A scattering of fallen leaves covered the paths of the Inner Court.
Ma Xiaotao stepped over the dry leaves as she made her way back to her quarters.
Several Inner Court students she knew greeted her along the way, but she did not even raise her head, as though she had not heard them at all.
She pushed open the door and slumped into a chair, as if every ounce of strength had been drained from her.
She had just returned from the Sea God Pavilion.
Mu En's words were still circling in her mind.
That brat, always so composed, always calculating everything so carefully, had actually left without a word.
He had not even left her a goodbye.
She had never met anyone so unreasonable in her life.
Even if neither of them had ever said it outright, after facing life and death together so many times, they ought to count as people who truly belonged by each other's side.
Yet now he had simply up and left, without so much as a shadow remaining.
But her sense of loss lasted only half the time it took to drink a cup of tea.
She had never been the sentimental sort who liked to rail against heaven and blame others.
Direct and passionate-that was her nature.
Since that fellow had chosen the road he wanted to walk, all she needed to do was catch up with his stride.
Ma Xiaotao walked over to the washbasin, scooped up cold water and splashed it onto her face, then grabbed a towel and gave herself a couple of careless wipes.
Cool droplets trickled down her cheeks, clearing her head completely.
Huo Yuhao was simply too outstanding.
Whether it was the monstrous talent of his three-colored soul core or his seemingly endless trump cards,