Dong'er's Unease, the Resonance of Three Intertwined Soul Powers

By the time Huo Yuhao returned to his quarters, it was completely dark. After the sparring match at the training grounds, Xuan Lao's words—"Set aside one hour every day. Huo Yuhao will be responsible for assisting her with mental detection records"—had left Dong'er almost silent all the way back, with a trace of unease in her mood.

She usually loved to make trouble and argue with people, and she often flaunted her closeness with Huo Yuhao by openly showing off her little temper. But the quieter she was today, the tighter Huo Yuhao's chest felt.

"Dong'er." He stopped at the corridor entrance. "What are you worried about?"

Wang Dong'er glanced at him. "What do you think?"

Huo Yuhao said seriously, "You're worried about where she came from?"

Dong'er considered it for a moment. "Not entirely, Yuhao. I'm worried..."

"Dong'er, I know what you're worried about. She looks exactly like you, and her origins are unknown. I know this makes you uncomfortable, but I can sense that she has some kind of reaction with my Spirit Eyes. I have to get to the bottom of it."

"Yuhao, would you..." Wang Dong'er's voice was very soft.

"I wouldn't, Dong'er. You're the only one."

"Promise me."

Just then, a calm voice came from the end of the corridor.

"Why do you need to promise her?"

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er turned at the same time. Qiu'er stood not far away, holding the residence token issued by the academy. She was still wearing a blue outer robe, and like Wang Dong'er, she had blue-pink hair. She leaned lazily against the railing beneath the lamplight. That face was so similar that it made one's chest feel stifled.

Dong'er's expression changed sharply. "Why are you here?"

Qiu'er raised the token. "Xuan Lao arranged it."

"He arranged for you to live near us?"

"Yes. He said it would make observation easier. Also, that I should get along with you."

Dong'er sneered. "Get along how?"

Wang Qiu'er thought about it seriously. "I don't know yet, so I need to learn."

Seeing the dangerous look in Dong'er's eyes, Huo Yuhao stepped in. "Qiu'er, Xuan Lao's observation is about the reaction between my Spirit Eyes and your martial soul. He didn't tell you to casually..."

"Casually what?" Wang Qiu'er asked.

"Casually come looking for me to spar." Huo Yuhao was helpless. She truly did not understand all those twists and turns, yet every word she said struck straight at the heart of the matter.

Dong'er moved to Huo Yuhao's side, instinctively placing herself between him and Wang Qiu'er. "Wang Qiu'er, you can live nearby, but you can't just come whenever you want."

"Why?"

"Because this is Yuhao's residence."

"He's the one I came to see."

"He isn't yours."

Wang Qiu'er looked at her calmly. "He's not yours either. He belongs to no one."

Just then, Huo Yuhao's brow suddenly grew warm. It was not the violent throbbing of his Spirit Eyes, but a subtle abnormality. It was not because of Wang Qiu'er alone, but because Dong'er and Qiu'er were standing beside him at the same time. Platinum light rose from his brow as the aura of Ultimate Ice, the Light Butterfly God, and Golden Dragon soul power briefly entwined and resonated within the narrow corridor.

The three of their auras were drawn together by an invisible force, and their heartbeats gradually fell into the same rhythm. Huo Yuhao's expression changed slightly. Dong'er spun around abruptly, while obvious surprise flashed in Qiu'er's eyes as well.

"What is this?" Wang Dong'er stared blankly at the light on his brow.

Within his sea of spirit, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm spoke solemnly. "Little Yuhao, this isn't an ordinary martial soul resonance." The Ice Empress said coldly, "Fate is pushing them toward you."

The resonance grew stronger and stronger. Huo Yuhao forcibly reined in his spiritual power, and the platinum light finally faded, restoring quiet to the corridor. In the final instant before his Spirit Eyes closed, Huo Yuhao's mental detection caught a faint black trace flicker beneath the soul tool lamp in the corner. That was definitely not the fluctuation of a normal academy soul tool formation.

Huo Yuhao raised his hand, and Ultimate Ice drilled into the lamp base like silver needles. Frost spread along the formation patterns, and moments later, an almost transparent black rune was forced out. It twisted into a brief shadow in the air before turning into a wisp of gray smoke.

Dong'er's face changed. "Something from an evil soul master?"

Wang Qiu'er frowned. "It was detecting my reaction. When I approached him just now, it moved."

Huo Yuhao solemnly imprinted the remaining fluctuation onto a soul tool recording sheet. "Don't spread this matter for now. I'll give it to Xuan Lao."

The grievance in Wang Dong'er's eyes was replaced by concern. "So the moment she appeared, the Holy Spirit Cult started moving too?"

"At least someone has begun to act." Huo Yuhao put away the recording sheet, his gaze cold. "No matter who they're targeting, it means we don't have time to just argue among ourselves."

Qiu'er said calmly, "Are they coming for me?"

"Or me." Huo Yuhao gripped Dong'er's wrist, his voice hoarse. "I'll get to the bottom of this."

Qiu'er added, "So will I."

Dong'er looked at her. This time, she did not argue back. Because she suddenly understood that Wang Qiu'er was no ordinary rival in love—she had been sent by fate, and fate was the least reasonable thing of all.