"So, what do you want to talk about?" Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow at Ma Xiaotao after she dragged him in the men's restroom and locking the bathroom. He grinned at her flushed face, red as a tomato. "Sheesh Xiaotao, you're moving so fast~ At least buy me dinner first."
"Shut. Up. And listen to me," Ma Xiaotao gritted her teeth, her entire skin had turned pink and eyes blood-red. Flames dancing in her eyes and hair, the temperature in the room seemed to rise as murderous intent and soul power filled the air. Her six soul rings shone as it manifested around her body.
Yet despite this smoldering heat and killing intent targeting him, Huo Yuhao had a easy-going smile on his face.
"I'm listening."
Ma Xiaotao clicked her tongue, annoyed at his calm demeanor in the face of her obvious agitation. With heavy panting, she went up close to his face and said. "I need your help, Huo Yuhao. Listen, my martial soul is a mutated fire phoenix but it comes with some heavy side-effects, I'd usually just enter a deep meditation or seek external help. But my evil erupted once more when I got into my room after that night in the Ironblood Sect. I've tried really, really hard to hide my condition from Bei Bei and senior sister Lexuan... but I am struggling to keep it contained. If I lose control, it could be catastrophic!"
"I only accepted this escort mission because my master said that I would find something that could help alleviate my condition. And seeing you here, he most likely meant you!" She narrowed her eyes, her face extremely close to his. "Don't try to deny it. A couple days ago at the hotel we were staying at, Bei Bei mentioned that you might have been the one behind that fire tornado at the compound."
'Senior brother, you idiot...' Huo Yuhao maintained his relaxed expression even as Ma Xiaotao vented her frustrations and concerns. He listened attentively, nodding occasionally to show he was following along.
A soul master's skills are their greatest strength and trump card in battle, speaking it to others was taboo as it could lead to defeat and death of that soul master as their enemies took counter measures of their skills.
Bei Bei wasn't just forthcoming person, then, to have shared such sensitive information it must have been a moment of trust or perhaps desperation on his part. Considering he was worried for Tang Ya's safety at the time, he accidentally slipped his tongue.
Huo Yuhao snapped out of his thoughts when Ma Xiaotao grabbed his shoulders. His first thought and reaction was to stab her, since she was releasing killing intent at him.
But he paused, seeing her trembling shoulders. His eyes widened in shock, was Ma Xiaotao crying? After the changes his body went through after the many power-ups and training, he was head to head in height with Ma Xiaotao, so he was able to easily grab her shoulders. He looked down a bit and realized that she wasn't crying, but was shuddering from the immense pain she was enduring.
The heat emitting from her body caused the entire bathroom to be set on fire and melting.
"Please... Huo Yuhao..." Her hands clutched his burning clothes, her head helplessly resting on his chest. "Help me..."
Huo Yuhao looked down on her pitiful state, an expressionless look on his face but many thoughts and emotions flashed across his eyes.
'Really, even under such pain, she refuses to cry... Or more likely she had gotten to the pain that all her tears have all been dried up. Nonetheless, she's a strong woman.' Extreme chill enveloped the room, overpowering the domineering heat.
There was a shrill cry, a blazing manifestation of ethereal flames, a phoenix form emerges in a whirlwind of incandescent glory. Its feathers, adorned with hues ranging from fiery reds to brilliant oranges and shimmering yellows, flicker and dance with an otherworldly light. The very air around it shimmers with heat, and its piercing cry echoes with the promise of rebirth from the ashes of destruction.
Its beady golden eyes glared threateningly at Huo Yuhao, flapping its wings with a ferocity that sent gusts of scorching wind swirling around the confined space. Despite the overwhelming heat and intensity, Huo Yuhao remained remarkably calm, his eyes fixed on the fiery apparition before him.
But his expression soon changed as he felt his shoulders being crushed. He looked down to see Ma Xiaotao's pupils gone, her entire eyes glowing red with the same fiery intensity as the phoenix. Her grip tightened, her nails digging into his skin as if seeking purchase on his very soul.
With her Soul Emperor strength, she easily pushed him into the wall with an intensity that left cracks in the tiles behind him.
Huo Yuhao winced at the pain, but he maintained his focus, soul power surged and circulated in his body. The pain was excruciating, but he gritted his teeth and channeled his soul power to strengthen his body, lessening the pain. Ultimate ice began to emit from his body to combat the spike of heat from Ma Xiaotao.
Ma Xiatao let out an inhuman cry, grabbing both of his wrists over his head. A savage grin on her face as she leaned into his neck and opened her lips.
A cold snort echoed within the depths of his spiritual sea.
"A mere overgrown bird dares to mess with little Yuhao? Know your place!"
Azure jade light emanated from Huo Yuhao's back, the jet-black ice scorpion on his seemed to wiggle around as if it were alive, ice crystals forming around him in intricate patterns, deflecting the searing heat of the phoenix's flames. A cold hiss resounded as a smaller form of Ice Empress emerged from his back, its icy presence radiating a chill that countered the blazing heat of the phoenix. A blood-red soul ring with four golden stripes manifested around his body for a moment before disappearing.
Huo Yuhao stared into Ma Xiaotao's eyes, determination burning in his gaze as he tapped into the depths of his soul power. With a surge of energy, the entire bathroom was encased entirely in ice, breaking free from her grasp with a burst of strength that sent her stumbling backward. The flames of the phoenix flickered and sputtered as they struggled against the sudden onslaught of cold, but ultimately, with a final cry they succumbed to the freezing embrace of Huo Yuhao's ultimate ice.
"Ah..." Ma Xiaotao gasped in relief as the intense heat that had consumed her began to dissipate, replaced by the soothing chill of the ice. She slightly stumbled in her steps but Huo Yuhao quickly caught her in his arms.
Slightly out of breath, her wonderful peaks heaving up and down, she looked up at Huo Yuhao with gratitude shining in her eyes. "T-Thanks. I... I never felt this comfortable before. This cold... you didn't have this ability before..."
Huo Yuhao looked slightly distracted for a moment, his eyes trailing below her face before he looked at her eyes and grinned, "You're welcome, Xiaotao. Glad I could help."
Ma Xiaotao smiled back, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes at his momentary distraction. "Well, don't get too comfortable. That's only just the beginning of my relapse. Another one will be coming soon, and it'll be much more intense."
Huo Yuhao widened his eyes in shock. "Another one? How soon?" He asked, his expression turning serious once more, his respect for her went up. To endure this kind of pain every time she uses her martial soul or advances her cultivation, that was a kind of torture most soul masters would dread and given up on such a path.
But not Ma Xiaotao. Not only did she reached Soul Emperor at such a young age, but she also faced her challenges head-on, refusing to let her condition hold her back. Her determination was truly admirable, and Huo Yuhao felt a newfound sense of respect and admiration for her.
"....From what I could tell, in a couple of hours. My evil fire has been accumulating for a while now, and it's getting harder to suppress it," Ma Xiaotao replied, her voice tinged with concern. "I don't know how much longer I can hold it back."
Huo Yuhao nodded, "Alright. What should I do next?"
Ma Xiaotao looked at him, "....Why are you helping me?" she asked, her voice softening slightly as she looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of ulterior motives.
Huo Yuhao met her gaze evenly, his expression serious. "Because you're in pain, Xiaotao. And because you asked for my help," he replied simply. "Besides, you're part of the Akatsuki now. I have to help out my cute disciple after all."
A flicker of emotion passed through Ma Xiaotao's eyes, a mixture of surprise and gratitude. "Cute disciple, huh?" she mused, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "What a cheeky leader, even though I'm older than you."
Huo Yuhao chuckled softly. "Age is just a number, Xiaotao. Besides, you were the one begging to become part of the Akatsuki. Wait a minute, is the entire reason you join because of me?"
Ma Xiaotao snorted and slightly pushed him away playfully. "Don't flatter yourself too much, Yuhao. I have my own reasons for joining, but having you as my... stress relief is definitely a bonus." she pursed her lips at him.
Huo Yuhao merely rolled his eyes at her playful remark. "Stress relief, huh? I'll have you know that I'm more than just a pretty face, Xiaotao."
She laughed, a genuine sound that eased the tension in the air. "Oh, I know that, Yuhao. You're also a total hunk, damn. Those muscles and abs... Hmm. If only you weren't thirteen~" She looked over his naked torso, most of his clothes was completely burned off with only his underwear intact. She lightly bit her lower lip as she admired his physique.
"Oi!" Huo Yuhao slightly blushed and quickly went into one of the stalls to change. "Xiaotao, you owe me some clothes! I just bought these!"
"Hehehehe."
...
Unbeknownst to the two, Bei Bei, Tang Ya and Zhang Lexuan were quietly guarding/eavesdropping them by the door. Zhang Lexuan would dissuade or threaten anyone who came towards them while both Bei Bei and Tang Ya would press their ears on the door.
"Junior brother, you dog." Bei Bei smirked. "I wonder what the girls in the academy would think of this, don't you think so, Xiao Ya?"
"...Yeah," Tang Ya's eyes twitched.
"...I think we should report senior Ma in the academy for this."
"Xiao Ya?!"
"HE'S THIRTEEN!!"
Zhang Lexuan groaned when everyone in the restaurant turned towards them.
'I'm surrounded by idiots.'
.....
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