Seeing that Xuan Zi remained silent, the student continued, “Elder Xuan, please grant my request!”
Knowing that he was at fault, Xuan Zi could no longer bring himself to argue.
“You…
sigh.
Fine.
Submit your request once we return to the academy.
Of course, the academy will still compensate you for everything you’ve lost.”
“What about the rest of you?”
It wasn’t just that one student.
When Xuan Zi saw the hollow expressions on the others’ faces, he knew they were thinking the same thing.
“Um…
I’m sorry for letting the academy down after everything it’s taught me…”
…
Zhang Lexuan silently listened to the younger students pouring out their grief nearby.
It felt as though countless tiny needles were piercing her heart, the bitter ache weighing so heavily on her chest that she could barely breathe.
“Yuhao, after everything that just happened, how do you feel?”
“It’s a shame.
None of this should have happened to them.
You had someone so powerful leading your group, Sister Lexuan, yet something like this still happened.”
Zhang Lexuan said nothing.
By now, she knew Elder Xuan hadn’t been delayed by some unexpected problem.
Instead, it had been because of something so ridiculous…
Seeing her remain silent, Huo Yuhao continued, “I can understand those who lost the will to keep going.”
“Everyone has things they have to go through and things they’ll lose along the way.
Maybe one day I’ll end up like them too, but not now.
Right now, I still have a goal of my own.”
“A goal…”
Huo Yuhao thought back to everything that had happened at the White Tiger Duke’s Mansion and clenched his fists tightly.
“That’s right!
Until I’ve accomplished what I need to do, I absolutely refuse to fall!”
Zhang Lexuan could feel the anger burning inside Huo Yuhao.
It was exactly the same rage she had felt when her family was slaughtered years ago.
In the end, for the sake of revenge, she had accepted every condition Elder Mu gave her.
Now, her purpose in life seemed to consist solely of protecting Shrek, eventually taking over the Sea God Pavilion, and continuing down that path for the rest of her life.
But beyond that, did she have anything else that gave her a reason to keep moving forward?
At that thought, Zhang Lexuan instinctively lowered her gaze toward Huo Yuhao beside her.
…
“Sister Lexuan, about what happened earlier…
could you please keep it a secret?”
From the beginning, Huo Yuhao had lied about being below Level 20.
But in order to save Zhang Lexuan, he had essentially revealed every trump card he possessed.
Although Zhang Lexuan hadn’t exposed anything when Xuan Zi questioned her earlier, Huo Yuhao was still worried that she might misunderstand.
At his words, Zhang Lexuan’s eyes flickered slightly.
She immediately crouched down until she was at eye level with him.
She slowly raised a fair finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, a smile appearing in her eyes.
“Don’t worry.
This is a secret that belongs only to the two of us, isn’t it?”
“When Elder Xuan questioned me earlier, I deliberately covered for you.
Naturally, I’m not going to turn around and reveal your secrets afterward.
You saved my life, so of course I’ll keep them safe for you.”
At such close range, Huo Yuhao once again caught the faint fragrance clinging to Zhang Lexuan.
The tips of his ears grew warm without him realizing it, while the tension in his heart finally eased.
“Thank you, Sister Lexuan.”
Seeing the boy’s slightly embarrassed expression, Zhang Lexuan couldn’t resist reaching out and gently patting his head.
“You don’t need to thank me.
But Xiao Yuhao, you really do have quite a few hidden cards.
I don’t know whether I’ll be able to help you in the future, but if you ever need anything, just come find me.”
With that, Zhang Lexuan withdrew her hand and stood up again, once more becoming the dignified Eldest Senior Sister everyone else knew.
Only now, when she looked at Huo Yuhao, there was something new in her gaze, an emotion even she couldn’t quite explain.
…
After bidding farewell to Zhang Lexuan and the others, Huo Yuhao made enrolling at Shrek Academy his next destination and continued on his way.
…
That evening, at the outskirts of Star Dou Forest, Huo Yuhao was grilling fish.
Skydream Ice Worm stared at the golden-brown grilled fish and said mournfully, “What a shame.
I’m only a Spiritual Body right now.
Otherwise, I’d really like to find out just how good your grilled fish is.”
The Ice Empress looked at Skydream, who had completely abandoned any semblance of dignity, and said irritably, “Why don’t you just imagine one for yourself?”
“Bing Bing, you’re so heartless~”
Even with no danger around, the Spirit Sea Realm remained as chaotic as ever.
…
After night fell, Huo Yuhao sat meditating outside to rest and recover, while his consciousness had already sunk completely into the Spirit Sea Realm.
“All right, all right, Xiao Yuhao.
Let’s continue cultivating.”
“Okay.”
The azure surface of the sea shimmered gently.
Huo Yuhao and Skydream Ice Worm sat embracing one another, still maintaining the same posture used for Skydream’s spiritual cultivation method.
At that moment, the Ice Empress, who had only recently fallen asleep, quietly woke up.
The very next instant, the sight before her made her entire body freeze.
Within the vast Spirit Sea Realm, Huo Yuhao was sitting obediently in Skydream’s embrace, their two Spiritual Origins intertwined so closely that they looked inseparable.
The Ice Empress’s golden pupils contracted sharply, and even her usually proud expression took on a hint of embarrassment.
She had lived for nearly 400,000 years.
What hadn’t she seen before?
And yet, as she watched Skydream and Huo Yuhao embracing while they cultivated, a faint blush immediately spread across her fair, translucent cheeks.
How could Skydream be so shameless?
But then…
why did she feel a little envious?
She watched as Skydream used her Spiritual Origin to steadily nourish Huo Yuhao, producing results far better than ordinary cultivation.
But Skydream, why do you look like you’re enjoying this so much?
And why do you keep secretly stroking Huo Yuhao’s back?
Is that part of the cultivation too?
The Ice Empress stood frozen in place for several seconds, her pride and embarrassment warring endlessly within her.
She wanted to scoff, turn around, and go back to sleep as though she didn’t care at all.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the two figures embracing each other.
She wanted to become stronger too.
She wanted to help Huo Yuhao cultivate too.
She also wanted…
to join them.
After nearly 400,000 years of frozen solitude, aside from Snow Empress, she had never truly cared about anyone.
But now that she resided within Huo Yuhao, the Ice Empress had long since come to see him as her one and only host, her one irreplaceable bond.
As for Skydream?
Sorry.
They weren’t close.
So why should Skydream be the only one allowed to help Huo Yuhao cultivate like this?
Embarrassment, envy, frustration, and a strange fluttering feeling tangled together inside her heart.
In the end, the Ice Empress bit gently on her lower lip, her cheeks flushed bright red.
Holding on to what little composure she had left, she took slow, hesitant steps toward the two of them.
Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Body was still deeply immersed in cultivation, leaving his awareness of the changes around him hazy.
The Ice Empress stopped behind Huo Yuhao, bent forward slightly, and carefully pressed herself against his back.
She didn’t dare hold him too tightly, making her posture somewhat stiff and awkward.
Her slender arms gently wrapped around his waist as she leaned securely against him.
In the next instant, a faint, cool sensation spread across Huo Yuhao’s back.
After spending so much time together, he naturally recognized the aura immediately.
“Ice Empress, you…”
Half of the Ice Empress’s face was buried against Huo Yuhao’s back.
The blush on her cheeks had yet to fade, and her usually cool voice carried a softness even she herself failed to notice.
“This Ice Empress…
this Ice Empress merely thinks this cultivation method seems reasonably effective, so…
I’ve decided to reluctantly join you.”
“A-After all, the stronger you become, the more it benefits us too.”
Seeing the Ice Empress like this, Huo Yuhao couldn’t bring himself to argue.
He simply felt the aura flowing from her and continued cultivating.
Where neither of them could see, Skydream gave a quiet, triumphant chuckle.
Just as planned.