So he decisively chose to put them out of sight and out of mind, focusing on his own training.
Just as Liu Yue stretched luxuriously, shook out her aching arms, and prepared to return to her dorm to lie in bed and enjoy some AI-animated comics,
Gu Qing stepped forward half a pace, stopping the American-born Chinese girl who was about to call it a day, and said,
"Don't go. Since we're already out here, train with me a little longer. Help me consolidate my level."
"All right."
Liu Yue spread her hands helplessly. "We're teammates, after all. I'll train with you a little longer."
Gu Qing smiled at that. "You're a real one, Sis Yue. If you ever run into trouble, just come to me. If I can help, I will."
"I'll remember that. Don't ignore me when I come asking for help someday."
Liu Yue said it half jokingly, her lips curving into a slightly artificial, toothy smile as she pointed at Gu Qing a few times.
Gu Qing assured her with a smile, "Don't worry. Nobody understands keeping promises better than I do."
Over the time that followed,
at Gu Qing's insistent request,
Xia Shuran, Wu Jiahao, and Liu Yue stayed to train with him for hour after hour.
They trained until their legs grew weak and they could barely stand.
Just as the three were nearing their limits, ready to slump to the ground and catch their breath,
the text Gu Qing had been longing for finally appeared before his eyes, where nothing had happened for so long.
``` [You have fought using ancient martial arts alongside your friend Xia Shuran for over one hour] x4
[Martial arts technique +1] x4
[Martial true intent +1] x4
[Your accumulated martial true intent has reached 100 points.