Do You Want Me to Play Dating Games with Her?

As Huo Yuhao followed Yan Shaozhe out of the classroom, the previously deathly silent Class One instantly erupted.

"Does he really only have one ring? How could a one-ring Soul Master beat Teacher Zhou, a Soul Emperor, into that state?"

"So this is what a true genius is like..."

In a corner, a petite short-haired girl rested her cheek on her hand, staring dreamily at the classroom door.

The image from the podium earlier—the boy sitting lazily on the "throne" with one leg crossed over the other, asking contemptuously, "Do you also want to dance?"—

Had been deeply branded into Xiao Xiao's mind.

Coupled with the subtle influence of Indra Chakra, Huo Yuhao's features had become sharper, giving him a dangerously wicked sort of handsomeness.

So handsome...

That air of absolute dominance was far better than those pretty boys who only knew how to act cool.

"Hmph."

An incongruous snort interrupted Xiao Xiao's reverie.

Wang Dong sat in the front row. Listening to everyone praise Huo Yuhao, she inexplicably felt a sourness rise within her.

It was like a toy that had once belonged solely to her had suddenly become coveted by everyone.

That Huo Yuhao...

He wore that deadpan face every day and ignored everyone. What was so great about him?

Though she cursed him like that inwardly, Huo Yuhao's retreating figure kept replaying uncontrollably in Wang Dong's mind.

On the top floor, in the dean's office.

Yan Shaozhe withdrew the hand he had placed on Huo Yuhao's shoulder, an unconcealable flash of delight passing through his eyes.

He truly was extraordinary.

Although his Soul Power was not yet strong, these five elemental attributes...

Fire, water, wind, earth, lightning—every one of them contained immensely vigorous vitality.

Yan Shaozhe silently calculated.

If he were carefully nurtured and guided to evolve his water attribute...

He might truly reach the level of Ultimate Ice.

If that happened, Xiaotao's Evil Fire could be cured.

Thinking of his troublesome beloved disciple, Ma Xiaotao, Yan Shaozhe's gaze at Huo Yuhao became increasingly benevolent, as though he were looking at a life-saving divine pill.

"Yu Hao."

Yan Shaozhe returned to his desk, took an exquisite jade bottle from a drawer, and pushed it in front of Huo Yuhao.

"Take this pill. Consider it the academy's apology to you."

Huo Yuhao glanced at the jade bottle.

An apology?

Unsolicited kindness hides either treachery or theft.

"This pill is called the Mystic Ice Pill."

Yan Shaozhe observed Huo Yuhao's expression and continued dangling the bait. "It is extremely precious. It can greatly purify the Soul Power of water-attribute or ice-attribute Soul Masters and assist cultivation."

"Furthermore, given your talent, I have decided to designate you in advance as a core disciple of the Martial Soul Department. Once the freshman assessment concludes, it will be formally announced."

At this point, Yan Shaozhe paused, and his tone became solemn.

"Yu Hao, if you can cultivate your water attribute to the realm of Ultimate Ice in the future... I am willing to make an exception and accept you as my personal disciple!"

Huo Yuhao accepted the jade bottle and rubbed its smooth surface.

So that's how it is.

Mystic Ice Pill, Ultimate Ice, personal disciple...

After that combination of offers, the purpose was already obvious.

It was for Ma Xiaotao.

Familiar with the plot, he instantly saw through Yan Shaozhe's intentions.

Ma Xiaotao, the woman with the Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul.

Controlled by Evil Fire, mentally unstable, and liable to go berserk and hurt others at any time...

Images of the Jinchuriki in the Ninja World, struggling in agony after losing control of Tailed Beast power, surfaced in Huo Yuhao's mind.

She was somewhat similar to those failed Jinchuriki who could not control Tailed Beast Chakra.

If I get the chance in the future, I can try guiding that crazy woman.

A pawn with top-tier combat strength but an unstable mind is exactly what the Akatsuki organization needs.

Huo Yuhao raised his head, revealing an expression of "flattered surprise."

"Thank you for your guidance, Dean. Yu Hao will certainly cultivate diligently and live up to your expectations."

After Zhou Yi's farce ended, Class One welcomed a new homeroom teacher, Wang Yan.

Compared with Zhou Yi's brutality, Wang Yan was gentle and refined, learned and talented. The classroom atmosphere instantly changed from hell to heaven.

Over the following week, Huo Yuhao became the absolute center of attention in the class.

Not only did the boys fear his strength, quite a few girls also cast flirtatious glances his way.

There were always people trying to strike up a conversation with him.

But Huo Yuhao's response was always the same.

Indifference, disregard, or a look cold enough to make one feel as though they had fallen into an ice pit.

Soon, the grouping for the freshman assessment began.

As expected, under Wang Yan's arrangements, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao were assigned to the same group.

"Hello, Huo Yuhao."

The moment the groups were assigned, Xiao Xiao eagerly hurried over.

She had deliberately styled her hair that day. With a sweet smile, she looked at Huo Yuhao somewhat shyly.

"I've admired you for a long time... You looked so cool when you taught Teacher Zhou a lesson that day. My name is Xiao Xiao, and my martial soul is the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron. Please take care of me from now on."

Wang Dong stood to the side with her arms folded, her head turned away, though her ears were perked high.

Hearing her voice, Huo Yuhao merely glanced sideways at her, his eyes completely devoid of emotion.

"I have no time to remember the names of ants."

With that, he turned and left, not even granting her a single second of his time.

The smile on Xiao Xiao's face instantly froze.

Ant?

I'm a Twin Martial Souls genius!

He actually called me an ant?

And said he had no time to remember my name?

"You... you!"

Xiao Xiao stomped her foot furiously, her eyes immediately reddening. "Huo Yuhao! You're far too full of yourself!"

That evening, in the dormitory.

Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged on his bed, cultivating the fusion of Chakra and Soul Power.

Wang Dong lay across from him, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Although seeing Xiao Xiao suffer a setback during the day had secretly pleased her, it had also given her a new understanding of Huo Yuhao.

"Hey, Huo Yuhao."

Wang Dong could not help breaking the silence. "Xiao Xiao took the initiative to greet you today. Why did you have to talk like that? She's a beauty, at least, and she even said she likes you."

"How can you be like a block of wood, without the slightest reaction?"

As she spoke, an almost imperceptible sourness entered her voice.

Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes, red Tomoe flickering once in the darkness.

Likes me?

In this dog-eat-dog world, talking about love?

My goal is to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, kill that man, and create a world with Mother.

I have no time to play house with you people.

"How boring."

Huo Yuhao's voice was calm. "Do you want me to play dating games with her? What a waste of time."

Wang Dong choked, then rolled over and sat up. Staring at Huo Yuhao's cold profile, she asked as if possessed.

"Then... is there no one you like? Or do you not yearn for beautiful things?"

Huo Yuhao fell silent for a moment.

He rose and walked to the window, looking at the pitch-black night sky outside.

Moonlight spilled over him, casting a long, lonely shadow behind him.

At that moment, his back seemed to overlap with Uchiha Madara, standing at the peak of the Ninja World and looking down upon all living beings.

Huo Yuhao did not turn around. His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a desolation and arrogance born from seeing through the nature of the world.

"In this cruel reality, weakness is the original sin."

"Weakness is ugliness."

He extended a hand, as if intending to grasp the moon in his palm.

"Only strength is the world's sole magnificent sight."

Wang Dong stared blankly at his back. She opened her mouth, only to find herself unable to say a single word.

That suffocating aloofness and obsession with strength made her heart tremble.

Yet, for some reason, she was captivated by it.