Chapter 492: What About Gu Yue?

"Taking advantage?" Feng Ling crossed his arms. "Fine. If any one of you can take a single attack from me, then I'll let you all go."

"Big Brother, let me take care of this." Na'er stepped past Tang Wulin before he could react. A wave of power burst from her body, her silver eyes shining iridescently.

Feng Ling felt as if hundreds of swords were aimed at him, their razor sharp edges grazing his skin. He instinctively summoned his martial soul to defend himself. But he was too late. In a flash, a silver spear pricked his throat. The chill of metal on skin froze his blood. If the spear had moved a centimeter further, he would be dead. His martial soul summoning was interrupted, his soul power unable to circulate properly to call forth his martial soul. He stood still, sweating. Paralyzed by fear.

From start to finish, the whole encounter lasted no more than a tenth of a second. Her movements had been too fast to follow, no more than a blur. A mere flicker. Whether it were Tang Wulin or Yuanen Yehui or anyone else present, no one could keep track of what had happened.

Four soul rings revolved around Na'er. Three purple, one black. She held a silver spear nearly four meters in length against Feng Ling's throat with a single, still hand. A fine layer of silver hexagonal scales decorated the slender shaft, spanning the entire length. At the end of the spear was a single blade. It made up a third of the total length of the spear and featured a conical tip. On it were twelve grooves, perfect channels for the blood of any it pierced.

A shiver ran down Feng Ling's spine. His knees buckled, legs collapsing beneath him. Something warm and wet ran down the sides of his thighs to his ankles, but he didn't have the capacity to care at the moment. Complexion deathly pale, he wore not a hint of his previous bravado. All the while his underlings watched in fearful silence, postures no longer as proud, mouths wiped of shameless grins. None of them dared to make a move.

They were all soul masters and understood what the soul rings of Na'er signified. Such a soul ring configuration at the age of thirteen held only one explanation. She was from the inner court. As one who belonged to Shrek Academy's elite class, she was destined to one day overturn the continent! Her young age only amplified her status. An inner court student as young as her was as rare as a phoenix!

Na'er hadn't even spared Feng Ling a glance the entire time, her gaze fixed on Tang Wulin, a sweet smile dancing on her lips. "Big Brother, let's get going. I still wanna chat with you some more. Let's not waste time on these guys."

Tang Wulin stared at her blankly. When he first began cultivating, she hadn't even Awakened her martial soul! Yet now she was more powerful than him, already attaining the strength of a Soul Ancestor with four mighty soul rings. She possessed the black fourth soul ring he so desperately hoped for as well.

Is that spear her martial soul? Is she an agility-type? She's so great! Tang Wulin had felt his blood essence rousing when her spear appeared. It piqued his interest.

The spear disappeared in a silver flash. Then Na'er walked past the thugs. Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Yuanen Yehui snapped out of their dazes and followed. While Xie Xie kept a straight face, Yuanen Yehui's eyes shone brightly, her gaze glued to Na'er's back. She wanted to know where she stood relative to Na'er. If she could handle the speed Na'er exhibited.

Na'er acted as if nothing had happened. She latched onto Tang Wulin's arm the entire way back, sneaking tender glances at him from time to time, smiling adorably while she praised the food they just ate.

Tang Wulin's heart warmed at the sight of her so animated. But buried deep was an inkling of doubt. That silver flash. He couldn't get it out of his head.

After Tang Wulin's party left, Feng Ling and his thugs eventually regained themselves. They were pale, trembling with fear still. But in the end, they returned home with their tails tucked between their legs. What the thugs had seen was merely the tip of Na'er's power. They couldn't even fathom the gap between them.

Once Tang Wulin's group returned to campus, Tang Wulin directed his attention to Xie Xie and Yuanen Yehui. "You guys go on ahead. I'm going to go cultivate on Sea God's Island for a few more days. I'll be back by the start of the semester. Yuanen, I'll deliver what I promised you then."

"Okay," Yuanen Yehui said, before heading for her room.

Xie Xie swept his gaze from Tang Wulin to Na'er. A few words danced at the tip of his tongue,but in the end he said nothing. He waved goodbye to Tang Wulin and ran after Yuanen Yehui like a puppy.

Tang Wulin and Na'er turned onto the path to the inner court. She skipped along ahead of him, humming a cheerful tune.

As he watched her, he couldn't help but smile. Mom, Dad, I've finally reunited with Na'er. I'll find you two next. I will reunite our family.

☀

"Yuanen, wait for me!" Xie Xie shouted as he chased after her.

Yuanen Yehui headed straight for their dormitory without sparing him a glance.

Owing to his speed, Xie Xie eventually caught up with her. "Yuanen, there's something I want to talk to you about." He made sure to scan the area for onlookers before speaking in a hushed voice.

"What are you being all secretive for?" From the corner of her eye, she snuck a peek at him. Her anger had subsided in the last two days. Looking back with a clear head, she had determined that Xie Xie truly hadn't peeped on purpose, and his confession had moved her. He was the first boy to show her any affection. Even if she didn't like the circumstances under which he confessed, it still left a deep impression in her heart. No one disliked being loved. She kept telling herself to ignore him, but she wasn't angry enough to follow through anymore.

Then there were the chores. Xie Xie cleaned the dormitory daily, and had recently picked up the task of bringing her a fresh basin of water every morning. He kept at it even at her act of ignoring. Even at her scorn.

"Don't you think Wulin and his little sister are close? Like, too close? They're not siblings by blood! And his sister is so pretty too!" Xie Xie exclaimed.

"What are you saying?" She narrowed her eyes as she watched him.

"Nothing much. I'm just a bit worried. His little sister's girl power is too strong. She's absolutely stunning and super attached to him. There's no way a man won't be attracted to her. Of course, I'm not talking about me! You're the only one in my heart!"

"Get away from me." Yuanen Yehui hastened her steps.

"Wait! Don't run! Hear me out on this!" Xie Xie said as he tailed her. "I'm worried. What about Gu Yue? None of us are blind here. It's obvious that she likes Wulin! You've been around us for a while now too. What do you think will happen to Gu Yue if Wulin ends up with his little sister?"

Yuanen Yehui froze, her eyes once again focusing on Xie Xie. "What does that have to do with you? Just mind your own business. Let them sort out their relationships themselves."

Worry flitted in Xie Xie's eyes. "But we're friends! I don't want anything to come between that! And you've seen how differently Gu Yue treats Wulin."

"So what if I've seen it? Or if I haven't? You've barely started puberty and your head's already full of this rubbish. No wonder you're so weak."

Xie Xie's face soured. "How am I weak? Aren't you just saying I don't meet your standards?"

Indifference coated Yuanen Yehui's words. "As long as you understand, then it's fine. You don't have to say it out loud."

"You..." Xie Xie glared at her. "Then if one day I'm able to defeat you, marry me!"

Yuanen Yehui stopped in her steps. Bit by bit her neck turned, robotically, until her eyes were aligned with Xie Xie's for a third time. Her lip twitched but she uttered not a word. Then she lurched forward and broke into a mad dash for her room.

Naturally, Xie Xie was not one bit discouraged, pumping his fist in the air. She didn't say no! So if I become stronger than her, I'll have a chance! Beating her though... The grin on his face that had just formed quickly melted away. That's going to be hard. Both her martial souls are amazing. It's not fair. I have twin martial souls too, but mine can't compare! Damn it! I have to word harder! I have to defeat her!

Xie Xie's thinking was on the right track. He had to show off his manly appeal for any hope of winning Yuanen Yehui's heart.