After leaving the Clear Sky Sect, the group traveled swiftly and soon returned to the Shrek Academy.
The setting sun cast its golden rays upon the academy's towering archway, bathing the ancient stone bricks in a golden-red glow. Yet, right there at the academy gate, two unfamiliar figures stood silently, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
They were two young girls, one with golden hair like a waterfall, radiant as the morning sun; the other with silver hair like snow, cool as moonlight. Their beauty was comparable, yet each had their own unique charm; simply standing there, they seemed to steal all the light from their surroundings.
Huo Yuhao suddenly stopped in his tracks.
His gaze was fixed on the blonde girl, his pupils trembled slightly, and his breathing became rapid involuntarily. She was also staring at him, her golden eyes churning with indescribable emotions.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment, the two of them immersed in the atmosphere, a glance that felt like an eternity.
"Qiu... Qiu'er..." Huo Yuhao's voice was almost hoarse, as if squeezed out from the depths of his chest, with an uncontrollable tremor.
Jiang Nannan, Ma Xiaotao, Xiao Xiao and the others, who were chatting and laughing, stopped in their tracks upon seeing this, looked at Huo Yuhao with a puzzled expression, and then followed his gaze to the blonde girl.
Something's not right.
They keenly sensed that Huo Yuhao's emotions were fluctuating wildly, even more so than when facing a powerful enemy. What alarmed them even more was the girl's gaze as she looked at Huo Yuhao —gentle and focused, as if the entire world consisted of only him.
Rival in love!
Almost instantly, the same thought flashed through the minds of all the women, and a strange hostility quietly began to grow.
Wang Dong stood at the edge of the crowd, his fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of his clothes, a subtle yet distinct stabbing pain shooting through his chest.
" Qiu'er..." Huo Yuhao finally spoke again, his voice low and gentle.
The blonde girl, Di Qiu'er, smiled slightly, revealing a stunning smile, " Yuhao."
Everyone was stunned.
They had never seen Huo Yuhao so out of control, and they never expected that he would know such a stunningly beautiful young woman.
Before anyone could react, Huo Yuhao strode forward and, in full view of everyone, pulled Di Qiu'er into his arms and hugged her tightly.
" Qiu'er, what brings you here?" His voice was filled with barely suppressed joy.
Jiang Nannan and the others felt a sudden chill, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand. They could clearly sense that Huo Yuhao's feelings for this girl were... extraordinary.
Di Qiu'er leaned against Huo Yuhao's chest, gently closed her eyes, and softly said, "I missed you, so I came."
Huo Yuhao lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "I miss you too... so much."
Seeing this, Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, and the others couldn't help but shake their heads and chuckle. It was inappropriate for these old folks to linger over the emotional entanglements of the younger generation, so they quietly left to return to the Sea God Pavilion to discuss important matters.
Bei Bei and Tang Ya did not follow immediately. They exchanged a glance, their eyes simultaneously falling on Jiang Nannan.
As Jiang Nannan's best friend, Tang Ya knew better than anyone else about Jiang Nannan's feelings for Huo Yuhao. The two had a very good relationship, and with Huo Yuhao helping Bei Bei and the other girl on several occasions at the academy, Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan had become best friends. Seeing her looking so downcast now, Tang Ya couldn't help but feel worried.
" Nannan..." Tang Ya called softly, about to step forward to comfort her, but Ma Xiaotao had already grabbed Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao's hands, her tone cheerful but leaving no room for refusal. "Let's go, we still have training to finish!"
Jiang Nannan forced a smile and let Ma Xiaotao pull her away, but before leaving, she couldn't help but look back at Huo Yuhao Di Qiu'er.
Ning Tian stood to the side, his chest aching, but he said nothing. He simply turned and left with Ling Luochеn.
In the blink of an eye, the crowd dispersed, leaving only Wang Dong standing there, staring blankly at the two embracing, his heart feeling as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, a bitter ache he couldn't describe.
"Hey, Wang Dong! What are you daydreaming about?" Xiao Xiao returned and grabbed his wrist. "Come on! Don't bother them!"
Wang Dong opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just remained silent and let Xiao Xiao pull him away.
--
"Hey, that's enough already. Are you still not done picking me up?"
A cold voice suddenly rang out, breaking the tenderness between the two. Huo Yuhao then slowly released Di Qiu'er and turned to look at the silver-haired girl standing with her arms crossed beside him— Gu Yuena.
"Luckily, Qiu'er came with you, otherwise I really wouldn't have been at ease." Huo Yuhao's tone was gentle, but a deep glint flashed in his eyes.
Gu Yuena chuckled softly, "I came along because I was worried about her. Besides..." She slightly raised her eyes, a hint of curiosity flickering in her silver-purple pupils, "I also want to see what the human world is like."
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao's lips curled slightly, and suddenly he transmitted his voice telepathically, his voice resounding directly in Gu Yuena's mind:
"So you're also interested in humans? But let me make this clear, do you remember the advice I gave you?"
His voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable warning:
"Don't become my enemy—otherwise, you know very well what will happen to you."
Gu Yuena's eyes flashed, and she responded with her own mental power, "Don't worry, since I dared to appear before you like this, don't you trust my attitude? Besides..." She paused, then said meaningfully, "We have a common goal. I will personally watch you fulfill the promise you made to me."
Huo Yuhao looked at her intently, then finally nodded. "That's good. During this time, I will keep my promise and help you fully recover from your injuries." He spoke solemnly, each word deliberate, "This is our vow, and I will not forget it—and I hope you will too."
Gu Yuena tilted her head slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in her silver-purple eyes, and a half-smile curved her lips, "Are you always so cautious, even to the point of being paranoid?"
Huo Yuhao's gaze suddenly deepened, as if he had traversed countless time and space in an instant. He spoke slowly, his voice as deep as an echo from an abyss, "No, this is not paranoia."
He raised his hand, his fingertips lightly tracing his temple. "Because I've witnessed firsthand all the tragedies that could happen. Therefore, I must guard against every variable—even the slightest oversight could lead to my... utter ruin."
Gu Yuena's pupils contracted slightly. She had never seen Huo Yuhao like this before—his eyes held a maturity far beyond his years, and his tone carried a chilling certainty, as if he truly...
"You bastard..." She instinctively took a half-step forward, "What exactly have you been through?"
Huo Yuhao didn't answer immediately. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a blood-red hue on his profile, and his last words, transmitted telepathically, pierced Gu Yuena's mind like a sharp blade. "You wouldn't want to know... the taste of death."
These words seemed to carry a tangible weight, causing the surrounding air to momentarily freeze. Gu Yuena trembled, her silver hair moving without wind. As the ruler of all Soul Beast, she understood the meaning of "death" better than anyone else, but the despair and pain contained in Huo Yuhao's words made her feel a strange pang of fear.
She stared blankly at the boy before her, feeling for the first time that she couldn't see through him at all. After a long while, she whispered, " Huo Yuhao... I'm becoming more and more curious about you."
A gentle breeze swept by, dispelling the tense atmosphere between the two. Di Qiu'er looked at Huo Yuhao with concern, only to see that he had already regained his usual gentle expression, as if the oppressive figure from before was just an illusion.