"Lie Still If You're Injured. Leave the Rest to Me."

The battle was over, and the taut nerves finally relaxed. A wave of intense weakness swept over Huo Yuhao.

He staggered, nearly collapsing to the ground. A pair of gentle hands reached out just in time and steadied him.

The faint fragrance of orchids lingered beneath his nose. Huo Yuhao forced his eyelids open and saw Zhang Lexuan's beautiful face, etched with worry and concern.

"Eldest Senior Sister... good thing you're here..."

Huo Yuhao managed a pale smile. Then his head lolled to the side, and he slumped into Zhang Lexuan's arms.

As luck would have it, his head came to rest against something soft. His hands clung to Zhang Lexuan's slender waist as tightly as a drowning man grabbing a lifeline.

Zhang Lexuan's heart gave a sudden flutter, and her body stiffened.

Feeling the boy's burning warmth and his slightly ragged breathing, she stopped the hand she'd raised to push him away. With a helpless sigh, she gently put her arm around his shoulders.

Only then did Zhang Lexuan realize that the boy who had stood in front of her when she was in despair, and cared for her attentively for three days when she was badly injured, had already left an indelible impression on her heart.

Just then, a red figure plummeted down like a meteor.

"Yuhao!"

Ma Xiaotao rushed over, murder in her eyes. When she saw Huo Yuhao lying bloodied in Zhang Lexuan's arms, the killing intent in her gaze instantly turned to concern.

She hurried forward and reached to take Huo Yuhao from Zhang Lexuan.

But an awkward scene unfolded.

Though Huo Yuhao was supposedly unconscious, his hands seemed welded to Zhang Lexuan's waist. Ma Xiaotao tugged twice, but he didn't budge.

"..."

The air fell silent for a few seconds.

Ma Xiaotao's mouth twitched as she looked at Huo Yuhao's pale face, which somehow seemed almost "serene." She immediately saw through him.

You little rascal! You're hurt this badly and still can't resist taking advantage of Eldest Senior Sister, huh?

Though she was itching to throttle him, Ma Xiaotao was also relieved. If the rascal still had the energy to fool around, he wasn't going to die.

Zhang Lexuan's cheeks had turned pink, and she was so embarrassed she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

His actual girlfriend was right there, and yet her boyfriend was clinging to his eldest senior sister and refusing to let go. What was this supposed to be?

"Um... Xiaotao, let's check if anyone's still alive first." To ease the awkwardness, Zhang Lexuan quickly changed the subject.

Ma Xiaotao snorted and turned toward the Spirit Emperor, who was barely clinging to life.

Before she could question him, a look of determination flashed through the Spirit Emperor's eyes. Black blood spilled from his mouth—he had poisoned himself.

Meanwhile, atop the walls of Shrek City.

Several figures stood quietly in the night. They were Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, and several other senior figures from the academy.

They had arrived long ago. They hadn't intervened because they wanted to see just how far the dual-core disciple personally selected by Mu En could go.

The answer Huo Yuhao had delivered was not only perfect—it had gone beyond the assignment!

"Unbelievable..." Yan Shaozhe drew a deep breath, the shock in his eyes refusing to fade. "A Spirit Ancestor, caught in a deadly trap, killed three Spirit Kings and a Spirit Emperor, and grievously wounded a Spirit Saint... Is this kid even human?"

"Even Mu En couldn't have done something like this at his age." Qian Duoduo stared blankly, then broke into delighted laughter. "Ha ha! I get half the credit for this kid, too! The Soul Guidance Department has struck gold!"

Yan Shaozhe ignored Qian Duoduo's outburst and looked at the people below as they cleared the battlefield. His voice turned grave. "Bring every body back to the academy. Find out who was behind this, no matter what it takes! Anyone who dares attack our people in Shrek City is asking to die!"

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao returned as well. When the two girls saw Huo Yuhao's pitiful condition, they burst into tears.

With Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao escorting him, Huo Yuhao was taken back to Ma Xiaotao's dormitory in the inner courtyard.

The academy summoned its best healing-type Titled Douluo in the middle of the night.

After the treatment, the Titled Douluo confirmed that Huo Yuhao had only suffered Soul Power exhaustion and superficial injuries. Once everyone knew he was out of danger, they finally relaxed.

Zhang Lexuan stood by the bed, watching Huo Yuhao breathe steadily. At last, the weight on her heart lifted.

She turned to Ma Xiaotao and said softly, "Xiaotao, now that Yuhao's all right, I'll head back. Take good care of him."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Zhang Lexuan regretted them.

What right did she have to tell Ma Xiaotao to look after Huo Yuhao? Ma Xiaotao was his actual girlfriend! Her tone had been far too concerned—almost as if she were taking over.

Sure enough, Ma Xiaotao raised an eyebrow and gave her a knowing look.

"Cough... I only meant he's one of the academy's most precious assets. We can't afford any mishaps." Zhang Lexuan fumbled out an explanation, then fled the room.

Watching Zhang Lexuan's slightly flustered retreat, Ma Xiaotao rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

"Eldest Senior Sister's reaction... something's off."

She turned and sat beside the bed, gazing down at Huo Yuhao, whose eyes were still tightly shut.

With only the two of them in the room, it was so quiet they could hear each other breathing.

"Not bad, Huo Yuhao. I really underestimated you." Ma Xiaotao reached out and lightly poked his cheek, muttering to herself, "At this rate, are you really going to win over Eldest Senior Sister? You were holding her pretty tight just now. How did it feel?"

The person in bed remained motionless, as if he were fast asleep.

"Still pretending?"

Ma Xiaotao gave a cold laugh, a mischievous glint in her beautiful eyes.

Suddenly, she raised her hand and poised it over Huo Yuhao's most vulnerable spot, ready to slap down!

"If you're not waking up, you won't be needing this thing anymore. I might as well get rid of it!"

Her palm cut through the air with force. She clearly wasn't holding back.

Just before her hand landed, Huo Yuhao, who had been "unconscious," jerked to the side as if jolted by electricity, curling up like a shrimp.

"Don't, don't! Xiaotao, my dear! Have mercy! You'll need this for your future happiness!"

Huo Yuhao opened his eyes and stared at Ma Xiaotao in terror, cold sweat breaking out across his brow.

That fierce woman really would do it!

"Oh? So you're done pretending to be asleep?" Ma Xiaotao drew her hand back and crossed her arms, watching him with an amused smile. "You were putting on quite a show just now. What, afraid of becoming a eunuch?"

Huo Yuhao scratched his head awkwardly and gave a dry laugh. "Well... I was so badly hurt. I only just woke up, really..."

"Don't try that on me." Ma Xiaotao leaned over him, bracing both hands beside his body. Her beautiful face drew close, and her warm breath brushed across his cheek. "Tell me, how did it feel holding Eldest Senior Sister just now? Was she more comfortable to hold than me?"

It was a question with no safe answer.

Huo Yuhao swallowed, his eyes darting away. "Um... I was too weak to feel anything. Really, I didn't feel a thing..."

"You didn't feel a thing, but you held on so tight I couldn't pry you loose?" Ma Xiaotao narrowed her eyes, a dangerous aura filling the room.

"That was a survival instinct! Instinct!" Huo Yuhao defended himself with complete conviction.

"Hmph. As if I'd believe that."

Ma Xiaotao rolled her eyes at him, but the anger in her eyes had already faded, replaced by deep tenderness... and burning desire.

Looking at the boy who had fought to the death to protect his companions, her love for him grew like wild grass.

"Yuhao..." Ma Xiaotao's voice suddenly turned husky. She slowly lowered her head until her red lips were nearly touching his. "I don't care how many women you have around you in the future. I have only one demand... satisfy me!"

Huo Yuhao's heart raced. He said weakly, "Xiaotao... I... I'm still injured. I can't move around easily..."

A smile capable of captivating the world curved Ma Xiaotao's lips. She gently lifted his chin with one finger and declared with domineering confidence:

"If you're injured, lie still."

"Leave the rest to me."

The next moment, her red lips met his, and the room filled with passion.