"I've also made arrangements for Huo Yuhao. I've done what I could to dispel that child's resentment toward the academy. From now on, he'll learn a few things at the academy, and he may well rejoin it someday."
"Remember this: don't be fools like Yan Shaozhe!"
Mu En swept an indifferent gaze over the elders. None of them dared voice the slightest doubt, and they respectfully lowered their heads.
"Understood, Elder Mu!"
Mu En turned back to Yan Shaozhe. "Let Xiaotao and that child get along. If they develop feelings for each other, then even if he doesn't join Shrek, Xiaotao will be the bond that makes him one of us. Don't get in their way! Do you understand?"
Yan Shaozhe was petty, and Mu En was genuinely afraid he would ruin his plans again.
Yan Shaozhe hastened to assure him that he wouldn't dare.
The other elders finally understood.
So Elder Mu was using a honey trap. A honey trap was a fine idea!
Elder Mu had been through it himself and had plenty of experience as a victim. The honey trap he arranged was sure to be flawless!
"Wise words, Elder Mu!"
The other elders were all smiles.
After the Sea God Pavilion Meeting ended, Zhang Lexuan walked toward her dormitory, still recalling what had been said at the meeting.
She was only a Soul Douluo, yet she had taken over as vice dean of the Martial Soul Department. The pressure on her was immense.
Besides, she was very curious about Huo Yuhao. Just how talented was he to earn such regard from Elder Mu?
He had even resorted to a honey trap.
Zhang Lexuan felt a strange uncertainty.
In her mind, Elder Mu had always been a great, upright man, but this time, that image had been shattered.
Falsehood could not win genuine affection, and she certainly wasn't willing to do such a thing.
As she walked, she caught sight of a drunken figure out of the corner of her eye.
Bei Bei held a bottle of wine as he staggered along the path, his cheeks and eyes red, constantly murmuring something.
Zhang Lexuan hurried forward and steadied him, concern in her eyes. "Bei Bei, how did you get so drunk?"
"I'm not drunk!"
Bei Bei shook Zhang Lexuan off and took another sip of wine.
"Xiaoya, how am I supposed to live without you? Xiaoya!"
The warmth in Zhang Lexuan's eyes instantly dimmed.
She knew Tang Ya. Bei Bei was very fond of the girl, so much so that he had joined the Tang Sect and taken Tang Ya as his teacher.
Zhang Lexuan forced down the bitterness in her heart and asked gently, "Bei Bei, did something happen?"
Bei Bei lifted his head.
"Sister Lexuan!"
As though he had found an outlet for his feelings, Bei Bei poured his heart out, his eyes red.
"Sister Lexuan, I've been by Xiaoya's side for a year! But I know there's someone she's never been able to forget. I thought staying by her side would make her change her mind, but then, but then that person appeared, and I realized I'm nothing to Xiaoya!"
"Sister Lexuan, how am I any worse than Huo Yuhao? Isn't he just a slightly better cook? Yet Xiaoya can't forget him! Why?"
Huo Yuhao again?
Zhang Lexuan frowned. The name had left a deep impression on her.
She wanted to comfort Bei Bei, but the words caught in her throat, and she couldn't get them out.
Bei Bei took another swig of wine and mumbled indistinctly, "Xiaoya!"
Zhang Lexuan finally lost her patience and snatched the bottle from his hand. She comforted him gently, "Bei Bei, it's all right. You still have me."
Bei Bei looked up and stared blankly at Zhang Lexuan, then shook his head. "You're not her!"
Zhang Lexuan's heart clenched.
"Sister Lexuan, I actually know how you feel."
Zhang Lexuan's heart skipped a beat.
"But, Sister Lexuan, I've always thought of you as my own older sister. There can never be anything between us."
Zhang Lexuan's heart sank completely, falling into deathly silence. Only desolation and bitterness remained on her gentle face, and the light vanished from her lovely crescent eyes.
"I've always thought of you as my own older sister!"
Huo Yuhao's words from yesterday kept replaying in Jiang Nannan's mind, and she couldn't let them go.
She didn't understand. They had kissed and embraced, and short of the final step, they had done everything they could and couldn't do.
How could Yuhao say something like that?
"We've definitely run into a scumbag! Pah!"
Tang Ya puffed out her cheeks, her face full of indignation.
She had been delighted to meet Huo Yuhao yesterday, but he seemed like a different person. He treated her like a stranger and had completely forgotten her.
They had only been apart for a little over a year!
Am I so unworthy of being remembered?
Tang Ya was both angry and heartbroken.
She had held Huo Yuhao in her heart, but Huo Yuhao had thrown her in a pit. In the end, she had placed her feelings in the wrong hands.
The two had just finished class and were walking back to their dormitory.
Jiang Nannan thought for a moment and shook her head. "Yuhao isn't that kind of person. He... he might have something he can't talk about."
Tang Ya looked at Jiang Nannan in disbelief, peering at her from one side and then the other. "Nannan, what love potion did that guy give you? You're still speaking up for him at a time like this?"
Jiang Nannan fell silent for a moment, then lowered her eyes and said softly, "I know Yuhao isn't that kind of person. He's been acting strangely these past few days. Something might have happened."
Tang Ya was silent for a while too. "I know he isn't that kind of person either," she said wistfully, "but he really did forget me. He doesn't even remember my name."
Jiang Nannan turned to Tang Ya, curiosity in her bright eyes. "Xiaoya, how did you meet Yuhao, anyway? I've never heard him mention it."
Tang Ya's thoughts drifted back.
"About two years ago, our Tang Sect was destroyed. I wanted to go to Shrek for help, and I met Yuhao on the way. His grilled fish was delicious, just like Mom and Dad's grilled fish."
"Then I shamelessly followed him and invited him to join the Tang Sect, but he refused no matter what."
Tang Ya puffed out her cheeks. "Is our Tang Sect really that bad? That guy actually looked down on it!"
"I was determined to make him join the Tang Sect! He said he was going to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a Soul Ring. He was just a child, so naturally I was worried and followed him."
"Then you met Yuhao a little before I did. He'd already obtained his Soul Ring when I met him." Jiang Nannan looked thoughtful.
"Once he got his Soul Ring, his Soul Skill was excellent, so I wanted him to join the Tang Sect even more."
"Later, we came to Shrek Academy together, and Shrek refused my request for help."
Tang Ya's voice sank. "Luckily, Yuhao was there with me at the time. Otherwise, I don't know what I would have done. He comforted me and promised that someday he would definitely help me avenge the Tang Sect."
"Then he left a letter and went away."
"Hm? That doesn't sound right." Jiang Nannan was puzzled. "How could Yuhao just leave like that?"
Given Tang Ya's circumstances at the time, Yuhao would never have abandoned her like that unless something unexpected had happened.
"Oh, Yuhao probably had something to take care of! Speaking of which, I even took Yuhao's advice for my third Soul Ring. She was absolutely right: Blue Silver Grass should absorb life-type Soul Rings."
Tang Ya blushed, her gaze wandering as she stammered, trying to change the subject.
She couldn't very well say that she had scared Huo Yuhao away, could she?
She didn't know what she had been thinking back then. Her brain had short-circuited, and she had decided to drag Yuhao into the Tang Sect no matter what.
Then she had put herself on the line and tried to seduce Huo Yuhao, who was only ten years old.
Yuhao had only been ten at the time. She really was a monster!
Her persistent seduction had been remarkably effective too-within days, Huo Yuhao had left a letter and run off.
A girl had her pride. This absolutely could not get out. If word spread, wouldn't she, the Tang Sect's sect master, become a pervert?
It would disgrace both her and the Tang Sect.
"Really?" Jiang Nannan was skeptical.
"Of course!" Tang Ya declared with absolute conviction.