Before he could answer, Huo Yuhao was met with a touch on his lips—moist, with a hint of cool crispness.
It was the Ice Emperor.
The original confusion dissipated instantly. The Seed of Emotion seemed to shift its offensive, directly igniting another emotion within Huo Yuhao that had been suppressed for a long time.
The sudden explosion caused Huo Yuhao's mind to go blank for a moment. Awareness quickly returned to his body, but... it was not reason.
The dam of rationality had long been destroyed. What remained of his logic tried to pull Huo Yuhao back, only to find it was already powerless to change the outcome.
"Mmph..."
The Ice Emperor realized something was different.
Having taken the initiative and holding the lead, she suddenly felt an invasive intensity from Huo Yuhao. The sensation between their lips grew increasingly fierce. That bit of rioting emotional power infected her as well, causing her, who should have retained some shred of sanity, to gradually lose herself.
Her body unconsciously softened, becoming as powerless as she was when her Ultimate Ice was first completely severed and stripped away.
Yet, she seemed to begin sinking into it bit by bit, unable to extricate herself.
From awkwardness to proficiency, Huo Yuhao seemed to possess an innate talent, easily seizing complete control of the initiative.
However, he was not satisfied. In the next moment, he exerted sudden force, and the roles of attacker and defender flipped.
A more violent sensation surged. The Ice Emperor, having completely lost the initiative, unconsciously wrapped her arms around Huo Yuhao's neck, seemingly wanting to demand more.
After a long time, their lips parted.
Huo Yuhao, having barely recovered a sliver of reason, released the Ice Emperor. His beyond-human willpower allowed him to maintain a trace of clarity.
Holding onto that final bit of wakefulness, Huo Yuhao forced himself to look away, not glancing at the Ice Emperor's crimson-flushed cheeks or her glistening lips.
"Ice Emperor... I..."
Huo Yuhao suppressed his emotions, struggling to utter a few words, yet he couldn't even finish a complete sentence.
However, in the next instant, the Ice Emperor suddenly hooked his neck and pulled him close. Her golden eyes held a hint of crystal moisture at the corners; while a trace of blurred daze remained in the depths of her gaze, there was more—earnestness... and a plea.
"...Give it to me, alright?"
The thread maintaining his clarity snapped completely. The struggle in his deep blue eyes was utterly released. Rationality was incinerated to ash by the rising fires of emotion.
No more words were spoken; the youth understood everything.
Before long, heavy breaths and the girl's suppressed whimpers echoed together in the room.
The night... remained quiet.
...
Outside the room, a certain Ice Silkworm eavesdropping on the wall sat slumped by the door. One hand was down, the other propping herself against the floor. Her face was flushed crimson as she shed tears of envy.
"...I really... could... have helped push. Add... me... too..."
Skydream let out a mournful wail, but unfortunately, no one heard her.
...
The next day, the sun was high in the sky.
Ling Luochen returned to the Spirit Transmission Pagoda in high spirits.
Just a few days ago, her cultivation had successfully reached Level 64! Her level was now on par with Ma Xiaotao! With the addition of two Energy Storage Rings, she had even taken on the three main attackers of the team—Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Chen Zifeng—all by herself!
I am invincible.jpg
Because of the unique color of her soul rings, Ling Luochen didn't need to complete Monitor Group missions; simply acting as a whetstone to battle other Inner Court students was considered fulfilling her duties!
After two months of training day and night in the Inner Court, her mission was finally complete!!!
It could be said she was now in a state of "semi-graduation." She only needed to submit her graduation application to leave Shrek Academy directly.
However, since she was one of the Shrek Seven Monsters and had to participate in the Continental Soul Master Competition in a year, she couldn't submit her application just yet.
Of course! Since her mission was finished, the Academy no longer had mandatory requirements for her. This coming year was essentially her vacation time!
And so...
Ling Luochen looked at the tall tower before her, her eyes curving slightly.
Yuhao, here I come!!!
I'll aim to fully win Yuhao over within a year!
Full of confidence, Ling Luochen quickly took the soul-powered elevator to the floor belonging exclusively to Huo Yuhao.
However, the moment she stepped out, Ling Luochen smelled a very, very delicious aroma.
Mm... it's good food!
Ling Luochen made a quick judgment and followed the scent to the living room, where she saw Huo Yuhao and Skydream quietly eating the delicacies before them.
Ling Luochen was about to say hello, but she saw Huo Yuhao look up first, his deep blue eyes meeting her gaze.
Instantly, Ling Luochen's breath hitched.
In her perspective, the current Huo Yuhao still looked much like the one in her memory, but his temperament had mysteriously gained a few hints of... "gentle domesticity"?
Ling Luochen wasn't sure if that was the right way to describe it, but she was certain the change in Huo Yuhao's aura was no illusion!
In an instant, her consciousness frantically searched her mind, trying to find a suitable word to describe Huo Yuhao's current vibe.
The next moment, a term she had stumbled upon in a miscellaneous book suddenly jumped out: "Husband-core."
Immediately, Ling Luochen's mind went blank.
"Luochen?"
Huo Yuhao's gentle voice drifted over, his tone carrying a hint of concern.
Normally, if Huo Yuhao spoke to her in such a tone, she would be overjoyed. But now, that "husbandly" sense of déjà vu was even stronger!
She glanced at Skydream, who seemed a bit sullen, and then at the empty seat beside Huo Yuhao. An ominous feeling grew in her heart.
"You guys... are eating lunch this early today?"
Ling Luochen probed indirectly.
"Oh, no. We woke up late. This is actually breakfast. Want to join us?" Huo Yuhao smiled.
"No thanks, I ate before I came. By the way, why don't I see Bingbing? Where is she?"
Ling Luochen asked the key question, trying to discover the truth. Huo Yuhao's expression didn't change as he replied calmly:
"Bing'er is unwell; she's still resting."
Unwell? Still resting?
How could a Titled Douluo possibly be "unwell"?! You'd only be unwell if you went out to fight someone and ended up heavily injured!
But if she were truly heavily injured, how could he be this calm?!
Therefore... there was likely only one truth...
Ling Luochen felt a sudden surge of bitterness, but she quickly adjusted her mindset and began to comfort herself.
Unwell... could also be because of cultivation... there are many possibilities. It won't be... anyway, it definitely won't be like that... it must not be... must not be...
"Ah, I see. Then... then I'll head back to my room first." Ling Luochen's voice was a bit dry as she turned and left hurriedly.
The living room fell silent once more.
"She saw through it," Skydream said listlessly.
Having eavesdropped from 10 PM last night until 4 AM this morning, she really had no energy left.
"I know."
"Then what do you plan to do?"
"I won't let go of any of you," Huo Yuhao looked at Skydream, his voice soft.
The shift in one's mindset often happens in an instant. After experiencing the events of last night, Huo Yuhao knew that he could no longer let go of any of them.
If things must fragment, then let them fragment. Regardless, he didn't want to let go of any of their hands.
Even though he knew that the moment the thought of "keeping them all" was born, he had already failed the others... he was truly very greedy.
He was so greedy that he didn't want to let go of any of them; that was his most honest thought.
"Tch, scumbag," Skydream turned her head away, refusing to look at Huo Yuhao.
She was still brooding over the fact that Huo Yuhao and the Ice Emperor hadn't included her.
"Mm... I am indeed a scumbag."
Huo Yuhao nodded, having no intention of denying it.
"Alright, Sister Skydream, I'm going to check on the Ice Emperor. Eat slowly. If it's not enough, call me, and I'll make more for you."
Huo Yuhao stood up and walked away slowly.
Skydream was left alone in the living room.
She sighed softly, pushed the breakfast away, and slumped onto the table, burying her head in her arms.
Monogamy was indeed her ultimate dream. She had even looked for ways to play matchmaker for the Ice Emperor and Yuhao from time to time.
But now that it had actually happened, a strange bitterness welled up in her heart...
Heh, what is this? Regret?
So... I want to monopolize Yuhao too? Ah... what a scumbag. Still doesn't want to let go of our hands? Classic scumbag speech! He just wants us to stay on his pirate ship!
Skydream was filled with righteous indignation, but soon, she let out another deep sigh.
Angry as she was... she didn't want to get off this pirate ship at all.