A few days later.
Inside the Moon Pavilion, the atmosphere was serene and refined. The sounds of string and wind instruments echoed softly through the halls, blending into a tranquil melody.
Accompanied by Tang Yuehua, Bai Mu spent several days there in comfort. Each day was filled with elegant music and graceful performances, allowing him to fully immerse himself in a cultivated, leisurely lifestyle.
After his stay, Bai Mu left Moon Pavilion and returned to the Order Academy.
Because it was the holiday period, the academy was unusually quiet. On the empty training ground, Tang San was cultivating alone, repeatedly throwing hidden weapons with sharp, decisive movements, venting the frustration that had been building in his heart over the past few days.
"Working quite hard, aren't you?"
A familiar voice sounded nearby.
Bai Mu's gaze swept across the training ground, quickly spotting Xiao Wu not far away. A playful smile appeared on his face as he walked toward her.
"Sister Xiao Wu, it's been a few days. Did you miss me?"
Xiao Wu stiffened for a moment when she saw him, then relaxed.
"It's you, Little Mu!"
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she stepped closer, her voice soft and happy.
"Of course I missed you. You're finally back."
Bai Mu smiled lightly.
"Since you missed me so much, shouldn't you at least give me a hug?"
Xiao Wu hesitated and instinctively glanced around. She noticed Tang San had already stopped what he was doing and was watching them.
After a brief struggle, she stepped forward and gave Bai Mu a quick, light hug, her expression bright and seemingly natural.
"Xiao Wu—!" Tang San called out, his voice tense.
Bai Mu immediately stepped back, raising his hands with an exaggerated look of surprise.
"Hey, hey, Little San is still here."
Tang San forced a strained smile.
"It's fine… Xiao Wu was probably just happy to see you."
"Yes, yes! I was just excited," Xiao Wu said quickly, nodding along.
Bai Mu chuckled softly.
"Then I'll take it that way."
He released her and turned toward Tang San.
"Little San, long time no see. Want a hug too?"
"Cough—no need!" Tang San waved his hand awkwardly.
"If you say so." Bai Mu shrugged. Then, with a casual motion, he produced several Spirit Bones, their surfaces faintly glowing with a strange luster, and tossed them toward Tang San.
"These are Spirit Bones I obtained by chance. Judging by their attributes, they perfectly fill the gaps you're missing. Consider them a gift."
Tang San's eyes widened.
"These are… ten-thousand-year Spirit Bones?!"
He stared at them in disbelief. Excitement, shock, hesitation, and bitterness surged together in his heart. The anger he had been suppressing stalled completely, leaving him feeling suffocated instead.
In that moment, all the resentment he had felt toward Bai Mu seemed ridiculous.
He still treats me as a brother…
With these Spirit Bones, his strength would increase greatly. He would be better able to protect Xiao Wu.
After a long silence, Tang San clenched his fists and nodded heavily.
"Thank you… good brother."
Without another word, he turned around, keeping his back to them, afraid that if he stayed, his emotions would spiral out of control again.
Watching his retreating figure, a faint, unreadable smile flickered across Bai Mu's face.
He turned back to Xiao Wu and gently patted her head.
"I still have things to do with Rongrong and the others. I'll be going."
"Alright," Xiao Wu replied softly. "Go take care of your matters."
Only after Bai Mu left did Tang San slowly turn back.
His voice trembled with frustration and pain.
"Xiao Wu… you know Bai Mu has many people around him. Why are you still so close to him?"
He couldn't understand it. The Xiao Wu who once relied on him completely now felt unfamiliar.
Xiao Wu looked at his bloodshot eyes and aggrieved expression. Her heart softened—but she knew dragging things out would only hurt him more.
She raised her head, her gaze firm.
"Brother, I'm not doing this on purpose… but I really do like Little Mu."
Tang San froze.
"What… did you say?"
His face went pale in an instant, as if struck by lightning.
Like?
So all the patience, restraint, and silent endurance he had clung to over these days—was it all meaningless?
He wanted to speak. To argue. To persuade her to reconsider.
But in the end, all that escaped was a long, heavy sigh.
What could he say?
Bai Mu had never treated him poorly. He had even given him precious Spirit Bones. From everything Tang San knew, Bai Mu took good care of the people around him.
What right do I have to stop them…?
At that moment, Tang San felt powerless.
Seeing the resolve in Xiao Wu's eyes, he understood—this was no longer something he could change.
"Brother… I'm sorry," Xiao Wu said softly.
"I know this will hurt you. But I really want to be with him."
She hesitated, then asked quietly:
"You… you'll bless us, right?"
Tang San closed his eyes.
After a long pause, he turned away and began to walk off, one step at a time.
The bitterness in his heart surged like a tide, drowning him completely—yet with nowhere to release it.
Behind him, Xiao Wu watched silently, knowing that the Xiao Wu who once belonged only to Tang San had already become part of the past.
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