Chapter 133: Gus Taigo

"Gus Taige!"

Hearing Wang Luo's question, the simple-minded youth was startled. He looked up at Wang Luo, but upon catching the faint smile at the corner of Wang Luo's mouth, vivid memories of their wild encounter flashed through his mind. His face flushed bright red, and he quickly lowered his head, stammering out his name.

"Gus Taige? Your surname is Taige?"

As they walked, Wang Luo muttered the name, then suddenly recalled something. He turned back, looking at the guileless youth before him with incredulous eyes. He was, after all, a fragile Earth Mage; could he really carry the Taige name? Had he not inherited the bloodline of the Taige?

"Yes, I do have the Taige bloodline within me, but it has faded over time and is very difficult to awaken."

Gus looked at Wang Luo with surprise. He had not expected Wang Luo to recognize the surname, as the beastkin had long since been assimilated by humans, and few people remained who knew the unique surnames of the various beastkin clans.

"Oh, I see. I was wondering—tigers are usually so fierce, why is your body so soft? So, it hasn't awakened yet, huh? When we have time, I'll help you stimulate it and see if we can bring out that tiger nature of yours! Mmm-hmm!"

Wang Luo draped an arm around Gus's shoulders with a mischievous laugh. Seeing Gus’s face turn beet red, he couldn't help but chuckle, his hand sliding down to Gus’s waist to give it a gentle squeeze.

"Stop it! People are watching!"

Having only recently tasted the forbidden fruit, Gus felt his pulse race at Wang Luo’s touch. He hurriedly stepped out of Wang Luo’s embrace, spotting someone approaching in the distance. He kept his head down, face burning, and followed closely behind Wang Luo.

*Thump—*

"Ah!"

"Sss!"

Caught off guard by Wang Luo stopping suddenly, Gus collided with him. His steady, rhythmic pace was disrupted, and a sharp pain flared in a certain recently-opened part of his body. He stumbled, his fragile frame threatening to collapse.

Before he could fall, he was caught and pulled into a searing-hot embrace. Gus’s face, which had just begun to cool, flushed bright red once again.

"What? If you want me to hold you, just say so. No need for such old-fashioned tricks!"

Warm breath tickled his ear, and the teasing whisper made Gus’s face redden even further. Suddenly remembering the person approaching, he pushed Wang Luo away and stood back on his own. The sudden movement caused a twinge of pain, and although his face twitched, he bit his lip and remained silent.

"Hanrode!"

Gus looked up at the figure walking slowly toward them. Stunned, he let out an involuntary cry of disbelief, his eyes filled with stars. Hanrode was the idol of every student; the majestic display of power he had shown during his tribulation still echoed in Gus’s mind.

"Little one, what's wrong? You don't look quite right."

In a blur, his idol appeared before him, offering a concerned inquiry. Gus was overcome with excitement, but then he remembered the source of his current discomfort. He froze, then snuck a glance at Wang Luo, only to realize that Wang Luo’s face had turned icy cold.

"Wang Luo, this is Hanrode. He broke through to the seventh rank two days ago. You weren't there, so you didn't see the scene—Hanrode was just too powerful!"

Gus leaned instinctively toward Wang Luo as he introduced him. He recalled Chelsea saying that Wang Luo had been in the Earth-Fire Chamber training that day. Suddenly, he remembered seeing Chelsea running away in disarray, looking furious, when he had encountered Wang Luo earlier...

"Congratulations on reaching the seventh rank, Teacher Hanrode!"

A smile tugged at the corner of Wang Luo’s mouth. He looked at Hanrode, who appeared radiant and perfectly composed, and felt a pang of heartache. Yet, his voice remained cheerful, as if they were nothing more than a normal student and teacher.

"Oh, I forgot that you were a student brought up by Senior Hanrode!"

Only then did Gus realize that Wang Luo was from the South Academy and was one of Hanrode’s students. Recalling his own foolish introduction, his face flushed with embarrassment, and the incident with Chelsea was pushed to the back of his mind.

"Heh, your name is Gus, right?"

"Yes, yes! You know my name, Senior?"

Hearing Hanrode call him by name, Gus was instantly thrilled. He nodded vigorously, his simple, flushed face looking utterly adorable.

"Heh, cute little one, you haven't been at the sixth rank for long, have you? Would you like me to help you stabilize your cultivation and share some experience with you?"

Hanrode reached out to pat Gus’s head, but his eyes were fixed on Wang Luo, who stood by with a stony expression, his emotions unreadable.

"Ah, Senior, are you really willing to teach me?"

"Yes, I happen to have some free time now. Shall we go to the Earth-Fire Chamber, rent a training room, and let me teach you properly?"

"Ah! Now?"

Gus was taken aback; he desperately needed a rest. But before he could refuse, Hanrode’s arm was around his shoulder, and he found himself being led toward the Earth-Fire Chamber, too dazed to react.

"Wang Luo, mind if I borrow Gus for a while?"

Seeing Gus look toward Wang Luo, ready to speak, Hanrode preempted him, his eyes glinting with a strange, cryptic light, as if conveying a hidden message to Wang Luo.

"Hanrode, if you have an issue, take it up with me! Why drag Gus into this? Hmph! You're just a bitter ex-lover because I played with you and tossed you aside. Sigh, since Gus is someone I've already had my way with, if you want to experience the feeling of me having you again, just say the word. I'll do it for free—no need to go through all this trouble!"

Wang Luo offered a slight smile, his gentle words flowing out at a leisurely pace, as if they were merely chatting about daily life. But the casual tone left Gus frozen in place, eyes wide with disbelief, and caused Hanrode to erupt instantly.

"Scoundrel!"

With a roar of rage, Hanrode waved his hand, unleashing a cyan palm made of battle energy. His eyes burned with fury, as if he intended to incinerate Wang Luo on the spot.

A few days ago, they had been wrapped in intimacy, yet Wang Luo had left with such cold resolve. Upon meeting again, Hanrode found he still missed him. Having already graduated, he had lingered, hoping for an explanation, perhaps being too persistent in his search for answers.

He knew he was being pathetic; he knew he shouldn't provoke him again. But he couldn't control his heart. Everything in his mind was consumed by thoughts of Wang Luo. His breakthrough to the seventh rank was for him; he appeared in his dreams at night; his body instinctively craved him.

Seeing Wang Luo find a new lover after only a few days—seeing the look in his eyes that he had never once granted him—Hanrode felt a surge of resentment. He refused to believe he couldn't have him, yet the result of his probing was only these vicious words.

What did he mean by "playing"? Was it all just a game to him? What did he mean by "bitter ex-lover"?

Each word tore at wounds that refused to heal. Hanrode’s heart shattered. He had struck out with his seventh-rank power, but the moment the attack left his hand, a flicker of regret surged within him. What had he become?