Huo Yuhao looked at his masterpiece with satisfaction and snapped his fingers lightly. The ice began to melt slowly, turning into wisps of cold air that dissipated into the air.
"This is just a small lesson." Huo Yuhao waved his hand casually, as if he had just completed a trivial task. He gracefully sat back in his chair, crossed his long legs, and tapped his fingers rhythmically on the armrest.
Ke Ke and Zi Mu exchanged a glance, both reading something from each other's eyes. They finally understood Huo Yuhao's intention—to make an example of Wang Shaojie, to show them the consequences of offending him.
"I hope you all understand," Huo Yuhao's voice was gentle yet imposing, "That I am not someone to be trifled with."
His gaze swept over the three of them, finally settling on Ju Zi's worried face. "I'd much rather we could get along peacefully than fight each other..." He paused meaningfully, "Constantly testing my limits."
Wang Shaojie slumped to the ground, his lips still trembling uncontrollably. He stared intently at Huo Yuhao, the resentment in his eyes almost tangible, but he dared not utter another arrogant word. Such strength was astonishing.
A faint smile appeared on Huo Yuhao's lips; his plan was already half successful.
Wang Shaojie's royal identity became his best cover at this moment—regardless of whether the other party retaliated or could find him, he could use Wang Shaojie's identity to pressure him into applying to Xuan Ziwen for permission to go out with Ju Zi under the pretext of experimenting with Soul Tool for two months.
Huo Yuhao was happy just thinking about it. As for the matter of Evil Soul Master, Huo Yuhao had already thought about it. With his current strength, he could walk around the Sun Moon Empire with impunity, of course, only when his teacher was possessed.
However, he was fully prepared and had a plan. He was a very cautious person and would carefully calculate every step.
After things calmed down, Ke Ke pulled Ju Zi to a corner of the lab, grumbling angrily, "What kind of monster is that Huo Yuhao?! The three of us didn't even have time to take out our Soul Tool before he intimidated us with just one look!" She kicked the table leg in frustration, "Just because he's strong doesn't mean he's amazing! He's practically inhuman!"
Ju Zi thoughtfully tidied up the experimental equipment, and said softly, "Who knows..." Her gaze unconsciously drifted towards the spot where Huo Yuhao usually sat.
Ke Ke suddenly leaned closer, blinking her eyes gossipy. "Sister Ju Zi, I noticed that guy's gaze towards you is really different!" She nudged Ju Zi with her elbow, "And when you look at him... you two wouldn't..."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Ju Zi's pretty face flushed slightly, and she looked quite flustered.
"Oh my god, you're blushing!" Ke Ke squealed as if she'd discovered something amazing. "You wouldn't be smitten just because he's strong, would you? I remember someone saying their ideal type is..."
"He's the best chef in the world!" Ju Zi said, hands on her hips. "The man I marry has to be the best chef in the world, so he can satisfy my stomach!"
The saying, "To win a woman's heart, you must first win her stomach," is not without merit.
The two then talked a lot, and this matter really troubled Zi Mu, who loved Ju Zi, so she had to learn to cook every day.
On the other side, it was already night. As darkness fell, only the bright moon and stars shone in the sky. Huo Yuhao stood alone by the dormitory window. The moonlight gilded his handsome profile with a silvery glow, and also reflected the calculations swirling in his eyes.
"It should be about time..." he muttered to himself, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Sure enough, not long after, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the door. Huo Yuhao composed himself, put on a perfectly timed expression of confusion, and opened the door. Xuan Ziwen stood outside, his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses flashing with a complex light.
" Yuhao, the situation is a bit tricky." Xuan Ziwen walked straight into the room. Huo Yuhao had suggested using a single dormitory room, and even Mu En had moved in for him. The single dormitory room was personally prepared by Jing Hongchen.
Of course, Huo Yuhao would also check if there were any surveillance or recording devices inside before settling in.
" Wang Shaojie wields considerable influence within the royal family. His family quickly discovered the cause of his frostbite and learned that he had been bullied and humiliated by you at the academy. The royal family is also fully aware of this. Therefore, you understand that they demand an explanation from me."
Xuan Ziwen sighed, "The royal family is the royal family after all; they've already sent people to put pressure on you. Although I've managed to suppress the matter, it's inevitable that they'll come after you."
He continued slowly, "You need to leave the academy for a while to avoid trouble."
Huo Yuhao lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly, as if he was suppressing his resentment. In reality, he was trying hard to control the upward curve of his lips—he was almost unable to hold back anymore, and everything was proceeding according to plan.
"I've already made the arrangements." Xuan Ziwen, oblivious to Huo Yuhao's unusual behavior, continued, "Tomorrow, you'll take Ju Zi and Ke Ke with you, and go away for two months under the pretext of testing the new Soul Tool." He added meaningfully, "You can also take the opportunity to look for Mental Attribute Soul Ring."
Huo Yuhao looked up, his eyes perfectly brimming with a mixture of gratitude and guilt. " Teacher Xuan... I'm sorry to have troubled you."
Xuan Ziwen: "Remember, make sure the test report is detailed." As he turned to leave, he suddenly turned back, "Oh, and take good care of those two girls."
The moment the door closed, Huo Yuhao's pretense melted away like ice and snow, revealing a look of pleasure. He lightly snapped his fingers.
"It went even more smoothly than expected," he chuckled softly, his gaze drifting to the bright moon outside the window.
(Here, I must first declare that I do look out the window at the bright moon whenever I feel like I'm plotting something in my dorm room, because it evokes a sense of beauty, like the feeling of "When will the moon be bright? I raise my cup to ask the heavens.")
(Looking at the pitch-black sky outside, illuminated only by moonlight, with stars twinkling incessantly, isn't this the perfect time to contemplate things and express poetic sentiments?)
(Although there's a feeling that makes my thoughts wander to my distant hometown, where my wife is still waiting under the bright moon—I just don't know how many wives are waiting too, as described in the Chinese textbook.)
(Standing by the window gazing at the bright moon, I'm reminded of Li Bai's line, "The bright moonlight before my bed, I wonder if it's frost on the ground." Haha, I feel the author's interpretation is a bit too joking. Just take this as a joke.)
Two months... that's enough.
P. S.: I'm posting an extra chapter today, brothers. I hope you'll give me more support. Basically, I'd like to hear your comments and suggestions. This sudden burst of updates was unexpected; I just released tomorrow's drafts, so I added another chapter...