"If you're hurt, just lie there and behave. Leave the rest to me."

As the battle ended, the tension in his nerves suddenly snapped, and an intense wave of exhaustion washed over him like a tide.

Huo Yuhao's body swayed, and he stumbled, on the verge of collapsing to the ground. A pair of gentle hands reached out just in time, steadying him firmly.

A faint, lingering scent of orchids brushed against his nose. Huo Yuhao struggled to lift his eyelids, and what came into view was the beautiful face of Zhang Lexuan, filled with anxiety and heartache.

"Senior Sister... thank goodness you're here..."

Huo Yuhao pulled a pale smile onto his lips before his head tilted to the side, and he slumped into Zhang Lexuan's embrace.

His head happened to rest against that soft spot, and his hands, like a drowning man clutching a piece of driftwood, gripped Zhang Lexuan's slender waist tightly.

Zhang Lexuan's heart skipped a beat, and her body instantly stiffened.

Feeling the scorching body heat of the young man in her arms and his slightly rapid breathing, her hands, which had intended to push him away, froze in mid-air. Eventually, they turned into a helpless sigh as she gently wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

Only at this moment did Zhang Lexuan realize that the figure who had stood before her in her moment of despair, and who had cared for her meticulously for three days while she was severely injured, had long since left an indelible impression on her heart.

Just then, a red figure descended like a shooting star.

"Yuhao!"

Ma Xiaotao arrived with a murderous aura. Seeing Huo Yuhao covered in blood and collapsed in Zhang Lexuan's arms, the killing intent in her eyes instantly transformed into heartache.

She hurried forward, reaching out to take Huo Yuhao from Zhang Lexuan's arms.

However, an awkward scene unfolded.

In his "unconscious" state, Huo Yuhao's hands seemed welded to Zhang Lexuan's waist; Ma Xiaotao tugged twice, but he didn't budge an inch.

"..."

The air suddenly went quiet for a few seconds.

Ma Xiaotao's mouth twitched slightly. Looking at Huo Yuhao's pale yet "peaceful" face, she understood everything in an instant.

You little rascal! Even after getting hurt this badly, you still don't forget to take advantage of Senior Sister, do you?

Although she was grinding her teeth in frustration, Ma Xiaotao also felt a sense of relief. If this deadbeat still had the energy to act like a hooligan, it meant he wasn't going to die.

Zhang Lexuan's face was flushed red, and she felt so awkward she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

One was the official girlfriend, yet she, the Senior Sister, was being held tightly by someone else's boyfriend—what kind of situation was this?

"Um... Xiaotao, let's check if there are any survivors first." To ease the awkwardness, Zhang Lexuan quickly changed the subject.

Ma Xiaotao snorted coldly and turned toward the only Spirit Emperor left with a breath of life.

However, before she could interrogate him, a flash of determination crossed the Spirit Emperor's eyes. Black blood spilled from the corners of his mouth; he had bitten down on a hidden poison to commit suicide.

Meanwhile, atop the walls of Shrek City.

Several figures stood silently in the night: Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, and several other high-ranking academy officials.

They had actually arrived long ago. The reason they hadn't intervened was that they wanted to see the limits of this dual-core disciple personally selected by Elder Mu.

As it turned out, the answer Huo Yuhao provided was not just a perfect score—it was off the charts!

"Incredible..." Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath, the shock in his eyes refusing to fade. "A Soul Ancestor, in a guaranteed kill scenario, counter-killed three Spirit Kings and one Spirit Emperor, and severely wounded a Spirit Saint... Is this kid even human?"

"Even Elder Mu back in his day couldn't have achieved this at his age." Qian Duoduo was also stunned, then burst into ecstatic joy. "Haha! I have a half-share in this kid! The Soul Guidance Department has struck gold!"

Yan Shaozhe ignored Qian Duoduo's raving. Looking at the group below cleaning up the battlefield, he said in a deep voice, "Bring all the corpses back to the academy. Spare no cost to find out who is behind this! Daring to touch our people in Shrek City is simply asking for death!"

At this time, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao also rushed back. Seeing Huo Yuhao's miserable state, the two young girls instantly broke down, weeping uncontrollably.

Escorted by Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao, Huo Yuhao was brought back to Ma Xiaotao's dormitory in the Inner Court.

The academy's best healing-type Title Douluo was summoned through the night.

After a round of treatment confirmed that Huo Yuhao was merely suffering from spirit power exhaustion and superficial wounds, and was in no serious danger, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Lexuan stood by the bed, watching Huo Yuhao's steady breathing, the heavy stone in her heart finally dropping.

She turned to Ma Xiaotao and said softly, "Xiaotao, since Yuhao is fine, I'll head back now. You... take good care of him."

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

In what capacity was she telling Ma Xiaotao to take care of Huo Yuhao? She was the official girlfriend! This tone was far too concerned, perhaps even overstepping her bounds.

Sure enough, Ma Xiaotao raised an eyebrow, looking over with a playful glint in her eyes.

"Ahem... I mean, he is the academy's precious treasure; we can't afford any mistakes." Zhang Lexuan offered a flustered explanation before fleeing the room as if escaping.

Watching Zhang Lexuan's slightly disheveled back, Ma Xiaotao touched her chin, lost in thought.

"Senior Sister's reaction... that's not right."

She turned around, walked to the bedside, and sat down, looking down at Huo Yuhao, who still had his eyes tightly shut.

Only the two of them remained in the room, so quiet that they could only hear each other's breathing.

"Not bad, Huo Yuhao, I really underestimated you." Ma Xiaotao reached out a finger and poked Huo Yuhao's cheek, muttering to herself, "At this rate, you aren't actually going to win over Senior Sister, are you? You were holding on pretty tight just now—how did it feel?"

The person on the bed remained motionless, as if he had truly fallen into a dead sleep.

"Still pretending?"

Ma Xiaotao sneered, a flash of cunning crossing her beautiful eyes.

She suddenly raised her hand, aiming directly at the most critical part of Huo Yuhao's lower body, and made a move as if to slap it down!

"Since you can't wake up, this thing is useless anyway. Might as well cripple it to save the trouble!"

The palm wind was fierce, showing no sign of holding back.

At the very moment the palm was about to land, the "unconscious" Huo Yuhao reacted as if he had been electrocuted, violently rolling to the side and curling up like a shrimp.

"No, no, no! Sister Xiaotao! Dear sister! Have mercy! This is your future happiness we're talking about!"

Huo Yuhao opened his eyes, looking at Ma Xiaotao with a face full of terror, cold sweat already pouring down.

This tigress, she was actually going to go through with it!

"Yo, not pretending to be asleep anymore?" Ma Xiaotao retracted her hand, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked at him with a mocking smile. "Weren't you quite the actor just now? What's wrong, afraid of becoming a eunuch?"

Huo Yuhao awkwardly scratched his head and gave a dry laugh. "Well, you see... I was so severely injured, I just woke up, just woke up..."

"Don't try that act on me." Ma Xiaotao leaned in, bracing her hands on either side of Huo Yuhao's body. Her stunning face drew close, her warm breath spraying against his face. "Tell me, how did it feel to hold the senior sister just now? Was it more comfortable than holding me?"

This was a death trap of a question.

Huo Yuhao swallowed hard, his eyes darting around. "That... I was too weak at the time, I didn't feel anything, I really didn't feel anything..."

"If you didn't feel anything, why were you holding on so tight? I couldn't even pull you off!" Ma Xiaotao narrowed her eyes, and a dangerous aura began to permeate the air.

"That was a survival instinct! An instinct!" Huo Yuhao argued righteously.

"Hmph, as if I'd believe that."

Ma Xiaotao rolled her eyes at him, but the anger in her eyes had long since dissipated, replaced by a deep tenderness and... burning passion.

Looking at the young man before her who had fought to the death to protect his companions, the love in her heart grew like wild grass.

"Yuhao..." Ma Xiaotao's voice suddenly turned somewhat hoarse. She slowly lowered her head, her red lips almost touching his. "I don't care how many women are by your side in the future, I only have one request... satisfy me!"

Huo Yuhao's heart accelerated, and he said weakly, "Sister Xiaotao... I... I'm still injured, I'm not mobile..."

Ma Xiaotao curled her lips into a smile that could Charm all living things, reached out to gently lift Huo Yuhao's chin, and said with overwhelming dominance:

"If you're injured, just lie there and be good."

"As for the rest, leave it to me."

The next second, her red lips descended, and the room was filled with romance.