Their master, Zhuo Shi, had spent most of his life worrying about his eldest disciple. Both men were stubborn, and neither would bow his head first, but their master had often talked about Wu Changkong behind his back.
The old man called his eldest disciple a blockhead, only to sigh afterward. Zhuo Shi had raised Qing Linyun too, after all, though he and the old fellow didn't get along very well either and were always bickering.
Even so, Qing Linyun had always wanted to help him untie that knot in his heart.
Thinking of this, Qing Linyun realized that he had already planned to treat Wu Changkong's hidden injuries long ago. Ye Lingling simply hadn't finished preparing the medicine yet.
If he could heal Wu Changkong's hidden injuries and help him reach the threshold of seven rings, some of the pent-up frustration in Zhuo Shi's heart might dissipate too.
"All right." Qing Linyun thought for a while, then nodded. "None of that will be a problem."
Wu Changkong visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
He had never been good with words, but now, as if afraid Qing Linyun might change his mind, he thanked him several times in quick succession. "Thank you. Thank you, junior brother. I'll remember this favor."
"There's no need to be so formal, senior brother." Qing Linyun waved a hand. "We're fellow disciples. Why say things like that? I'll arrange what you need as soon as I get back."
Wu Changkong opened his mouth, still wanting to bring up the matter of money.
"Don't worry about the money," Qing Linyun interrupted. "Senior brother, save what little you've put aside to buy yourself something nice. I'll find a way to get those two things. All you need to do is wait for them."
Wu Changkong was taken aback. "How could I accept that?"
"What's there to be embarrassed about?" Qing Linyun smiled. "If I charged you for them and Master found out, he'd probably scold me again."
Wu Changkong opened his mouth, still wanting to say something, but in the end, he simply nodded firmly.
The way he looked at Qing Linyun was much more natural than before. Most of his awkwardness had vanished without him noticing.
To be honest, things were still rather awkward between Qing Linyun and Wu Changkong.
Although they were fellow disciples in name, they had barely met in reality, let alone formed any real bond.
But after everything that had happened, Qing Linyun had finally grown closer to Wu Changkong, and the faint sense of distance between them had disappeared.
Seeing him like this, Qing Linyun felt a wave of satisfaction.
Once Wu Changkong set his mind on something, not even eight oxen could pull him back. And if he owed someone a favor, he would remember it for the rest of his life.
Today's events had finally loosened a corner of the knot in his senior brother's heart.
He began making plans in his head.
He would have to keep an eye on the system shop for a ten-thousand-year ice-type Soul Spirit and snap up a suitable one when it appeared.
Life materials were even simpler. Ye Lingling's pharmaceutical factory was already buying top-grade medicinal herbs, so it would be easy to pick some up along the way.
However, ten-thousand-year ice-type Soul Spirits had appeared in the system shop several times, and their quality varied. The last thousand-year Ice Silkworm had left him dissatisfied for quite a while.
If a suitable one didn't appear in the next couple of days, he would ask Ye Lingling to pick out a decent one from the Soul Spirits she had made.
Life materials were easier to deal with. The pharmaceutical factory bought top-grade medicinal herbs year-round. Spring of Life and branches of the Ancient Tree of Life that were over ten thousand years old were hard to find on the market, but not entirely unavailable.
He would use those for now, then deliver Ye Lingling's wound medicine to Wu Changkong once it was ready.
In the darkness, the two stood side by side at the edge of the arena. One gazed at the distant night sky, while the other looked down at the formation patterns. Neither spoke again.
Qing Linyun couldn't help rubbing his nose. It was still a little awkward.
As Qing Linyun was thinking, footsteps sounded again from the entrance to the training ground.
This time there were three people, not one. Their footsteps were all over the place, mixed with voices.
A noisy clatter of footsteps came from the distance.
"Xie Xie, why are you walking so fast? In a hurry to get reincarnated?"
"Mind your own business, Gu Yue! I walk as fast as I like!"
"As fast as you like? You bumped into someone."
"No, I didn't! I'm not blind!"
Tang Wulin's voice came from between them, sounding somewhat helpless. "You two, stop arguing. Teacher Wu must be getting impatient."
"You mind your own business too, Tang Wulin! I haven't settled accounts with you yet, you glutton!"
Listening to the commotion, Qing Linyun's lips curled up slightly.
The three youngsters entered the training ground one after another. Xie Xie ran at the front, Gu Yue strolled behind him, and Tang Wulin brought up the rear, half a pancake he hadn't finished eating still dangling from his mouth.
Seeing the two men standing by the arena, Xie Xie stopped short and hurriedly lowered his voice. "Teacher Wu! Teacher Linyun!"
"You're all here." Wu Changkong withdrew his gaze, his face returning to its usual cold expression. "Get in the arena and warm up first."
"Yes!"
Xie Xie pulled Tang Wulin toward the arena, with Gu Yue following at an unhurried pace. As she passed Qing Linyun, she glanced at him and gave a soft snort.
Qing Linyun wasn't angry and smiled at her. Gu Yue rolled her eyes and walked away.
Wu Changkong watched the three youngsters enter the arena. Rather than follow immediately, he remained where he was and fell silent for a while longer.
"Junior brother."
"Hmm?"
"Those two things." Wu Changkong lowered his voice. "I'm counting on you."
"Don't worry."
Qing Linyun patted his shoulder.
"Senior brother, just focus on getting yourself well. Once you break through to seven rings, we'll have a proper drink together."
Wu Changkong didn't answer, only nodded.
He turned toward the arena, but after two steps, he stopped again. With his back to Qing Linyun, he said in a muffled voice, "You're a good junior brother."
Qing Linyun froze, then smiled.
Standing at the edge of the training ground and watching his retreating figure, Qing Linyun suddenly felt that the man wasn't so difficult after all.
After all, in the original story, Wu Changkong seemed to have been a goofball before anything happened to him.
Later, as he grew closer to Tang Wulin and the others, the sly side hidden deep in his heart had slowly emerged as well.
In the arena, Xie Xie was pulling Tang Wulin through their warm-up, his mouth never stopping. One moment he complained that Teacher Wu's training was too harsh; the next, he wondered aloud whether the cafeteria would have red-braised pork tomorrow.
Gu Yue stood alone on the other side of the arena, casually sending a few elemental orbs of light spinning around her fingertips without so much as looking their way.
Qing Linyun glanced at Tang Wulin.
Tang Wulin still had a white Soul Ring. To be honest, that level was a little low.
Qing Linyun had a way to help him improve, but he needed to find a way to make him remember the favor.
After all, he had not yet become Tang San's outright enemy, and Tang Wulin was not currently capable of becoming a god. Even Tang Wulin later on-
Qing Linyun did not fear him. With the last three seals still unbroken, Tang Wulin was nothing more than a nobody in Qing Linyun's eyes.
And whether he would become Tang San's enemy later was still unknown. His series of plans also required the corresponding relationships, so showing Tang Wulin a little goodwill in advance and improving their relationship would be a good idea.
Qing Linyun pondered this to himself, his gaze sweeping elsewhere.
At last, Qing Linyun's gaze slowly settled on Gu Yue, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He had been short on money lately, and a certain silver dragon fish had just taken the bait. It was time to make some money.