At the same time.
Zhou Qing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu were slowly making their way to Notting Academy.
"We still have some of the leave we took from Teacher Mo Hen for hunting spirit beasts left unused. Let's put it to good use," Zhou Qing said to the two. "It's too late today. Tomorrow, we'll head to the back mountain of the academy to further test the changes in our Spirit Beasts after obtaining the spirit rings, and the additional effects brought by our spirit skills."
"No problem."
Tang San had no reason to disagree.
The clearer the understanding of their Spirit Beasts and spirit skills, the more they could maximize their strength in actual combat.
"I'm fine too... Wait! I haven't asked Teacher Mo Hen for leave yet!" Xiao Wu suddenly slapped her forehead, remembering she had skipped classes for two days and hadn't completed the part-time tasks assigned by the academy.
For part-time students, the academy was very strict. After all, they didn't pay tuition fees, so missing opportunities like this would surely upset the teachers.
But—
"It's fine. You've already become a Spirit Master. Just show Teacher Mo Hen your spirit ring," Zhou Qing said. "But I suggest you don't skip classes in the future. For a young lady like you, you should understand 'the hardships of the common folk' and follow their rules."
Tang San nodded, "Brother Qing is right."
"I told you, I'm not!" Xiao Wu roared, glaring at Tang San with her big pink eyes. Since Zhou Qing had become a Spirit Master, his first spirit ring skill could definitely overpower her, and she'd have to directly use her hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and spirit bones.
But Zhou Qing and Tang San exchanged a smile, both showing a knowing look about Xiao Wu's noble lady status.
"You two!"
Xiao Wu ground her teeth in anger but felt helpless against the two.
One had a Spirit Beast of a heart and was already stronger than her; the other's was Blue Silver Grass, but his spirit power was higher, and he ran like a slippery eel — impossible to catch.
[Are these two trying to compete with me for the head of the Seventh Dorm and push me to third place?]
They arrived outside the gates of Notting Academy.
The gatekeeper had already gone to rest.
Tang San said, "Looks like we have to climb over the wall."
Just as they were about to move, Zhou Qing caught sight of Su Yuntao walking down the road outside the gate, head lowered, eyes dull, and face full of bitterness.
"Master Su Yuntao," Zhou Qing called out.
Startled, Su Yuntao raised his head sharply, and seeing Zhou Qing and Tang San, he forced a faint smile and said, "It's you guys. It's so late, and you're still not back at Notting Academy?"
"Mainly because we were having too much fun at the Notting Guild, chatting with other adventurers," Zhou Qing answered honestly. He found that chatting with adventurers could gather lots of useful information they normally wouldn't get.
Like which pharmacy sold good and cheap herbs, which soul-hunting team had the best reputation, and so on.
"I see," Su Yuntao nodded.
"Master Su Yuntao, did you run into some trouble? You look a bit listless. Where's your girlfriend?" Xiao Wu asked.
"She's not my girlfriend... yet,"
Su Yuntao felt extremely unlucky today. After Zhou Qing and the others collected their subsidies from the Spirit Beast Hall and left, Master Mashuino summoned him and forced him to copy the spirit awakening regulations twenty times — probably because he didn't immediately bring back the child born with innate full spirit power when he found out about them.
But he really didn't think Blue Silver Grass or the Heart Spirit Beast had much potential!
After finishing the copying task, Su Yuntao left Mashuino's office and went to find Sisi. Guided by the guards outside, he found himself in front of the Lord's Mansion and saw Sisi walking arm in arm with the Lord himself, entering the mansion together...
At that moment, Su Yuntao felt his heart break.
In truth, Mashuino had said Sisi was quite free-spirited, and Su Yuntao knew this. He had noticed early on that Sisi and the Lord had something going on, but he never exposed it, thinking as long as their relationship wasn't official, he still had a chance.
But!
His heart really hurt.
Su Yuntao hadn't intended to talk about this, but perhaps the pressure inside him had nowhere to vent. Seeing the innocent looks of Zhou Qing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu, everything just spilled out.
Tang San was silent for a moment, then guessed, "Maybe it's because Master Su Yuntao, you aren't as wealthy as the Lord?"
Tang San could actually understand Su Yuntao's sadness. Not because of his own past experience, but because the Soul Saint's diary from Saint Soul Village had described how the Soul Saint's girlfriend eventually married a nobleman.
Before, Tang San hadn't felt much about it, but now with a living example right in front of him, the impact was profound—even if he hadn't experienced it firsthand.
[Hmm~ From now on, women can only be friends, definitely not girlfriends!]
Tang San made up his mind internally and planned to warn Zhou Qing too, lest he really got tricked by that broad-minded Romantina, not to mention that woman was mentally unstable and a bit of a psycho.
"Rich? I've saved quite a bit too. But I can't compare to the Lord's big mansion, or his fancy carriage, or having servants to wait on me... sniffle"
As he spoke, Su Yuntao's tears welled up and he actually started to sob.
A real man rarely sheds tears; he just hasn't reached that level of heartbreak.
"Master Su Yuntao, don't cry," Zhou Qing stepped forward. "Do you really like Miss Sisi that much?"
"How could I not? We come from the same village, and I'm only three years older. When we were kids, she said she'd marry me when we grew up!" Su Yuntao rambled on, recalling childhood memories—
Zhou Qing didn't catch a single word, just quietly waited for him to finish and then offered some advice: "Brother Tao, if you keep going like this, it won't do. You should focus on training. When you break through to level 30, Miss Sisi will surely come back."
"I know... but just thinking about Sisi sleeping in that old lord's arms makes me lose all desire to train," Su Yuntao was tearful but powerless.
Zhou Qing: "..." This was beyond being a "simp"—his mind was trapped in a whirlpool of love, unable to escape.
In such a situation, if Su Yuntao tried playing "hard to get" and waited a few days, he absolutely couldn't hold back and might even backfire.
There was no hope of Su Yuntao maintaining rationality once deep in this mess.
So a strong remedy was needed.
"Brother Tao, why don't you go to the Lord's Mansion tonight and clarify things with Sisi face-to-face?"
"!!!"
Su Yuntao's eyes widened.
"This is the best solution. Dragging it out benefits neither you nor Miss Sisi. Better a short pain than a long one. If Miss Sisi wants a happy life, forcing her might only make her despise you, and you won't even remain friends."
Zhou Qing sighed, "The greatest love for someone is letting go. As long as she's happy, that's what matters. What do you think?"
[Master Mashuino of the Spirit Beast Hall won't meddle in emotional disputes like this, so Su Yuntao is isolated and can't compete with the Lord in Sisi's matter.]
But Zhou Qing didn't say this out loud, as it would be too harsh.
Therefore, Zhou Qing could only wish him a happy breakup and hoped he would find a girl who truly loved him.
Su Yuntao: "..."