Chapter 251: Wu Yue and Shen Que Lay Their Cards on the Table, Cutting the Gordian Knot

Chapter 251 Wu Yue Confronts Shen Que, A Swift Resolution

Chun Ya, along with Baiyi and Mr. White Bear, followed Shen Que from a distance, sneaking along.

Baiyi nervously grabbed Chun Ya, "Chun Ya, what exactly are you trying to do? My calves are trembling so hard right now. If the captain finds out, will he kill us?"

Chun Ya was already terrified, her hands shaking uncontrollably. Baiyi's words only made her more frightened, she nearly fainted right there.

Mr. White Bear patted them both, signaling that Shen Que had entered the combat training room.

The two exchanged glances, mustered their courage, and followed.

Inside the training room, Wu Yue and Jie Chen had already finished a round of training and were now resting. Nearby, members of other teams were engaged in combat simulations in small groups.

As soon as Shen Que entered, someone called out to him,

"Captain, here to train too?"

Shen Que glanced at Wu Yue sitting in the corner, "Yeah, training."

Jie Chen, having just warmed up, was now pumped up. He swung his staff at Shen Que,

"Wanna go?"

Shen Que didn’t even pick up a weapon, meeting Jie Chen barehanded.

Jie Chen, "Getting cocky now, huh? Daring to fight me without a weapon now."

Shen Que, having regained his strength, was in top form. Even without a weapon, Jie Chen struggled against him.

Their movements were blurringly fast. The other trainees stopped to gather around,

"Holy shit, the captain’s still a beast!"

"Master Jie Chen wipes the floor with me daily. I thought no one could be more brutal than him, but the captain... next-level scary!"

"Our Blaze is just overwhelmingly strong. It’s so reassuring."

In no time, everyone in the training room had formed a circle, watching Jie Chen and Shen Que going at it hardcore.

Baiyi, sneaking a peek from outside, swallowed nervously, "I still don’t dare step into the combat training room. Rumor has it anyone who enters gets wrecked."

Chun Ya’s gaze lingered on the ripped physiques of the watching fighters, reluctant to look away.

Baiyi, "Chun Ya, what are you even—"

Turning, he saw Chun Ya’s attention wasn’t on Jie Chen and Shen Que at all, but rather on the shirtless fighters chatting and cheering nearby.

Baiyi’s tone turned stern, "Teacher Chun Ya, remember why we're here?"

Chun Ya reluctantly tore her eyes away, "Huh? Ah... yeah."

This place rocked. If she didn’t have to worry about getting beaten up, she’d want to come every day.

Just as her gaze shifted back to Shen Que, she saw him and Jie Chen momentarily break apart—Shen Que kicked Jie Chen into the wall, Holy crap! collapsing part of the training room.

Chun Ya flinched hard, instantly averting her eyes to stare at the ground, studying the floor.

She couldn’t help but wonder, "Could the kitten Yue Yue was talking about really be the captain?"

"But the captain’s infamous for being ruthless, bloodthirsty, and savage. How could he be a *kitten*? If anything, he’s more like a Taotie or Qiongqi (*mythical devouring beasts*), or even Godzilla!"

Bai Yi gasped, "What kitten? The captain is a kitten?"

Chun Ya quickly covered Bai Yi's mouth, "Bai Yi, keep your voice down!"

Bai Yi blushed as Chun Ya leaned in, embarrassed, "Miss Chun Ya, ladies oughta be proper!"

Chun Ya crouched low, signaling Bai Yi and Bai Xiong to follow her away from the training hall.

She whispered what Wu Yue had confided earlier, along with her own speculations:

"Yue Yue’s routine is *clockwork*—mornings in the plantation for cultivation work and mental meditation.

One combat class, one Arcane Arts class, and one healing class per day. Sometimes she even trains late into the night before resting.

She mentioned having a friend, but aside from the people around her, she doesn’t have any peers her age.

From my *years* of trashy late-night novels, this ‘friend’ is *totally* herself!

She said she’s raising a kitten, but none of her tools or summoned creatures include one.

And she even called it the ‘*alpha cat*,’ which recently suffered severe injuries and nearly died—doesn’t that all match the captain?"

Bai Yi’s jaw dropped, "Chun Ya, you’re *scarily* good at gossip."

Chun Ya put on sunglasses, "I’m *on fire* right now."

Mr. White Bear whined "awoo"—Wu Yue had just finished training and left the combat hall, with Shen Que following closely behind.

Chun Ya and Bai Yi exchanged glances before ducking into the bushes.

Shen Que perked up, eyes bright, "Wu Yue, let me train with you?"

Wu Yue shook her head, "No need, Captain. Besides, we’re *way* too mismatched to train together."

Shen Que looked dejected, "But we trained together before..."

Though that time, he *freaking* gave her internal bleeding when he knocked her back...

Wu Yue gave him a cold look, "Back then, I had just obtained *Frostmoon Icicle* and *way* overestimated myself.

Now I understand the disparity between combatants and won’t act so recklessly again.

Captain, I have my own training methods. If you want to train, you can spar with the other squad members—they’d *kill* for your coaching."

From their earlier match, Wu Yue could clearly see Shen Que’s current power and how *hard-won* his strength was.

Blaze was *riding high*, with everyone looking up to Shen Que as their undisputed leader.

If Blaze’s story *wrapped up* now, it’d be perfect.

Wu Yue thought it better to *rip off the Band-Aid* than to drag things out—let Shen Que be thoroughly disappointed in her.

Let him think of her as cold, cruel, and better yet, *kick her out* of Blaze in a rage.

Wu Yue spoke with irritation, "Captain, *back off*. Keep it professional."

Shen Que quietly lowered his head, while Wu Yue averted her gaze and walked away abruptly.

Chun Ya stole a glance, just in time to catch Wu Yue turning her head, revealing her puffy, red-rimmed eyes.

Chun Ya whispered, "Yue Yue is crying."

So, the captain really was the kitten she mentioned.

Clearly, the kitten was crazy about her, and she felt the same.

Yet, it seemed she had made up her mind—she was done with the kitten.

Chun Ya took a deep breath. She didn’t know what had happened between Yue Yue and the captain, but since Yue Yue had made her choice...

Should she, as Yue Yue’s friend, even talk to the captain?

Chun Ya hesitated. "Bai Yi, let’s bail? I think Yue Yue must have her own reasons. If she finds out I..."

As she spoke, Chun Ya suddenly felt something was wrong.

A bone-deep chill gripped her, her teeth chattered uncontrollably.

Even when she followed the Huo family into an S-rank dungeon, or when she faced bombardment in the north, she had never felt such terror.

And from the start, Bai Yi and Bai Xiong had been dead silent—no response at all.

Chun Ya felt her sleeve being tugged lightly, the motion cautious yet filled with pure panic.

She slowly looked up and saw Shen Que standing against the sunlight, his face shrouded in shadow, glacial, locking her in place—she couldn’t even bring herself to meet his gaze.

Bai Yi and Bai Xiong stood quietly beside him. The hulking Mr. White Bear hunched like a scolded child, not daring to move a muscle.

Shen Que’s gaze locked onto Chun Ya, his eyes churned with something unhinged—a barely restrained madness.

"Chun Ya," he said, his voice dangerously calm, "did Wu Yue tell you something?"

The oppressive weight of Shen Que’s psychic pressure made Chun Ya tremble violently, her face pale and unsteady.

His lips curled, cruel, as Shen Que pressed, "Tell me. What did she say to you?

Or else..."

Bai Yi caught Chun Ya as she fainted, risking his neck to interject,

"Captain, whether you plan to turn us into paste or bury us together—

Could you at least dial back the murder vibes? The only person who knows anything just blacked out from terror!!!"