After Zhu Zhuqing arrived, daily life on the mountain behind Nuoding Academy underwent a subtle change.
There used to be three of them-Yi Yun, Xiao Wu, and Tang San. Now there were four.
Tang San was still the one with the least presence.
Yi Yun was still the one the two girls revolved around.
Xiao Wu was still the one who ate the most carrots.
Zhu Zhuqing was still the one who spoke the least.
But one thing had changed: the way Tang San looked at Xiao Wu.
Before, Tang San had looked at Xiao Wu with a gaze that said they were good friends.
But now, there was something more in his eyes when he looked at her.
That something was called affection.
Tang San didn't know when he had started liking Xiao Wu. Perhaps it was the first time she smiled at him, perhaps it was when she shared her carrots with him, or perhaps it was when she called him Tang San.
In any case, he had fallen for her.
He liked her liveliness, her smile, the way her cheeks puffed up when she gnawed on a carrot, and the sound of her voice when she called his name.
But Tang San didn't dare say it.
Because he knew there was already someone else in Xiao Wu's heart.
That person was Yi Yun.
That perpetually grinning, unserious Yi Yun who loved setting him up.
Tang San lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as scenes of Yi Yun and Xiao Wu together replayed over and over in his mind.
Yi Yun handed Xiao Wu a carrot, and she accepted it with a smile.
Yi Yun ruffled Xiao Wu's hair, and she ducked away, blushing.
Yi Yun said, "I like you," and Xiao Wu said, "In your dreams."
Every frame pierced Tang San's heart like a needle.
"No," Tang San said, abruptly sitting up. "I can't just give up like this."
"Even if Xiao Wu likes Yi Yun, I have to let her know how I feel."
"What if... what if she likes me too?"
Tang San jumped out of bed, sat down at the desk, spread out a sheet of paper, and picked up a pen.
He decided to write a love letter.
Pen in hand, Tang San stared at the blank paper, his mind equally blank.
In his previous life in the Tang Sect, he had studied hidden weapons, poisons, and lightness skills. No one had taught him how to write a love letter.
After crossing over to the Douluo Continent, he had studied soul power, martial souls, and combat techniques. Still, no one had taught him how to write a love letter.
To him, love letters were even harder than hidden weapons.
"What should the first sentence be?" Tang San chewed on his pen. "'Hello, Xiao Wu'? Too formal."
"'My dear Xiao Wu'? Too mushy."
"'Wu-Wu'?... What the hell is that?"
Tang San scratched his head, as agitated as an ant on a hot pan.
Suddenly, he remembered a novel he had read in his previous life, and a romantic line in it.
"You are the light in my darkness, the one and only in my life."
That seemed pretty good.
Tang San raised his pen and solemnly wrote the first line.
"Xiao Wu, you are the light in my darkness, the one and only in my life."
After writing it, Tang San looked it over. It seemed a little mushy, but also rather eloquent.
"Keep going."
"From the first time I saw you, I was drawn to you. Your smile is like spring sunshine, warming my heart. Your eyes are like stars in the sky, lighting up my world."
The words flowed more smoothly as Tang San wrote. His pen danced across the paper, bringing line after line of mushy declarations to life.
"You look so cute when you eat carrots, your voice is so lovely, and when you puff out your cheeks in anger, I want to give them a pinch."
"I know I'm not good enough. My martial souls are Blue Silver Grass and Pole Vault. I'm not as strong as Yi Yun, nor as handsome, but I have a sincere heart, a heart that belongs only to you."
"If you're willing to give me a chance, I will spend my whole life proving that I, Tang San, am worthy of your affection."
After writing the last word, Tang San set down his pen and let out a long breath.
He looked at the love letter that filled two whole pages, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
"This should... be all right, shouldn't it?"
Tang San folded the letter, carefully slipped it into an envelope, and wrote "To Xiao Wu" on it.
Then he tucked the envelope beneath his pillow and lay down, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
"Tomorrow... I'll give her the letter tomorrow."
Tang San closed his eyes, imagining what Xiao Wu would do after reading his letter.
Would she be moved to tears?
Would she throw herself into his arms?
Would she say, "Tang San, I like you too"?
As he imagined it, the corners of Tang San's mouth curled upward.
That night, he had a beautiful, beautiful dream.
In the dream, Xiao Wu accepted his love letter. After reading it, she blushed and said, "Tang San, I actually like you too."
The Tang San in the dream smiled like a fool.
Tang San woke at first light.
For once, he didn't practice pole vaulting. Instead, he paced back and forth across the training ground with the envelope in hand.
He was going to wait for Xiao Wu.
Once she arrived, he would give her the letter.
The sun slowly rose, and Xiao Wu arrived.
She wore a pink dress that day, her hair tied in a scorpion-tail braid. She skipped over with a carrot in her hand, humming a song.
The moment Tang San saw Xiao Wu, his heart began to race.
"X-Xiao Wu..." Tang San's voice trembled a little.
Xiao Wu stopped and tilted her head at him. "Tang San? Why aren't you practicing your pole vaulting today?"
"I... I have something for you."
Tang San brought the envelope out from behind his back and offered it with both hands, his fingers trembling slightly.
Xiao Wu looked at the envelope and blinked.
"What's this?"
"You... you'll know once you read it."
Xiao Wu took the envelope and looked at the words on it: To Xiao Wu.
"A letter for me?"
"Yes."
Xiao Wu tore open the envelope, pulled out the letter, and unfolded it.
She looked at it once.
Then looked at it again.
Then-rip.
Xiao Wu tore the letter in half.
Rip, rip. She tore it into four pieces, eight, then sixteen.
The scraps drifted from her hands like snowflakes, landing on the ground and on Tang San's shoes.
Tang San turned to stone.
His mind went blank, and his ears buzzed.
The love letter he had spent an entire evening writing, the mushy declarations he had racked his brains to come up with, the letter he had mustered a lifetime's courage to hand over-had been torn apart.
Torn apart right in front of him.
"X-Xiao Wu?" Tang San's voice was hoarse.
Xiao Wu clapped her hands, brushing off the scraps of paper, then raised her head to look at Tang San.
Her expression was calm-almost excessively so.
"Tang San, I'm sorry."
Tang San's heart plunged.
"I can't accept this letter," Xiao Wu said.
"Why?" Tang San's voice trembled.
"Because..."
Xiao Wu drew a deep breath, as though she had made a momentous decision.
"Because I don't feel that way about you."
Tang San froze.
"I only think of you as a friend," Xiao Wu said earnestly. "I know you're very good to me. But there's already someone else in my heart."
Tang San's lips quivered.
He knew who that person was.
But he asked anyway.
"Who?"
Xiao Wu blushed and lowered her head, her voice soft but firm.
"Brother Yi Yun."
It felt as though a knife had been driven viciously into Tang San's heart.
Not slowly, but all the way in with a single thrust.
It hurt so much he could barely breathe.
"I'm only interested in Brother Yi Yun." Xiao Wu raised her head and met Tang San's eyes. There was no guilt or hesitation in her gaze, only an open, unwavering resolve.
"So, I'm sorry."
Tang San stood rooted to the spot.
His mind had completely crashed.
He couldn't hear the wind, the birds, or the students talking in the distance.
All he could hear was his own heart breaking.
"I... I understand." Tang San's voice was so calm it didn't sound like his own.
He turned and walked away, step by step.
His steps were slow and heavy.
Watching Tang San's retreating figure, Xiao Wu felt a little bad too.
But she didn't want to deceive him.
Not liking him meant not liking him. Dragging it out would only cause him more pain.
"Tang San, I'm sorry," Xiao Wu whispered.
Tang San didn't look back.
He hoisted the pole at the edge of the training ground and began practicing his pole vaulting.
One vault, two vaults, three vaults.
He put every ounce of strength into each vault, as though venting something.
On his tenth vault, he finally lost his footing and fell into the sandpit.
But he didn't get up.
He simply lay there in the sandpit, staring up at the blue sky and white clouds without moving.
Sand poured into his clothes, stuck to his face, and worked its way into his hair.
But he didn't care.
He just watched the sky, the clouds, and the birds flying past.
His eyes stung a little, but he didn't cry.
He was Tang San, a disciple of the Tang Sect. He couldn't cry.
Absolutely not.
Yi Yun lay on the grass with one leg crossed over the other and a foxtail grass stem between his lips.
He had already seen everything that had just happened.
Tang San had handed over the love letter, Xiao Wu had torn it apart, Xiao Wu had said she was only interested in Brother Yi Yun, and Tang San had turned and left.
He had seen the entire sequence clearly.
To be honest, Yi Yun felt a tiny bit guilty.
Just a tiny bit.
After all, Xiao Wu was originally supposed to be Tang San's.
He had stepped in and stolen Xiao Wu away.
But on second thought, love wasn't about who came first, only whether two people were right for each other.
Xiao Wu was happy with him, relaxed with him, and safe with him.
That was enough.
"Little San, oh, Little San," Yi Yun sighed. "Sorry about this."
"But don't worry. I'll find you someone better someday."
"For example, a girl who took human form from a Lone Bamboo Soul Beast. She'd be a perfect match for your pole vault martial soul."
At that thought, Yi Yun's guilt eased a little more.
Xiao Wu walked over to Yi Yun and sat beside him.
"Brother Yun."
"Hmm?"
"I just turned Tang San down."
"I saw."
"Aren't you angry?"
"Why would I be angry?"
Xiao Wu lowered her head and said quietly, "Because Tang San was rejected because of you."
Yi Yun fell silent for a moment, then reached out and ruffled Xiao Wu's hair.
"Xiao Wu, there's no right or wrong when it comes to feelings. You're free to like whoever you want. Tang San is free to like you, and you're free to turn him down."
"You don't owe him anything, and you don't need to feel guilty."
Xiao Wu raised her head and looked at Yi Yun, her eyes a little red.
"Brother Yun, you're so good to me."
"Of course I am. Why else would you like me?"
Xiao Wu burst out laughing and punched Yi Yun lightly.
"Shameless!"
"I'm telling the truth."
They exchanged a glance and both laughed.
Once their laughter subsided, Xiao Wu leaned against Yi Yun's shoulder and watched Tang San playing dead in the sandpit in the distance.
"Brother Yun, will Tang San be all right?"
"He will," Yi Yun said. "That guy is tougher than you think."
"How do you know?"
"Because I've screwed him over so many times, and he still hasn't fallen apart. One heartbreak is nothing."
Xiao Wu: "..."
She suddenly felt that Tang San was so pitiful.
Yi Yun screwed him over, stole the girl he liked, and then called him tough.
What kind of earthly suffering was this?
Tang San lay in the sandpit for two whole hours.
The sun moved from east to south, beating down until his face turned red.
But he simply didn't want to get up.
"Tang San! Have you lain there long enough?" a voice came from above his head.
Tang San opened his eyes and saw Yi Yun standing at the edge of the sandpit, looking down at him.
"No." Tang San closed his eyes.
"About Xiao Wu, I'm sorry."
Tang San opened his eyes and looked at Yi Yun.
There was no smile on Yi Yun's face, and a trace of apology showed in his eyes.
It was the first time Tang San had seen that expression on Yi Yun.
"There's no need to apologize," Tang San said. "You can't force feelings."
"As long as you've come to terms with it."
"I haven't. I've just accepted it."
Yi Yun fell silent for a moment, then held out his hand to Tang San.
"Get up. The ground's cold."
Tang San looked at Yi Yun's outstretched hand, hesitated, then took it anyway.
Yi Yun pulled hard and hauled him out of the sandpit.
Tang San stood at the edge of the sandpit, covered in sand, his hair a tangled mess and a few sandy streaks still on his face.
"You look like a beggar right now," Yi Yun said.
"You're the one who looks like a beggar," Tang San snapped.
"All right, go wash up, then eat."
"I don't want to eat."
"Skipping meals isn't an option. You still have pole-vaulting practice this afternoon."
Tang San: "..."
He took a deep breath and looked at Yi Yun.
"Yi Yun, let me ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"Are your feelings for Xiao Wu genuine?"
Yi Yun froze for a moment, then smiled.
"Of course they are."
"Good." Tang San nodded. "If you dare mistreat Xiao Wu, I won't let you get away with it."
"You can't beat me."
"I know, but I'll still fight you to the death."
Looking at Tang San's serious expression, Yi Yun suddenly felt a little moved.
Even after being screwed over so badly by him, this guy was still willing to wish Xiao Wu happiness.
Perhaps this was what truly liking someone looked like.
"Don't worry." Yi Yun patted Tang San's shoulder. "I'll treat Xiao Wu well."
"Mm."
Tang San turned and left, carrying Pole Vault over his shoulder as he walked away, step by step.
His retreating figure still looked a little forlorn, but his back was straighter than before.
In the dining hall, the four of them sat together to eat.
As usual, Yi Yun sat in the middle, with Xiao Wu on his left, Zhu Zhuqing on his right, and Tang San opposite him.
But this time, Tang San didn't keep his head down and count grains of rice as he had before.
He raised his head, glanced at Xiao Wu, then at Yi Yun, before lowering his head and starting to eat.
Xiao Wu stole a glance at Tang San and felt relieved when she saw his calm expression.
Zhu Zhuqing noticed the subtle atmosphere between the three of them but asked nothing.
She simply ate quietly, occasionally glancing at Yi Yun before quickly looking away.
As Yi Yun ate, he suddenly spoke.
"Little San."
"Hmm?"
"After lunch, I'll teach you a new move this afternoon."
Tang San raised his head, his eyes brightening.
"What move?"
"Advanced pole vaulting: three and a half twists in midair."
Tang San: "..."
He should have known.
"Can I skip learning it?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you had your heart broken today, and you need something to distract you."
Tang San took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
"Fine. I'll learn it."
Beside them, Xiao Wu couldn't help laughing.
Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together too, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
Looking at Yi Yun across from him, Tang San suddenly felt that although he had lost Xiao Wu, perhaps he hadn't come away with nothing.
At least he had gained a few friends.
Even if those friends all liked screwing him over.
Friends were still friends, after all.
Before you continue