She was testing him, testing whether Arthur's "acceptance" was genuine or feigned, a choice made after deep thought, or a momentary impulse.
Na'er also looked at Arthur nervously. Her purple eyes lacked their usual cunning and liveliness, replaced instead by seriousness and a hint of imperceptible anxiety.
She cared even more about Arthur's attitude.
Arthur took a deep breath and met Gu Yue's gaze without flinching.
Lying would not get past her.
But he only needed to hide a part of it and speak his true thoughts.
"Vigilance? Fear?" He shook his head. "If I said there was none at all, that would be a lie."
He said candidly, "But, Gu Yue, how long have we known each other? We've studied together, cultivated together, and experienced so many things together. In my heart, you are Gu Yue first, and only then the Silver Dragon King."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Na'er, his tone becoming even softer: "Na'er too. She is first the Na'er who loves snacks, loves to play, and can be a bit temperamental, and only then the Golden Dragon King."
"Moreover, being enemies with humans is out of the question."
Arthur shrugged, and the Light Dragon Seal in his palm quietly lit up with a faint white glow. "Since I have accepted the gifts of the Dragon Kings, I naturally stand on the side of the Dragon Clan. But I am also human, and I will find a way for humans and Spirit Beasts to coexist."
"Out of the question?" Gu Yue's voice was very soft. "Arthur, do you think the grievances between the Dragon Clan and humans can be lightly brushed aside just because of the friendship between us, or the small gifts you received in the Dragon Valley?"
She took a step closer. Although there was still distance between them, the pressure originating from her level of existence and racial stance hit him like a physical force.
"Do you know why the Dragon God fell? Do you know why my Spirit Beast clan was driven from the altar of divinity, confined to Douluo, and is withering day by day? Do you know how the rules established by the human God Realm have step by step compressed our living space, turning the former protagonists of heaven and earth into resources needed for you Soul Masters to Cultivate?"
In Gu Yue's silver eyes, there was no longer the scrutiny or complexity she showed toward Arthur personally. Instead, there emerged the sorrow and piercing chill of the Silver Dragon King, the Co-lord of Spirit Beasts, accumulated over countless ages.
I know, but the one who actually doesn't know is you.
Thinking this, Arthur did not say it out loud.
The rules that oppressed the Spirit Beasts were set by the Dragon God, and being struck into two halves by the God Realm was the Dragon God's own choice.
The Dragon God bears more than half of the responsibility for everything the Spirit Beasts have endured.
This was also why the Dragon God went into seclusion and played dead.
It was also why the remnant souls of the Dragon Kings in the Dragon Valley stayed inside and gave up.
But Gu Yue didn't know.
Arthur didn't dare to say it either.
He could clearly feel the sorrow in Gu Yue's words; it was a racial indignation that spanned ages.
He feared that if he said it now, Gu Yue would go mad.
Watching Gu Yue quietly, Arthur waited for her emotions to calm slightly before speaking slowly, his voice low but firm: "I know these grievances are etched into your flesh and blood, and they cannot be smoothed over with a few words."
"As for the specifics, I will take action. You can just watch."
"We'll talk about the future later. At least for now, I am willing to help you."
It was hard to explain to Gu Yue, so Arthur chose to evade for now. It wouldn't be surprising if Gu Yue did something drastic after learning the truth.
Evading might be shameful, but it is useful.
Hearing this, Na'er couldn't help but rush over and tightly hug Arthur's arm, her purple eyes full of dependence: "Brother Arthur, I knew you wouldn't leave us!"
Gu Yue also relaxed slightly; she didn't want to give up the time they had spent together either.
However, she still asked, "Help us? How will you help?"
Feeling his arm tighten in Na'er's embrace, Arthur said confidently, "How to help? It's simple."
"Of the four major powers of the Federation, I can see you want to take over Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect."
"Na'er will be responsible for the Spirit Conduction Tower."
"I'll help you both take power!"
"Specifics?" Gu Yue nodded slightly. Knowing her identity as a Spirit Beast, it was easy to guess this goal.
"Major organizations are nothing more than a matter of social connections." Arthur held his head high and said proudly, "The thing I lack least is connections!"
"And I have a major contribution to tell you about right now."
Gu Yue's silver eyes flickered slightly. She was clearly intrigued by his confident manner, though she barely maintained her cold tone: "Oh? What contribution?"
Na'er also looked up, her purple eyes full of curiosity, and her grip on Arthur's arm tightened further, as if she were afraid of missing something fun.
"The god-slaying soul tool cannon!"
Gu Yue's silver eyes suddenly narrowed. Having studied human society for so many years, she naturally knew what that was: "What did you say?"
"The god-slaying soul tool cannon," Arthur said slowly. "The ultimate weapon developed by the Federation, said to be capable of slaying gods."
"I don't know what the original purpose of developing it was."
"But I know its current purpose."
Connecting this to Arthur's previous words, Gu Yue's Peerless Wisdom instantly understood: "Shrek Academy..."
She couldn't help but sneer, "Heh, you humans are truly interesting."
Arthur did not argue when he heard Gu Yue's cold "Heh."
Because he knew Gu Yue's irony was justified; the internal strife and madness of humans were sometimes indeed more terrifying than those of other races.
"That's right, it's Shrek Academy," Arthur confirmed, his tone grave. "When I was in the Dragon Valley, with the help of the Emerald Dragon King's Spirit Bone, I saw some fragments of the future. One of them was Shrek City being turned into ruins in a horrific explosion."
The god slaying missile being stolen was something that couldn't be prevented in advance, and Arthur hadn't thought about warning the Federation.
Shrek being bombed was definitely not the work of the Holy Spirit Cult alone. Others aside, at least the Federation was definitely aware of it.
Because it was too absurd.
It was like two super nuclear bombs built with the strength of the entire nation being stolen by another country in his previous life.
It was simply impossible.
It could only be that the Federation did it intentionally.
Arthur continued, "If you inform Shrek Academy and stop all this, other things aside, entering the Sea Gods Pavilion would be a certainty."
"Inform Shrek, stop the explosion..." Gu Yue slowly repeated Arthur's words, her voice devoid of emotion.
She naturally believed the information Arthur provided. How to make Shrek Academy believe it would be her business.
Watching the two of them talk, Na'er, who felt out of place, finally couldn't take it anymore.
She nudged Arthur: "Alright, alright, let's go back first. I've been bored to death being out for this long."
...Back at the hotel in Star Luo City.
Gu Yue looked at the night scene outside the window, recalling the scene of Arthur offering advice not long ago, and remembered her initial goal.
As expected, with a great general like Arthur, the cause can be successful.
She couldn't help but hum softly.
Di Tian and Zi Ji, who were guarding in the shadows, couldn't help but glance at each other.
They couldn't understand why their Lord still wanted to continue the plan to infiltrate humanity.
Having now inherited the legacy of the Dragon God, Gu Yue could sweep through everything even without Na'er's help, and she wouldn't even fear the return of the God Realm.
In the end, they didn't ask.
As long as the Lord was having fun.
In any case, the Spirit Beasts were already in an invincible position.
On the other side, Arthur helplessly opened his eyes as a loud knocking came from the door.
"Bang bang bang!"
"Brother Arthur, are you asleep?"
"Bang bang bang!"
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