The Thoughtful Huo Yuhao!

Tang God King had coveted that power for a long time. Not only had he arranged for his mother to quietly take root in the Golden Ancient Tree, but his father, Tang Hao, was now trying to seize the authority of the Plane Master.

Could the old friend Poseidon had mentioned be the Life Ancient Tree?

Xiang Jun's expression turned strange. He might even run into Tang God King's mother...

Before he knew it, Xiang Jun had wandered to the shore of Sea God Lake.

So this was Sea God Lake. Pretty impressive... Wait!

Tang Wutong? What was she doing here?

Xiang Jun focused his gaze and spotted a figure sitting on the distant shore.

At that moment, Tang Wutong turned as if she had sensed him. Her eyes immediately found Xiang Jun and his odd expression.

Xiang Jun? What was he doing here?

Had he come looking for this princess?

The thought made Tang Wutong blush, though a flicker of delight rose in her heart.

Hmph. He could say no all he wanted, but his actions told a different story!

In Dormitory 108, Huo Yuhao gradually woke from meditation after fully absorbing the Mysterious Water Pill.

Wait... What happened to me?!

Feeling how smoothly energy flowed through his meridians, Huo Yuhao stared in astonishment.

He closed his eyes and began cultivating. To his delight, he found that his cultivation speed had increased dramatically!

Even his Soul Power Level had jumped to thirteen!

His gaze fell on the little jade bottle beside him, and he understood.

"Was it that pill? Senior Xiang Jun gave me something so precious..."

Ever since Mom left, no one has cared about me like this.

Tears welled in Huo Yuhao's eyes.

Just then, a foul smell reached his nose. He looked down at the black grime coating his body and frowned.

Ugh, it stinks!

"What should I do..."

Huo Yuhao hesitated. It was evening, when most people were washing up. If he went to the showers now...

No, absolutely not!

He shook his head hard. At a loss, he finally noticed a basin that had appeared beside him.

Clean water?

Did Senior Xiang Jun leave it for me?

Huo Yuhao blinked, and a terrifying thought struck him.

Wait. Had Senior Xiang Jun discovered who I really was?

Surely not. I'd hidden it so well...

"Forget it. I can't worry about that now!"

Unable to bear the stench any longer, Huo Yuhao hurriedly locked the door and pulled the curtains shut.

Only then did he strip off his clothes and toss them aside.

He unwound the white cloth around his chest and let out a deep breath at the relief of finally being free of it.

Whew... That felt much better.

After stretching his small frame, Huo Yuhao picked up a towel and carefully began wiping himself down.

Time passed. By the time several basins of clean water had turned black, Huo Yuhao's hair was damp and he felt like a new person. Even his Soul Power seemed on the verge of another breakthrough.

Huo Yuhao gazed at his unremarkable reflection, his expression turning distant.

"Why am I like this? Everyone else in class is..."

He pouted in disappointment and was about to get dressed when he heard the door opening.

Huh? Someone's here?!

Panic seized Huo Yuhao. His heart hammered in his chest.

With no time to think, he hastily pulled on his clothes.

Outside, Xiang Jun stared at the locked door in confusion, then took out his dormitory key.

Click!

The door opened. The moment Xiang Jun stepped inside, he noticed Huo Yuhao's strange expression.

"Brother Xiang Jun, you're back!" Huo Yuhao hurriedly forced a smile and hid what he was holding behind his back.

Whew. I was almost caught...

"Yeah. I went for a walk and picked up dinner while I was out." Xiang Jun smiled gently, but his gaze landed on the basin and clothes Huo Yuhao had yet to put away.

Huh?

What was that white strip of cloth for?

Noticing where Xiang Jun was looking, Huo Yuhao grew visibly flustered.

Oh no!

"Um... Senior Xiang Jun, wait a moment!" Huo Yuhao blocked Xiang Jun's view with his body, scooped up the clothes, and fled the room with the basin.

Xiang Jun frowned as he watched Huo Yuhao's strange behavior.

Something was wrong. Very wrong!

Did Huo Yuhao have some secret nobody knew about?

"Looks like I really need to investigate you!"

That night, Huo Yuhao sat quietly at the table, ignoring the tempting spread of food before him.

He brushed the loose strands from his forehead and glanced at Xiang Jun, who was calmly wolfing down his meal. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Whew. Thank goodness. It looked like Senior Xiang Jun hadn't noticed...

Yet alongside his relief came an inexplicable pang of disappointment.

"Hm? Yuhao, why aren't you eating? Why are you staring at me?" Seeing Huo Yuhao nibbling on his chopsticks and watching him without blinking, Xiang Jun put a piece of soul beast meat in his bowl.

"Huh? Oh..."

Pulled from his thoughts, Huo Yuhao blushed and shyly lowered his head.

Xiang Jun: ?

"Senior Xiang Jun, that pill you gave me must have been very valuable, right?" Thinking of how much faster he could cultivate now, Huo Yuhao raised his head and asked the question on his mind.

"Ah, I'm not too sure myself." Xiang Jun gave a vague reply.

I knew it. That pill must have been incredibly valuable!

I have to work hard at cultivating so I can repay Senior Xiang Jun someday!

Xiang Jun's evasive answer only strengthened Huo Yuhao's resolve.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, Xiang Jun woke from cultivation to find everything he needed to wash up already laid out on the table.

Huh? Did Huo Yuhao do this?

Xiang Jun blinked, once again marveling at how thoughtful Huo Yuhao was.

He had just finished washing up when the door opened.

Xiang Jun turned to see Huo Yuhao tiptoeing into the room with two steaming meat buns tucked in his arms.

"Oh, Senior Xiang Jun, you're awake?"

Huo Yuhao brightened and hurriedly held out the buns. "Senior Xiang Jun, have some breakfast. They won't taste as good once they're cold..."

Looking at Huo Yuhao's expectant face, Xiang Jun's expression turned oddly complicated.