Tian Meng Bought Books

"Sister Tian Meng, I think I've learned enough for now. At least I can recognize all the characters."

Huo Yuhao had no idea what was going on. Sister Tian Meng insisted that he visit the bookstore outside the academy tomorrow, saying something about "giving you the highest education."

"No, you've barely scratched the surface. Listen to me. Once you get to the bookstore, let me take over your body, and just watch how I find you some good books."

"Huo Yuhao" arrived at the bookstore. A glimmer of gold flickered in his eyes, and his movements looked considerably less restrained than before.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had successfully taken over his account. Only Huo Yuhao and the Ice Empress remained in the Sea of Consciousness.

"Hmm, lemme have a look."

The first thing Tian Meng spotted was the notebook of that Grandmaster from ten thousand years ago. He opened the first page and found his words of supreme wisdom:

There were no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm nodded in agreement. As expected of the Grandmaster who had broken past fifty years of age before reaching rank thirty. His theories were impressive. He was buying it!

Tucking the Grandmaster's notebook under his arm, Tian Meng scanned the other shelves before his gaze settled on the classics section.

"Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will reveal itself. Of course Yuhao needs to dabble in every kind of book."

Strange tales of the continent, romantic affairs of the wandering world, and even assorted unofficial histories and anecdotes-all were pulled off the shelves by Tian Meng.

"Do you know why the Grandmaster preserved the history of his wanderings across the continent? To win everyone's sympathy. What you don't know is that this history was prettified long ago... a hook..."

What's a hook? Never mind, I'll take it too.

Tian Meng looked up and discovered a sign hanging overhead: "Adults-only section."

Looks like the books in there are meant for mature humans. There's no harm in letting little Yuhao get an early introduction.

Tian Meng casually picked up a book. The words "Spring and Autumn" stood out on its cover.

With such a lofty-sounding name, it must chronicle some grand, sweeping history.

Tian Meng opened it to a page and took a careful look. Her face instantly flushed scarlet, and she snapped the book shut. This was no history. It was clearly...

A long while later, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm opened it for another look.

They might as well call this Entertainment in Spring and Autumn.

After that, Tian Meng stopped examining the books too closely. He merely glanced at their titles before adding them to his pile.

"On Torture and Interrogation," "Complete Guide to Tying People with Rope"...

After picking out a few books, Tian Meng handed them all to the clerk.

"Child, are you sure you want to buy these?"

Tian Meng thought nothing of the clerk's rather peculiar look. She spoke breezily, though the voice was Huo Yuhao's. "Yes, I want all of them. Please ring them up."

"Uh... all right."

Some time in the Sea of Consciousness.

Huo Yuhao hovered above the Sea of Consciousness, his eyes lightly closed, spiritual power circulating faintly around him.

His recent training and actual combat had yielded considerable gains, and he could use this little bit of time to digest and absorb them.

The Ice Empress planted both hands on her hips and grumbled irritably, "Is Tian Meng really reliable?"

Since when did she know what books humans needed to read?

Huo Yuhao did not open his eyes, but a slight smile curled his lips. "Sister Tian Meng probably just can't sit still. But buying books should be fine."

The Ice Empress stood beside Huo Yuhao, her golden eyes drifting toward him from time to time.

"Yuhao... let's cultivate using that method."

Huo Yuhao opened his eyes, met the Ice Empress's serious gaze, and nodded. He had been reserved at first, but after doing this for so long, he naturally no longer resisted this method.

Warmth filled the Sea of Consciousness. The Ice Empress gazed at Huo Yuhao's youthful yet gentle features, feeling their auras mingle like water and milk, and a tender flutter quietly stirred in her heart.

Whenever they cultivated together, the Ice Empress could feel Huo Yuhao's inner world at every moment.

She had witnessed all the effort Huo Yuhao put in day after day and had long since accepted him as her host. Yet she still found it somewhat unbearable to see those girls outside.

Their ordinary joint cultivation could no longer satisfy her desire to go a step further and merge completely.

With a thought, the Ice Empress slowly loosened her arms from around Huo Yuhao. Her flawless, exquisite face drew slowly closer to his, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

"...Yuhao, I have a more efficient method. Would you like to try it?"

"Hmm?"

Before Huo Yuhao could answer, the Ice Empress lifted her head slightly and pressed her lips to his.

The soft, cool sensation came suddenly, carrying the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion's ultimate ice Soul Power as it entered Huo Yuhao's body, gentle yet domineering.

Huo Yuhao trembled all over, and tenderness welled up in his heart. His tightly closed eyes flew open, staring straight at the Ice Empress's closed eyes.

Her proud, coy young face was already covered in a blush, and her entire body seemed taut. Even so, she continued the action with a hint of awkwardness.

Afraid of hurting the Ice Empress and unwilling to reject her feelings like this, Huo Yuhao merely relaxed his tense mind and continued to respond.

After an unknown length of time, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice came from outside.

"All right, little Yuhao, I'm back at the dorm. Time for you to come back."

Only then did the Ice Empress hastily pull away, floating two meters from Huo Yuhao.

She fussed clumsily with her slightly disheveled dress, traces of crimson still lingering on her cheeks.

Huo Yuhao swiftly fled the scene, and Tian Meng's spiritual form arrived in his place. She immediately spotted the blushing Ice Empress and cried, "Wow, Bingbing, what were you doing? Your face is so red!"

The Ice Empress went rigid, her golden pupils abruptly contracting. She turned her face aside, refusing to let Tian Meng keep examining her. "None of your business!"

"Hey, why are you like this? Tell me... ah, don't sting me! I haven't done anything!"

"You're finally back. You were gone so long. What were you doing?"

When Huo Yuhao regained consciousness, he was greeted by Wang Dong's face close to his, startling him into taking a step back.

"Why are you so close?"

Wang Dong had been studying the slightly flushed Huo Yuhao, and his reaction startled her into stepping back as well.

"So what? You suddenly disappeared this morning. What were you doing?"

Huo Yuhao let out a breath, still feeling dizzy, clearly not yet done processing what had happened in the Sea of Consciousness. "I went to the bookstore to buy books."

To convince Wang Dong, he took out the books Sister Tian Meng had placed in his storage space.

Huo Yuhao glanced outside. Wait, he still had to go to the Soul Tool Institute!

"Take a look yourself. I need to go find my teacher in the Soul Tool Department first."

With that, Huo Yuhao set down the books and left.

Wang Dong looked at the sudden pile of books with something of a headache.

She did not like reading. Oh well, she would take a look.

"On Torture and Interrogation?"

Wang Dong picked it up and opened it. Her cheeks instantly burned, her whole face turning so red it looked ready to drip blood.

Why are there illustrations in here too?

Wang Dong did not stop. She kept flipping through it, and a small booklet fell out.

"Eighteen Uses for a Grape Trellis?"