After Wang Qiu'er failed to return after sending word, Dong'er and Huo Yuhao had a brief period of peace between them. Yet some of the sweetness was gone. Neither could say what was wrong, but they were no longer as close as before.
That night, Dong'er accompanied him as they corrected the Destiny Record Formation the three of them had previously set up. They discovered that Qiu'er's aura seemed to have vanished entirely from the Destiny Record Formation, yet also seemed to have merged with Dong'er's. Once the formation drew to a close, Dong'er wanted to leave first. She had just risen when Huo Yuhao caught her wrist before she could go.
Dong'er turned back to look at him. "Is there something else?" Huo Yuhao did not answer immediately. There actually was nothing. The recording had already been filed away, the soul tool formation had been shut down, and all of that night's cultivation was finished. But he did not want her to leave. The thought came with startling clarity, even a hint of possessiveness.
Huo Yuhao said softly, "Don't rush back."
Dong'er watched him for a while, then suddenly smiled.
"Huo Yuhao, you've learned to take the initiative now."
There was a barb in her words, but she sat back down. Huo Yuhao pulled her a little closer and looked at her. "I wanted to see you because I missed you." It was a very direct statement, but coming from him, it sounded somewhat clumsy.
The sarcasm she had prepared suddenly caught in her throat. She could only say quietly, "Don't think that means I won't hold it against you."
"I know."
"And don't think I don't know that sometimes, you still think of her."
"I know."
Wang Dong'er laughed in exasperation. "Is 'I know' all you can say?" Huo Yuhao lowered his head and kissed the back of her hand. As she watched his lowered eyes and brows, all the grievances in her heart surfaced again, but they were no longer like blades. Instead, they were like a crumpled ball of warmth.
"Dong'er, I have never put you behind anyone."
Dong'er's eyes heated up. She reached out and pushed him, but could not move him. Huo Yuhao took the opportunity to draw her into his embrace and lowered his head to kiss her. The kiss was unhurried, yet carried a sincerity that softened Dong'er's heart. At first, she still wanted to keep up her composure and make him coax her a little longer, but Huo Yuhao's hand held steady against her back, as if he had finally stopped merely passively enduring her anger and truly meant to keep her in his arms.
"Like this," she murmured against his breath, "only makes me think you're just looking for some fun with me."
A glimmer of triumph finally appeared in Dong'er's eyes. She liked seeing him restrain himself, seeing him at a loss, and she also liked seeing him unable to restrain himself because of her. Huo Yuhao did not evade her gaze.
"No, Dong'er. I miss you," he said.
Huo Yuhao pressed his forehead to hers and said in a soft, slightly spoiled voice, "I miss you so much. Don't be angry with me anymore."
Dong'er's heart trembled at his coaxing. Huo Yuhao, who usually commanded every situation and was so powerful and outstanding, was earnestly coaxing her. An indescribable tingling spread from her heart. She raised her arms around his neck and gently kissed him back.
Leaning against his shoulder, Dong'er said softly, "Isn't this nice?"
Huo Yuhao held her hand. "It's wonderful."
"Then why do you still have to think about her?"
"Dong'er, she was a companion who fought alongside us." Huo Yuhao explained, "I always felt that Qiu'er's existence must have had meaning."
Dong'er asked softly, "Then what am I to you?"
Huo Yuhao turned to look at her. "My weakness, the person I love most, the place I want to return to most when I'm tired."
"You really know how to make me soften."
Huo Yuhao smiled bitterly. "I'm telling the truth."
Wang Dong'er raised a hand to cover his mouth. "Stop talking. If you keep going, I'll forgive you too quickly again."
Huo Yuhao picked her up. Even so, there were still moments when he thought of Qiu'er—of the restraint in her message after she returned contact but refused to rejoin them. It made him feel guilty, and it also made him clearer-headed.
The next day, a letter from Ju Zi arrived at Shrek.
"A soul tool merchant caravan has vanished at the Sun Moon Frontier. The disappearance site is close to the coordinates of Holy Spirit Cult remnant markings. Also enclosed is a special soul tool component, suspected to be capable of simulating Soul Beast auras. The inner engravings are seventy percent similar to the flow-guiding patterns left behind by Scorpion Tiger Douluo's blood shadow."
The signature contained only two words: Ju Zi. When Dong'er saw the letter, one brow rose slightly.
"Her again?" Dong'er picked up the soul tool component, her voice calm. "She certainly knows what you need."
There was jealousy in those words, as well as vigilance.
Huo Yuhao took the component, his Spirit Eyes sweeping over its internal structure.
"This is Sun Moon Empire military craftsmanship."
Dong'er's expression turned serious as well. "Isn't she the Sun Moon Empire's crown princess? She's taking a risk to send you this?"
"Yes."
Huo Yuhao's heart sank. Ju Zi's letter was not a simple matter of old feelings. She had personally placed clues about the Sun Moon Empire right in front of him.
Dong'er looked at him and sighed. "The women around you are each more troublesome than the last."
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