Faced with this pointed question, Flender could only nod. "I did say that."
"And because of that I had my own judgment." Zhu Zhuqing met Flender's gaze, her beautiful eyes unwavering.
"I trusted that the friend invited by the dean would not harm us. Given that, my actions just now shouldn't be considered reckless, right?"
"You are right." Flender could only force a bitter smile.
"Then what did we do wrong?" Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward, her voice cool. "If we are right, why should we be punished?"
Both Yu Xiaogang and Flender were stunned.
It wasn't because of how sharp her words were—but because they saw a shadow of Xiao Tianyang in her.
At that moment, Liu Erlong, who had remained silent until now, stepped in to mediate.
"Enough. There's no right or wrong in this matter, so let's move on." With that, she waved her hand. "Why are you all still standing around? Lead the way!"
Her half-shouted order snapped everyone out of their daze.
Tang San and the others, relieved to have avoided punishment, quickly took the lead.
Yu Xiaogang and Flender lingered behind, and once the distance widened, Liu Erlong spoke again.
"You two are too serious. If he wanted to talk about this, why did you have to interfere?"
"I think Tianyang is right. Besides, Xiaosan and the others seemed a bit unconvinced, so..." Yu Xiaogang sighed helplessly. "I just didn't expect Zhuqing to be so sharp-tongued. In just a few sentences, she left us speechless."
"What do you mean by that?" Liu Erlong frowned.
Yu Xiaogang paused, realizing his phrasing had been off—but he didn't bother explaining.
'How could I admit that Flender had dragged me into this mess?'
"Ahem. We just wanted to remind the kids, that's all. It's not as serious as you think." Flender, knowing he was in the wrong, quickly added, "Besides, look at Hongjun's smug face. He's the one I was really targeting. You know that, don't you?"
"Like hell I do!" Liu Erlong glared. "I think you're just bitter about losing and took it out on them."
"No way!" Flender denied, though guilt flickered in his eyes.
Liu Erlong snorted and ignored him.
…
It took half a day for the group to return to Heaven Dou City.
By the time they neared the academy, evening had fallen. Since it was still early, the team disbanded for the day.
Liu Erlong tracked down Flender, who had tried to slip away, and demanded the jar of Longjing tea.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang was deep in thought after his conversation with Xiao Tianyang.
A wise man like him only needed a spark of insight to illuminate the fog of knowledge. Once he glimpsed that faint light, he would chase it relentlessly—no matter how long it took, no matter the obstacles.
Even if the pursuit led nowhere, it didn't matter.
As long as he loved the journey and harmed no one, what else was there to consider?
…
The Back Mountain
Tang San and the others headed straight for the back mountain—the quietest place, perfect for cultivation.
Normally, returning from Sunset Forest would warrant a night of rest. But the pressure Edward (Xiao Tianyang) had exerted on them was immense—far greater than even Xiao Tianyang's usual aura.
Anxious and restless, they had no intention of resting. They just wanted to train as soon as possible.
Yet when they reached their residence, a familiar aroma filled the air.
Instantly, their tension melted away. Their muscles relaxed as if they were soaking in a hot spring, their minds at ease.
"Uh… what's happening to us?" Ma Hongjun was the first to react, shuddering. "Are we haunted or something?"
"With that brain of yours, no wonder you didn't realize—Tianyang's back!" Oscar smacked him. "You've eaten his cooking so many times, yet you can't even recognize the smell? What a waste!"
"Ohhh, that's why it's so familiar!" Ma Hongjun grinned.
But when he turned around, he froze. "Wait… where is he?"
Before he could finish, footsteps sounded ahead.
He spun back—only to find everyone else had already dashed off.
"This speed…" Ma Hongjun gaped before scrambling after them.
…
"Tianyang!" Ning Rongrong was the first to arrive, calling out as she reached the clearing in the woods.
"Over here. What's with the yelling at night?" Xiao Tianyang didn't even look up, focused on the skewers in his hands.
Ning Rongrong pouted, muttering under her breath—but still obediently walked over.
Partly for the person, partly for the food.
The academy's private kitchen served decent meals, but none could compare to Xiao Tianyang's cooking.
The problem? The head chef was Liu Erlong.
Unless they had a death wish, they'd never dare complain.
"Rongrong, long time no see." Saber sat beside Xiao Tianyang, a soft smile on her face.
"Saber! So you went off to train with him? No wonder you left in such a hurry that night." Ning Rongrong blinked in surprise.
Saber nodded. "You could've come too, but Tianyang's teacher insisted we keep the group small. Most people wouldn't survive that environment."
"Hmph! You two underestimate us!" Ning Rongrong huffed. "We've been through targeted training, and Tianyang's cooking keeps us in top shape. What environment could possibly break us?"
"Fine, I'll take you next time." Xiao Tianyang finally looked up, tapping a skewer against the grill.
"Oh, and just so you know—that place is the edge of the Extreme North. It's average temperature? About minus 70 degrees."
With that, he headed to the long table, calling over his shoulder, "Quit standing around! Come eat!"
Ning Rongrong stood frozen.
Saber chuckled. "Actually, he left out some details."
Ning Rongrong exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness. At least I can still tag along."
Saber's next words shattered that hope.
"Because minus 70 degrees is the warmest it gets. As for the coldest? Another 20 degrees lower."
"Not to mention the endless blizzards—one misstep, and you'll be swept away."
"Oh, and spirit beasts run rampant there. Human presence is practically nonexistent. And the ones we encountered? At least 30,000 years old..."
"Stop." Ning Rongrong groaned. "You two are unbelievable. Can't you leave us some pride as so-called 'geniuses'?"
Saber paused, then gently took her arm.
"You are a genius."
…
P.S: I've been thinking about starting a new fanfic and have a few genres in mind. To help me decide, I've created a poll on Patreon. If you're interested, feel free to check it out and cast your vote!
The poll will close on May 26th, so be sure to get your vote in before then.
If you'd like to support me and gain access to advanced chapters, you can follow the link:
patreon.com/DarkLord621
📖 Explore my fanfiction collections:
🔹 Douluo: Infinite Lottery System - 304+ Chapter
🔹 Douluo: Peerless Gu Master - 193+ Chapter
🔹 My Disciple Are All Dou God - 107+ Chapter
Thank you for your support!