Chapter 21
Wuming looked away.
"Obviously."
Weiyang groaned loudly.
"I hate you."
Wuming replied, almost lazily—
"Continue counting first."
That made it worse.
Ahead of them, Wei Zhi glanced back once, her lips twitching slightly.
Yinghua covered her mouth softly—
trying not to laugh.
The tension from before had dissolved somewhere along the way.
Replaced by something lighter.
Messier.
But alive.
Yinghua couldn't hold it in anymore.
A soft laugh slipped past her lips, light and warm, her shoulders shaking slightly as she glanced back at the two boys still bickering behind them.
"They're… something," she said between quiet laughter, turning to Wei Zhi. "You must enjoy being with them."
Wei Zhi didn't look back this time.
But a faint smile appeared on her face.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
Just there.
"Yeah," she said simply.
A small pause.
"They make my day."
Her tone was calm—but genuine.
Behind them, Weiyang was still arguing, trying to restart the counting like his pride depended on it, while Wuming ignored him on purpose now.
Their voices faded into background noise.
But not in an annoying way.
In a… familiar way.
Yinghua watched Wei Zhi for a moment.
Then smiled again.
Softly.
As if she understood something without needing it to be said.
Wei Zhi and Yinghua walked ahead first.
Their steps were unhurried, almost in rhythm—Yinghua talking softly, her hands moving as she spoke, her sleeves swaying lightly in the air, while Wei Zhi listened, her gaze forward, calm and attentive.
Behind them—
Weiyang dragged his steps lazily, hands tucked behind his head, fingers interlocked, posture loose as if the entire day had drained him—but his presence still loud somehow, even in silence.
And beside him—
Wuming walked with quiet precision.
His hands rested behind his back, posture straight, composed, almost… distant.
The four of them moved down the wide stone steps of the academy.
The building stood tall behind them—structured, layered, its long corridors stretching across each floor, windows catching the fading light of evening. The sky had begun to dim, soft gold melting into pale orange, shadows lengthening across the courtyard.
They were leaving.
But they were not unobserved.
Above them—
On one of the upper corridors, partially hidden by the pillars and railing—
Four figures stood.
Watching.
The teachers of Teams 7, 8, 9, and 10.
They didn't stand together in a neat line.
Each carried their own presence.
Zaimetsu leaned against the pillar, slightly off to the side, one shoulder pressed back casually. A cigarette rested between his fingers, smoke curling upward in slow, lazy spirals. In his other hand, he held a small piece of food, chewing without care as his eyes remained fixed below.
Unbothered.
Amused.
Ya Ting stood more upright, arms folded lightly, her gaze sharp—studying, calculating. Her expression wasn't harsh, but there was a clear interest in her eyes.
Tian Ying remained quieter, observing without interruption, his presence steady, almost blending into the background despite standing right there.
And then—
Lin Yi.
He stood near the edge, not leaning, not shifting.
Still.
His gaze rested on the four figures below.
"Why are you so interested in your students?" Ya Ting's voice broke the silence, her tone light—but edged.
She glanced sideways at him.
"I thought you said your first impression was that you hated them."
A small pause.
Zaimetsu let out a short laugh, exhaling smoke as he spoke—
"That's exactly why."
He tilted his head slightly, eyes still down below.
"Because that group…" he took another drag, "…is either going to be the most stable team this academy has seen…"
A faint smirk formed.
"…or the most unstable."
He tapped ash off the cigarette.
"They're all yours."
Lin Yi didn't react immediately.
Then—
"Yeah," he said calmly.
"Mine."
Below—
The four figures continued walking.
Wei Zhi slightly ahead.
Yinghua beside her, still talking.
Weiyang dragging his feet.
Wuming silent.
For a moment—
Nothing changed.
Then—
Wuming stopped.
Not abruptly.
Not noticeably.
Just—
Stopped.
His steps slowed.
Then stilled.
His head turned slightly.
Then more.
Slowly—
He looked back.
Up.
Toward the building.
Toward them.
The corridor fell silent.
Ya Ting's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…We concealed our presence," she said quietly.
"Is he that good?"
Lin Yi didn't take his eyes off Wuming.
"Yes."
A pause.
"He's a genius."
Zaimetsu let out a low whistle under his breath.
Lin Yi continued, voice even—
"When I used my hand sign earlier…"
His fingers moved slightly, as if recalling it.
"…it creates the illusion that I move upward."
A slight shift in his gaze.
"But he saw it."
A pause.
"…And so did the girl."
Ya Ting turned her head sharply.
"They both did?"
"Yes."
Tian Ying finally spoke, his tone calm—
"I also heard him."
A faint glance downward.
"He called the black-haired girl… 'princess.'"
There was a brief silence.
Then—
Ya Ting smiled.
No—
Smirked.
"Oh?" she said softly.
"It seems he has a favorite already."
Zaimetsu chuckled under his breath, shaking his head slightly.
"Now, now… don't start teasing."
Lin Yi didn't react.
Not even slightly.
"What did someone say anything?" he replied flatly.
As if he hadn't heard a word.
As if it didn't matter.
Zaimetsu laughed again, smoke leaving his lips in a slow stream.
Ya Ting's expression shifted—slight irritation, but she said nothing.
Zaimetsu spoke again, more casually this time—
"Be gentle with them."
A small pause.
"Not like your previous team."
Lin Yi's gaze remained fixed below.
"I'll be everything…"
A brief silence.
"…but gentle."
His tone didn't change.
Not even a little.
"No special treatment."
His eyes didn't move from Wuming.
"I don't care…"
A pause.
"…whether they're princes or princesses."
Below—
Wuming held their gaze for a moment longer.
Then—
He turned back.
As if nothing had happened.
And continued walking.
Without a word.
They walked on.
The academy slowly faded behind them, its towering structure turning into nothing more than a shadow at their backs. The path ahead narrowed into quieter streets, the noise of students replaced by the softer sounds of evening—distant voices, the rustle of leaves, the faint hum of life settling down.
Yinghua continued talking for a while, her voice light, her steps almost bouncing with energy. Wei Zhi listened, occasionally responding, her tone calm but not distant.
Weiyang walked behind them, still muttering now and then, while Wuming remained silent, his gaze shifting occasionally—not aimless, but observant.
Time passed.
About ten minutes.
Then—
Yinghua slowed.
Her steps came to a stop near a small turning—one that led into a quieter lane, lined with modest houses. Warm light spilled faintly from a few windows, soft and welcoming.
She turned slightly toward them.
"This is where I live," she said, her voice softer now, but still carrying that natural brightness.
Wei Zhi looked at her.
Not surprised.
Just… noting it.
Yinghua hesitated for a second.
Then smiled.
"Bye," she said gently.
And turned.
Taking a few steps toward her home.
Wei Zhi's gaze followed her.
Quiet.
Still.
Yinghua walked a little further—
Then suddenly stopped.
As if remembering something.
She spun back on her heel in one smooth motion, her hair swaying with the turn, catching the last light of the evening.
Her face lit up again.
Bright.
Warm.
She lifted her arm high into the air and waved at them, her hand moving freely.
"Ba-byeeee!" she called out, her voice stretching playfully.
"See you all tomorrow!"
The sound lingered in the quiet street.
For a moment—
It felt… light.
Simple.
Unaffected.
Then she turned again and ran lightly toward her house, her steps quick, almost skipping, before disappearing past the corner.
Silence settled again.
Wei Zhi looked ahead.
Then turned slightly.
"…She talks a lot," she said calmly.
Weiyang let out a small breath.
"But she's not annoying," he added, almost as if defending that thought.
Wuming said nothing.
But his gaze lingered for just a moment longer—
On the empty lane she had just disappeared into.
Then he turned away.
And continued walking.
Wuming's gaze lingered on the empty lane for a moment longer before he spoke, his tone flat—
"She's annoying."
Wei Zhi didn't even look at him when she replied.
"Not as much as your attitude."
A brief pause.
Then—
"Totally," Weiyang added instantly, as if he had been waiting for the chance.
Wuming turned his head slightly, his expression unchanged—bored, faintly irritated.
"Oh yeah?"
His voice carried that quiet edge.
And that was all Weiyang needed.
His eyes lit up.
A grin spread across his face.
"Catch us if you can."
Before either of them could react—
He grabbed Wei Zhi's wrist.
And ran.
Fast.
"HEY—" Wei Zhi started, but the rest of her words broke into a breath as she was pulled forward, her steps forced to match his pace.
Weiyang laughed, loud and unrestrained, dragging her along as he bolted down the path toward the Xuan clan's direction, his grip firm but not rough.
"Run, princess, run!" he shouted playfully.
Wei Zhi frowned—but she didn't pull away.
Her steps adjusted.
Balanced.
Controlled.
She didn't stumble.
She ran.
Behind them—
Wuming stood still for a fraction of a second.
Caught off guard.
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Fine."
A pause.
"Why not."
And then—
He moved.
His body leaned forward, steps smooth, controlled—then faster.
Much faster.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Not loud like Weiyang's.
Not visible from far.
But there.
He ran after them.
Silent.
Efficient.
Closing the distance.
The quiet street, moments ago calm and still, now echoed with light footsteps, faint laughter, and the rush of movement cutting through the evening air.
For once—
There was no calculation.
No weight.
Just motion.
And something close to freedom.
Wuming moved after them, his pace steady at first—then sharpening.
His thoughts followed just as quickly.
Weiyang… is the most unpredictable opponent you'll ever face.
His gaze locked onto the boy ahead.
He doesn't follow rhythm. Doesn't follow logic.
Wei Zhi's steps were controlled even while being pulled forward, her movements adjusting cleanly to Weiyang's pace. But Weiyang himself—
He was chaos.
He always surprises me.
Wuming's eyes narrowed slightly as he analyzed him even while running.
First—the wind formation.
A flicker of memory.
Something that difficult… and he uses it like it's nothing.
A pause.
Elder Gu must have taught him.
Another thought layered over it.
Second—he failed four times.
His speed increased.
The distance between them began to close.
And third… this.
Weiyang's movements weren't refined—but they were fast.
Very fast.
Unpredictable shifts in direction.
Uneven strides.
But effective.
Wuming adjusted instantly.
His breathing stayed even.
His steps became lighter.
Faster.
He's quick…
A small shift in his posture.
But I can be faster.
Ahead—
Weiyang glanced back.
And instead of focusing—
He laughed.
Bright.
Careless.
Then—
He shut one eye dramatically, pulled his tongue out, and made a ridiculous face at Wuming mid-run.
"Catch me first, genius!" he shouted.
Wei Zhi shot him a look mid-stride.
"Focus on running, idiot."
But Weiyang only laughed harder.
Behind them—
Wuming's expression didn't change much.
But something in his eyes did.
A faint glint.
Amusement?
Annoyance?
Maybe both.
His speed increased again.
Silently.
Closing in.
Step by step.
As the distance between them shrank—
The chase became real.
Wuming's thoughts settled into silence.
No more analysis.
No more observation.
Just movement.
The distance between them closed in a matter of seconds.
Then—
He reached them.
His hand shot forward and grabbed Weiyang by the back of his collar, pulling him back with a firm, controlled force.
Weiyang stumbled instantly, his balance breaking mid-step.
"Hey—!"
But he didn't get the chance to recover.
Because his other hand was still holding Wei Zhi.
And the pull dragged her in too.
She lost her footing for a moment—
And collided straight into him.
Weiyang was shoved back—
Right into Wuming's chest.
The three of them collapsed in a messy chain, losing balance completely and falling onto the ground together.
A dull thud.
A brief silence—
Then—
Wuming's voice came, calm but edged with satisfaction.
"Caught you, loser."
End of 21