Proud Sword School vs. Heavenly Dragon Sect, Heavenly Dragon Sect wins.
That evening, at the hotel, everyone discussed matters concerning the Heavenly Dragon Sect, and naturally, it was Original Huo Yuhao who made his appearance.
This time, even the Original Huo Yuhao couldn't face Wang Dong'er with the same attitude as before, after a profound and complete new understanding.
Original Huo Yuhao's gaze towards Wang Dong'er grew increasingly strange, sometimes even accompanied by a self-deprecating smile. His face betrayed his bitterness. It's impossible for a person to let go completely all at once, but one must always try to let go.
Wang Dong'er also noticed the Original Huo Yuhao's eyes. She already had doubts in her heart, and now she was almost at a breaking point. She finally couldn't hold back anymore.
" Yuhao, what's wrong with you? Why have you been acting so strangely lately?" Wang Dong'er asked first.
Xiao Xiao followed closely behind. "Yeah, Yuhao, you've become unlike yourself lately."
Jiang Nannan chimed in, "Your eyes have become sharp, arrogant, haughty, and indifferent lately, Yuhao. Is something wrong?"
Xu Sanshi's smug expression vanished. " Nannan is right, Yuhao, you've recently stopped caring about the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy altogether. Your change these past few days has been quite dramatic, making us all a little uneasy."
Bei Bei suddenly said, "Hearing you say that, it's true. When Yuhao saved me, he called Xiao Ya 'beautiful lady, don't get so angry.' The real Yuhao wouldn't say that. Yuhao, what's wrong with you?"
At this moment Original Huo Yuhao calmly but with a hint of weariness spun a lie that was so airtight that everyone found it perfectly plausible.
" Grandmaster, everyone, my cultivation has recently deviated somewhat, so I might harbor strange hostility towards everything, therefore..."
Just as everyone lowered their guard, thinking it made sense, Wang Dong'er stared intently at him, her eyes slightly red. She interjected, "And what about me, Yuhao? Your gaze towards me is so cold. Even now, when you're acting normally, there's still a distance in your eyes. Why is that, Yuhao?"
Wang Dong'er completely broke down. The way her lover looked at her was unbearable. The boy who used to be so gentle and loving now looked at her with such unfamiliar eyes—cold, wary, even fearful. She couldn't accept it; his gaze terrified her.
She didn't understand.
In truth, both were the same. Original Huo Yuhao also harbored fear towards his lover, Wang Dong'er. How could she know that Huo Yuhao's fear was deeper and more painful? He feared that their meeting was a joke, a God King in Tang San's quest for a new star. And he was nothing more than a puppet manipulated by fate.
This is absolutely terrifying.
How ironic, how tragic.
How could Wang Dong'er possibly know what Huo Yuhao was thinking?
" Yuhao, tell me, why are you looking at me like that?" She walked forward, moved closer to Huo Yuhao, and suddenly grabbed his hand; her fingertips were icy cold.
" Dong'er," Original Huo Yuhao's eyes conveyed a very expressive look, a mixture of doubt, questioning, and fear.
Wang Dong'er's hands trembled. "I don't know why you've become like this... but you feel so unfamiliar to me now." She gripped his fingers tightly, as if grasping at a last straw. "What did I do wrong?"
" Dong'er," Huo Yuhao's breathing quickened. He suddenly pulled his hand back, and the next second, he shoved her away violently! "Don't come any closer. I don't know how to face you right now."
Wang Dong'er staggered and fell to the ground, her face filled with horror.
Everyone gasped in shock and quickly helped her up. Xu Sanshi was furious. " Huo Yuhao! Are you crazy?!"
Jiang Nannan walked up behind him, " Yuhao, what's wrong with you?!"
Xiao Xiao's voice also betrayed suppressed anger. " Yuhao, what you've done has gone too far."
Wang Dong'er raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and gently tugged at Xiao Xiao's sleeve. " Xiao Xiao, don't be like this, I just want an answer."
Her voice was so soft it was almost broken, yet she still looked in Huo Yuhao's direction. " Yuhao, tell me, what I want to know is the answer."
Xu Sanshi and the others also started talking about Huo Yuhao's problems. " Yuhao, you've disappointed us so much! We've all seen how Dong'er treats you!"
He stepped forward, lowering his voice, "Is it because of that Wang Qiu'er? Have you developed feelings for her?"
After a moment of silence, Original Huo Yuhao finally spoke, "I can't give you an answer, Dong'er. Perhaps it's as you all say, I've developed a Sisi affection for Qiu'er."
His voice was hoarse, "Because she saved me at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, she gave me another life, and she already exists in my heart."
"But that's not the whole reason." He took a deep breath. "I can't face you, Dong'er... not because of anyone else, but because of myself. I need time... to calm down."
"So it really is because of her!" Xu Sanshi laughed angrily. " Huo Yuhao, are you really going to abandon Dong'er for Wang Qiu'er?"
Original Huo Yuhao replied, "I don't want to abandon them, it's just that I haven't understood my own heart yet, and my heart is changing its perspective."
Xu Sanshi was about to throw a punch when Jiang Nannan stopped him, saying gently, " Yuhao, it's fine that you have your own ideas. But no matter what, you shouldn't hurt Dong'er like this."
Original Huo Yuhao looked at everyone, his voice weary. "Everyone, Senior Sister Nannan, everyone, please stop pressuring me. My mind is a mess right now, about the Tang Sect, about Shrek Academy. My head is throbbing. I hope you can understand."
A moment of silence fell over everyone. Only then did they let Huo Yuhao off the hook. Indeed, although Tang Sect Tang Ya was the sect leader and Bei Bei was currently acting as her, it was Huo Yuhao Huo Yuhao had consistently fulfilled the duties of the sect leader, who had consistently contributed to the academy and the Tang Sect. He had brought new blood, new life, and everything of value to the Tang Sect; he had poured his entire heart and soul into it. Without him, the Tang Sect might have already ceased to exist in name only.
But the Tang Sect repaid him with very little, only a debt of gratitude that made him devote himself to the Tang Sect for so many years.
Bei Bei and the others lowered their heads.
Huo Yuhao's divided soul no longer interfered with the Original Huo Yuhao's affairs, because it was his own business. He needed to resolve his inner conflict and live for himself; that was a person's enlightenment.
Just as a lighthouse can illuminate the way forward in the dark, it cannot exist forever. In the vast darkness, one can only walk alone.
Original Huo Yuhao has left, and no one knows where he is. Perhaps he is somewhere contemplating, or perhaps he is confronting his own heart. No one knows.
But Wang Dong'er cried all night. She curled up in the corner of the bed and kept crying, letting out all the grievances she had suffered because of Huo Yuhao's words.