467 Gu Yue, Confess!

"Xie Xie and Lizhi, please keep what I'll be saying next in mind. The Purple Demon Eyes is an art that requires daily morning cultivation, and the cultivation is slow to say so the least. You can't rush it. I'll teach you two how to train it tomorrow morning," Tang Wulin said.

"Okay." Xie Xie brought a hand to his lips. "Then how about I teach you the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step in the afternoon?"

"Sure!" Tang Wulin flashed a smile.

A distance away, Yue Zhengyu leaned against a wall, lips pursed and eyes glued to the trio. "They're so lucky. How come I never have such luck?"

"That's because you don't go out much. Have you hit rank 40 yet?" asked Yuanen Yehui, careful to keep a five meter space between them.

"Yeah. I did. Just wait until I get my second spirit soul… Hehe. You better watch out for your class president position."

Yuanen Yehui snickered.

Snorting, Yue Zhengyu continued, "We'll see once the next semester starts."

"Don't worry, I won't go easy on you. Don't blame me if you lose a limb or two."

Yue Zhengyu sent a heated glare her way but otherwise said nothing.He didn't have much confidence facing her.

☀

The door to the dormitory shut behind Gu Yue with a muted click. As Ye Xinglan and Xue Xiaoyan had gone to receive their rewards from the Tang Sect, their shared room was now empty with her departure.

A bit of color returned to her pale cheeks as she breathed in the fresh air and stretched her limbs.

In the middle of practicing the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step, Tang Wulin immediately noticed Gu Yue. Dropping everything he was doing, he broke into a jog toward her.

"How are you feeling? Doing any better?" Tang Wulin asked, concerned over her slower recovery rate.

"Yeah. A bit. Don't worry about me. I just need some more time," Gu Yue said. If Tang Wulin weren't right in front of her, he would have missed her words.

He cracked a small smile, hesitating before asking, "Can we go to your place for a minute? There's something I want to talk to you about."

"Hm?" Gu Yue tilted her head slightly, peering at him through thick lashes. Eyes bright and wide. But she nodded a moment later. "Okay. Come on then."

Watching from a distance, Xie Xie whistled and blew kisses at the couple. Standing nearby was Yuanen Yehui, who curled her lip in disgust. She made for her room without looking back.

As soon as Tang Wulin stepped into the girls' room, he was submerged in pink and softness. The beds were made and the desks stood free of clutter. He rubbed a fingertip across a window pane and stared at the clean, dust-free patch of skin. Totally different from the boys' room.

Gu Yue sat on her bed then pointed at a chair for Tang Wulin.

Although they were together every day for classes, the two rarely had time to talk alone. Especially since she at times would give him the cold shoulder.

"What do you want to talk about?" The object of her affections sitting so near, Gu Yue's heart raced.

Despite being only fourteen, Tang Wulin already carried the makings of a man, and they were becoming more and more apparent each day. Standing over 170 centimeters, he had a muscular but lean build. His face, handsome and bright, combined with large eyes framed by long lashes, brought most girls to a blush. But not Gu Yue. She was different. She was used to looking at those appealing features.

"Gu Yue, confess!" Tang Wulin demanded.

Gu Yue's face flushed a delicious pink. She wrapped her arms around herself, around the curves that were starting to grow more pronounced. Girls developed faster than boys after all. And like most other girls, she already entertained herself with thoughts of romance.

Never in her life had Gu Yue allowed another boy to touch her. Not even Xie Xie or Xu Lizhi. But for some reason, for some strange and wonderful and mysterious reason, she didn't mind it with Tang Wulin. In fact, sometimes she even took the initiative. Owing to her dominating personality, she would often separate him from other girls. And Tang Wulin, oblivious to this the first couple of instances, couldn't help but notice these actions as time passed. As they occured more and more often. He soon grew used to Gu Yue's hot and cold attitude toward him and her indifference toward everyone else. His special relationship with Gu Yue brought him joy, but deep in his heart he always knew there was some sort of barrier standing between them. He didn't know what it was, but he knew it existed.

"Confess? Confess what?" Gu Yue asked, her cheeks still rosy and panic flashing in her eyes.

"What do you mean 'confess what'? We both know what I'm talking about. Out with it."

Her fingers played with the hem of her clothes. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really?" Tang Wulin asked, looking straight into her eyes.

Gu Yue shook her head, averting her gaze. "I don't know."

"What is the Dragon God Transformation? You're the one who said its name, so how could you not know?"

Gu Yue's eyes glazed over, her mind blanking out in shock. She turned back to face him. "That's what you're talking about?"

Tang Wulin blinked a few times. "Yeah. What did you think I was talking about?"

Gu Yue kicked his shin angrily and Tang Wulin chuckled, not bothering to dodge it. He even brought his leg up hopping, exaggeratedly howling in pain.

"That really hurts! I think you broke a bone. Gu Yue, you have to take responsibility!" Tang Wulin said, a mischievous smile tugging on his lips.

Gu Yue rolled her eyes. "Serves you right. If you have something to say, then say it. Don't just come to joke around." She pointed at the door. "If you've had enough fun, then hurry up and leave."

The pained screams came to an abrupt halt. Tang Wulin's expression grew serious, eyes narrowing into slits. "What is the Dragon God's Transformation?"

"I made it up," Gu Yue said.

"M-made it up?" Tang Wulin gaped at her. "Then that stuff about the first transformation being Dragon God Awakens was made up too?"

"Yep! Doesn't it sound cool?" Gu Yue said with her hands on her hips.

"You win." Tang Wulin rose to his feet and made to leave. Gu Yue didn't say a word to stop him.

At the door, Tang Wulin finally glanced back. "You really came up with those names on your own?"

"Yeah."

"Lying is bad you know!"

Gue Yue snorted. "So childish."

"I don't believe you. In fact, I can tell you're lying. I see it in your eyes. Good kids don't lie!" Tang Wulin said righteously, wagging his finger.

Gu Yue arched her brow. "So what are you going to do about it?"

In one quick, fluid motion, Tang Wulin appeared right before her, his hands clutching at her shoulders. She yelped. Next thing she knew, he had her pressed against the wall, his arms on either side of her, a makeshift cage..

Their eyes met. Tang Wulin brought his face closer to hers. A couple of inches separated their noses. She could feel his warm breath against her cheeks, could smell his unique and masculine scent with each breath. She somehow managed to blush even redder.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Interrogating you!" Tang Wulin declared.

"I can't believe you!" Despite Gu Yue's meek voice, something foreign flickered in her eyes. Something bold. It was right there. Tang Wulin's face, fierce and determined, mere inches from hers. She closed her eyes, lashes splaying like a fan. And she pursed her lips. Faint elemental fluctuations rippled around her, ready to rampage at any moment.

A rustle of cloth. Gu Yue opened her eyes. To her surprise, Tang Wulin had dropped his arms and let out a sigh.

"Fine. I can't do this. You win," Tang Wulin shook his head and turned to leave. If she won't answer, then so be it. She did smell nice though.

"Get back here!" Gu Yue shouted after him.

Tang Wulin glanced over his shoulder. "No. If you won't trust me, then what's the point?"

Gu Yue glared daggers at him. "Fine. Leave then. I won't tell you."

In a flash, Tang Wulin appeared in front of her using his newly learned Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step.

"Tell me." He pulled a chair over and sat down, looking at her inquisitively.

She lowered her head in silence.

"Out with it already. You only have to tell me and no one else. I'll keep it a secret."

"Actually, my martial soul is a dragon," she muttered.

"A dragon?" Tang Wulin's heartbeat quickened, blood thumping in his ears. His shirt stuck to his back, suddenly damp and sticky. "Isn't it Elementalist?"

Gu Yue nodded. "Yes, but it's also a dragon. Control over the elements is just how my martial soul manifests."