Xiao Chen watched Na'er and Gu Yue face off before him, his eyelids twitching. He did not want to deal with any of this.
Here came the bickering with herself. If he let these two keep arguing, they would probably start fighting again.
"All right, Na'er. Since Gu Yue passed, let's go."
Xiao Chen's voice was calm, with a note that brooked no argument.
The objective of this Spirit Ascension Platform assessment had been achieved, and Gu Yue had passed. There was little point in staying any longer.
Hearing this, Na'er kept her wary gaze fixed on Gu Yue, afraid she would set her sights on Xiao Chen again. She quickly nodded, her tone tinged with urgency:
"Yes, yes, yes! Let's hurry, big brother. Stay away from this awful woman!"
As she spoke, she clutched Xiao Chen's sleeve tightly, afraid that if they were a moment too late, Gu Yue would strike up a conversation with him. The wariness and tension in her eyes had not diminished at all.
Watching Na'er bristle, Gu Yue inwardly scoffed. She had barely made a move, and look how anxious Na'er had become.
But she did not approach to pester them again. Instead, she turned to Xiao Chen:
"What's your name? Don't misunderstand. I just want to make a friend, so we can look out for each other at the Spirit Transferring Pagoda in the future."
Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow slightly. He did not conceal it, replying evenly:
"Xiao Chen."
"Big brother, why are you telling her that?"
Na'er immediately grew anxious and tugged on Xiao Chen's arm, her objection practically written across her face. She was terrified that Xiao Chen and Gu Yue would have too much to do with each other.
In her eyes, Gu Yue certainly had no good intentions in approaching Xiao Chen, so naturally, she did not want any ties between them.
Xiao Chen sighed helplessly and ruffled Na'er's hair:
"Didn't you already let Gu Yue pass? Once she becomes Aunt Leng's disciple, she'll come into contact with me sooner or later."
"Even if I don't tell her, Aunt Leng will."
With the talent Gu Yue had displayed, Leng Yaoyu would certainly pay particular attention to her. They would all be at the Spirit Transferring Pagoda in the future, bound to run into one another. Deliberately avoiding her was pointless.
Na'er wanted to say more, but she felt that Xiao Chen had a point. She could only glare at Gu Yue, her cheeks puffed out, and say nothing more.
Watching their interaction, a barely perceptible hint of triumph flashed through Gu Yue's eyes. With Na'er's lovesick brain, sure enough, Gu Yue was the one who had inherited the Dragon God's wisdom. A mere Na'er thought she could compete with her?
Then she regained her composure and gave Xiao Chen a slight nod, her manner carrying a little gentleness:
"See you at the Spirit Transferring Pagoda, then, Brother Chen."
With that, she lingered no longer. She pressed the Spirit Ascension Platform's emergency device and teleported out.
Looking at the spot where Gu Yue had vanished, Na'er wore an utterly displeased expression and muttered, her lips pursed:
"Big brother, you're not allowed to say more than three sentences to her from now on!"
Xiao Chen smiled helplessly. He offered no further comment, merely patting the back of Na'er's hand:
"All right, Na'er. You don't get to order me around yet. We should go too."
With that, he pressed the emergency device and left the Spirit Ascension Platform right after Gu Yue.
"Again! You're doing it again!"
"Mean Xiao Chen! Na'er's doing this for your own good."
Watching Xiao Chen leave the Spirit Ascension Platform without looking back, Na'er stamped her feet in anger. She could only leave the Spirit Ascension Platform in a sulk.
Outside the Spirit Ascension Platform, in the hall of the East Sea Spirit Pagoda, the Class Zero students waited anxiously for Gu Yue.
Although the screen had returned to normal earlier, it had only shown Gu Yue facing off against Xiao Chen and Na'er. The subsequent battle had not been shown, due to the staff's covert interference.
Everyone in Class Zero was filled with curiosity, eager to learn the outcome of Gu Yue's fight with those two.
Just as everyone was craning their necks in anticipation, light flickered from the Spirit Ascension Pods, and Gu Yue was the first to step out.
She stood straight, and apart from her still somewhat pale face, her overall condition was fairly stable. She showed no sign of dishevelment.
The eyes of the Class Zero students immediately lit up at the sight. Xie Xie was the first to hurry forward, his face full of surprise and a measure of disbelief:
"Gu Yue, you're actually this strong? You managed to fight those two for so long!"
Gu Yue had always kept a very low profile in Class Zero and had never displayed such formidable strength. At the thought that she had exchanged blows for so long with the boy who had defeated them in an instant, everyone in Class Zero was utterly astonished.
Tang Wulin also stepped forward, surprised by Gu Yue's strength:
"Yeah, Gu Yue, you've been keeping your moves hidden all along. No wonder you lasted so long in the Spirit Ascension Platform."
Faced with their attempts at conversation, Gu Yue merely gave them an indifferent glance without responding at all. She did not even pause, walking straight toward Wu Zhangkong, who stood to one side.
Gu Yue stopped before Wu Zhangkong, her expression calm and her tone without a ripple, and asked directly:
"Teacher Wu, I passed, right? If I did, I'll be going."
There was not a trace of attachment, as though everything in Class Zero had nothing to do with her.
Wu Zhangkong looked at Gu Yue before him and fell silent for a moment, a complex look flashing through his eyes.
He had been watching the Spirit Ascension Platform's surveillance feed and had already guessed Gu Yue's intentions and where she was headed.
After a long while, he slowly spoke, his even voice carrying a measure of heaviness. "Gu Yue, you're the only one in Class Zero who passed."
"You're free to do as you please."
At these words, everyone in Class Zero instantly fell silent. The smiles on the faces of Xie Xie, Wang Jinxi, and the others froze.
Oh no. Extra training.
Hearing this, Gu Yue merely nodded slightly, not surprised in the least, as though she had expected all of it.
She said nothing more, turning and walking deeper into the Spirit Transferring Pagoda with firm steps and not a trace of reluctance.
Watching Gu Yue leave without a word, Tang Wulin immediately grew anxious. "Gu Yue, you..."
Just as Tang Wulin lifted his foot to follow Gu Yue, Wu Zhangkong reached out to stop him:
"Gu Yue is most likely going to join the Spirit Transferring Pagoda."
"Wulin, try not to interfere in other people's affairs."
He knew Gu Yue's goal and understood that once she joined the Spirit Transferring Pagoda, she would leave Class Zero sooner or later. Tang Wulin's attempts to keep her here now were meaningless.
"But..." Tang Wulin stopped, watching Gu Yue's retreating figure grow more distant, his heart full of reluctance to part.
"Teacher Wu, Gu Yue is our classmate. If she just leaves like this, we..."
Having experienced his parents' departure, Tang Wulin was exceptionally sensitive about emotional bonds. To him, his classmates in Class Zero were like family. Now that Gu Yue might be leaving, he naturally found it difficult to accept.
Seeing Tang Wulin's dejected expression, Wu Zhangkong softened his tone somewhat and said patiently:
"Wulin, everyone has their own aspirations. This is Gu Yue's own choice. We have no right to interfere."
"You need to understand that everyone has their own path to walk. Treasure the experiences you shared with Gu Yue, and don't let time consign them to oblivion."
Tang Wulin stared blankly at the place where Gu Yue had disappeared, lost in confusion.
His father had left, his mother had left, and now even Gu Yue was leaving. He felt as though the people around him were drifting away, one after another...
After a long while, he slowly nodded, his voice tinged with desolation. "...I understand, Teacher Wu."
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