"I'm fine, thank you." Huo Yuxi rose from the ground, somewhat troubled. If she was still like this in tomorrow's match, how was she supposed to compete?
Zhou Yi had paired her with Luo Ling from the start to win the championship. Now that her body had failed her, Luo Ling and Lu Wanwan must regret teaming up with her.
They had put in so much effort and finally reached the elimination rounds. Giving up now—neither they nor she herself would be willing to accept it.
Ning Tian did not notice any of this. After helping her to the bedside, she returned to lie down. Mental injuries were not something one could force through.
When Huo Yuhao returned to the dormitory and learned that Huo Yuxi had been injured, he hurried from the dormitory to the infirmary.
"Xixi," he murmured softly. His eyes were bloodshot, and his hands were clenched tightly as the things people had said earlier replayed over and over in his mind.
"When Huo Yuxi was carried away, she was covered in blood. No one even dared touch her."
"Her injuries are extremely serious. She's taking in more air than she's breathing out. She might not make it, so prepare yourself."
"This happens every year. They say matches are supposed to stop short of real harm, but in reality, those people fight viciously."
The closer he got to the infirmary, the more wildly his fear grew. Huo Yuhao's legs felt as heavy as lead, and he stood outside the door for a long time, not daring to enter.
"Yuhao?" Zhou Yi's uncertain voice came from nearby.
Huo Yuhao seemed to have grasped his last lifeline. He hurried over and asked in a trembling voice, "T-Teacher Zhou, I heard Xixi was hurt. Where is she?"
"She's fine." It was the first time Zhou Yi had seen Huo Yuhao so emotionally shaken. Ever since she had known him, he had displayed a maturity far beyond that of his peers.
But whenever it involved Huo Yuxi, he always lost his composure out of concern. Later, Zhou Yi had learned a little about his past and understood why.
Whenever Huo Yuxi got even a slight fever or headache, he worried for a long time. Now that she had been so badly injured, he had likely been terrified. Zhou Yi reassured him, "A specialized teacher has already examined her. It's nothing serious, and she's awake now."
Zhou Yi was not exaggerating in the slightest. Shrek Academy's healing Soul Masters might not have been the very best, but they were certainly among the finest.
But Huo Yuhao knew that his sister's body was unusual. The more seriously she was injured, the faster she recovered, but the weaker her body would become.
His face turned even paler. After asking which ward Huo Yuxi was in, he rushed over as though the wind were beneath his feet.
He happened to run into Huo Yuxi as she was about to leave. Unlike her energetic self that morning, she was now covered in bloody marks from head to toe. She held a bloodstained spider doll in her arms, looking even frailer than she had as a child, when a gust of wind could have knocked her over.
He checked her from head to toe and found only a wound on her knee.
"Brother, why are you here?"
After resting for a while, Huo Yuxi had recovered enough to prepare to return to the dormitory. During today's battle, she had suffered severe injuries, forcing the Soul Devouring Spider into slumber.
After taking a medicinal pill to recover, the Soul Devouring Spider had successfully awakened, only to discover that her body had begun reverting to its former state.
The entire spider was on the verge of collapse. She had not grown this much by relying on her frail mother and equally young brother.
It had all depended on it. It was all its credit! To restore Huo Yuxi's body, it had endured the foul stench while absorbing the Soul Power of those Evil Soul Masters, purifying it before feeding it into her body.
That was what had allowed her body to improve even a little. Later, with Huo Yun'er and Huo Yuhao's careful care, along with its own hard work, she had grown into what she was now.
Yet the moment it woke up, everything had gone back to square one. How could it possibly come to terms with that?!
Huo Yuhao knew this as well. Silently, he crouched down and carried Huo Yuxi on his back before turning toward the dormitory.
Along the way, Huo Yuhao did not speak, and Huo Yuxi did not dare say anything either.
"Xixi." Huo Yuhao slowed his steps. "Brother has told you before—your health is the most important thing..."
"I know, Brother." Huo Yuxi interrupted what he was about to say next. "It's the same for me. Your health is the most important thing."
"But if I used that reason to tell you not to work so hard, saying that I would protect you instead, would you agree?"
"No." Huo Yuxi's voice became muffled. "I know what you want to say. Put yourself in my place—you would definitely do the same as me."
"I want to protect you, but I will not stop you from working hard. Instead, I'll work twice as hard and protect you as you grow stronger."
Huo Yuxi clenched her fists, brimming with determination.
The words in Huo Yuhao's mouth caught in his throat. He could not say anything. It seemed that the way he had always thought might have been wrong.
Xixi was right. Ever since their mother had told him to take good care of his sister, he had constantly suppressed her wishes, terrified that something beyond his control might happen.
All he had thought about was working harder and harder, becoming stronger, protecting her, and keeping her away from anything that could hurt her.
Perhaps he should let go a little. After all, people had to grow through thorns. Besides, Huo Yuxi's talent was far greater than his. He needed to choose to trust her!
After thinking it through, Huo Yuhao let out a long breath and felt much lighter.
"Even so, you cannot participate in tomorrow's match. With your body, you won't be able to withstand another one."
"No." Huo Yuxi objected instinctively, but she had no reason to argue afterward.
Thinking of all the effort Luo Ling and Lu Wanwan had put into this, guilt filled her heart. In truth, she knew that withdrawing now was the best choice for her.
Xixi, there's no need to withdraw. I have a way. The Soul Devouring Spider had just emerged from the sea of consciousness, happily waving its limbs about.
Who would have thought? This misfortune had turned into a blessing.
"Brother, Spidey says it has a way. Let me compete, please. Nothing will happen." Huo Yuxi knew what Huo Yuhao was worried about, and she also knew how to deal with him. "At worst, if something like today happens again, I'll jump off the stage and surrender."
She then gave the Soul Devouring Spider a meaningful look. Help me out already!
Even when Huo Yun'er had been alive, she had trusted the Soul Devouring Spider greatly. Naturally, Huo Yuhao was no exception. After receiving its assurance, he repeatedly emphasized his conditions before finally allowing it.
When they arrived downstairs at the dormitory, they ran into Lu Wanwan, who was preparing to head out.
"Xixi, why are you back?" Lu Wanwan was somewhat shocked. Not to mention how badly Huo Yuxi had been injured when she was carried away, but even now, she did not look well enough to be discharged.
Huo Yuxi merely looked pale, but her voice was full of strength. "My recovery ability is relatively fast. I'm already fine. My Soul Power is just exhausted, so I look a little pale. One night of rest should be enough, and we'll still compete as usual tomorrow."
"Luo Ling and I can compete tomorrow. It won't matter if you rest for two days." Lu Wanwan was a little anxious. She still remembered how Huo Yuxi had flown away and looked as though she had been soaked in blood.
Huo Yuxi did not want to agree. The goal Zhou Yi had set for them was the championship, and Lu Wanwan and Luo Ling did not want to hold the team back. They looked far more haggard than they had before the competition.
Moreover, with the Soul Devouring Spider's guarantee, she felt that she could be completely at ease. But the two girls stared at her with piercing eyes.
Huo Yuxi: "..."
"Fine. If tomorrow's opponents are ones you can handle, I'll stay out of the way and watch." Her tone was reluctant.
Huo Yuhao knew he could not persuade her, so he simply let her have her way. After all, he knew his own sister. She would not be so reckless.
After Huo Yuxi gave all sorts of reasons, Lu Wanwan could only agree to her proposal in the end.
Before you continue