Fang Ling had no idea that Qin Ming was already making arrangements for him.
He was still "diligently" chasing after Yu Tianheng.
From the earlier battle, it was clear,
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was really fast.
Yu Tianheng kept glancing back with a pleased smile on his face, as if trying to confirm whether Fang Ling had fallen behind.
Fang Ling had no clue what he was so happy about.
He could clearly see.
Du Guyan was obviously annoyed by Yu Tianheng's constant pestering.
If Fang Ling hadn't shown up, this kind of relentless pursuit might have actually worked.
After all, persistence sometimes wins the girl.
Dugu Bo, considering the possibility that he might suddenly die from a toxin outbreak, wouldn't necessarily reject finding a powerful backer for his granddaughter.
But Fang Ling's appearance changed everything.
Compared to the straightforward Yu Tianheng, Fang Ling's approach was more subtle and calculated.
He didn't directly interfere with Yu Tianheng's pursuit of Du Guyan, but tested the waters first.
Using Du Guyan's indifference toward Yu Tianheng during combat, he set a trap that undermined the golden image Yu Tianheng had built up.
Cracked the calm genius persona.
This was a test of Du Guyan's real reaction to Yu Tianheng.
And the result? Very satisfying. She responded with a mocking tone and even retorted in front of everyone.
Yu Tianheng's reaction was also telling, clearly unwilling to give up.
Now, just for her, he was openly comparing himself to the new recruit who had worked hard to earn his place on the team, just to show off his strength.
It wasn't quite bullying, but it was close.
Trying to cause trouble on purpose, this behavior was childish and totally inconsistent with his previous image as a prodigy.
Yu Tianheng didn't mean harm.
But that uniquely childish resentment, combined with the arrogance of someone raised in a sect with a true dragon martial soul, had deeply influenced his growth.
As one of the strongest of his generation in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan, he might not even realize.
His repeated pestering completely disregarded a peer-level genius who also happened to be the granddaughter of a Titled Douluo.
You have to understand, Du Guyan grew up under the doting care of her powerful grandfather!
Normally, she'd kick someone she disliked out of her life immediately.
She only tolerated Yu Tianheng out of respect for his grandfather, Yu Yuanzhen, a level 95 Titled Douluo.
If Yu Tianheng had maintained his image, and kept persistently pursuing her with time on his side, he might have touched her heart eventually.
That was how it happened in the original timeline.
His personality wasn't bad, and once they became a couple, Du Guyan would soon fall for him deeply, thanks to the love-centric mentality common in the Douluo Continent.
But now... heh.
Fang Ling merely smiled faintly.
It looked like Yu Tianheng had won, but in truth, he'd already lost.
The more holes Yu Tianheng dug for himself, trying to show off and prove his strength, the more he'd find Du Guyan drifting away like a boat carried off by invisible tides.
Eventually, she'd be so far gone he could never catch up.
As they neared the end of the fifth lap, Fang Ling deliberately slowed down and fell far behind. His steps were slower, but still steady and strong.
Du Guyan and the others caught up.
"Little brother, where's the captain?"
As vice-captain, Du Guyan noticed only Fang Ling struggling at the front, with no one ahead of him, and felt confused.
"Brother Tianheng runs really fast. I was about to break my legs trying to catch up but still couldn't."
Fang Ling gave a bright smile and, under Du Guyan's gesture, rejoined the group.
In her heart, she felt disdain for Yu Tianheng's childish behavior, bullying someone younger and physically weaker just because he had higher cultivation.
With a hint of blame in her tone, she said:
"Are all true dragon martial soul holders like this? So competitive. You're just a Great Soul Master, why even try to compete with a Soul Exalt?"
Fang Ling replied:
"I just wanted to try. I wanted to see how big the gap really is between me and someone like Brother Tianheng, one of the top talents in the soul master world. Turns out I'm still no match."
A moment of dejection passed over his face, but then his eyes shone with renewed determination.
"But I won't give up. I'll definitely surpass them! I'll become the strongest in the world, or at least, blaze the brightest spark along the way!"
"Yanyan-jie, just wait and see!"
Du Guyan and everyone behind her were stunned. Even one of the teachers following them was shaken.
"You will succeed," Du Guyan said, inspired by his ambition. Her disdain for Yu Tianheng's petty behavior only deepened.
Focused on women and not his cultivation!
The group returned to the training grounds, where Yu Tianheng, who had been resting, waved cheerfully at Du Guyan.
"Yan-zi!"
She ignored him, eyes straight ahead, not even sparing a glance.
Yu Tianheng, still feeling smug for having outpaced Fang Ling, choked. Confused.
What now?
What did he do this time to upset her?
He couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he thought.
Morning training ended. After receiving treatment from the academy's Healing-type Soul King, the physical wear from the run was healed.
Approaching lunchtime, Fang Ling was already feeling hungry.
He was just about to head back to his villa when a teacher from the team approached him.
"Fang Ling, Teacher Qin is looking for you. It's urgent."
"For me? Urgent?" Fang Ling blinked, then saw the teacher starting to lead the way and quickly followed.
The path looked familiar, it was the one they had just come down.
What happened?
Before he even got close, he heard low sobbing echoing through the woods, sorrowful, as if spilling from the depths of a broken heart.
That voice... Ye Lingling?
Why was she crying?
He quietly hid in the trees to observe. On the path, kneeling on the ground and sobbing, was Ye Lingling, completely alone.
Only her...
Qin Ming and another teacher quickly stepped in.
They appeared beside the hidden Fang Ling and got straight to the point.
"The situation is urgent, so we called you over right away."
Without wasting words, Qin Ming asked,
"How much do you know about the Nine-Hearted Begonia martial soul?"
"I know all about it," Fang Ling answered without hesitation, noting their serious expressions.
"Good!" Qin Ming pointed at Ye Lingling. "Then you must understand why she's crying."
"The pressure is too much. Her shoulders are too young to bear it."
Fang Ling's face turned grim. A rare psychological problem, why come to him?
He was only good at clever tricks.
"That's right. She's still young and can't accept this reality. Her emotions are unstable and her sadness keeps deepening."
"This can't go on," the other teacher added.
Qin Ming nodded and looked at Fang Ling with hopeful eyes.
"You've faced life-and-death situations often. Do you have any good advice?"
"Me?" Fang Ling pointed at himself in disbelief.
"Yes."
Fang Ling's heart sank.
Are you kidding me? It's only my second day here, and now I'm a therapist?
Surely desperation doesn't mean _this_ kind of desperation...
What if Ye Lingling spirals and can't recover, who's responsible?
He stared coldly at Qin Ming.
Qin Ming, as if reading his thoughts, reassured him:
"Don't worry. Things like this have always happened in the Nine-Hearted Begonia lineage. We sent her to Heaven Dou Royal Academy so she wouldn't grow up isolated, so she'd form attachments to friends."
Fang Ling remembered how she said nothing when healing him and Yu Tianheng, then quietly hid behind others afterward. The mission felt heavy.
"Will it work?"
"A little. At least she talks to Du Guyan sometimes." Qin Ming shrugged. "We can't force Ye Lingling to socialize more than she's ready to."
"We've tried all kinds of methods, none of which worked. You're used to facing death, just try. Do your best."
Since they put it like that, Fang Ling couldn't say no.
"Alright. I'll give it a try."
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