Huo Yan felt that Xian Yuzhu was a truly mysterious person.
If you saw him for the first time, you would undoubtedly marvel at his unparalleled beauty. Upon hearing him speak his first sentence, however, you would discover the underlying colors of his willful and unreasonable personality.
As you spent more time with him, you would notice his unique qualities. Then, you would marvel at how such a pure person could exist within a cultivation world filled with calculation and insidiousness.
He was not hypocritical in the slightest, nor did he hide anything. When he was bad, he was open about it; when he was stupid, it could be seen at a glance. If he wanted something, he said it loudly. He could make a scene and throw a tantrum, refusing to stop until he reached his goal, and he knew nothing of internal conflict or sensitivity.
Xian Yuzhu possessed a majestic and active vitality. To many who were used to false pleasantries and whose souls were as silent as a pool of stagnant water, he was undoubtedly a fatal attraction.
Huo Yan leaned back, sitting to one side with his eyes closed in meditation. He did not need to open them to know what little tricks the person opposite him was up to.
An hour passed, and Xian Yuzhu’s learning progress was already halfway through. His talent for cultivation was higher than Huo Yan had imagined. During this period, Yuzhu could not sit still; he moved his legs one moment and leaned over the desk the next, never remaining fully focused.
Yuzhu peeked at the person opposite him, his small face full of bitterness. “Dead Huo Yan.”
Xian Yuzhu wanted to curse because he could not study, but the mental methods and techniques within the Frost Leaping Whip Manual were all incredibly profound, making his eyes light up repeatedly. He was afraid that if he truly made Huo Yan angry, the book would be taken away. Would that not be a loss? Even if he were to curse, he would wait until after he finished the book to curse to his heart’s content!
The idiot’s internal abacus clicked loudly. Thinking he had taken a great advantage of the person he hated, he became increasingly triumphant. Little did he know that Huo Yan had not given him this secret manual for free.
As for when Huo Yan would collect the interest or what price he would demand Xian Yuzhu pay, the purpose behind it was likely known only to Huo Yan himself.
The sunlight outside the window gradually sank. The twenty pages were soon finished. After testing him one by one, Huo Yan found no errors and was reasonably satisfied with Xian Yuzhu’s progress. However, just before letting Yuzhu go, Huo Yan tucked the Frost Leaping Whip Manual into his own storage bag.
“…”
Xian Yuzhu looked at his empty hands and then stared at him in disbelief. “? Did you not say this book was a gift for me!”
Huo Yan looked up at him. “When did I say that?”
Xian Yuzhu pretended not to hear and lunged forward to grab at Huo Yan. “I do not care! You gave it to me, so it is mine.”
“Give it back! Give it back!”
Huo Yan pushed him away easily and spoke in a calm voice, “Tomorrow at the third quarter of the Hour of the Rabbit, I expect to see you sitting here practicing.”
He naturally would not give the manual directly to Xian Yuzhu. That would only make Yuzhu arrogant but would not make him obedient.
“The Hour of the Rabbit?”
Xian Yuzhu usually slept until the sun was high in the sky. To make him wake up as early as a rooster was more serious than taking his life. “No! I am not even out of bed yet! Huo Yan.”
Regarding matters of cultivation, Huo Yan was never soft hearted.
“Xian Yuzhu,” he interrupted expressionlessly, offering a chilly warning. “If you are unwilling, I will give this manual to someone else.”
What? He said it was for him, so on what grounds would he give it to someone else?
Xian Yuzhu was furious. It was not that he cared who Huo Yan gave it to, but rather that as the dignified Young Sect Leader, how could he allow himself to be slapped in the face by someone he looked down upon?
“No! The third quarter of the Hour of the Rabbit it is! Be there or be square!” Xian Yuzhu slapped a hand onto Huo Yan’s face. “Huo Yan, you are not allowed to be late.”
Huo Yan expressionlessly grasped Yuzhu’s wrist and turned to leave.
“Hey! Did you hear me? You are not allowed to give it to anyone else! That is mine!”
In an instant, they arrived outside the Library Tower. Huo Yan seemed to be in a good mood; at the very least, there were no storms raging in his sea of consciousness.
Seeing this, the remnant soul became interested: “Is young friend Huo serious? Does someone with your personality actually have other friends? Is it also a beauty?”
“False.” Huo Yan withdrew his cold gaze. As he walked, he closed his palm, crushing the Recording Stone Yuzhu had thrown out into fine powder. “But if I did not say that, he would not be obedient.”
Remnant soul: “.”
Xian Yuzhu walked into the courtyard awkwardly.
“Young Sect Leader?”
“The Young Sect Leader is back! I will have someone prepare hot water for a bath.”
The courtyard became lively, but Xian Yuzhu did not let them surround him as usual. He waved his hand irritably, his bad mood visible to the naked eye. “Leave me alone. Do what you are supposed to do.”
Yuan Shun and the others were stunned, but they did not find it unusual. “Yes.” After all, their Young Sect Leader’s emotions varied every day; they were long used to it.
“Young Sect Leader, do you want to bathe first?” Yuan Shun obeyed and did not get too close, but he felt it was strange that his master was walking exceptionally slowly today.
To prevent Yuan Shun and the others from seeing that he had been disciplined by Huo Yan again, Xian Yuzhu had to do something to distract them.
“Who put this flower here?” Xian Yuzhu pointed at a pot of blooming red peonies in the corner, frowning. “It is in the way and ugly! Move it away!”
“Yes, I will have someone move it immediately.” Yuan Shun scratched his head, following the order without understanding why. Xian Yuzhu was a busy man with a short memory, as he had said only yesterday that the flowers were beautiful and specifically asked Yuan Shun to place them in the corridor he frequently passed so he could enjoy them.
“Why is this fish swimming so fast?” Yuzhu’s small face slumped; he was currently not even as good as a fish. Those who deliberately provoked him would be executed without mercy.
“Scoop this one and that one out and stew them! I want to eat them tonight!” Yuan Shun looked at the spiritual fish that the Sect Leader had raised specifically as food for the Young Sect Leader. He nodded quickly and sent someone for a fishing net. Just two days ago, Xian Yuzhu had praised the fish for being energetic and fat, but today they were an eyesore.
After changing his orders back and forth all the way, he finally reached the door of his bedroom.
“Fine, I am going inside to rest.” Xian Yuzhu let out a quiet sigh of relief and said arrogantly, “Put the bathing tub inside. No one is allowed to disturb me, do you hear me?”
Behind him was a row of panting servants who bowed and said, “Yes, Young Sect Leader.”
Creak.
The bedroom door closed, and in an instant, Xian Yuzhu was the only one left in the room.
“Whew.” The breath Xian Yuzhu had been holding was suddenly released.
His eyes were red as he used the table to help himself up. The half height bronze mirror reflected the boy’s thin and delicate figure. Because he had been pampered since childhood, Yuzhu had never suffered any hardships. His skin was snowy white all over; anyone who did not know better would think he was a princess from a wealthy kingdom.
Unfortunately, Xian Yuzhu was in no mood to admire himself in the mirror. He casually gathered his thick black hair and turned slightly.
“Heh.” He slowly let out a breath and closed his eyes.
Looking at Huo Yan’s heartless, dead face, “Do I have some kind of grudge with him?” Xian Yuzhu’s beautiful face looked somewhat speechless. He was almost laughed at by his own anger and sniffled.
“I am so angry! Truly, I am furious!”
Xian Yuzhu cursed as he applied ointment. “Dead Huo Yan. Dog Huo Yan.”
Xian Yuzhu waited for a moment, and after confirming it no longer hurt, he stepped into the bathing tub. For the next half hour, while he soaked, he thought about how to get his revenge.
After thinking it over, it seemed that the mortal named Xie Shurong was the only breakthrough point. Xian Yuzhu’s eyes lit up. Not knowing what he had thought of, he began to chuckle maliciously.
“Dog Huo Yan, just you wait!”