"Shut up!"
Luo Feihua and Feng Wuya both turned around and snapped at Bai Murong.
"You... Fellow Daoist Luo, Fellow Daoist Feng, I was just worried about Fellow Daoist Chu. Do you have to target me like this?" Bai Murong said indignantly. Li Shiqing was the foremost person of her generation among the reclusive families, and she had never spoken to her like this before.
However, Feng Wuya and Luo Feihua were not as good-tempered as Li Shiqing, nor did they have Li Shiqing's tolerance for her.
Feng Wuya directly turned his back to Bai Murong, and coincidentally pulled Zhu Wu, who was not in a good state. Luo Feihua even took Bai Shengyi to her spiritual beasts.
No one paid any attention to Bai Murong.
"Sister Li, did I do something wrong?" Bai Murong bit her lip and looked up at Li Shiqing, asking innocently, "But I genuinely meant well."
Li Shiqing frowned. She couldn't help but sigh, "Murong, don't take it to heart. Wuya and Feihua are just like that; they aren't intentionally targeting you."
However, Li Shiqing's comfort did not satisfy Bai Murong. Instead, it seemed to catalyze Bai Murong's grievances.
Bai Murong's eyes reddened, and tears fell drop by drop.
"I knew it, Sister Li, you are also on their side. My cultivation is not high, and I've been holding you back. I don't deserve to be with you."
As Bai Murong spoke, she hugged her head and crouched on the flying sword, crying silently.
Li Shiqing's heart softened instantly, and she quickly leaned over to comfort her.
At the front of the team.
Luo Feihua, under the guise of not disturbing Bai Shengyi's rest, turned away everyone else who came to inquire with concern.
Bai Shengyi was indeed extremely tired. Seeing that Luo Feihua was protecting her so well, she simply sat down cross-legged and seized the opportunity to recover her mental energy and spiritual power.
She had not forgotten that the assessment was not yet over.
"Fellow Daoist Bai, we are about to reach Qianlian City."
After an unknown amount of time, Bai Shengyi heard Luo Feihua's voice.
She opened her eyes and indeed saw a city faintly visible not far from the sea.
Bai Shengyi checked the time and found that it was still a quarter of an hour before the academy's deadline. She immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
She gratefully said to Luo Feihua, "Fellow Daoist Luo, thank you so much this time! If it weren't for you and your spiritual beasts' help, we might not have made it."
The others also thanked Luo Feihua one after another and then took their leave.
Having reached this point, if they were to stay and travel together, it would be somewhat taking advantage.
Chu Tianle had not yet woken up, so Li Shiqing and Luo Feihua did not leave.
Zhu Wu shyly stepped forward, "Can I walk with you? Don't worry, I definitely won't cause you any trouble, and you don't need to take care of me during the assessment. I simply want to follow you."
This was the first team that did not dislike his bad luck.
When Chu Tianle had fainted earlier, Zhu Wu had been scared out of his wits, thinking he had affected Chu Tianle again with his bad luck.
But no one in the team blamed him. Fellow Daoist Feng had even praised him for his quick reactions, which made him cherish it greatly.
Chen Qiyang also said, "I also want to travel with you."
"I have no objections," Bai Shengyi said. "Fellow Daoist Zhu, if you hadn't said anything, I would have kept you anyway. Chu Tianle will probably be awake in a while, and I still need to borrow your spirit artifact."
"It's nothing, it's what I should do," Zhu Wu quickly waved his hands.
"Then let's all go together. It's lively, and we still don't know what the assessment will be like after entering the city," Feng Wuya said, waving his small handkerchief.
As the few of them spoke, they had already reached the shore. Zhu Wu took the initiative to carry Chu Tianle on his back. Everyone put away their spirit artifacts and walked towards the city gate together.
Feng Wuya leaned close to Bai Shengyi and asked with a smile, "Shengyi, how have you recovered?"
"I've recovered halfway. What's wrong?" Bai Shengyi smiled and looked at him.
After spending some time together, Bai Shengyi had some understanding of him. Feng Wuya, although proud, was fussy, had洁癖 (obsessive-compulsive disorder regarding cleanliness), was gregarious, and loved to pry, but he was actually kind-hearted and a hidden alchemical enthusiast. So, he probably wanted to ask about the Thousand Soul Silk Worms.
As expected, Feng Wuya rubbed his hands and said with a grin, "I just want to ask, do you know what those black things were? Can you tell me?"
He was too curious and had been holding it in all the way, almost driving him crazy.
Feng Wuya considered his background and felt his knowledge was not bad, but he really didn't know about that black mist.
When Bai Shengyi saw that Feng Wuya had asked, the others also looked over, clearly very curious.
"Of course, and as soon as I say it, you'll probably know," Bai Shengyi said. "That wasn't mist, it was Thousand Soul Silk Worms."
"Thousand Soul Silk Worms!" Feng Wuya exclaimed with realization. "No wonder, it was so strange. But why would Thousand Soul Silk Worms suck Chu Tianle's blood?"
"This has to be asked if he accidentally ingested Xingjin. Thousand Soul Silk Worms not only suck the blood of spirit beasts but also love to eat Xingjin. They chased me in the sea because I had accidentally consumed Xingjin before..."
As Bai Shengyi spoke, she noticed that Bai Murong suddenly became awkward and stiff.
She hooked her lips, "Bai Murong, are you feeling unwell?"
"No, no," Bai Murong replied quickly, then as if she had just realized, she said gently, "Shengyi, where did you learn all this?"
Bai Shengyi did not answer, because she noticed that Chu Tianle had woken up.
"Feng Wuya? Shengyi?" Chu Tianle opened his eyes, his mind still hazy, "Weren't we on the sea?"
"Still on the sea? If you don't wake up soon, you'll be underground." Feng Wuya put him down from Zhu Wu's back and snorted, "Chu Tianle, remember to compensate me for the pills..."
Luo Feihua frowned and interrupted, "We're almost there. You should tell Chu Tianle the current situation first."
Feng Wuya pouted, but still obediently quickly told Chu Tianle.
When they reached the city gate, they happened to hear Mu Xing's stern voice: "Everyone, those who have not arrived within ten breaths will be eliminated!"
Bai Shengyi and the others hurried forward, handed their recommendation letters to the cultivators guarding the city gate for inspection, and then entered the city.
Chu Tianle walked over to thank Bai Shengyi.
"Shengyi, you saved my life again! From now on, if you ever need my help, I will go through hell and back for you!"
"Chu Tianle, you're too polite! After all, we are... are teammates," Bai Shengyi paused before saying.
She had to admit that she was actually quite soft-hearted sometimes.
What's more, regarding the matter between Li Shiqing and Bai Murong last time, Chu Tianle had realized his mistake and apologized, so this matter was over between her and Chu Tianle.
"Really?"
Chu Tianle was overjoyed and grinned like an idiot.
"That's great! Shengyi, did I hear you correctly? We are still teammates, right?"
"Yes, you heard me correctly."
"Bai Shengyi, what about us?" Feng Wuya pointed to himself, then to Luo Feihua, Li Shiqing, Chen Qiyang, and Zhu Wu.
He would not let Chu Tianle catch up to Bai Shengyi so quickly! Not when Chu Tianle was always opposing him.
Even now, Feng Wuya still thought Chu Tianle liked Bai Shengyi and was constantly thinking of ways to cause trouble for Chu Tianle with his small handkerchief.
However, Chu Tianle actually liked Li Shiqing. He didn't feel anything from Feng Wuya's "obstruction." On the contrary, seeing that Li Shiqing did not refute Feng Wuya's words, and clearly wanted to continue to befriend Bai Shengyi, Chu Tianle smiled even more brightly.
"Naturally, you are too," Bai Shengyi's gaze swept over Li Shiqing, her smile slightly faint, but she said nothing more.
After thinking for a moment, she said to the others, "The senior from the academy just said that the fourth round could begin at any time. Why don't we find a place to rest first?"
Having searched the sea all the way, everyone was very tired. They all agreed with Bai Shengyi's suggestion.