Huo-Dong's Sweet Morning, Qiu'er Leaves Shrek

Early the next morning, the isolation array in Soul Tool Experiment Room No. 3 slowly dissipated.

Dong'er woke first. When she opened her eyes, the sky outside had not yet fully brightened, and a thin mist floated over the lake. The two of them were nestled together in the soft leather chair beside the experimental table. Their difference in size allowed her to curl up comfortably in his arms, while Huo Yuhao's arm rested lightly around her.

Dong'er looked at him for a long time.

Last night, she had said she wanted Wang Qiu'er to know, but when dawn truly came, she did not feel as satisfied as she had imagined. She had indeed been the first to keep Huo Yuhao by her side, but she also knew that the crack Wang Qiu'er had forced open in Huo Yuhao's heart would not disappear after just one night.

When Huo Yuhao opened his eyes, he met her gaze.

"Dong'er?"

Wang Dong'er looked away.

"Hmph, I don't want to talk to you," Dong'er said coquettishly.

Thinking he had upset Dong'er again, Huo Yuhao hurriedly sat up. Looking at her earnestly, he asked in a low voice, "Did I hurt you badly?"

Heat rushed to Dong'er's ears, and she immediately glared at him. "Huo Yuhao, are you asking that now because you want me to throw you out?"

Huo Yuhao was left speechless. He wore a blank, bewildered expression.

Seeing him like that, the faint bitterness in Wang Dong'er's heart suddenly softened, and she could no longer suppress the smile in her eyes. She raised a hand to straighten the collar of his already rumpled undershirt, gently brushed his bangs aside, then cupped his face in her palm. Staring into his eyes, she said, "Yuhao, when I look into your pupils, I see only myself."

Huo Yuhao looked at her, rubbing his cheek against her slender, soft palm as he replied, "It has always been that way."

Dong'er's fingertips paused. "I'm just afraid of losing you."

Huo Yuhao's chest tightened, and he held her hand. "I know."

"No, you don't." Dong'er looked at him. "You think I'm only afraid that Qiu'er will take you from me, but that isn't it."

Her voice lowered. "You shine too brightly. What I fear most is that you can always find perfectly justified reasons. Research, cultivation, saving people, healing injuries, fighting... too many people gather around you, admire you, watch you. No one can blame you, but it still hurts me."

Huo Yuhao fell silent, and Dong'er did not press him for an answer.

Footsteps sounded outside the door. Both of them fell quiet at once, quickly straightened their clothes and hair, and stood up.

Qiu'er stood at the door, Golden Dragon Spear in hand, and said toward the isolation array, "Xuan Lao is looking for you." Though she could not see them, she had long known that the two had spent the night entwined together here. Dong'er waved her hand, dispelled the isolation array, and walked out.

Qiu'er saw Dong'er's loose hair, their tightly clasped hands, the tenderness and indulgence in Huo Yuhao's eyes as he looked at Dong'er, and the lingering aura of light on his collar. Her golden eyes lowered, and the corners of her lips lifted faintly, as though she were mocking herself.

She did not ask directly as she had before. The three headed to Sea God Pavilion together, and the atmosphere was more rigid than during any of their arguments.

Xuan Lao sat at the end of the long table, which was spread with border intelligence delivered the previous night. After Zhang Peng retreated, the Holy Spirit Cult had not immediately withdrawn. Instead, it had left traces of three incomplete rituals on the outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest. Things were not clean on the Sun Moon Empire's side either. A batch of soul tool components that simulated soul beast auras had entered the black market, their engravings sharing the same origin as the old array at the abandoned post station.

"They did not act on a whim." Xuan Lao tapped the tabletop. "Someone knows the secret of the auspicious beast taking human form, and they also know that Yuhao's spiritual attribute is special. They want to use the two of you as keys."

Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes lit up, connecting the three sets of coordinates into a line.

"Those are not three altars, but a complete guiding array. Zhang Peng personally acted that time to test Qiu'er's reaction, and to test the limits of my spiritual sea. The true core of the array has not yet revealed itself."

Ma Xiaotao stood nearby with her arms crossed. The corner of her lips curled as she noticed Huo Yuhao's slightly disheveled hair and the atmosphere between the two of them. She deliberately teased, "Junior brother, you didn't sleep last night, yet you can still see that clearly?"

Huo Yuhao's ears reddened, but Qiu'er could not laugh at all.

She looked at the coordinates of Star Dou Great Forest on the sand table and suddenly said, "I'll investigate this trail. That is my home. I should be the one to find out what is happening."

Xuan Lao frowned. "By yourself?"

"I know that place better than any of you." Qiu'er planted the Golden Dragon Spear at her side, her golden eyes cold and clear. Huo Yuhao looked at her, and a faint irritation rose in his heart.

Xuan Lao stared at her for a moment, then sighed. "After the last test, Zhang Peng will report the recent situation to the Sun Moon Empire. He will not continue pursuing you for the time being. Qiu'er, it is not a bad thing for you to go back."

Xuan Lao tossed her a black fragment and a signal flare. "There will be people from the academy waiting to support you on the outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest, in case evil soul masters have laid an ambush. If you encounter danger, do not force it. This is Shrek's special signal flare. If you are in danger, remember to send a signal to the academy. Also, if you find traces of an altar or uncover any leads, return immediately."

Qiu'er caught the fragment and the signal flare, then turned to leave.

Huo Yuhao hesitated before speaking, calling only, "Qiu'er." His hand was still tightly holding Dong'er's.

Her steps stopped, but she did not turn around. Huo Yuhao wanted to tell her to be careful, wanted to suggest waiting until everyone could go with her to Star Dou Great Forest, but when the words reached his lips, they no longer felt appropriate.

"You do not need to worry about me."

She paused.

"You should care more about the one beside you."

With that, she walked straight out of Sea God Pavilion.