Ice Empress: I Could Do That Too

Seeing Xuan Zi remain silent, the person continued, "Please agree to my request, Xuan Zi!"

Knowing he was in the wrong, Xuan Zi offered no further rebuttal. "You! Ah... fine. Submit your report once we return to the academy. Of course, the academy will still compensate you for your losses."

"What about the rest of you?"

It was not just this one person. Seeing the same hollow expressions on the others' faces, Xuan Zi naturally knew they shared the same thoughts.

"Um... I'm sorry for letting down the academy after all its guidance..."

Zhang Lexuan silently listened to the tearful complaints of her juniors off to the other side. It felt as though countless fine needles were pricking her heart, the bitter ache weighing on her until she could barely breathe.

"Yuhao, after everything that just happened, how do you feel?"

"It's a shame. They shouldn't have ended up like this. You had such a powerful expert leading your group, yet you still suffered this disaster."

Zhang Lexuan said nothing. She had later learned that Xuan Zi had not been held up by anything else, but had instead been occupied with that sort of nonsense...

When Zhang Lexuan did not respond, Huo Yuhao continued, "I understand those people who lost their faith."

"People always have to experience things and lose things. Maybe I'll end up like them someday, but at least I won't right now, because I still have a goal of my own."

"A goal..."

Remembering his past at the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, Huo Yuhao clenched his fists fiercely. "Yes! Until I've accomplished that, I absolutely won't fall!"

Zhang Lexuan could feel Huo Yuhao's anger. It was exactly the same as hers when her family had been slaughtered. In the end, she had agreed to all of Mu En's conditions for the sake of revenge.

Her goal in life now seemed to be nothing more than protecting Shrek, taking over the Sea God Pavilion, and then continuing like that forever.

Beyond that, did she have any goal that kept her going?

At that thought, Zhang Lexuan unconsciously lowered her head to look at Huo Yuhao beside her.

"Sister Lexuan, could you please not tell anyone about those things I did earlier?"

Huo Yuhao had lied from the very beginning, claiming he had not yet reached rank 20, but to save Zhang Lexuan, he had practically revealed all his trump cards.

Although Zhang Lexuan had said nothing when Xuan Zi questioned her earlier, Huo Yuhao was still afraid she might misunderstand.

At his words, Zhang Lexuan's eyes flickered slightly. She immediately crouched down to meet his gaze at eye level.

She slowly raised a fair finger and pressed it to her lips in a shushing gesture, a smile appearing in her eyes.

"Don't worry. This is a secret that belongs to just the two of us, isn't it?"

"When Xuan Zi asked earlier, I deliberately concealed it, so naturally I wouldn't turn around and expose your affairs. You saved me. Of course I'll keep your secret."

At such close range, Huo Yuhao caught Zhang Lexuan's faint, fresh fragrance again. His ears grew warm despite himself, and his taut nerves relaxed.

"Thank you, Sister Lexuan."

Looking at the boy's slightly embarrassed expression, Zhang Lexuan could not help raising her hand and gently stroking his head.

"There's no need to thank me. Still, little Yuhao, you really do have a lot of trump cards. Although I don't know whether I'll be able to help you in the future, you can come to me anytime."

With that, Zhang Lexuan withdrew her hand and stood up again, returning to the image of the senior sister everyone else knew.

Only now, there was an indescribable feeling in the way she looked at Huo Yuhao.

After bidding Zhang Lexuan and the others farewell, Huo Yuhao put enrolling at Shrek on his itinerary and continued on his way.

That evening, on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, Huo Yuhao was grilling fish.

Looking at the golden grilled fish, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said rather miserably, "What a shame. Your big sister only has a spiritual body now. Otherwise, I'd like to see just how good that grilled fish is."

Looking at Tian Meng, who paid no heed whatsoever to his image, Ice Empress said irritably, "Why don't you just imagine one into existence?"

"Bingbing, you're so heartless~"

Although there was no danger, the Sea of Consciousness was still a scene of farce.

After night fell, Huo Yuhao sat meditating in the outside world, resting and recovering, while his entire consciousness had long since sunk into his Sea of Consciousness.

"All right, all right, little Yuhao. Let's keep cultivating."

"Okay."

Ripples shimmered across the azure sea. Huo Yuhao and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm held each other, still maintaining Tian Meng's spiritual cultivation posture.

Just then, Ice Empress, who had only just fallen asleep, quietly awoke.

But the very next instant, the sight before her eyes made her entire scorpion body freeze in place.

Within the vast spiritual space, Huo Yuhao obediently let Tian Meng hold him, their two spiritual origins entwining with such intimacy.

Ice Empress's golden pupils abruptly contracted, and her usually proud expression grew somewhat bashful.

In all the years she had lived, what had Ice Empress not seen? Yet watching Tian Meng and Huo Yuhao cultivate in each other's arms, her fair, translucent cheeks instantly took on a faint blush.

How could Tian Meng be so shameless? But why did I somehow feel a little envious?

She watched Tian Meng steadily nourish Huo Yuhao through his spiritual origin. The effects were far better than ordinary cultivation.

But you, Tian Meng-why did you look so pleased, and why did you keep secretly stroking Huo Yuhao's back? Was that part of your cultivation too?

Ice Empress stood frozen for several seconds, her proud yet bashful thoughts tugging back and forth.

She wanted to act dismissive, turn around, and go back to sleep, yet she simply could not tear her eyes away from the embracing pair.

She wanted to grow stronger too. She wanted to help Huo Yuhao cultivate too. She also wanted... to join them.

Through nearly four hundred thousand years of icebound solitude, she had never cared about anyone besides Snow Empress.

But now, dwelling within Huo Yuhao's body, Ice Empress had long since come to regard him as her sole host, her sole bond.

As for Tian Meng? Sorry, she barely knew him.

Why should Tian Meng be the only one who could help Huo Yuhao cultivate like this?

Longing, embarrassed annoyance, resentment, and other emotions wound themselves around her heart in layers.

Finally, Ice Empress bit her tender lower lip, her cheeks flushed crimson.

Bearing all her shyness and reserve, she took slow, gentle steps, inching toward the two of them.

Huo Yuhao's spiritual body was still immersed in cultivation, his awareness of external changes indistinct.

Ice Empress stood behind Huo Yuhao, bent forward slightly, and carefully pressed herself against his back.

She did not dare hold him too tightly, so her posture was restrained and awkward. Her slender arms gently encircled his waist as she nestled steadily against him.

The next instant, a cool sensation reached Huo Yuhao's back.

After spending so much time together, he naturally knew that this aura came from Ice Empress.

"Ice Empress, you-"

Half of Ice Empress's face was buried against Huo Yuhao's back, the blush on her face yet to fade. Her cool voice carried a softness even she had not noticed.

"I... I merely thought this cultivation method was passable, so... I reluctantly decided to join you."

"A-after all, you becoming stronger naturally benefits us."

Seeing Ice Empress like this, Huo Yuhao could hardly object, so he felt the aura flowing from her and continued meditating.

Where neither of them could see, Tian Meng gave a soft chuckle, as though he had gotten his way.

Just as planned.