Qiu'er Sets Out to Investigate Soul Beast Auras, Final Preparations Proceed Tensely

When Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er returned to Shrek, night had already fallen completely.

The draw for the finals would take place early tomorrow morning.

Outside Shrek's rest area, Bei Bei, Tang Ya, Xiao Xiao, and He Caitou were all waiting. Xuan Lao sat beneath the eaves, his expression so dark it seemed he might shove Huo Yuhao straight into the ground on the spot.

Wang Qiu'er stood a little farther away without stepping forward. She saw Wang Dong'er supporting Huo Yuhao, and she also saw that nearly half of Huo Yuhao's body was leaning against Wang Dong'er.

At that instant, the golden light in Wang Qiu'er's eyes flickered.

Xuan Lao spoke first, his voice suppressing his anger. "Huo Yuhao, you got yourself into this state again?"

Huo Yuhao said quietly, "Xuan Lao, I'm fine. I brought Dong'er back."

Xuan Lao rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping over Huo Yuhao's pale face and bloodstained collar. "Do you think your life is too tough? You still had the nerve to go to the Clear Sky Sect and get beaten up right before the finals?"

Dong'er lowered her head. "Xuan Lao, don't blame Yuhao. It was me..."

"Don't speak for him." Xuan Lao snapped. "He had legs of his own and ran off himself."

Huo Yuhao coughed, and Dong'er immediately tightened her support around him, pretending to be angry. "Don't talk."

Huo Yuhao had no choice but to shut up. Seeing this, the tense string that had been wound tight in the rest area for days finally loosened a little. Tang Ya let out a soft breath, while Bei Bei looked at Wang Dong'er. "It's good that you're back."

Dong'er's eyes were still slightly red, but she nodded. "I'll take part in the finals."

Dong'er caught sight of Wang Qiu'er among the crowd. Their gazes met, but neither said anything. She simply pulled Huo Yuhao through the crowd. Xuan Lao dragged Huo Yuhao into the medical room.

"Sit."

The moment Huo Yuhao sat down, Xuan Lao's soul power pressed into his meridians. The next instant, Xuan Lao's expression changed slightly. He continued examining him, but his brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

Wang Dong'er could not help asking, "Are his injuries serious?"

"Serious," Xuan Lao said. "His muscles and bones have suffered shock damage, and his spiritual sea was also scoured by the Titan Giant Ape's power. Anyone else would have been bedridden for half a month already."

Xuan Lao glanced at her, then added, "But it's not entirely a bad thing."

Huo Yuhao raised his head. Xuan Lao stared at him. "That soul power bottleneck in your body was loosened by Er Ming's fist pressure."

Huo Yuhao said quietly, "I felt it."

"You felt it and still forced yourself all the way back?" Xuan Lao scolded. "What you need most right now is to regulate your breathing and recover, not show off."

Huo Yuhao looked at Wang Dong'er. He had not been showing off. He simply had not wanted to say any of this before the gates of the Clear Sky Sect, nor did he want that apology to become something that made it seem as though he had gained an advantage. Wang Dong'er's eyes stung again, and she turned her face away. "Serves you right."

Xuan Lao's teeth ached just watching them.

"Enough. Stop being mushy in front of me. Tonight, I'll suppress your injuries for you. Tomorrow is the finals draw, and on the first day of the finals, you won't need to take the lead anyway."

Huo Yuhao frowned. "Xuan Lao..."

"Shut up."

Wang Dong'er immediately said, "Listen to Xuan Lao."

Huo Yuhao could only nod.

Late that night, the small meeting room in Shrek's rest area was still lit.

No one brought up three-person coordination again, nor did anyone suggest that Wang Qiu'er compete tomorrow.

Xuan Lao laid out the arrangements before tomorrow's draw. "Yuhao is forbidden from taking the lead. Dong'er just returned, and her injuries have yet to heal. If we draw a strong team tomorrow, she'll only fight in the first half. Bei Bei will lead the offense, Xu Sanshi will guard the rear, He Caitou will handle soul tool suppression, Xiao Xiao will control the field, and Xiao Tao will fill in as needed."

Arranging the lineup—this was what they needed to do most right now. They had to win the matches ahead.

Huo Yuhao sat to one side, his face still terribly pale. Wang Dong'er stood by the table, looking down at the list. Tang Ya also noticed there were no arrangements for Qiu'er and asked softly, "Qiu'er isn't fighting anymore?"

Bei Bei entered from outside, holding a golden communication leaf. "She left a message."

Huo Yuhao looked up, and Bei Bei placed the communication leaf on the table.

The leaf lit up, and Wang Qiu'er's voice was brief. "The finals no longer need me. Nor does Huo Yuhao."

The small meeting room fell silent, but the voice continued. "The core that Sun Moon uses to imitate the aura of an auspicious Soul Beast is not limited to the few on the field. There is a military transport route outside the competition area that carries the same scent. I'm going to investigate its source."

The communication leaf dimmed. Huo Yuhao's fingers tightened slightly, while Wang Dong'er lowered her eyes. She had thought she would feel relieved, but every time she heard that Wang Qiu'er had left alone, once again going by herself to investigate Sun Moon's military transport route, there was always a trace of worry in her heart. There was none of the satisfaction she had imagined. Only an indescribable heaviness.

She was still angry, and she still did not want to see Wang Qiu'er right now. Yet for some reason, she could understand Wang Qiu'er. She was not fleeing from an awkwardness she could not face; she was pulling herself out of the wound shared by the three of them.

Xuan Lao said gravely, "I'll have people keep an eye on Qiu'er in secret. None of you are allowed to run around."

After the meeting ended, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er did not leave immediately. Only the two of them remained in the small meeting room.

Wang Dong'er suddenly said, "After you brought me back, you've been avoiding her the whole time. I could tell."

Huo Yuhao's fingers stiffened. "That's what I should do. I can't keep making mistakes."

"What about her?"

Huo Yuhao fell silent. Wang Dong'er finally looked at him. "Huo Yuhao, I came back with you because I still like you, and because I believe you still like me. But she is not absent from your heart."

"I know."

"And it isn't because I've accepted her."

"I know."

Wang Dong'er's voice was very soft. "What I want isn't a Huo Yuhao who ties himself to my side every day for my sake. I hope you can truly think this through."

"Alright."

Dong'er closed the list, and the look in her eyes changed. "We'll fight the finals first. If we join forces, we'll definitely win."

She paused. "As for her debt, we'll settle it later."

Huo Yuhao said quietly, "Alright, Dong'er."

Huo Yuhao had brought Wang Dong'er back from the wind and snow.

But Wang Qiu'er had already walked alone into another storm of wind and snow.