And yet, in the very center of the training ground, stood two people, Gong Cheng and Du Yu.
The sky was dim, with dark clouds gathering.
In the torrential rain, that burning Fire Arrow appeared especially stubborn, as if unwilling to be extinguished.
Even if it no longer had the grand appearance of raging flames, there were only faint sparks, fire lines connecting them.
Gong Cheng stood in front of Du Yu, observing Du Yu's slightly trembling body, and spoke in a deep voice: "You still want to persist, are you proving your excellence to me?"
Du Yu: "I just want that custom-made Demon Soldier."
"Heh." Gong Cheng chuckled unexpectedly, not expecting Du Yu to speak the truth, "But your arrow has already gone out, you've only proven your weakness."
Du Yu lowered his eyes just as the flickering sparks quietly extinguished.
This damned Gong Cheng, his experience truly is seasoned. Even his timing of speaking was so precise, as if he could see through Du Yu's innermost thoughts.
Gong Cheng: "The Fire Attribute Demon Breath within your body has already been exhausted, which isn't good for Little Fire Fox's growth."
Du Yu remained in position without moving: "I'm saving it for her."
Gong Cheng felt displeased in his heart, his eyes as venomous as ever, knowing what he was saying.
Looking at the student speaking nonsense, his face darkened: "You're tired."
Du Yu did not respond, Instructor Gong's words were indeed a fact. Even standing in a military posture for so long would be exhausting, not to mention the posture of drawing a bow and nocking an arrow.
"I don't like him. He doesn't trust us." Suddenly, Little Fen Yang's voice echoed in his mind, "I still have plenty of Fire Demon Breath, hidden."
Du Yu twisted his fingers on the bowstring, persuading in his mind: "Teacher Gong is just like that, Little Fen Yang, he's been helping us all along."
"Hmm."
Gong Cheng: "Your fingers hurt, don't they?"
Du Yu: "..."
"Not speaking? Fine." A slight cold smile appeared on Gong Cheng's face, and he slowly paced around Du Yu, "Seems like you have more backbone than I imagined.
Demon Tamer, a brilliant term, something many dream to become the elite among people."
Gong Cheng stood behind Du Yu, wiping his wet face: "However, mediocre people, even if they're lucky enough to become Demon Tamers, they remain mediocre.
They possess a presumably chosen body, yet their spirit is barren, their will weak, pitiful enough to be despised."
A deep voice came from behind: "Tell me, Du Yu, why did you become a Demon Tamer?"
Du Yu: "The Thousand Paper Cranes' rain turned me into a Demon Tamer."
"No." Gong Cheng moved to Du Yu's side, shaking his head slightly, "I didn't ask about your damn luck, didn't ask why the heavens chose you.
What I'm asking is, why did you choose to walk the path of a Demon Tamer."
Du Yu: "I want to earn some money, pay off some debts, and fill my stomach."
Gong Cheng: "That sounds rather clichéd."
Du Yu licked the rainwater by his lips: "I want a brilliant new life, I want my story to be dazzling."
Gong Cheng showed great disdain: "Even more clichéd."
Du Yu turned his gaze to Gong Cheng, speaking word by word: "I want to traverse the Great Xia's mountains and Otherworlds, to behold the stars and sea of clouds in the night sky.
I want a bow that can shoot open the Celestial Gate, an arrow that can burn everything to ashes!
I want to pluck the leaves of the Twin Divine Wood at Kunlun for my bed, use the fire feathers of the mysterious Golden Crow Race as a blanket.
I also want a few pets that love me and people I love."
Gong Cheng remained silent for a moment, then spoke faintly: "That was indeed more specific."
Getting such a response, Du Yu instead grinned: "The latter part was just made up, actually I just want to earn some money and fill my stomach."
Gong Cheng: "Fill your stomach."
Du Yu nodded lightly: "Yes."
In the pouring rain, Gong Cheng moved in front of Du Yu, his previously squinting eyes, now enveloped in layers of Demon Breath.
Under the protection of Demon Breath, there was no more rainwater dampening his eyelids, and Gong Cheng's eyes finally opened.
He quietly looked at Du Yu for a moment, suddenly speaking: "You can't hold on."
The fact was indeed so, Du Yu's arms and hands were already sore, and his feet were numb.
Gong Cheng: "Go back, return Little Fire Fox to the school. Then go seek help from the Demon Spirit Bureau, adopt a functional Demon Pet, do some odd jobs, you can still survive."
Du Yu quietly looked at Gong Cheng, silently clenching the bowstring.
Gong Cheng: "You can't hold on."
Rumble!
Peals of thunder came, and the heavy rain seemed to turn into a storm.
Gong Cheng: "Just don't be a Demon Tamer. Find a place to work, or continue studying, apply for financial aid, maybe with effort you could even get a scholarship."
In the dark rainy day, a streak of lightning illuminated Gong Cheng's dark scarred face.
Gong Cheng: "So many paths to choose from, go back and pick one."
Du Yu: "I..."
"Hmm?" Gong Cheng leaned forward, listening closely.
Du Yu: "I choose the path under my feet."
Gong Cheng wore a playful expression: "I believe you can complete your training successfully and pass the test. But you're getting further away from the title of outstanding student, your vision is short and your words deceitful.
For a Demon Soldier, to the point of exhausting your Fire Attribute Demon Breath, neglecting Little Fire Fox. This isn't resolve, this is just a whim.
Perhaps, you really should return Little Fire Fox to the academy, you don't deserve it."
Du Yu's brow furrowed slightly: "I said, I've kept some Fire Attribute Demon Breath in my body."
"It seems you can finally prove something to me." Gong Cheng let out a cold laugh, his eyes as venomous as ever, disdainful of arguing further.
"Thunderstorm, how unfortunate for you. Quickly absorb the Fire Attribute Demon Breath, before I reach the dorm, let me see the flames on your bow." Gong Cheng turned to leave, "Don't say I didn't give you a chance."
Fizz! Fizz! Fizz!
The next moment, the silent Demon Soldier Black Wood became scorching hot, emitting a sizzle, as if activated, steam immediately spread out.
Gong Cheng's departing figure suddenly stopped!
Amidst the pouring rain, the sizzle from the Black Wood Bow was drowned out. What truly halted Gong Cheng was that feeling of being locked on!
Gong Cheng slowly turned his head, seeing from the corner of his eye, an astonishing scene.
He trusted his own judgment, believed he had a clear view of Du Yu.
But clearly, the child behind him was more enduring, more tenacious, and craftier than imagined!
Under the pouring rain, the Demon Soldier Black Wood was burning intensely, steam drifting. On the pitch-black bowstring, a Fire Arrow was primed to shoot!
This was no mere flame, this was a raging inferno! A fiercely burning inferno!
And the youth's bright eyes, unprecedentedly fervent, pierced through the thin rain curtain, locking onto the scar beneath his gaze.
The youth's resolute voice penetrated the rain curtain, drifting into ears, "I didn't speak nonsense, nor did I deceive you."
Gong Cheng finally turned around, facing Du Yu directly.
Lightning tore through the darkened sky, making Gong Cheng's rigid scarred face even more frightening: "Including the part about the Divine Wood Leaves for bedding, Golden Crow Fire Feather for a blanket?"
Du Yu nodded lightly: "After I've eaten."