A grape trellis had eighteen different uses? Wasn't it just for supporting vines?
The alarm bells of curiosity rang loudly. Instinct told Wang Dong that whatever was written in this book definitely wasn't anything good, but she just wanted to see exactly how it was used.
"Good heavens."
Wang Dong opened the book. Looking at the various positions inside, her breathing suddenly grew heavier, and then she swallowed for no apparent reason.
Wang Dong snapped the book shut and looked at the cover again. She hadn't expected that brat Huo Yuhao to like this sort of thing. No, she had to give it a serious read.
After a moment's thought, Wang Dong put both books she had been reading into her storage space. With only a book or two missing, Huo Yuhao probably wouldn't notice, right?
Light and shadow filtered through the leaves and fell across Ling Luochеn's princess dress. Her expression was cool and indifferent, wisps of icy mist radiating around her.
After Huo Yuhao's fight with Xu Sanshi, Ling Luochеn hadn't gone to see Huo Yuhao herself, merely sending someone to bring him some medicinal pills.
This time, she had calculated the timing and deliberately waited here. She'd like to see who could snatch him away before she did now. Hmph, hmph. Then she would keep Little Yuhao in her room...
Hearing familiar footsteps, Ling Luochеn slowly raised her eyes, her gaze settling on Huo Yuhao. A barely perceptible trace of concern lay in her cool eyes.
"Little Yuhao."
Huo Yuhao, who had just left the Soul Tool Department, paused when he saw Ling Luochеn standing beneath the shade of a tree. Somewhat surprised, he asked, "Senior Ling, what brings you here?"
Ling Luochеn stepped out of the shade. As she reached Huo Yuhao's side, she naturally stroked his head. Savoring the touch she hadn't enjoyed in so long, she curled her lips slightly. "I came to see you. How have you been feeling lately?"
"Very good. It's just that the other people are a bit troublesome..."
Ever since Huo Yuhao defeated Xu Sanshi, his popularity at the academy had surpassed Xu Sanshi's and soared rapidly. And because Huo Yuhao had delicate features and looked so innocent and adorable, he had apparently even gained a fan club.
The sudden attention only left Huo Yuhao feeling deeply troubled. Don't any of you cultivate?
At his words, Ling Luochеn withdrew her hand, a trace of amusement passing through her eyes. "I know what you're going through. When you're too strong, naturally plenty of people will flock to you. You don't need to worry too much, either. Just stay true to yourself."
"If it's still bothering you, would you like to take a walk with me?"
Sea God Lake stretched over a vast area, its surface often shrouded in a thin, milky-white mist. At some point, couples at the academy had begun enjoying walks together along its shores.
It was said that doing so would earn them the blessing of Ancestor Tang San of the First Generation Shrek Seven Devils.
On the lakeside path, Ling Luochеn was gently holding Huo Yuhao's hand.
Since Huo Yuhao hadn't begun developing yet, feeling his small, soft hand filled Ling Luochеn with an inexplicable secret delight.
Was this what being in love felt like? Young boys seemed pretty nice, too.
But her happiness lasted only a few seconds before a voice deeply etched into Ling Luochеn's mind rang out nearby, startling her so badly that she stiffened.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the 'Snow Princess.' It's only been a few days, and you've started taking a little kid around?"
Huo Yuhao looked toward the voice and saw a tall, mature young woman wearing a red-and-black dress.
Her fiery, wine-red hair and pale pink eyes, paired with the slightly upturned corners of her eyes and brows, gave her an innate air of pressure.
"Ma Xiaotao?!"
Looking at Ma Xiaotao, who had sprung out of nowhere, Ling Luochеn's heart suddenly tightened, and she unconsciously shifted a little in front of Huo Yuhao.
The very thing you hated just had to show up!
Hearing the name Ling Luochеn called out, Huo Yuhao was startled as well. So this was the Inner Court's Number One Devil?
"What are you doing here?"
"Taking a walk. What, you're allowed to stroll around Sea God Lake with a little friend, but I'm not allowed to come out and have a look?"
This was a lie!
Ma Xiaotao had spotted them as soon as Ling Luochеn and Huo Yuhao arrived at Sea God Lake. At first, she had wondered why Ling Luochеn was bringing a little kid along.
Her younger brother? These two didn't look much alike, though.
After observing them carefully for a while, Ma Xiaotao had come up with an even bolder prediction: Ling Luochеn liked grazing on tender young grass!
Well, well, Ling Luochеn. Had you become this desperate for romance?
This little kid looked well-behaved and was outstandingly good-looking, too. No wonder Ling Luochеn had made her move outright.
With a thought, Ma Xiaotao stepped forward, her gaze roaming brazenly back and forth before finally settling on Ling Luochеn's faintly flushed cheeks. She teased, "Oh, Ling Luochеn. You're usually so icy toward everyone. I never imagined you'd be so gentle in private, even bringing a little junior to a place like this."
With Ma Xiaotao exposing her thoughts in one stroke, Ling Luochеn's cheeks instantly turned scarlet, and she was both embarrassed and furious. "Stop making wild guesses!"
Faint ice-attribute Soul Power radiated around Ling Luochеn, as though she might charge at Ma Xiaotao at any moment.
Ma Xiaotao thought nothing of it. After all, she was around ten levels above Ling Luochеn, and her Martial Soul also countered hers. All she could say was, Baby, even your anger looks like you're acting cute.
While Ling Luochеn wasn't paying attention, Ma Xiaotao turned into a fiery-red afterimage and flashed straight to Huo Yuhao's side in a single burst of movement. Ling Luochеn wanted to move, but with Huo Yuhao beside Ma Xiaotao, she couldn't unleash her strength freely.
With all those concerns holding her back, she could only watch helplessly as Ma Xiaotao leaned close to Huo Yuhao.
Ma Xiaotao's bold, fiery presence drew near. She raised her slender, fair hand and gently ruffled Huo Yuhao's blue hair, her movements casual and intimate.
Huo Yuhao stiffened, caught completely off guard by Ma Xiaotao stroking his head, his clear eyes full of astonishment.
Before him, Ma Xiaotao's features were striking and alluring. Her pink eyes curved slightly as she leaned close to Huo Yuhao's ear.
Then Ma Xiaotao blinked quickly, throwing him a playful, seductive wink.
"You're so cute, little junior. I'll come play with you next time~"
No sooner had she spoken than Ma Xiaotao departed without lingering. Her red skirt swept through the air, and she flew straight off with the aid of her Phoenix Martial Soul.
Only the still-dazed Huo Yuhao and the thoroughly enraged Ling Luochеn remained.
Watching Ma Xiaotao flee into the distance, the icy mist around Ling Luochеn surged, her fair face so red it looked ready to drip blood.
Yet she couldn't catch up to her, and even if she did, she couldn't beat her. At that thought, she could only stamp her feet in frustration.
Huo Yuhao dazedly touched the top of his head where she had ruffled it, the tips of his ears burning as well. No wonder Sister Luochеn called her a devil. That style of hers...
Forcing down her anger, Ling Luochеn said coolly, "Yuhao, let's head back."
"...Okay."
Ling Luochеn was going to cultivate!
After cultivating with Huo Yuhao last time, she had discovered that her Martial Soul had evolved to some extent, and even its quality was shifting toward Ultimate Ice.
As long as she cultivated with Little Yuhao some more, once her level rose and her Martial Soul transformed, she would make Ma Xiaotao kneel beneath her princess dress and sing "Conquest"!
As soon as they reached the courtyard, they saw Zhang Lexuan standing outside Ling Luochеn's courtyard gate.
"Little Yuhao?"
"Sister Lexuan?" "Senior Sister?"
"I happen to need Little Yuhao for something. Sorry, I'll be taking him with me first, Ling Luochеn."
"Hehe... It's fine, Senior Sister. I'm fine..."
Ling Luochеn simply watched their retreating backs, feeling as though a little part of her had died.
The outcome of today's battle: a crushing defeat for Ling Luochеn.
Before you continue