34 The Day it All Crumbles

Sitting in the stands of the large gathering that included nearly all of the school Wulin and Gu Yuena sat in the stands, their side of the large arena completely empty. In comparison, the other sides were packed to the brim, the students sitting shoulder to shoulder with no extra room.

"How did you become so feared again?" Gu Yuena asked, grinning in amusement as she looked around at their completely empty area. This wasn't at the level of fear, this was downright terror that would stick with them for the rest of their lives.

"I broke a door." Tang Wulin replied bluntly, his heart warm just as it had always been when with her. Every day his heart became a bit warmer, he found his thoughts straying to her just a little bit more, and now she owned part of his empty heart without him even being aware of it.

"I heard you were going to break the school and Teacher Wu had to stop you though." Gu Yuena questioned him cluelessly, a single delicate finger on her cheek to convey her lack of knowledge that the playful twinkle in her eyes disproved.

"Rumors are easily exaggerated." Wulin replied simply, his eyes caught by the heartwarming actions done by the girl who had almost constantly been by his side for the last few months, worming her way into his heart with ease.

"Is that so~?" Gu Yuena questioned lightly, playfully stretching out her words. She knew the truth and he couldn't hide it from her. Not that he would of course but that didn't make the situation any less enjoyable. She would force it out of him if she had to.

"That's right. I only planned on destroying the building's foundation." Wulin said as though it was normal and compared to the insanity required to destroy a branch of the Spirit Pagoda it was normal.

"That's pretty much the same thing." Gu Yuena replied simply, not at all surprised by his past brazen attitude. In some ways, he was the same now as he was then and then in others, he was much more mellowed out.

A large portion of this was because he was finally learning more about what he felt rather than acting like a robot. He wasn't quite at the level of a toddler but he was about halfway there. The fact that he regularly relaxed his body helped too.

Every two weeks Wu Zhangkong gave them a day off to run around the city and relax. Sometimes they found places to eat, other times they just explored, and occasionally they would go out for events such as small festivals and the like.

Because of those small trips, Wulin had eased up, not always training at all hours of the day. Of course, his basic habits couldn't be changed and he still spent the vast majority of his time strengthening himself but he did always indulge her so there was progress.

'I've definitely changed.' Wulin thought to himself. Things like this event were things he wouldn't have even considered attending in the past, merely thinking of them as wastes of time, yet here he was not only attending it but also enjoying it.

It was strange since it was all so illogical yet his world had become so much more vibrant since he had changed since she had entered her life. His life had improved drastically from the very moment she had truly entered his life.

But for that same reason, he had to make sure.

"Gu Yuena." Tang Wulin began seriously, a film of spiritual power separating them from all outside noises. To anyone outside the bubble, they wouldn't be able to hear a word without entering.

"Yes?" Gu Yuena asked, instinctively straightening her posture. His voice was still as emotionless as ever but her familiarity with him allowed her to hear the mix of tension and worry in his voice. Clearly, something had happened. Something including her.

"You… know who I am correct?" He asked her seriously, not intending to hide his intentions. From the very beginning, he didn't plan on hiding his identity. He knew that with their strange bloodline connection that she seemed to control she would know that he vanished that night.

The fact that she could control the pulling sensation of their blood made him believe that she may know its origins. Her spatial element meant she most likely knew when he tore space and perhaps where he went.

He didn't want to doubt her but his emotional side demanded he at least know who she truly was and to test her intentions. He himself didn't know enough about them to gauge her intentions so as a final resort and show of trust, he decided to simply ask her.

"I do." Gu Yuena nodded resolutely, ready for whatever he may ask. She could tell instinctively that this conversation would change the flow of her life, for better or for worse was up to the future to tell.

"Then as a leader, you should understand that I have to do this." Tang Wulin said seriously. Usually, it was something he would never bother to explain, why would he? Any that he would mention it to are potential threats to their future.

Nodding her head there was a myriad of thoughts running through Gu Yuena's mind, dozens or even hundreds of possible ways the conversation went running through her mind. They all shared one thing. They didn't end well for her.

"Gu Yuena… what are your intentions toward me." Tang Wulin questioned her seriously, barely restraining himself from stopping this farce when he saw her distressed face. Merely looking at her face that once made his heart light up in joy was squeezing his heart dangerously tight.

This was a moment she had been expecting, the moment he finally asked. They both knew that they were playing a game of make believe, both too afraid of the truth to confront each other. They both hid it behind a wall of excuses but that flimsy shield had finally shattered.

It was the moment their pleasant friendship, their soft rivalry, their adventurous outings, their lazy moments, their studies under their mutual teacher, it would all end today. The best days of her life… were ending today.

"I…" She spoke hoarsely, her voice not coming out no matter how hard she tried.