Sharing a Pillow, Parting Ways

"But don't spend the whole vacation thinking only about having fun. When you return, there will be an advancement assessment to move from first year to second year. If you can't pass, you'll either repeat the year or be expelled."

"I can give you some information. In previous years, the requirement was to fight a hundred-year soul beast alone."

Quite a few students looked surprised. Power attack system and agility attack system soul masters could deal with a hundred-year soul beast relatively easily, but control system soul masters would have a much harder time. After all, without enough offensive power, they had no way to defeat a soul beast.

"All right, that's all I have to say. How you spend your vacation is up to you. Class dismissed."

Wang Yan had done all the talking that day, while Zhou Yi hadn't said a single word.

After class, everyone left the classroom excitedly.

Wang Dong'er, Huo Yuhao, and Xiao Xiao went to the shore of Sea God Lake together. Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were there too; they had all agreed to share a meal.

"Little junior brother, you need to become at least a two-ring soul master to advance to second year. Will you be all right? Do you need our help?" Bei Bei asked.

"No need, eldest senior brother. A teacher from the academy will help me obtain a soul ring."

"That's good, then."

Huo Yuhao was a little nervous, worried that his lie would be exposed.

Wang Dong'er noticed his flustered expression and smiled to herself.

In her previous life, she hadn't known what Huo Yuhao had gone off to do. But thinking back now, he must have obtained his second martial soul during this period.

Traveling alone to the Far North and facing the four-hundred-thousand-year-old Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion—what a dangerous journey that must have been.

Although Wang Dong'er desperately wanted to accompany Huo Yuhao, she knew she would only be a burden if she went. Besides, she had things of her own to do.

Wang Dong'er looked at Huo Yuhao, her heart aching a little for him. He had endured far more hardships than she had ever known.

Beside them, Xiao Xiao ate on her own, utterly uninterested in the meaningful glances passing between Wang Dong'er and Huo Yuhao.

Ever since learning that Wang Dong'er was a girl, she had stopped following them around all the time.

It was already kind of her not to have gone from fan to hater.

Everyone chatted as they ate, only returning to their respective dorm rooms after dark.

Once they entered their room, Wang Dong'er suddenly hugged Huo Yuhao from behind.

"Yuhao, you're leaving first thing tomorrow morning, right?"

"Yes. My home is a little far away, so I need to make the most of my travel time."

"I don't want to let you go."

Held like this by Wang Dong'er, Huo Yuhao didn't feel anything was wrong at all. Instead, he found it very comfortable.

He turned around and looked at Wang Dong'er, who was still a little taller than him.

"Come on, we're only going to be apart for a month, aren't we? We'll see each other again in a month."

"Promise me you'll take good care of yourself and won't put yourself in danger."

Wang Dong'er gazed into Huo Yuhao's eyes, unable to resist... yet she held herself back.

"All right, I promise. I'll take good care of myself."

Huo Yuhao didn't understand why Wang Dong'er had suddenly become so emotional, as though they wouldn't see each other for a very long time after parting.

"Yuhao, sleep in my bed tonight."

"Sure."

Huo Yuhao didn't refuse. Whenever the two of them were exhausted from cultivating, they would simply collapse into bed and sleep anyway, often ending up in the same bed.

After washing up, they lay shoulder to shoulder in bed.

"Yuhao, will you miss me while you're away?" Wang Dong'er asked.

"Of course I will. Why are you asking something so..."

"I'll miss you too."

Huo Yuhao felt a little embarrassed by how sentimental it sounded.

After Huo Yuhao fell asleep, Wang Dong'er turned slightly to look at his profile.

She reached out, her hand hovering over his brow. Her finger slid gently down the bridge of his nose, all the way to his lips, where she gave a light tap.

She smiled, rested her head against Huo Yuhao's shoulder, and fell asleep too.

When Wang Dong'er woke early the next morning, she found that Huo Yuhao was no longer in bed.

The luggage he had packed the day before was gone as well.

"You actually sneaked off without even saying goodbye! Yuhao, you great big jerk!"

Wang Dong'er cursed, then hurried out of bed, slung her packed backpack onto her back, and left the academy.

Although she walked quickly, she couldn't catch up with Huo Yuhao.

When she reached the academy gates, Wang Dong'er saw a familiar middle-aged man standing there.

"Young miss, I'm here to take you home."

His name was Tang De, and he was a Titled Douluo from Clear Sky Castle.

After learning that the White Tiger Duke's Mansion might cause trouble, the sect had sent him to protect Wang Dong'er in secret.

Wang Dong'er composed herself, becoming that spoiled young lady once more.

"Before we go back, come with me to the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Do you need to obtain a soul ring, young miss?"

Wang Dong'er nodded.

"Very well. I'll help you find the most suitable soul ring."

In truth, Wang Dong'er didn't need to obtain a soul ring, because every one of her soul rings was god-bestowed. She only needed to return to Clear Sky Castle and accept the god's gift to obtain one.

However, Wang Dong'er knew perfectly well that these soul rings were gifts from Tang San. Every time she obtained one, the Tang Wutong within her awakened a little more.

So this time, she would no longer accept Tang San's god-bestowed soul ring. She intended to obtain a soul ring herself in the Star Dou Great Forest.

"If you're ready, young miss, let's set off."

Tang De placed a hand on Wang Dong'er's shoulder, and the two of them rose straight into the air.

With a Titled Douluo flying her there, they reached the Star Dou Great Forest in less than a day.

The Star Dou Great Forest was just as she remembered it: vast, densely enclosed, and full of mystery.

"What kind of soul ring would you like, young miss?"

"An animal-type soul beast, preferably with a flight or light attribute, around four thousand years old."

Tang De nodded. "One with a flight attribute should be relatively easy to find, but a light attribute won't be so easy."

"That's fine. We can take our time looking. We have time."

The two headed deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest. With a Titled Douluo protecting her, Wang Dong'er could swagger through the outskirts without a care.

They encountered quite a few soul beasts along the way. Whenever they found that one wasn't what they needed, Tang De released just a trace of his aura, sending it fleeing in fright.

"Young miss, this Moon-Howling Eagle is quite good. It's around thirty-five hundred years old. Would you like to choose her?"

Wang Dong'er looked at the large bird flying overhead. With a single nod from her, the bird would immediately fall into Tang De's hands.

Wang Dong'er shook her head. "Let's look for one with a light attribute first. If we really can't find one, we'll look for a flight attribute instead."

The two continued deeper into the forest.

"Wang Dong'er~"

Wang Dong'er suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong, young miss?"

"Did you hear something?"

Tang De listened carefully. "No. What did you hear, young miss?"

Although the voice had called only once, Wang Dong'er was certain someone was calling her.

She touched her chest. "Wang Qiu'er, is that you?"