I have added this story to my Patreon. You can support me and read the 40 latest and advanced chapters there. It also fed and motivate me to write more chapters!
Free Members will get 10 Chapters Ahead of the schedule on Patreon!!!
Link: Patreon.com/AVRKingsTL
—------------------—
"You... why are you telling me all this?" Bibi Dong looked at Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena paused, "Because this is his God Test, and I am his assistant. Helping him resolve this matter is what I should do."
"Is that all?" Bibi Dong was somewhat suspicious.
She couldn't understand Gu Yuena. The woman often felt unreal to her; she was too perfect.
"What other reason do you want?" Gu Yuena looked into Bibi Dong's eyes.
Bibi Dong was momentarily speechless, a flicker of confusion and deeper incomprehension passing through her purple eyes.
Yes, what other reason did she want? Gu Yuena was Xuan Ming's assistant, helping him complete the God Test content. This reason was natural and beyond reproach.
But... she always felt that Gu Yuena's gaze and the starting point of her words were not solely due to a "mission."
"Are you doubting my motives?" Gu Yuena's voice remained clear and cold, but it lacked some of the previous aloofness, replaced by an ineffable... complexity. "Or do you think an existence like me shouldn't be telling you these things?"
Bibi Dong pressed her lips together, not answering, but the wariness and doubt in her eyes did not dissipate.
Gu Yuena sighed softly, her sigh almost imperceptible, as if it merged with the cold wind of the ice plain.
"I did intervene in this matter because of Xuan Ming's God Test." She spoke slowly, "But what I said to you was not entirely out of duty."
She tilted her head slightly, looking at the undulating sea in the distant darkness, her silver hair gently swaying in the breeze.
"You are very similar. Both of you have a hidden vulnerability beneath your strength, unwilling to let others see it. This might also be the root of your mutual attraction. He is unwilling to hurt you, and even his repeated tolerance of Qian Renxue is largely because of you."
"He knows you are unwilling to face Qian Renxue and can't truly cut ties with her, so he thought of helping you take care of Qian Renxue."
Speaking of this, Gu Yuena almost wanted to laugh.
"His thought process is often very strange. Even now, there are many times when I can't keep up with his thinking."
"But ultimately, he can't be ruthless with the things and people he cares about. He is very afraid of losing, so many times he would rather endure it himself, keep it bottled up."
"Unless absolutely necessary, he won't go to extremes."
"Just like with you."
Gu Yuena's gaze returned to Bibi Dong, "He could have helped you in a more direct way, but he chose the most clumsy and arduous method. Because he knows your pride cannot withstand any charity, and your dignity needs to be reclaimed with your own hands."
"He..." Bibi Dong's voice choked, "He never looked down on me?"
"If he looked down on you, he wouldn't have put so much thought into it." Gu Yuena shook her head gently, "He just doesn't know how to express himself. After all..."
A faint, bitter smile appeared at the corner of her lips: "He himself is also someone who isn't good at handling emotions."
Xuan Ming was very smart; he actually knew everything, but he just couldn't handle these matters. It wasn't that he couldn't, but that he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless.
He knew what was right, and he knew what he was doing was problematic, but he really couldn't bring himself to be ruthless.
So, in the end, he simply took all the responsibility upon himself.
If someone had to bear the responsibility, if someone had to bear the pain, he was willing to be that person. This was his choice.
...
Silence fell upon the ice plain once more, with only the wind whimpering.
After an unknown period, Gu Yuena slowly rose, "Good luck."
"Just don't let yourself regret it. This is what he hopes for."
Having said that, Gu Yuena's figure slowly faded, like merging with the moonlight, silently disappearing on the ice plain.
This time, she left completely.
On the vast ice plain, only Bibi Dong remained alone, bathed in the cool moonlight.
She no longer cried, but sat quietly, letting the cold wind brush her cheeks, carrying away the tear stains.
After a tremendous shock and turmoil within, she had instead fallen into a strange calm.
"You really are a bastard."
...Night had fallen deep, and the moonlight, like quicksilver, spilled onto the white sand and buildings, appearing serene and tranquil.
Xuan Ming's residence.
Hu Liena finally couldn't help but come over, her eyes full of worry: "Xuan Ming, Teacher... what exactly is going on with her? Why did you fight like that?"
Xuan Ming was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "This is the content of my God Test. The specific situation is a bit complicated and inconvenient to elaborate on. But it won't harm her."
"God Test?" Hu Liena was stunned, then became even more anxious, "But Teacher looks like..."
"Nana." Xuan Ming interrupted her, "What you need to do now is to focus on completing your own assessment. The World is in turmoil, and the Spirit Empire has many affairs. The sooner you complete the God Test, the sooner you can go back and help her."
Hu Liena bit her lip, a flicker of struggle in her eyes: "But the rules of Sea God Island... after completing the assessment, one must guard Sea God Island for life and cannot leave. Otherwise, it will incur the Sea God's wrath..."
"Don't worry." Xuan Ming said lightly, "The Sea God won't say much."
Hu Liena was stunned, not knowing how to respond. She looked at Xuan Ming's always calm and unwavering eyes. The grievances, worries, and the heartache of countless times watching him fight alone yet being powerless over the past six months finally broke at this moment.
She suddenly took a step forward and tightly hugged Xuan Ming, burying her face in his chest.
"Let me... just stay like this for a while, okay?" Her voice was choked, "Just for a moment..."
Xuan Ming's body stiffened slightly. Hu Liena's tears quickly soaked the front of his clothes, and her suppressed sobs were exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
"These past six months... I could only watch you fight desperately... couldn't even say a word..." She sobbed intermittently, "I know I can't help you... but... but I..."
She knew he carried immense pressure, knew she couldn't help, so she had always suppressed her worry and longing, diligently completing her assessment, not daring to disturb him in the slightest.
Until today, seeing him seemingly "idle" for a while, and then witnessing the tragic state of Teacher being "tempered" by him, the emotions accumulated for too long finally lost control. She rushed in recklessly, just wanting to confirm he was safe, just wanting... to be closer to him.
Xuan Ming sighed softly, and his raised hand finally gently landed on her back, stroking her soothingly.
"Sleep," he whispered, "I'm here."
Perhaps it was because she hadn't felt this warmth for too long, or perhaps it was the exhaustion after an emotional release, Hu Liena truly gradually fell asleep in Xuan Ming's arms, with unshed tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes.
At the same time, behind a nearby bush, several figures were anxiously waiting.
"Why isn't she out yet? Didn't we agree everyone would take turns for a bit?" Xiao Wu couldn't help but stomp her foot.
"That vixen! She's definitely cheating!"
Ning Rongrong looked strange, "Xiao Wu, why do I feel... you're getting more and more unusual?"
Xiao Wu's feelings for Xuan Ming used to be very pure, like family. In fact, in Xiao Wu's eyes, Xuan Ming was just a shameless older brother.
However, after cultivating in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for the past few years, she felt that Xiao Wu's feelings for Xuan Ming were becoming increasingly unusual, especially after arriving at Sea God Island, where they were already somewhat undisguised!
Sister! Didn't we agree you wouldn't get involved in this muddy water!
"I... what's wrong with me?" Xiao Wu felt a little guilty.
"Everything is wrong," Ning Rongrong said seriously.
Xiao Wu used to be carefree, and she was carefree when she was with Xuan Ming, without that awkward feeling of romantic love.
But recently, she could feel that Xiao Wu's feelings for Xuan Ming were starting to become twisted!
"What are you doing here?"
Ziji, hearing the commotion, walked over.
"N-nothing at all." Ning Rongrong and the others suddenly looked guilty.
They had witnessed Ziji's strength during this time; she could beat up those pillar guardians!
Moreover, judging by Ziji's demeanor, she clearly had ideas about Xuan Ming too.
The most crucial point was that Ziji had a very fiery temper!
Xiao Wu had also told them that this elder sister was a pure-blooded true dragon, a species almost extinct in legend, and dragons would directly seize what they liked and wanted!
If others had ideas, she would also directly take action!
Especially when it came to mating rights, dragons were even more simple and crude!
Ziji leaned against the tree with her arms crossed, her dark purple eyes sweeping over them, a playful curve on her lips: "Not resting in the middle of the night, hiding here peeking?"
Xiao Wu felt uncomfortable under her gaze, her rabbit ears instinctively twitching. She forced herself to retort calmly: "Who... who was peeking! We were just... just passing by!"
"Oh? Passing by?" Ziji slowly stepped forward, her tall figure casting an oppressive shadow in the moonlight. "Passing by requires hiding here and whispering? Are you discussing how to take turns going in?"
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's faces instantly became extremely awkward, and they subconsciously took half a step back.
Xiao Wu's face also flushed, and she stiffened her neck, saying: "What... what's it to you?!"
"Heh," Ziji chuckled, a dangerous glint flashing in her dragon eyes. "Little Rabbit, have you forgotten that dragons have a strong sense of territory? Especially... for things they fancy."
Her gaze pointedly swept towards the tightly closed door of Xuan Ming's residence.
Xiao Wu's heart leaped, and a sudden sense of crisis and... jealousy surged within her, making her blurt out: "What did you fancy? He's not a thing!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it. What kind of thing was that to say!
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but put their hands to their foreheads.
Ziji, however, seemed amused, laughing so hard she trembled: "Yes, he's not a thing."
She stopped laughing, her dragon eyes narrowed, staring at Xiao Wu, "So, are you declaring ownership, Little Rabbit?"
Xiao Wu's face grew even redder, both shy and annoyed, but she didn't know how to retort.
Her feelings for Xuan Ming had indeed become complicated, so much so that she herself couldn't sort them out. Now, being directly called out by Ziji, her mind was even more in chaos.
"I... I didn't!"
"Better you didn't." Ziji's smile faded, her tone carrying a faint warning, "Some thoughts are best nipped in the bud. He is not someone you can covet."
Xiao Wu immediately bristled: "Why?! Can you control me?!"
"Just because..." Ziji leaned down slightly, approaching Xiao Wu, dark purple flames seemingly burning in her dragon eyes. A powerful, almost imperceptible dragon might emanated, making the surrounding air solidify slightly. "...I am stronger than you. The World of dragons is that simple."
Xiao Wu's breath hitched under the powerful pressure, her pretty face turning pale, but she still stubbornly glared at Ziji, refusing to back down.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong and her companions frowned, almost uniformly stepping forward.
The cultivation in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well over the past few years, and the arduous training on Sea God Island, had forged deep bonds between them.
Xuan Ming's matter was a competition among themselves, but they could unite against this kind of "outsider" threat.
Seeing this, Ziji straightened up, languidly brushing her long hair, seemingly losing interest in further teasing.
She glanced at the still tightly closed palace door and said lightly: "Alright, everyone disperse. Don't make noise here."
"He's been tired all day and needs rest. If you want to say something, come back another day."