At night, a cold breeze stirred. With December drawing near, dusk fell earlier and earlier.
Heavy dark clouds blanketed the sky as crystalline snowflakes drifted slowly down, landing on the vast waters of Sea God Lake.
At a pavilion by Sea God Lake, Huo Yuhao, Qian Renxue, and Ma Xiaotao sat together.
Qian Renxue looked at Ma Xiaotao and asked, "The academy's closing for vacation tomorrow. Xiaotao, what are you planning to do?"
"Shrek Academy is my home." Ma Xiaotao gently shook her head. "I'll stay here and wait for you and Yuhao to come back."
After spending a semester together, the three of them had grown even closer.
That was especially true of Ma Xiaotao and Huo Yuhao. They had spent eight months practicing hand in hand, and physical contact had been unavoidable. You could say that over those eight months of cultivation, Huo Yuhao had enjoyed Ma Xiaotao's company—and taken advantage of her—for the whole time.
Although the two hadn't defined their relationship yet, judging by how they spent time together and the way they addressed each other, it was all but certain they'd end up together.
After chatting for a while, Ma Xiaotao gave Huo Yuhao a particularly tight hug. He felt her gorgeous figure against him, but before long, she hurried off to the Inner Courtyard, her face flushed.
Qian Renxue teased Huo Yuhao, who sat back down with a red face. "Well, well. The Flame Demon, one of the Inner Courtyard's Two Great Living Volcanoes, has been conquered by you!"
"Older Sister, don't make fun of me. Let's talk about something important," Huo Yuhao said, his expression serious.
Qian Renxue raised a hand, forming a Golden Shield from Soul Power that sealed off the space and kept their voices from carrying.
"Uncle She left the