashed with amusement. "Fighting won't solve anything. If you really want to win, you should calm down and study your own Martial Soul properly. Perhaps once you can see through the wind's movements, it won't be too late to discuss who's right and who's wrong."

With that, Gu Yue ignored Xie Xie, who was stamping his feet in fury, and turned toward Tang Wulin. Her tone instantly softened considerably. "Wulin, let's go take a look at the classroom."

Tang Wulin shrugged at Xie Xie to show that there was nothing he could do, then followed Gu Yue away.

Xie Xie stood there, watching their retreating backs and stamping his feet in frustration. "Damn it! This Gu Yue is absolutely infuriating! Wulin, wait for me!"

He stumbled after them as he shouted, still remembering to mutter, "Just you wait. One day, I'll show you what I'm capable of!"

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the window frames, casting dappled light and shadows across the floor of Wu Changkong's office. A faint scent of ink lingered in the air alongside an almost imperceptible chill, the unique presence belonging to this "Frost Sword Immortal."

Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue stood in a row before the desk. Xie Xie was still nursing his resentment over the morning's events, occasionally glaring from the corner of his eye at the composed Gu Yue beside him. Gu Yue, meanwhile, seemed not to notice anything. Her expression was indifferent, and her purple eyes reflected Wu Changkong as he reviewed documents.

"Sit." Without looking up, Wu Changkong broke the silence with his cool voice.

The three sat as instructed. Barely had he taken his seat before Xie Xie could no longer hold back. "Teacher Wu, about this morning..."

"Shut up." Wu Changkong's pen never stopped moving as he coldly uttered the words. Like a duck seized by the neck, Xie Xie immediately fell silent.

A moment later, Wu Changkong set down his pen and raised his head, sweeping his icy blue gaze across the three of them. The invisible pressure he exuded instantly froze the somewhat relaxed atmosphere.

"I called you here to discuss the Promotion Tournament." Wu Changkong was concise, wasting not a single word.

"The Promotion Tournament?" Tang Wulin's eyes lit up, and his fists clenched instinctively. Though he had only recently enrolled, the competitive spirit in his bones had already been stirred.

Wu Changkong rose and walked to the window, his back to the three of them. His voice carried through the breeze with unquestionable authority. "You should know the academy's rules. Starting with the lowest-ranked class, each class challenges those above it in turn. The higher your ranking, the better your treatment."

He turned around, his gaze piercing the three like a sharp sword. "I have only one demand—Class Five must become Class One of the first year."

"Huh?" Xie Xie could not help exclaiming, then said with a miserable expression, "Teacher, isn't that too difficult? Class Five is at the very bottom. We'd have to fight our way all the way up, and we'd also have to face those long-established strong classes..."

Wu Changkong frowned slightly, his gaze settling on Xie Xie as his tone cooled. "What? Beating the retreat before we've even begun? Xie Xie, your parents didn't send you here to hear you say 'no.'"

Hit where it hurt, Xie Xie shrank back and dared not say another word.

Wu Changkong then looked at Tang Wulin and Gu Yue. His tone eased slightly, though it remained stern. "Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, you've only just enrolled, but everyone has seen your strength. Especially you, Gu Yue." He paused, seeming to weigh his words. "Your elemental control is already among the best of the new students. But that is nowhere near enough."

He approached the three, bracing both hands on the desk and leaning forward slightly. His powerful presence made all three catch their breath. "The Promotion Tournament isn't merely a contest of individual strength. It's also about teamwork. The three of you will be Class Five's main fighting force. Over the next few days, I will put you through special training."

"Special training?" Xie Xie felt his world collapse. He had not even recovered from that morning's weighted run, and now the burden was already increasing?

"Yes, special training." Wu Changkong straightened, his gaze blazing. "Meet me at the training grounds after school every day. The program will include, but is not limited to, physical endurance training to your limits, combat sparring, and precision training for Martial Soul control. If your strength hasn't improved significantly before the Promotion Tournament begins..."

He did not finish, but the unspoken implication was more chilling than any punishment.

Tang Wulin drew a deep breath and stood, looking firmly at Wu Changkong. "Teacher, we understand. We'll work hard and make Class Five into Class One!"

Gu Yue stood as well, confidence shining in her purple eyes. "As you wish."

Watching the other two brimming with fighting spirit, Xie Xie could only steel himself and stand, though he was still wailing inwardly. He added feebly, "...I'll do my best too."

As Wu Changkong looked at the three of them, the faintest trace of satisfaction finally flashed through his icy blue eyes. He waved a hand. "Go. Remember, the Promotion Tournament is your chance to prove yourselves. I don't want to see any failures."

"Yes!"

The three answered in unison, their voices echoing through the office. Outside, the afternoon sunlight was a little dazzling. Xie Xie narrowed his eyes as he watched Tang Wulin and Gu Yue walking side by side ahead of him, and the stubborn refusal to lose within him finally caught fire as well.

"Hey, Wulin, Gu Yue," Xie Xie called, hurrying to catch up with a mischievous grin. "Since we're going to have special training, shouldn't we head to the cafeteria now and stock up on some energy for the 'torture' to come?"

Tang Wulin laughed. "Just what I was thinking!"

Gu Yue looked at the two of them, a trace of helplessness flashing in her purple eyes, but her feet honestly betrayed her as she followed them.