Dong'er Guesses Haoqiu Crossed the Line, Returns to the Clear Sky Sect Despite Her Injuries

When Dong'er woke up, another day had already passed.

The Sea God Pavilion's infirmary was very quiet. Outside the window, the morning wind of Shrek rustled through the leaves. She opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was the empty chair by her bed.

Huo Yuhao had watched over her.

His coat was still draped over the back of the chair. The water in the cup had been changed, and it was at just the right temperature. Dong'er felt an involuntary ache for him, wondering how long he had stayed up the previous night and wanting to scold him for not taking care of himself.

She looked at that coat for a long, long time. Even while unconscious, she had seemed to sense the inescapable pain and the faint unease through some kind of spiritual connection.

The door opened, and Huo Yuhao walked in. His face was pale, and obvious bloodshot veins filled his eyes.

"Dong'er, you're awake."

Dong'er looked up at him, her voice very soft. "Mm."

Huo Yuhao walked to the bedside and wanted to reach out to touch her, but stopped halfway. He sat in the chair, clasping his hands together until his knuckles turned white, as if suppressing something.

As Dong'er watched him, she increasingly felt that something was wrong, and the unease in her heart grew much stronger.

At the edge of his Spirit Eyes... there was now an extremely faint trace of golden soul power. The mark was shallow, yet it was like a thorn piercing the most sensitive place in her heart.

It felt as though something had fiercely gripped Wang Dong'er's chest, but she did not question him at once. She merely braced herself against the bed and slowly sat up. Her voice was calm. "Qiu'er saved you? Did she help you recover from your injuries?"

Huo Yuhao's body stiffened. He did not know how to begin. He had wanted to hide it from her, at least until she had recovered somewhat, but he knew Dong'er understood him well. He also knew that the bond between him and Qiu'er could not be concealed forever. In the end, he did not lie to her.

"Yes." Huo Yuhao's voice was hoarse. "She saved me yesterday... and used her soul power to help heal the injuries to my Spirit Eyes."

"Mm... Yuhao, is there something else you want to tell me?"

Huo Yuhao's voice was so low it was nearly inaudible. "Dong'er... Qiu'er and I..."

"Don't say it." The expressions, reactions, and mannerisms familiar between lovers made her understand that Yuhao must have done something terribly wrong to her. That was why he was so guilty he could not speak, why his expression was so awful.

Those three words choked all his explanations in his throat. Dong'er closed her eyes, and two streams of tears slid down her face. She had thought she would weep bitterly, rage, and rush out to demand why he had crossed that line while she was unconscious. Yet when the answer was truly confirmed, she instead became quiet.

So quiet that even she found herself unfamiliar. She threw back the covers and got out of bed. Her movements were still weak, but she did not let Huo Yuhao help her.

"Dong'er..."

"Huo Yuhao." Wang Dong'er stopped walking without turning around. "I'm not a fool, and I won't forgive you so easily again."

Huo Yuhao stood where he was, as though nailed in place. Wang Dong'er finally turned around. There was no accusation in that look, no hysterics—only the dignity she forcibly held up after being hurt beyond measure.

"You don't need to chase after me and explain. I don't want to think about what exactly happened between you two, but judging by how you look, it must have been worse than that time at the Abandoned Post Station."

She drew in a quiet breath.

Huo Yuhao's Adam's apple bobbed as he wanted to step forward and grab her. "I'm sorry, Dong'er."

Wang Dong'er looked at him. Her tears finally fell, but she raised a hand to wipe them away herself. Her voice trembled, yet she spoke firmly:

"Don't touch me."

She turned and left the infirmary. Her steps were not quick, but she did not look back. Huo Yuhao stood at the doorway, gripping the doorframe until his knuckles turned white, yet he did not chase after her. Because he knew that, at this moment, no matter what he said would only hurt her more.

Xuan Lao stood at the end of the corridor, his brows tightly furrowed. "Dong'er, your injuries haven't healed yet."

Dong'er answered Xuan Lao politely. "Xuan Lao, please allow me to return to the Clear Sky Sect."

Xuan Lao fell silent for a moment. "Now?"

"Now."

Xuan Lao sighed. "It would be good for you to go back, but your injuries haven't fully healed. You should rest for a few more days before returning."

"Xuan Lao, thank you for your concern, but I want to leave now."

Xuan Lao did not stop her again. He merely shook his head gently.

Huo Yuhao panicked when he heard this and hurriedly chased after her.

"Huo Yuhao." Wang Dong'er's voice was very soft. "Don't follow me anymore. Otherwise, I'll never forgive you."

The corridor fell deathly silent. Huo Yuhao could no longer take another step.

The day Wang Dong'er left Shrek, there was no grand send-off. She simply packed a few changes of clothes, took her notebooks from the academy and an old formation fragment she had once repaired with Huo Yuhao, but she did not take the spare communication soul tool he had given her.

She placed it neatly on the table, as though temporarily sealing away the sweetest and most painful time they had shared.

Wang Qiu'er stood in the distance, watching Huo Yuhao's pained, absent expression. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions. She did not approach, because she suddenly understood that the question she had asked the previous night had already been answered.

Ma Xiaotao leaned against a corridor pillar, unusually not teasing him. "Junior brother, love has always been a hard trial to overcome, but don't forget the important matters."

Huo Yuhao was still filled with sorrow, but he quietly acknowledged her.

The Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament was not over yet. He still had to continue defending Shrek's honor and uncovering the deepest conspiracy.