"Tang Wulin."
Wu Changkong spoke, his gaze burning as he looked at Tang Wulin.
Tang Wulin jerked his head up, as if he had been pulled from his thoughts, a trace of bewilderment still lingering in his eyes.
"That last move you used today, what was it called?"
"Huh? Oh."
Tang Wulin froze for a moment, then spoke in a low voice.
"Golden Dragon Claw. I don't know how, but before, I could use it whenever I was hurt or angry. It wasn't very stable, though, and it left me with no strength afterward."
Xie Xie raised his hand from the side and spoke to Wu Changkong.
"Teacher Wu, I can vouch for that. Last time, I nicked him with my Light Dragon Dagger, and he suddenly used that Golden Dragon Claw and knocked me out cold."
Wu Changkong nodded and asked no more questions, but he had already committed the name to memory.
Those thoughts made a round through his mind, but none of them showed on his face.
He withdrew his gaze, his tone as calm as ever. "That move was good. Practice it some more for me tomorrow."
Tang Wulin froze for a moment, then hurriedly nodded.
"Yes, Teacher Wu!"
Qing Linyun watched from the side, deep in thought.
The Golden Dragon Claw came from the Golden Dragon King Bloodline. Tang Wulin had figured it out on his own. Though it was unstable, it showed that the bloodline had already begun to stir.
Earlier than I expected.
In the original story, Tang Wulin could also use the Golden Dragon Claw at this point, but only when stimulated by Xie Xie's dragon bloodline.
But now he could use it on his own, which proved that the bloodline might be dispersing rather severely.
He put his thoughts aside, cleared his throat, and looked at the three of them. "All right, get up. That's it for today's training. One last thing."
All three looked at him in unison.
"For the time being, what you need to hone is the understanding and coordination between the three of you."
Qing Linyun spoke with a serious expression.
"The Class Promotion Tournament isn't a one-person affair. The three of you have a control type, a power attack type, and an agility attack type. Putting you together should have been a good thing, but you saw for yourselves how today's fight went."
He paused. "And you're still fighting among yourselves? When the Class Promotion Tournament comes, are you going to have a fight before your opponents even make a move? What would be the point of competing then?"
He paused, then added one more thing.
"Remember, the three of you are a team. Settle team matters within the team. Don't take your anger out on your own people."
As Qing Linyun said this, his gaze drifted involuntarily toward Gu Yue.
Who he was talking about knew it perfectly well. Certain people-no, certain dragons-would definitely recognize themselves.
Gu Yue glared at him again.
For once, Xie Xie didn't talk back. He scratched his head and muttered, "It's not like we've worked together before."
"That's why I'm having you practice."
Qing Linyun continued, "Tomorrow evening, we'll continue the special training here. I'll check every one of today's problems tomorrow."
"Yes," Tang Wulin answered obediently.
"All right, dismissed," Wu Changkong said. "Same time tomorrow evening. Don't be late."
The three of them turned to leave the training ground as if they had been granted amnesty.
"Tang Wulin, stay a moment."
Qing Linyun's voice wasn't loud, but all three of them heard it clearly in the training ground.
Tang Wulin stopped in his tracks and turned around, his face blank with confusion.
Gu Yue's steps slowed a beat as well.
She glanced back at Qing Linyun, then at Tang Wulin. Something difficult to define entered her eyes, a hint of wariness mixed in with her curiosity.
Why is he keeping Tang Wulin behind alone? she wondered.
Xie Xie, on the other hand, gave it no such thought and spoke up without reservation.
"Teacher Linyun, what's wrong with Tang Wulin? Did he not do well just now? It's fine, I'll stay with him. If you're going to lecture him, lecture us both. I'll take it for him!"
"No need." Qing Linyun smiled. "I just want a word with him."
"Then can I stay and keep him company?"
"Xie Xie," Wu Changkong suddenly said, his voice calm. "Go back first. There's extra training tomorrow night, so get some good rest."
Xie Xie opened his mouth, still wanting to say something, but when he met Wu Changkong's gaze, he swallowed his words.
"Oh, all right, then." Xie Xie scratched his head and waved at Tang Wulin. "Brother, I'm off, then! See you at the cafeteria later!"
Tang Wulin nodded without speaking.
Gu Yue stood where she was, lingering for a couple of seconds before reluctantly turning to leave.
When she reached the edge of the field, she looked back again and met Qing Linyun's gaze.
Qing Linyun raised his chin at her, as if to say, What, still not reassured?
Gu Yue snorted, turned her face away, and hurried off.
Only three people remained in the training ground.
Wu Changkong stood with his hands behind his back and glanced at Qing Linyun, then at Tang Wulin. As if he knew everything, he asked no questions and merely tossed out a casual remark.
"I'll be going. You two talk."
With that, he left the training ground, his footsteps soon vanishing into the night.
Tang Wulin stood there alone, unsure what to do with his hands and feet.
He stole a glance up at Qing Linyun, then quickly lowered his head again.
This Teacher Linyun was a top genius from Shrek and his teacher in name.
He was a level-thirteen One-Ring Soul Master with a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and a white Soul Ring. He had held the others back every step of the way through today's special training.
What else could he have kept me behind for?
Tang Wulin thought to himself.
It must be because I'm too weak and dragged the team down. Teacher didn't want to criticize me in front of everyone and embarrass me, so he kept me behind to talk.
The more he thought about it, the more certain he became. His head sank lower and lower, and his fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of his clothes.
That's true.
He smiled bitterly to himself.
With my abilities, any teacher would have a headache.
He remembered the scenes from the arena today.
With a casual wave of Gu Yue's hand, elements had spread across half the arena. She had used those elements in all sorts of dazzling ways, as if she were performing acrobatics, and the various halos of light had been so bright that people could barely open their eyes.
Xie Xie had swung his Light Dragon Dagger fast enough to stir up a wind. Though Teacher Wu had dealt with him harshly, he had at least managed a few exchanges with him head-on.
Only Tang Wulin had his Blue Silver Grass snapped and himself flung away again and again. From beginning to end, he had been like an extra stone, rolling back and forth.
He looked down at his hands. Today, golden scales had grown on them for the first time.
That power had surged out from between his bones, searing hot and scorching. It had lasted only a moment, but it had made him feel like a real person.
Was that really my power?
He asked himself.
Or did heaven only lend it to me for a moment?
As he thought about it, his eyes dimmed again.
Qing Linyun, meanwhile, was in no hurry to speak.
He stood at the edge of the arena, looking at the dejected boy before him, other thoughts turning in his mind.
Tang San.
The one on Tang Wulin was the one he truly cared about.
The eighteen seals on the Golden Dragon King were Tang San's handiwork. As an enforcer of the Divine Realm, Tang San had made layer upon layer of arrangements on Tang Wulin to suppress the Golden Dragon King's power.
What state was the divine consciousness that old thing had left on Tang Wulin in right now? Was it sleeping, or awake?
If it was awake, he would have to find another way to say what he intended to say and do what he intended to do next.
Qing Linyun's gaze traveled over Tang Wulin, then settled on a certain spot, where it lingered for quite a while.
I can't sense it.
He said to himself.
At least, right now I can't sense any sign of that thing being active. It's probably still dormant.
But I can't be sure. What if that old thing is pretending to sleep?
As he thought, he couldn't help clicking his tongue inwardly.
Who cares? I'll say my piece first. Whether that old thing can hear it is his own business. If he really does jump out, all the better. It'll save me the trouble of finding him later.
A long time passed, until the only sound in the quiet training ground was the night wind.
Tang Wulin stood there, growing more and more uneasy.
He waited a long time for Teacher Linyun's criticism, but it never came.
He couldn't help looking up again. He found Qing Linyun watching him with an amused look, as if sizing up something interesting.
Tang Wulin's heart tightened, and he instinctively lowered his head again.
"Tang Wulin." Qing Linyun finally spoke, his voice unhurried.
"Yes! Yes!" Tang Wulin gave a start.
"Raise your head."
Tang Wulin hesitated, then slowly raised his head and met Qing Linyun's gaze.