After hearing Zhao Mu's reply, the principal and the two instructors were overjoyed.
A talent as exceptional as Zhao Mu had almost been taken away by the Royal Clan.
Fortunately, he had chosen to stay.
Secretly, the three of them made up their minds to devote even more resources to cultivating him in the future.
"Hmph. How boring."
Beitang Qiushui snorted with obvious disdain. Whatever slight interest he had in Zhao Mu instantly turned into disgust.
Beitang Yihai smiled helplessly.
"Very well. A gentleman never forces others."
"If you wish to remain at Qingfeng Camp, then I respect your decision."
Afraid Zhao Mu might change his mind, Principal Liu quickly asked Instructor Xie Yingxue to escort him away.
As Zhao Mu walked off, Beitang Yihai watched his departing figure thoughtfully.
There's something unusual about that young man...
It almost feels like he harbors a subtle hostility toward me.
However, he quickly dismissed the thought.
Given their vastly different identities, it was unlikely their paths would cross again.
Turning to Principal Liu, Beitang Yihai smiled.
"Principal Liu, could you invite the Space Element Ability User from this year's class? We'd like to meet them."
---
Meanwhile, Zhao Mu returned to the entrance of the Martial Arena.
Meng Qiuqiu and the others were still waiting for him.
The three looked at him as if they wanted to say something but couldn't quite find the words.
Zhao Mu smiled.
"Let's go."
"What are you standing around for?"
Stretching lazily, he laughed.
"I've finally settled my grudge with Shao Han."
"I'm going to relax for the rest of the day."
As he spoke, he removed the Ember Remains from his fingers one by one and handed them to Meng Qiuqiu.
"Take these back and package them properly."
"We'll need to return them soon."
The Ember Remains were priceless treasures.
Unfortunately...
None of them actually belonged to him.
After briefly experiencing what it felt like to be rich, Zhao Mu silently swore that he would earn enough money to own treasures like these himself one day.
Meng Qiuqiu hesitated before asking,
"Brother Mu..."
"When are you leaving?"
Zhao Mu blinked.
"Leaving?"
"Leaving where?"
"To Iron Ridge City."
"With the people from the Royal Clan."
Zhao Mu laughed.
"Who told you I was going with them?"
All three froze.
"You're... not leaving?"
They stared at him in disbelief.
"Why?"
"Iron Ridge City is a much better place than Qingfeng Camp."
None of them understood his decision.
After the Demon Sealing War ten years earlier, Qingfeng Camp had lost most of its strongest experts.
Because of that, it could only be considered a middle-ranked academy within Jiangnan Province.
By comparison, Iron Ridge City offered far greater opportunities.
Standing beneath the blazing afternoon sun, Zhao Mu narrowed his eyes slightly.
"If I don't want to go..."
"Then I won't."
He suddenly hooked an arm around Meng Qiuqiu's neck and laughed.
"What?"
"Are you hoping I'll leave so you can keep all the profits from Tiangong Hall?"
Meng Qiuqiu coughed repeatedly.
"N-No!"
"Our Tiangong Hall needs a genius like you to support it!"
"But..."
"You're really staying?"
After seeing Zhao Mu's calm expression, Meng Qiuqiu finally accepted the truth.
Immediately, smiles spread across all three of their faces.
"That's fantastic!"
"If you stay, Tiangong Hall will become even stronger!"
"Exactly!"
"Even if we never go to Iron Ridge City, we'll still become outstanding in the future!"
The four friends laughed happily together.
Since there were no classes that day, Meng Qiuqiu insisted on treating everyone to lunch.
The second floor of Qingfeng Camp's cafeteria served premium dishes that required personal payment.
Without hesitation, Meng Qiuqiu generously paid for the meal.
Everyone ate, drank, and enjoyed themselves.
After lunch, Zhao Mu returned to his dormitory, changed into his training clothes, and headed toward the Training Hall.
As he passed a small grove, he noticed someone waiting beneath a camphor tree.
It was Mo Guanguan.
With her hands clasped behind her back, she leaned casually against the trunk, as though waiting for someone.
After a brief hesitation, Zhao Mu walked over.
Hearing his footsteps, Mo Guanguan looked up and smiled warmly.
"Congratulations."
"I honestly didn't expect you to defeat Shao Han."
Zhao Mu chuckled.
"I barely managed it."
"It certainly wasn't an easy fight."
Mo Guanguan rolled her eyes.
"Stop being modest."
"You defeated someone four combat ranks above you."
"And Shao Han came fully prepared."
"He never underestimated you."
"Your performance today was incredible."
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting shifting patches of light across the ground.
Although the afternoon sun was scorching, the shade beneath the trees remained pleasantly cool.
After a moment's silence, Zhao Mu finally asked,
"Were you busy this morning?"
"You didn't come watch the match."
He had genuinely been disappointed.
After spending so much time together, he already considered Mo Guanguan a close friend.
Mo Guanguan suddenly smiled mischievously.
"Oh?"
"You really wanted me there?"
Meeting her bright, fox-like eyes, Zhao Mu felt his heartbeat quicken.
He coughed awkwardly.
"Of course."
"Shao Han practically built a stage for me to show off."
"It's a pity you missed seeing how handsome I looked."
His straightforward answer unexpectedly made Mo Guanguan blush.
She turned her head slightly and absentmindedly played with a strand of her hair.
"The truth is..."
"I believed you would win."
"As for why I didn't come..."
"There was someone there I didn't want to meet."
Zhao Mu nodded.
He didn't intend to pry into her personal affairs.
Judging from her expression, she clearly didn't want to explain further.
However, the answer soon revealed itself.
A voice suddenly echoed through the grove.
"Guan Guan."
"I've finally found you."
The moment she heard the voice, disgust immediately appeared on Mo Guanguan's face.
Zhao Mu turned around.
Walking toward them was Beitang Qiushui.
Two imposing guards followed several steps behind him.
Qiushui raised a hand, signaling them to remain where they were before approaching alone.
The instant he noticed Zhao Mu, a trace of cold hostility flashed through his eyes.
It disappeared just as quickly.
Ignoring Zhao Mu entirely, he smiled as he approached Mo Guanguan.
"What a nuisance."
Mo Guanguan frowned impatiently.
Without waiting for him to come closer, she turned and walked away.
"Guan Guan, wait!"
"It's been such a long time."
"I only want to talk."
Beitang Qiushui hurried after her.
Without even turning around, Mo Guanguan replied coldly,
"I have nothing to say to you."
"That so-called engagement was nothing more than a joke between our elders."
"I never accepted it."
She continued walking without looking back.
Beitang Qiushui stopped in his tracks.
His expression gradually darkened.
"That hateful woman..."
Zhao Mu finally understood everything.
So this was the person Mo Guanguan had been trying so hard to avoid.
If she hadn't wanted to congratulate him personally, she probably wouldn't have come to Qingfeng Camp today.
Unfortunately...
She had still encountered Beitang Qiushui.
Not wanting any involvement with the Beitang family, Zhao Mu quietly turned to leave.
But before he could take more than a single step, a cold gaze landed on him like a blade.
Beitang Qiushui slowly turned his head.
His voice was icy.
"What exactly were you talking about with my Guan Guan?"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)