Douluo Dragon King: The stars of the heavens, transform me into king!

Traffic gradually thinned out as it approached the outer ring road of Mingdu. The black sedan drove off the main road and turned onto a quiet side street shaded by plane trees.

At the end of the road, a fence and a low wall enclose a small, private area.

The car stopped in front of a small, gray-white villa.

The villa was low, two stories, with a meticulously maintained little courtyard. At this moment, the setting sun was sinking low, dyeing the sky a warm, transitioning satin of orange-red to purplish-gray.

The afterglow of the setting sun gently bathed the villa, giving it a fuzzy golden edge.

The car door opened, Gu Yuexing stepped out, nodded slightly to the driver, and the car silently glided away.

He didn't go forward immediately, but stood quietly outside the door for a while, and could vaguely see the figures in the living room through the window.

This isn't someone else's house; it belongs to the person he saved years ago who escaped from Shrek Academy.

One was named Long Bing, and the other was named Wu Changkong.

He casually rescued the person from the Dark Hummingbird and severely injured him in the process. His only regret was that there wasn't enough time. Long Bing was too weak and couldn't withstand his second move to kill the opponent.

Or perhaps I arrived too late! Or maybe I need a little trick when I'm laying the groundwork for my feelings.

He stepped forward and knocked three times on the wooden door, his voice clear and unhurried.

The door opened quickly from the inside.

The one who opened the door was Wu Changkong. He was wearing a simple white loungewear set with a little yellow duck pattern printed on the lining, which made his long, ice-blue hair stand out even more. His face was still stern, and his temperament remained elegant.

The moment he saw the person entering through the door, the emotions in his eyes melted away like ice and snow, replaced by an extremely complex and heavy feeling.

It was a deep gratitude, mixed with respect that had accumulated over the years.

"Speaker of the Council," Wu Changkong's voice was lower than usual as he stepped aside to make way for you, "It's you! Please come in!"

Gu Yuexing nodded slightly and slowly walked inside. The room was warm, filled with the aroma of food and a sense of... peaceful life.

Long Bing was walking out from the direction of the kitchen. She was wearing a dark long dress, her black hair was loosely tied up, revealing her fair neck.

Time has left gentle marks on her; her dark eyes are calm, and her demeanor exudes a serene composure, as if all worldly cares have been washed away.

Upon seeing Gu Yuexingyan, she bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Speaker. Thank you for saving my life many years ago! And for sparing my life."

The voice was full of gratitude, and Long Bing knew that with Gu Yuexingyan's strength, he was definitely capable of dealing with her father within three moves.

Gu Yuexing waved his hand and said, "There's no need for that! The past has its own causes and consequences and choices. The fact that you're standing here now is all thanks to the kindness in your heart."

The words were concise and to the point.

Long Bing straightened up and said no more, knowing that Gu Yuexingyan wouldn't visit them without a reason. She gently took Wu Changkong's arm beside her.

Wu Changkong felt the support on his shoulder, and his expression softened even more. He led Gu Yuexingyan to sit down on the simple sofa in the living room.

"This place is very nice," Gu Yuexingyan said, taking the tea from Long Bing. His gaze swept over the simple yet thoughtfully furnished interior, finally settling on the small garden outside the window, which was gradually sinking into the purplish-gray twilight. "It's a blessing to be able to stay away from the hustle and bustle."

Wu Changkong sat opposite him. Upon hearing this, a deep sense of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, but it was immediately covered by a faint, almost imperceptible emptiness.

He chose to live in seclusion here, to be with his lover, but this came at the cost of a near-death experience.

If only he had been a little stronger back then!

"It is my blessing to be able to stay with her," Wu Changkong repeated softly, holding Long Bing's hand tightly.

Gu Yuexingyan took a sip of tea and looked at Wu Changkong, "Are you interested in coming out of seclusion? I'm still missing someone to teach the unruly students in the intermediate department of Mingdu Academy."

He paused, giving Wu Changkong time to process it.

Wu Changkong stiffened slightly and subconsciously looked at Long Bing beside him. Long Bing's hand gently covered the back of his hand, her fingertips cool.

Gu Yuexingyan observed their reactions and continued, "I'm simply extending an invitation. You can first familiarize yourself with the environment at Mingdu Academy and gain some teaching experience. After that..."

His voice proceeded steadily, as if he had planned it all out in advance, "You can also enter the advanced division of the Mingdu Royal Soul Master Academy. With my status, they won't care about your background!"

The words were clear, and the path was well-defined. It seemed that this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a well-planned scheme.

Wu Changkong fell silent. He looked at Gu Yuexingyan, then turned to his wife. He grasped Long Bing's hand, which was resting on the back of his own; her fingers were cool and steady.

"Okay, I can go!" Wu Changkong's voice wasn't loud, but it was firm and resolute.

Hearing this, Long Bing smiled gently, "Go do what you want to do. I'll take care of things at home."

Gu Yuexingyan looked at them, and the faint gentleness on his face seemed more genuine. If Long Bing hadn't been injured and needed a long time to recover back then, perhaps they would have had a child long ago.

He stood up.

Wu Changkong and Long Bing also got up and saw him to the door.

There were no excessive formalities or attempts to persuade each other to stay. Once the matter was settled, everything else seemed superfluous to them.

"My secretary will contact you regarding the specific procedures and arrangements." Gu Yuexingyan paused at the door, then turned back and said, "Mingdu Academy will have one more good teacher."

"I will not fail your trust," Wu Changkong said in a deep voice, giving Gu Yuexingyan a long look. His gaze was still filled with gratitude.

With the departure of the Speaker of the Federal Parliament.

Inside the villa, Wu Changkong and Long Bing stood by the window, watching each other depart directly across space.

"It's time to start a new life, Changkong," Long Bing said softly, leaning happily on his shoulder.

"Mmm." Wu Changkong put his arm around her, his gaze shifting from the window to his wife's calm, dark eyes, where his own image was reflected.

The sky outside the window was completely dark, and the stars were just beginning to appear. The night in Mingdu was very long.

It was incredibly long and sweet.

……

Three days later

Donghai City is a coastal city, where the air carries the unique salty moisture of the sea breeze.

Two boys walked one after the other on the tree-lined path.

The one walking in front had black hair and black eyes. His hair wasn't particularly long, but it was tied in a small braid. There was a hint of joy in his eyes, but after touching his lower belly, his expression turned dejected.

We're not getting enough to eat, we really aren't getting enough to eat.

Half a step behind him was a brown-haired boy. His hair was cut short and neat, the ends gleaming warm gold in the sunlight.

The two stood a step apart, exchanging few words. The black-haired boy seemed lost in his own thoughts, occasionally glancing up at the blurry outline of the school building in the distance.

"Hey, Tang Wulin." The brown-haired boy finally couldn't resist, quickening his pace to stand beside him and gently nudging him with his elbow. "What are you thinking about?!"

"Nothing?" Tang Wulin's eyes were filled with sadness as he recalled the letter his parents had sent to him through Mangtian.

Suddenly, their director, Long Hengxu, hurriedly walked over from a distance and said, "Tang Wulin, come with me."