94: Be careful

Gu Xiaoyue waved her hand and told Chu Li that Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao had asked Principal Zheng for permission to enter the Secret Realm.

“That old fox, it’s clearly his business, yet he’s trying to pin the blame on you!”

She didn't understand Principal Zheng's intention; he could clearly decide whether those two could enter the Secret Realm, yet he insisted on calling Xiao Yue over.

Pinning the blame?

Gu Xiaoyue was merely wary that Principal Zheng and Director Wu knew about the God-Rank Pet.

Although so far, Principal Zheng and the others had shown goodwill.

Who knew if they weren't hiding daggers behind their smiles?

Gu Xiaoyue had nothing much going on recently, so she had more contact with Mu Qingning.

She was counting the days; after she came out of the Secret Realm, it would be the academy's annual holiday.

It was also Mu Qingning's due date, and Gu Xiaoyue would be able to stay home with her for her confinement period.

She also needed to prepare gifts for her younger brother, or possibly sister; there was still plenty of time, so she could think about it slowly.

Since she was going to the Secret Realm, she had to be fully prepared.

Previously, she had spent all her star coins on Golden Herb.

The reward from the National Competition, 50 million star coins given by Principal Zheng, was not a small amount.

However, if someone in the Secret Realm was selling the tianling fruit she wanted, then 50 million would not be enough at all.

Gu Xiaoyue looked at the ten tianling fruit in her Yu Beast Space that had already matured.

She wanted to ask Shui Lingyu first if he wanted to buy them; if he didn't, she would send them to the Beastmaster Association for sale.

Unexpectedly, Shui Lingyu bought all of them in one go, at a price of 170 million star coins.

Gu Xiaoyue instantly received 1.7 billion star coins and saved a large sum in handling fees.

Even though Qin Shao had adjusted her handling fee to 2%, 1.7 billion was still 34 million!

The two of them agreed to meet at Shui Lingyu's private training ground for the transaction.

“Senior, you shouldn't need so many tianling fruit, right?”

Gu Xiaoyue asked tentatively, genuinely curious.

Shui Lingyu smiled gently and said, “There are many people in the Shui family. Some resources, even if just left there, are useful!”

Gu Xiaoyue understood; it was like a carrot dangling in front of a donkey!

You could see it, but you didn't know when you'd get to eat it.

Indeed, a prominent family—

With 1.7 billion star coins in her account, Gu Xiaoyue was about to leave when Shui Lingyu called her back.

He took out a mountain of daily necessities, food, and other items from his Yu Beast Space.

“These are the supplies I purchased yesterday that might be needed in the Secret Realm, Junior. Please take them.”

Gu Xiaoyue thought, these daily necessities could probably last for several years!

She put away the supplies and then transferred 100,000 star coins to Shui Lingyu, “Thank you, Senior, for purchasing these for me!”

Shui Lingyu smiled somewhat helplessly and reached out, wanting to pat Gu Xiaoyue's head.

Two people approached from behind Gu Xiaoyue, and his hand froze in mid-air.

Gu Xiaoyue looked at the slightly strange Shui Lingyu and followed his gaze.

A man in a black suit was pushing a wheelchair.

In the wheelchair was a pale-skinned girl, like a porcelain doll.

“Brother Yu.”

The girl spoke, her voice sweet and cloying, with a hint of coquettishness.

Shui Lingyu was a little surprised, “Why are you here?”

The girl looked at him with a wronged expression, then sized up Gu Xiaoyue, biting her lip and saying, “I heard you want to break off the engagement. I want to ask you face to face, why?”

Gu Xiaoyue rolled her eyes, wondering what excuse she could use to leave without making it awkward.

“Senior, I'll just—”

Gu Xiaoyue was interrupted by Shui Lingyu before she could finish.

“There's no why. I just don't think we should sacrifice our love, including marriage, for the sake of our families.”

Su Jinxuan's eyes welled up with tears, and she murmured with her head down, “But I don't want to break off the engagement.”

“If Miss Su values the Shui family's background, I have other brothers. We can just switch to someone else for the marriage alliance.”

Shui Lingyu's expression remained gentle, but his words conveyed coldness and detachment.

Su Jinxuan's gaze fell on Gu Xiaoyue, “Brother Yu, are you breaking off our engagement for her? In the end, you just want a fiancée with strong Yu Beast Master abilities, don't you?”

She had spoken so much, and with some excitement, she choked on a breath of cold air.

Su Jinxuan coughed violently, her shoulders trembling and shrugging with each cough.

Gu Xiaoyue sighed; she was just a passerby!

Shui Lingyu, however, did not deny it.

Su Jinxuan composed herself for a moment and continued, “Although I don't have Yu Beast Master abilities, the Su family has a strong background, and I can also help you!”

Shui Lingyu shook his head; Su Jinxuan seemed to be on a completely different level from him, making it purely ineffective communication.

“Since you came to ask me in person, I can only say this is my decision—it will not change! Please leave, I won't see you out.”

Shui Lingyu lightly issued the eviction order, and Su Jinxuan cried even harder.

Gu Xiaoyue pulled out a tissue and handed it to her.

Su Jinxuan looked up at Gu Xiaoyue with a look of indignation; she didn't want to accept the kindness Gu Xiaoyue offered.

She really wanted to swat the tissue away, but Su Jinxuan still took it and wiped away the tears and snot from her face.

“I won't thank you! Brother Yu is breaking off his engagement with me for you, so you should coax me, and using your tissues is even more appropriate!”

Saying one thing but doing another?

Or just being tsundere—

Gu Xiaoyue understood her. Some girls from aristocratic families are instilled from a young age with the idea of living for the prosperity of their family.

They don't even live for themselves and cannot do what they want freely.

Especially in this era of Beast Taming (everyone taming beasts), those who awaken Earth-Rank talents like Lin Zhiyi might be able to break free from family constraints.

But for someone like Su Jinxuan, their value is reduced to marriage alliances for the family.

That's why when she was about to cripple Xiao Yun's Yu Beast Master talent, Shui Lingyu would come out to protect her. After all, she was his younger sister, and he probably didn't want Xiao Yun to become a tool for marriage alliances either.

She could understand Shui Lingyu, but she couldn't accept it.

Because Xiao Yun's nature was malicious, even despicable; her abilities would likely be used more for harming others.

It would be better to confine her within the high walls of an aristocratic family, which would be good for many people.

“Even without Yu Beast Master talent, being born into an aristocratic family makes you stronger than many people.

While you lament your ill-fated destiny, many people don't even have the most basic livelihood security.

Although I don't know what you truly want, it's best to have a firm resolve, strive for your goals, and avoid overthinking.”

Gu Xiaoyue spoke softly, and Su Jinxuan looked at her through teary eyes.

Indeed, when Shui Lingyu proposed breaking off the engagement to Su Jinxuan, her feelings were more of unwillingness and confusion about her future life.

For the past few years, she had considered herself Shui Lingyu's fiancée; now that this title was gone, where would she go?

What did she truly want?

Su Jinxuan was a bit bewildered but felt a sense of relief, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from her shoulders, only to be replaced by something else—self.

Don't overthink; find your own goal.

Su Jinxuan took another deep look at Gu Xiaoyue, then left with her people.

All the supplies for the Secret Realm were ready.

Before entering the Secret Realm, Gu Xiaoyue only focused on training summoning skill with Chu Li and Shui Lingyu.

Until the morning of the day they were to enter the Secret Realm, Gu Xiaoyue's team of 7 and the seniors from the fourth year gathered at the training ground.

Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao followed behind a senior, looking somewhat smugly at Gu Xiaoyue.

She recognized this senior; he was Xiang Quan, the second on the Nanya Battle Strength Ranking and the captain of the fourth-year group in the National Competition.

It was not bad that Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao could cling to his coattails.

Gu Xiaoyue didn't even spare them a glance. Instead, Senior Xiang Quan came over to greet Gu Xiaoyue.

“Junior, your performance in the National Competition was truly amazing.”

Xiang Quan first exchanged pleasantries, then said in a warning tone, “However, this Secret Realm is primarily open to fourth-year graduates, so you must be extra careful when you go in!”