Gu Yue stood where she was, clutching the jade pendant against her chest. It was warm. That warmth was still flowing along her meridians, giving her an indescribably comfortable feeling.
Her thoughts were in a mess.
What exactly does this human brat mean?
He had just knocked her on the head, and now he had given her a jade pendant. What was more, the pendant really did seem useful to her.
Gu Yue bit her lip.
She suddenly realized that she seemed to be finding him harder and harder to read.
No, that wasn't it.
She was starting to care.
Gu Yue was startled by the thought.
Care? Why should I care about a human? I should hate him.
He was the reason Na'er had developed human feelings and refused to merge with her, affecting her path to reviving the dragon race. He was also slick-tongued and never acted seriously, and he was always taking liberties with her.
But for some reason,
when she thought of the way he had knocked her on the head just now, with a touch of indulgence, it felt as though the two of them had been interacting like this for many years.
Hmm... it seems we really have been together for many years. He just doesn't know it.
Gu Yue couldn't help feeling a little dejected. She didn't know why, but she instinctively felt that the way Qing Linyun treated her should have belonged to Na'er, and that she was merely his instinctive substitute.
Gu Yue shook her head.
No.
I can't think about this.
She was the Silver Dragon King, the most exalted Lord Silver Dragon King in the entire Douluo Continent!
How could she develop such strange feelings for a human? And this human was plainly a lecher. Last time, he had even held her in his arms and swaggered into the academy.
She should have been angry then.
But for some reason,
when she felt Qing Linyun's overbearing power,
Gu Yue's face grew a little hot again.
She hurriedly took a deep breath and suppressed the thought.
I can't keep thinking about it.
If she did, she would start wondering whether she had been bewitched. Meanwhile, the corners of Qing Linyun's mouth lifted slightly as he walked ahead.
Of course he knew what Gu Yue was thinking right now. That jade pendant didn't just have a healing effect. It was also a tracker. A highly effective tracker made exclusively for Gu Yue.
From the moment Gu Yue hung it around her neck, Qing Linyun would be able to find her no matter where she ran, even to the ends of the earth.
Lord Silver Dragon Fish, you've taken the bait. I'd better put this tracker to good use. I paid a hefty price for it.
An amused smile rose in Qing Linyun's heart.
Wu Changkong's office wasn't very large.
There was a desk and three chairs, with some lesson plans on the desk. Wu Changkong sat behind it and glanced at the three people standing in front of him.
Gu Yue, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie.
"I called you here to tell you something."
Wu Changkong's voice was flat.
"Our grade is going to hold a Class Promotion Tournament."
The three youngsters exchanged glances.
"Class Promotion Tournament?" Xie Xie scratched his head. "Teacher Wu, what's a Class Promotion Tournament?"
"There are five classes in the first year, ranked from best to worst: one, two, three, four, and five," Wu Changkong said. "Class Five, the class you're in now, is the worst."
That left Xie Xie and Tang Wulin somewhat speechless.
Of course we know that. You told us when school started, too. Do you have to keep bringing it up? It really hurts, you know.
"The Class Promotion Tournament lets you compete against the other classes. Win, and you can move up."
Gu Yue frowned.
She collected her thoughts and said, "I've only just arrived. I don't want to steal their thunder."
Xie Xie curled his lip beside her.
But he said nothing.
Tang Wulin, however, shook his head earnestly. "Gu Yue, you're stronger than both of us. You should be the one to compete."
Qing Linyun stood to the side, watching the scene, and clicked his tongue inwardly.
Tang Wulin.
As expected of the most humane protagonist in the Douluo tetralogy.
Fortunately, Tang San hadn't raised him himself.
At least as a child, he hadn't inherited Tang San's "you have a way to death" disposition.
Looking at it that way, Tang Wulin was actually fairly normal.
In fact, early on, Tang Wulin was a kind child, the innocent and lovable sort.
As for his love of money,
Qing Linyun felt that was understandable.
After all, Tang Wulin wasn't particularly talented, and in the world of Soul Masters, the weak were prey to the strong. There were some things you just had to fight for.
There was no shame in that.
Ahem... Actually, it was because Qing Linyun had done the same. It was another kind of mutual appreciation between kindred spirits.
Although Xie Xie disliked Gu Yue's young-miss airs, he didn't jump out to object at this moment either.
He was closer to Tang Wulin, but he wasn't blind.
Gu Yue really was stronger than both of them.
He simply walked quietly to the side.
For a moment, the office fell somewhat silent.
Qing Linyun glanced around and spoke up.
"Hey, don't be so serious."
He smiled and first reassured the three youngsters. "It's only a Class Promotion Tournament. It's not like you're being parted in life and death."
Then he looked at Wu Changkong, looking like an inquisitive child. "By the way, senior brother, I haven't asked yet. What's the format for this Class Promotion Tournament?"
In truth, he knew perfectly well.
The original novel had said that the Class Promotion Tournament was three versus three.
In other words, all three of them could participate.
Wu Changkong gave Qing Linyun a curious look.
He seemed to be wondering why Qing Linyun would ask that.
But seeing how innocently curious he looked, Wu Changkong thought he might just be asking casually.
So he calmly told the three youngsters, "The format is three versus three. All three of you can participate."
Gu Yue showed little expression.
She wasn't interested in such a minor matter at all.
She cared more about the smiling Qing Linyun beside her, and the Golden Dragon King's presence on Tang Wulin.
Xie Xie and Tang Wulin, on the other hand, were quite happy.
Hearing that, the two looked at each other and grinned.
Wu Changkong abruptly poured a bucket of cold water over them.
"Since you're participating in the Class Promotion Tournament, don't disgrace me."
"From now on, report to the office every evening after dinner."
"I'll give you special training."
Xie Xie and Tang Wulin froze where they stood.
Then-
"Huh?!"
"Every evening?!"
Wails rang out from the office.
Then came two thunks.
The wailing stopped.
Wu Changkong sat back down, expressionless.
A large bump had risen on each of Xie Xie's and Tang Wulin's heads.
Gu Yue had been about to raise her hand and refuse.
Seeing this, she silently lowered her hand and nodded. A wise person knew when to yield.
She didn't want a bump on her head too.
Qing Linyun laughed from the side as he watched the amusing scene.
He picked up the conversation. "How about this? I can train them too."
Xie Xie and Tang Wulin looked over curiously.
"Teacher Qing, are you as strong as Teacher Wu?"
After all, they had seen it with their own eyes on the training ground that day.
With a casual wave of his hand, Qing Linyun had crushed Wu Changkong's sword Qi.
They still remembered that scene.
Qing Linyun glanced at Wu Changkong.
Should I save my senior brother some face?
Qing Linyun pondered inwardly.
Wu Changkong merely looked at him and shook his head slightly.
His meaning was clear: Go ahead and show them what you can do. Don't worry about me.
Qing Linyun began with a modest remark. "Oh, how could I compare with Teacher Wu?"
Under Xie Xie and Tang Wulin's questioning, expectant gazes, he dropped the act.
"All right, then. I'll give you a little demonstration."