Chapter 94: The Time of Parting! Six Years—I Haven't Even Held Her Hand!
Lin Qingmo thought it over and felt that his Master's words made sense.
He patted his right leg and called inward, "Ah Yin, come out."
"Stay here at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to stabilize your origin. Once your soul becomes stable, I'll send you back to the Blue Silver Forest."
The Blue Silver Forest was the place where Ah Yin could recover her cultivation the fastest.
As his voice fell, several pale-green branches slowly emerged from Lin Qingmo's leg bone.
The branches swayed gently in the air.
They were especially wary of Bibi Dong.
But when they turned toward Lin Qingmo, they revealed deep reluctance to part.
Ah Yin's spiritual intelligence had already recovered considerably.
She could feel the attraction of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The aura here could indeed accelerate her recovery.
But she was more worried about Lin Qingmo.
The way the Pope looked at Ah Qing always made her uncomfortable.
"Don't worry, Master won't harm you."
Lin Qingmo noticed Ah Yin's hesitation and comforted her softly.
"The sooner you recover your strength, the sooner you'll be able to help me, right?"
Ah Yin's branches trembled lightly, finally nodding.
She couldn't speak.
A pale-green glow completely separated from Lin Qingmo's body and fell into the soil beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Ah Yin's main body began to take root.
Her slender stem and leaves grew and stretched at a visible speed, soon spreading into a small area glowing with a faint blue radiance.
"Take care, Ah Yin."
Lin Qingmo crouched down and gently touched the tenderest branch.
Ah Yin's leaf brushed against his palm, as if making a final farewell.
"Alright, let's go."
A meaningful smile appeared at the corner of Bibi Dong's lips.
The third wheel was finally separated.
She turned around, her long hair drifting slightly in the steam rising from the spring.
"I'll take you back to Shrek Academy."
"Thank you, Master!"
The two turned into rapidly moving shadows, speeding toward Suo Tuo City.
Lin Qingmo glanced back at the gradually shrinking Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Ah Yin's blue radiance looked especially small against the red and white springs, yet especially resilient.
At the same time,
The atmosphere at Shrek Academy's training ground was somewhat heavy.
It had already been a long time since Lin Qingmo had been taken away by his mysterious Master for training.
Back then, the moment Xiao Wu learned the news, she immediately went to find Dean Flender as Lin Qingmo had instructed.
Flender had been holding a teacup, calculating this month's expenses.
When he heard that Lin Qingmo had been taken away by his Master, he almost spat out his tea.
"Master? That kid has a Master?"
Pushing up his glasses, Flender thought again.
With Lin Qingmo's monstrous talent and strength, having an incredible Master actually made sense.
The only question was how strong that Master really was.
A Soul Douluo?
Or even higher?
"Alright. Since it's his Master taking him away, it must be for his own good."
Flender eventually waved his hand.
"Don't worry too much. Just keep training."
Even so,
The atmosphere on the training ground had changed.
When Lin Qingmo was around, the girls were tired, but they always had a strange sense of motivation.
After all, no one wanted to be left too far behind by that monster.
But now that he wasn't there, training hadn't stopped; something felt missing.
Especially Xiao Wu.
The girl woke before dawn every day to train, her training intensity more than double what it used to be.
Meditation, physical conditioning, and soft-technique practice—she worked so hard that Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong couldn't help feeling distressed watching her.
"Xiao Wu, take a break."
Ning Rongrong handed her a water bottle, looking worried.
"Ah Qing just went away to train; he's not gone forever."
"I know."
Xiao Wu took the bottle and drank several gulps, sweat sliding down her fair neck.
"I just… don't want to fall too far behind."
She clenched her fists, eyes filled with determination.
Ah Qing was already so strong, yet he was still desperately becoming stronger.
How could she slack off?
Zhu Zhuqing silently walked to her side without saying anything.
She simply began the next set of physical training with her.
Ning Rongrong bit her lip and followed along.
The three girls competed with each other while supporting each other.
Their training efficiency actually improved significantly.
But the annoying part was the other three boys.
Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Oscar seemed to have found some kind of "opportunity" and began shamelessly pestering the three girls.
Tang San frequently tried to talk to Xiao Wu under the excuse of being "old friends" and "six years of classmates."
One day, he brought a carrot; the next day, a small accessory; then he reminisced about "their time at Nuoding Academy."
Even though Xiao Wu rejected him with visible annoyance every time, he remained persistent.
His pretended affectionate expression made Ning Rongrong roll her eyes.
Dai Mubai still hadn't given up on Zhu Zhuqing.
Every day, he followed behind her, saying all sorts of apologetic things.
"I was a bastard before,"
"Give me another chance,"—greasy enough to stir-fry a dish.
Oscar, meanwhile, kept inventing new sausage flavors for Ning Rongrong.
Honey one day, fruit juice the next.
He also occasionally said awkward lines he thought were romantic.
"Rongrong, you're like this sausage; you haunt my soul."
Ugh.
Each time, Ning Rongrong would mock him with the look she used for idiots.
Like right now,
"Xiao Wu, I found this carrot especially for you. It's very sweet, try it."
During a training break, Tang San once again blocked Xiao Wu's path with a fresh carrot.
He wore what he believed was a gentle smile.
Xiao Wu didn't even look at him and turned to leave.
"Xiao Wu, we've known each other for six years. Do you really hate me that much?"
Tang San's voice carried a trace of grievance.
"Can Lin Qingmo understand you better than I do?"
Xiao Wu stopped.
She turned around, her pink eyes already filled with anger.
Just as she was about to curse this annoying pest—
"Little brat, I've only been gone a few days, and you're already trying to steal my girl? Who gave you the guts?"
A familiar, teasing voice came from the entrance of the training ground.
Xiao Wu suddenly turned back.
By the wooden door of the training ground, Lin Qingmo stood leaning casually against the frame.
His hair was slightly longer than when he left.
Azure-blue strands shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
The same half-smiling expression rested on his face.
But when his gaze swept over Tang San, it was cold as ice.
"Ah Qing!"
All her impatience and grievances vanished in that instant.
Like a rabbit finally finding home, Xiao Wu rushed forward.
She stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around Lin Qingmo's neck, and kissed him without hesitation.
The soft warmth made Lin Qingmo freeze for a moment.
Then he reacted, wrapping an arm around Xiao Wu's slender waist and deepening the kiss.
Sunlight poured over them, coating the two in a golden glow.
Dust drifted slowly in the beams of light on the training ground, as if time itself had stopped.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stood to the side, cheeks slightly red as they turned their heads away, yet couldn't help sneaking glances.
For some reason, their hearts felt a little empty… and a little envious.
And Tang San—
The carrot in his hand fell to the ground with a soft thud.
His face turned pale at a visible speed.
His heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand, hurting so much he could barely breathe.
It felt worse than being beaten by Zhao Wuji.
More hopeless than failing to absorb a soul ring.
Watching the two passionately kissing,
The shock in his eyes was gradually swallowed by jealousy, finally turning into resentment that nearly overflowed.
Six years.
He had known Xiao Wu for six years, watched over her for six years, yet he hadn't even held her hand.
What right did Lin Qingmo have?
—
End of Chapter