"Hey? Xiaohe, you're back!"

As the girls walked up the stairs, they saw Xiao He and his companion coming down.

"Well, since I'm back at my alma mater, I thought I'd come up and take a look," Xiao He explained casually.

"Why don't we sit down a bit longer? We haven't chatted in ages," a girl said, blinking at him.

Xiao He remembered that this girl was the kindest to Xiao He in the whole dormitory and had never made fun of her. However, she often dared not speak up for her due to pressure.

"No, we're heading back to the academy," Xiao He replied.

Upon hearing his words, the girls couldn't help but turn their gazes to Wang Xuefeng.

He had light yellow medium-length hair, a standard male model's height and golden ratio, and wore a neat and stylish camouflage uniform and Martin boots, with a high-quality sniper rifle slung on his back.

Although his eyes were covered, it couldn't hide his good looks at all, and it even made people incredibly curious about his full appearance.

"Who is he...?"

"..."

Xiao He's lips twitched, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out two words through gritted teeth: "Boyfriend."

Wang Xuefeng, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but laugh and quickly covered his mouth with his fist.

"Boyfriend?!" Several girls simultaneously revealed extremely gossipy eyes.

"Come back and sit down! I really want to hear what's happened these past few days..."

"Yeah, that's right! Not only did she suddenly become so amazing, but she also found such a handsome boyfriend!"

"Come on, come on..."

Without a word, several people rushed over, one grabbing his hand and another putting their arms around his waist, and pushed him back.

"Uh...?" Wang Xuefeng, who was left behind, was a little embarrassed.

"Xiaohe's boyfriend is coming too!"

"Cough cough..."

Outside the school gate.

Yang Xing, who had already dealt with everything, waited in vain for Xiao He and the other two.

I couldn't help but ask in the team group chat, only to find out that they were actually in the girls' dormitory, chatting happily.

Yang Xing: Damn, we're off then.

[Xiao He: You guys go back first, I won't be back for a while.]

Horry: okok!

Yang Xing returned to Flying Dragon One, carrying Dai Lele, and disappeared into the light of the teleportation tower.

The other gunmen besides Wang Xuefeng followed suit, completely disregarding whether their squad leader would stay out all night.

Horry gave a brief explanation to the Horry family army stationed there, and left Stardust City before sunset.

It wasn't until it was completely dark that Xiao He and his companion, after enjoying a "farewell dinner" with the warm hospitality of the female students, left the academy.

After an afternoon of thorough cleanup, Stardust City finally returned to normal order.

However, there were significantly fewer pedestrians on the road.

As if they had just survived a plague, many households had red candles for prayer placed at their doors.

A faint smell of burning permeated the cold wind.

"So? Are there any other clues here?"

Xiao He shook his head silently, then suddenly seemed to remember something: "Aren't you going back? I remember you still have classes."

"I have class tomorrow morning, I'll go back then," Wang Xuefeng replied in the tone of a delinquent student.

Xiao He glared at him: "Then why aren't you resting?"

However, he dangled the toothpick between his teeth and mumbled, "What difference does it make where I rest?"

"Sigh..." Xiao He ignored him, crossed his hands behind his head, and sighed wistfully as he walked, gazing at the sky, "So worrying..."

Wang Xuefeng nodded in deep agreement: "I just selected the second element."

"Oh?" Xiao He asked curiously, "So this time it's going to be a hit?"

"It's ice."

"ice??"

"Hmm," Wang Xuefeng simply responded with a nasal sound, offering no further explanation.

Xiao He scratched his head, his eyes filled with confusion as he looked at him.

Ice is not a particularly strong element, and most importantly, it doesn't suit gunners at all.

It can't provide crowd control like a mage, and its single-target control is barely adequate. Its only advantage is probably increased penetration and the ability to freeze or immobilize a target upon hit.

However, ice has less penetrating power than light, and the Gunslinger's main strength is assassination rather than control.

Xiao He racked his brains but couldn't figure it out. Finally, he turned his head to ask him what he thought, but after staring at him for three seconds, he suddenly understood.

Increasing affinity with elements can enhance our ability to perceive them.

The only reason Wang Xuefeng wanted to sense the ice element was because of "Lord of Ice" Sangmaikui.

Xiao He was certain that if he could see, he would not have chosen ice.

But if you can't see, you can only "see" through this kind of perception.

"No...it's not really worth it, is it? It's just one person." Xiao He felt inexplicably apologetic.

If he were stronger, he wouldn't have had to make this compromise.

"For an expert like me, all elements are the same," Wang Xuefeng said confidently.

Xiao He shook his head helplessly, inwardly muttering, "So stubborn."

Wang Xuefeng sensed his self-reproach and dropped his playful expression. He remained silent for a long time before spitting out the toothpick and letting out a long sigh.

Xiao He gazed at him quietly, his expression clearly troubled. He knew that if Xiao He asked him, he would always get an answer.

"What's wrong?"

Upon hearing this question, Wang Xuefeng instinctively wanted to reply with "It's nothing," but after pursing his lips and thinking for a moment, he ultimately decided not to hide his thoughts.

"What he said today made me very uncomfortable."

Upon hearing this, Xiao He was taken aback.

He knew Wang Xuefeng wasn't joking; he could even sense the anger hidden beneath the calm.

Xiao He understood Wang Xuefeng; he was not the kind of person who would get angry easily.

Of course, being jealous is a different story; it's explosive. It's not comparable to normal behavior.

Today, I spoke with Sammy Kwan, and the two of us were connected via video call for the entire conversation.

What Xiao He heard, Wang Xuefeng could naturally hear as well.

Knowing that he was worried about him, Xiao He wanted to comfort him by saying, "It's alright."

But he changed his mind before he could say it.

"Shall we work together to figure something out?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuefeng was also stunned for a moment, and then suddenly grinned.

"good!"

-

At dawn, the two returned to the clouds.

Wang Xuefeng bid farewell to Xiao He and went to the shooting range.

The latter hopped onto the metal cart, intending to go to the canteen to collect some free "rations".

Unexpectedly, an acquaintance suddenly rushed out from the crowd.

"Hey hey hey! Xiaohe! Going to the cafeteria? Take me with you!" Jinling rushed up and patted the car window.

"Where's your personal driver??" Xiao He stared wide-eyed, opening the passenger door for her with a strange expression.

"What personal driver?" Jin Ling glared back as soon as she got into the car. "I have nothing to do with him!"

"Oh." Xiao He was too lazy to argue, and with a turn of the steering wheel, the whole car "flew" away.

"Ah—!!" Jinling was so frightened that tears streamed down her face: "I was wrong! Please don't punish me!"

Xiao He rolled his eyes at her: "Please? You were the one who wanted to get on the bus."

"Waaaaah... I was really wrong... Slow down..."

The sound of accelerators and wailing echoed all the way up the school road.