You, Sit to the Side
"Thank you, teacher."
Gu Yue offered Wu Zhangkong a small, polite smile, the expression softening her otherwise majestic features into something more approachable.
"No thanks are necessary. My name is Wu Zhangkong. You will address me as Teacher Wu. Now, since you are part of Class 5, you will join their physical training. Ten laps. Consider it your initiation."
Wu Zhangkong's tone brooked no argument, but there was a subtle undercurrent of expectation within it. He saw not just a new student, but a raw piece of jade waiting to be carved.
"Yes, Teacher Wu."
Without complaint, Gu Yue turned and moved to the track's edge, her steps light as she fell into rhythm beside the other panting students. Yao Xuan, after a moment's pause to secure the heavy hundred-jin iron chain vest, rejoined the run as well, the weight seeming to make his strides more deliberate and powerful rather than slowing him.
As the run progressed, Gu Yue adjusted her pace until she was matching Yao Xuan step for step. The wind seemed to gently aid her movement, keeping her breathing even.
"How heavy is that vest?" she asked, her voice carrying easily over the sound of their footfalls and the labored breaths of others.
"One hundred jin," Yao Xuan replied, his own breathing controlled and deep.
"One hundred jin?" Her amethyst eyes flickered with appraisal. "And you move like that? Your physical foundation is remarkable. Your strength in our match was… formidable."
He glanced at her, offering a slight, acknowledging nod. "This weight is manageable for me. And your own performance was impressive. If I weren't your opponent, an ordinary Level 18 Soul Master likely wouldn't have lasted three exchanges against that elemental onslaught."
A faint, pleased blush colored her cheeks, though whether from the compliment or the exertion was unclear. "You are too kind. I look forward to learning alongside you."
While Class 5 endured their training, Wu Zhangkong took Gu Yue's recommendation letter directly to the Academic Affairs Office. A brief, intense conversation with Dean Long Hengxu—one that involved the dean repeatedly wiping his brow—resulted in her enrollment being processed with exceptional speed. From that moment, Gu Yue was officially a student of Donghai Academy's Intermediate Division.
"Assemble!"
By the time Wu Zhangkong returned to the field, the students were staggering through their final laps. At his command, they dragged themselves into a ragged line, uniforms damp with sweat, faces flushed with exhaustion.
"Morning training is concluded. Given your collectively pathetic display of stamina, there will be supplementary conditioning this afternoon. Dismissed. Yao Xuan, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, Tang Wulin—the four of you will remain."
A collective, silent groan passed through the class before they shuffled away, leaving the four designated students behind.
Yao Xuan stood calmly, only a faint sheen of sweat on his brow betraying the effort. Tang Wulin beside him was similarly resilient, his solid frame handling the strain well. Gu Yue's face was flushed a healthy pink, a few strands of dark hair clinging to her temples, but she appeared composed. Xie Xie, however, was leaning heavily on Tang Wulin, his chest heaving, every muscle trembling with fatigue. The agility-type Soul Master's weakness in pure endurance was laid bare.
"Gu Yue, your enrollment is complete." Wu Zhangkong handed her a neat package. "Here are your uniforms, textbooks, and dormitory key."
"Thank you, Teacher Wu." She accepted the items with both hands, her demeanor respectful.
"I kept you all for a reason regarding the Promotion Tournament. Gu Yue, you now understand the rules." He paused, his icy gaze sweeping over them. "Previously, our class participants were Yao Xuan, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin. With Gu Yue's addition, the lineup will change. The primary participants will now be Yao Xuan, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie. Tang Wulin, you will serve as the reserve participant. You will still partake in all special training. Is this clear?"
"Understood," the four replied in unison. A flicker of disappointment crossed Tang Wulin's eyes, but he quickly schooled his expression into determination. Yao Xuan gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"Good. All of you, disperse. Rest well. This afternoon's training will be demanding, and special training awaits tonight." With a final nod, Wu Zhangkong turned and left.
"I'm starving! Let's get to the cafeteria!" Tang Wulin declared, his momentary disappointment swallowed by a more immediate need, patting his stomach for emphasis.
"Agreed. Let's go." Yao Xuan led the way, Xie Xie groaning as he forced his legs to follow.
"Yao Xuan," Gu Yue's voice called from behind them. She fell into step beside him. "I am unfamiliar with the campus. May I accompany you to the cafeteria?"
"Of course. You're welcome to join us," Yao Xuan replied, his tone warm and inclusive.
Fifteen minutes later, in the bustling academy cafeteria, the group had collected their trays. As was their habit, Yao Xuan, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie sat together at a table, Yao Xuan in the middle flanked by his two friends. The C-grade meal featured hearty steamed buns and braised meat, a welcome sight after the morning's ordeal. Even Xie Xie, still recovering, had piled several extra buns onto his plate.
Just as they were about to begin eating, a calm, melodic voice sounded beside Xie Xie.
"You. Please sit over there."
Xie Xie, mouth already full, turned with a frown. "Why should I?" he mumbled around his food, his pride prickling.
"I wish to speak with Yao Xuan," Gu Yue stated, her tone not hostile, but carrying an air of serene certainty. "You are in my way. Please move."
"No way." Xie Xie's aristocratic upbringing bristled at being ordered. Combined with the fact that this newcomer had just taken his friend Tang Wulin's spot on the tournament team, his resistance hardened. "I'm sitting here."
Gu Yue's amethyst eyes regarded him calmly. "So, you would prefer to settle this through a spar?"
Before Xie Xie could retort, he felt a sudden, piercing cold against the nape of his neck. A tiny, perfect spike of ice, no larger than a needle, had materialized, its point just touching his skin. It held no lethal intent, but its message was crystal clear.
Xie Xie froze, then sighed in exasperated defeat. Recalling the terrifyingly beautiful and precise elemental storm she had unleashed against Yao Xuan, he knew any contest would be short and decidedly one-sided.
"Fine, fine. You win. I'll move." He gathered his tray with as much dignity as he could muster and shuffled to the seat opposite Tang Wulin, shooting a mock-wounded look at Yao Xuan.
Gu Yue gracefully took the vacated seat beside Yao Xuan. The tiny ice spike vanished as if it had never been.
"Thank you," she said, not to Xie Xie, but to Yao Xuan, as if the entire exchange had simply been a minor logistical adjustment. She then began to eat her food with delicate, precise motions, the picture of tranquility.
Yao Xuan watched the interaction, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips. The Silver Dragon King, even in this guise, would not be obstructed. He felt a familiar, warm pang in his chest—this stubborn, regal certainty was so fundamentally her, a thread connecting the formidable Gu Yue before him to the vulnerable Na'er of his memories.
The meal continued, the conversation shifting to lighter topics, but a new dynamic had settled at the table. Gu Yue was here, and her presence, quiet yet undeniable, had already begun to reshape the world around Yao Xuan.