"You know, you're doing much better now."
Yoeel's breathless voice made Gu Luo smile as he lay on the ground. Yoeel held out a hand which Gu Luo grabbed. He pulled him up, helping him get back on his feet.
It had now been several months since Gu Luo had arrived and he was starting to get the hang of things. He was no longer being knocked to the ground by his classmates as often and he could now sense attacks even from behind by focusing on the ether emanating from his opponent's body.
"Though I still can't make you fall."
"Haha. You're not that far off, you know."
Gu Luo looked at him in surprise.
"Really?"
"Of course, why would I lie to you?"
Gu Luo quickly remembered all the times Yoeel had lied to him, but there had been so many that he couldn't remember them properly.
"I don't know, to amuse yourself?"
Yoeel didn't answer and they headed toward their classmates who had also finished their duel.
Gu Luo wasn't expecting an answer to his question. He was used to Yoeel being evasive whenever he talked about himself. Unlike the others, he rarely talked about his former family or where he came from.
Despite his appearance and the extroverted impression he gave of himself, Gu Luo had the feeling that he was actually a very introverted person.
But he wasn't too worried about it. Yoeel probably had his reasons. Besides, the lies he came up with all day were always harmless and without any real consequences.
If there was one thing Yoeel knew how to do, it was read people. So much so that he always chose the right moment to tell his lies. Gu Luo had the impression that Yoeel lied primarily for others and not for himself.
It was something Gu Luo deeply respected about Yoeel.
When they rejoined their classmates, they found them in a position that might have seemed unconventional and even unexpected to anyone who didn't know them well. But Gu Luo and Yoeel had seen this result repeat itself every time these two trained together, to the point where the imbalance in strength was obvious.
Shěn Yán was lying face down on the ground while Lǐ Xīnyí was sitting on top of him with her elbows on her knees while her hands supported her chin, she wore an expression of weariness as she did every time.
Leolia, who arrived at that moment, burst out laughing at the scene before her and held her stomach because she could no longer stop.
"Really? Again?"
Shěn Yán asked with a sulky expression.
"Hahahahihihhohoho. I'm sorry hahaha i-it's stronger than me ahahahaha!"
Leolia tried to calm down and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Even though it's always the same Huhu thing with you two, I never get used to it hahahahhahaha."
As soon as she finished her sentence she burst out laughing again.
Shěn Yán cast a look at Gu Luo and Yoeel, who immediately hurried over to calm Leolia down while Lǐ Xīnyí stretched loudly and finally got up from Shěn Yán's back.
Shěn Yán painfully got back up while massaging his back.
"Arghhhh... Lǐ Xīnyí, you're so heav一" He stopped in the middle of his sentence when he noticed the dark look she was giving him. "一healthy! You're so fit. You'll really have to give me some advice hahahaha...."
He laughed with a forced laugh.
Lǐ Xīnyí looked away.
Once everyone had calmed down, Leolia took them aside as if she was about to tell them a secret.
"Come closer."
Once everyone had gathered around Leolia, she leaned her head forward and everyone did the same.
"I managed to get the director's approval to let you go on your first executor mission."
Cheers immediately rang out.
Lǐ Xīnyí exclaimed. "Yes yes! Finally!."
Shěn Yán retorted in a worried tone. "It's not dangerous at least..."
"What does it matter to you if it's dangerous, are you a man or not?!" Lǐ Xīnyí grabbed him by the hair and vigorously rubbed his head before putting him in a wrestling hold. "We have to bring out the hidden virility in you!"
Yoeel, much calmer than the two other goofballs, asked Leolia a question.
"First of all, I thought only second-years were allowed to go on beginner executor missions?"
Leolia scratched the back of her head.
"Well, I have to say I insisted quite a bit too..." She looked around them, so Gu Luo and Yoeel did the same. "And besides, it's not like we're exactly drowning in manpower..."
Only the deafening silence of the VEIL campus answered them.