"Have you heard? Teacher Mu Jin from the Martial Soul Department has been expelled, and Teacher Fan Yu from the Soul Tool Department, an Level 8 Soul Engineer, has been placed under house arrest in the inner courtyard for violating school rules, to be researching Soul Tool for the rest of his life, and is never allowed to step out of Shrek Academy again."
"Sigh, that's all because they caused the massive explosion in the Soul Tool Department. I still remember the thick smoke. Although it wasn't as terrifying as the Shadow, it still made the students very uneasy."
The sounds of discussion outside drifted through the window into the quiet hospital room.
Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes, shielding his eyes from the glaring light, unaware of how long he had been unconscious.
He subconsciously scanned his body with his Spiritual Power, and his final bodily mechanism was triggered, pulling back the dense life force of the Longsword of Life according to his calculations.
However, it seems that a portion of the pre-set life energy was diverted, causing him to fall into a coma for several days.
It seems that Zhou Yi's vitality had declined drastically at that time, and the alternative plan was automatically activated.
Huo Yuhao lay on the hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, before finally propping himself up and sitting up.
I subconsciously glanced around and realized that this was not a private ward. Behind the curtain to my right, there seemed to be another person lying there.
Huo Yuhao stretched his stiff body, which hadn't been active for several days, got off the hospital bed, and reached out to grab the curtain beside him.
Wow!
Huo Yuhao pulled the curtain open in an instant, and Zhou Yi was lying quietly on the hospital bed, her eyes naturally closed, her even breathing indicating that she had not yet woken up.
Her peaceful and beautiful sleeping face was so lovely, but when Huo Yuhao got closer, that beauty was instantly shattered.
On the other side of Zhou Yi's cheek was a shocking scar, an irregular and hideous scar left by flames, which shattered all the beauty.
Huo Yuhao was taken aback at first, but the emotion in his eyes vanished instantly, and he coldly pulled a chair over from the side.
After sitting down, Huo Yuhao stared at Zhou Yi, his Spiritual Detection instantly penetrating through the thin hospital gown, wantonly scanning Zhou Yi's delicate skin and snow-white body.
The scenery there was breathtaking, and there were no other scars on her body except for the indelible scar on Zhou Yi's right cheek.
It seems the injury was too severe to be treated with conventional methods.
Huo Yuhao closed his eyes again, deactivated his Spiritual Detection, and reached out towards the scar on Zhou Yi's right cheek.
"Ugh... Yuhao! Quick, save Yuhao!"
Zhou Yi suddenly opened her eyes and sat up straight from the hospital bed, her body trembling as she breathed heavily.
Huo Yuhao quickly reached out and took Zhou Yi's hand, gently comforting her, " Teacher Zhou, I'm here, I'm here."
Zhou Yi seemed not to hear, staring blankly ahead, her loose black hair obscuring half of her face.
" Yuhao, Yuhao! No... no..."
Zhou Yi instinctively tried to break free from Huo Yuhao's hand and jumped off the bed, seemingly still conscious of the fire.
Huo Yuhao acted again, this time pulling Zhou Yi into his arms and gently stroking Zhou Yi back, saying softly, " Sister Little Zhou, it's alright, it's all over, I'm fine."
Zhou Yi stopped struggling and looked at Huo Yuhao, who was holding her. Her previously blurred vision began to clear, and she saw Huo Yuhao's gentle smile.
Seeing Huo Yuhao appear unharmed before her, Zhou Yi's tense nerves finally relaxed.
Zhou Yi felt her body go limp and she fell into Huo Yuhao's arms.
" Yuhao, thank goodness, you're alright, I'm so glad you're alright."
Feeling the warmth of the embrace, Zhou Yi gazed at Huo Yuhao's cheek, slowly reaching out to gently stroke his face. Her eyebrows and eyes curved into two crescent moons, and tears of relief glistened in the corners of her eyes. Her smile was warm and healing.
Even though half of her face was completely covered by scars, at this moment, Zhou Yi was still the most beautiful in Huo Yuhao's eyes.
"Yes, Sister Little Zhou, we're both fine." Huo Yuhao smiled gently, then helped Zhou Yi lie back down on the hospital bed. "But Sister Little Zhou, you still need to rest well; your injuries are much more serious than mine."
Zhou Yi lay on the bed, her eyes fixed on Huo Yuhao, a happy smile on her lips, and said, "If it weren't for you, Yuhao, I'm afraid I would have died there."
Huo Yuhao reached out and covered Zhou Yi's mouth, saying, "What are you saying, Sister Little Zhou? Shouldn't the most important thing in life be to live in the present?"
Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Zhou Yi stopped talking nonsense.
Huo Yuhao stood up, picked up a water glass from the coffee table, looked at it, and then picked up the kettle to pour water.
The water flowing from the kettle downwards radiates a hopeful light, swirling and turning in the glass, much like the unfathomable nature of life.
Zhou Yi took the water glass from Huo Yuhao's hand, took a small sip, and thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Yuhao."
Huo Yuhao sat down again, shaking his head and saying, " Sister Little Zhou, no need to thank me. I just did what I should do, but..."
Zhou Yi was somewhat confused and asked, "But what??"
Zhou Yi picked up her water glass, about to take another sip, but her peripheral vision caught sight of her reflection in the water.
The entire ward fell silent instantly. Zhou Yi stared blankly at her reflection in the water, reaching out to touch the rough, uneven side of her cheek.
It constantly reminded her that the large scars on her face were real.
"This... this is my face... how could my face be..."
Zhou Yi was somewhat incredulous, and the hand she was touching her right cheek began to tremble uncontrollably.
Huo Yuhao quickly grasped Zhou Yi's right hand, fearing she might do something irrational, and said, " Sister Little Zhou, don't worry, everything will be alright, everything will be alright."
Zhou Yi snapped out of her daze, put the cup in her other hand aside, and looked into Huo Yuhao's sincere gaze.
Zhou Yi chuckled and sighed softly, seemingly unconcerned about the disfigurement, saying, " Yuhao, I'm fine. I'm not that fragile. It's just disfigurement; I can just wear a mask from now on."
Looking at the optimistic Zhou Yi, Huo Yuhao didn't know what else to say, but simply promised her, " Sister Little Zhou, I love the real you. Don't worry, I will definitely find a medicine that can help you recover."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi's pretty face instantly turned red. How could Yuhao confess his feelings to her?
However, seeing Huo Yuhao's sincere gaze, she nodded slightly in agreement.
Zhou Yi reached out and touched her scar, then asked Huo Yuhao, " Yuhao, do you think I'm wearing a mask from before, or a mask of youth?"
Huo Yuhao replied, " Sister Little Zhou, I think you're already good enough."
"Then let's make a new one featuring a younger person."
Zhou Yi revealed a relaxed smile, as if she had bid farewell to the past.