Chapter 6: The Beloved of the Genius Summoner 6

Unable to maintain his composure any longer, he stood up immediately, pulled out two tissues, and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Is someone bullying you out there?"

Yu Xuan assumed she had suffered some grievance, a chill flickering in his eyes. The atmosphere around him plummeted, as cold as the arrival of midwinter.

"What do you think?"

Lu Ningshi snatched the tissues from his hand, wiped her face vigorously, and then stared at him with wide, watery eyes, asking in a breakdown, "You ruined my fun again!"

"You couldn't have come earlier or later? You had to summon me right when I was about to fight. Yu Xuan, are you sick or something?"

"You were fighting people again?"

Yu Xuan's expression changed, and he suppressed his anger, asking, "Who was it?"

Oh no, she’d slipped up.

Lu Ningshi covered her mouth, looking at him with innocent, blinking eyes. Muffled, incoherent words tumbled from between her fingers, "I wasn't fighting anyone; your ears must be failing you."

"Ha, listen to yourself. Does that even make sense?"

Not only was she refusing to admit it, but she was also turning the tables. Who did she learn all these tricks from?

Yu Xuan laughed in sheer frustration. "Tell me, who was that person?"

Lu Ningshi shook her head.

"Are you sure you aren't going to say?" Yu Xuan's tone carried a hint of strange danger. He did not like it when she kept things from him.

Lu Ningshi lowered her hand and complained helplessly, "I didn't ask for his name, so how would I know who he is?"

"But he mentioned the Ghost Guild, saying something about participating in the team matches of the Summoner Tournament the day after tomorrow."

Lu Ningshi paused, then asked curiously, "They said you were trash they had discarded. Do you have a grudge against them?"

"Is that why you fought them?" Yu Xuan asked suddenly.

Lu Ningshi was stunned. "What?"

"Nothing."

Yu Xuan didn't want to elaborate, but his mood was significantly better than it had been moments ago. He placed a hand on her head, stroking it soothingly, and said softly, "The Ghost Guild has a bad reputation. Don't associate with them, or you'll easily get taken advantage of."

A bad reputation?

Lu Ningshi’s bright eyes darted around. Yu Xuan noticed her crafty, cunning little expression, and the corners of his lips curled up involuntarily.

"Yu Xuan, you should join the team tournament."

Lu Ningshi’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

The word "no" rolled on Yu Xuan's tongue, but he found he couldn't say it.

"I... will consider it."

***

"Sun Le, your phone."

At the Blazing Fire Guild, someone holding a mobile phone called out to Sun Le, who was standing outside the safety net on the field.

Sun Le wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel and walked over, puzzled. "Who is it?"

The name "Yu Xuan" caught his eye.

Sun Le’s eyes widened. He frantically wiped his face with the towel, fearful that the caller might hang up, and hit the answer button immediately.

"Yu Xuan, are you looking for me?"

Whatever the person on the other end said, Sun Le nodded excitedly, blurting out promises like, "Of course, of course," and "You coming is a sure win."

After the call ended, Sun Le clutched his phone. Before anyone could ask, he raised his arms in a victory pose, leaped into the air, and shouted, "Woo-hoo!"

The sound was filled with pure joy.

His teammates looked at him in disbelief. One said to the other, "Has he gone mad? Is that a sound a human can make?"

"Should we call a mental hospital to come and take him away?"

"Si Yan, A-Cheng, Yu Xuan is joining us! We’re participating in the team tournament together—we have a new ace!"

Seeing his teammates approach, Sun Le screamed the good news.

Song Siyan asked skeptically, "Are you talking about the genius Yu Xuan who reached Level 6 in five years?"

"Not some other Yu Xuan with the same name?" He Cheng added.

Sun Le: "It's the genius Level 6 Summoner, Yu Xuan!"

Song Siyan (shocked face): "Holy cow! Sun Le, you're amazing! I admit that for one second, you were better than me!"

He Cheng (nodding like a kitten in agreement): "You’ve finally done something useful."

Song Siyan (rubbing hands in excitement): "When is he coming?"

He Cheng (stroking his chin in thought): "How should I coordinate with him?"

"Damn it, both of you get lost! Now, right now, get out of here!"

Sun Le rolled his eyes dramatically. He hadn't even stepped down yet, and these two were already trying to diminish his role and kick him aside to latch onto a new star. They were truly awful.

Sun Le kicked them away, scanned the area to ensure no one was watching, and then rubbed his hands together excitedly, sending a message to Yu Xuan.

Sun Le: Yu Xuan, when are you coming over? How should I coordinate with you?

Yu Xuan: Eight tomorrow morning. See you at the guild.

In the Blazing Fire Guild's competition hall, all sorts of spirit beasts were prowling about.

"Yu Xuan, this is..."

Sun Le had come early to meet Yu Xuan. As he arrived, his gaze fell on Lu Ningshi, and he studied her with a strange, curious look.

***

Since when did Yu Xuan have a woman by his side?

Could she be his girlfriend?!

Sun Le suddenly grew excited.

Yu Xuan stepped forward, blocking his view, and said calmly, "She is my sixth contractor."

"Ah? Oh, I see, your contractor. Ha... haha."

Sun Le scratched the back of his head with his right hand, laughing awkwardly. *Thank goodness I'm not a gossip like Song Siyan with no filter, or that would have been embarrassing,* he thought.

A mischievous glint flashed in Lu Ningshi's eyes.

She spun halfway around from behind Yu Xuan, stood side-by-side with him, wrapped her arms around his, and greeted Sun Le with a grin.

"Hello, I'm Poison Vine."

Sun Le: (ΩДΩ) Eh???!!!

What was going on? Yu Xuan didn't pull away?

The shock written in his eyes made Lu Ningshi giggle inwardly.

The moment she pressed against his arm, Yu Xuan froze, but feeling her body tremble slightly, he pushed her away with stiff, awkward movements.

"Don't cause trouble, there are so many people watching."

Yu Xuan pressed his hand to Lu Ningshi's forehead, nudging her slightly away, his movements infinitely gentle and his tone filled with doting affection.

Sun Le looked from one to the other, his heart bursting with curiosity. But he didn't dare ask, terrified that one wrong word might scare away the talent he had just secured.

"Uh... the teammates are all waiting inside. Shall we go in and talk?" he asked tentatively.

Yu Xuan nodded. "Thank you for the trouble."

Sun Le led him into the room. The surrounding noise vanished as if a pause button had been pressed. Everyone fell silent, their eyes filled with awe and admiration for Yu Xuan.

Lu Ningshi, following behind him, felt the weight of it most deeply.

In this moment, he was the uncrowned king in his own domain, not the cold, numb statue he appeared to be in daily life.

Lu Ningshi fell a step behind, watching him walk toward the crowd.

The group formed a circle, and Yu Xuan stood in the center, his expression cool and detached.

He was diligent and serious, asking questions carefully and patiently learning the habits and skills of his teammates' spirit beasts.

Busy with his work, Yu Xuan lost track of Lu Ningshi, but he had prepared a table of snacks for her beforehand, placing them not far from him, where he could see her whenever he looked up.

Lu Ningshi didn't touch the food. She rested her chin in her hands, watching the tall, upright figure in the crowd, lost in thought.