When morning arrived, both Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong simultaneously opened their eyes and separated their palms from one another. As the sun had just risen, Huo Yuhao stood up from his bed and opened the window in their room that faced east.
A smidge of purple quietly appeared within the marble-white sky, causing Huo Yuhao's eyes to instantly turn purple.
After tidying his clothes up, Wang Dong went to clean himself up. He didn't look back at Huo Yuhao or mention that he saw a bit of his past, not unless their relationship strains even further.
As he inhaled some fresh air that had been let in by the window, which was finally repaired a few days ago after the damages have been fully paid off, the indifferent look in Huo Yuhao's eyes softened.
All of a sudden, he remembered his mom's appearance before she became sick and would always smile at him with all the love in the world. Her warm, gentle eyes and beautiful smile were etched deeply into his memories.
Huo Yuhao's heart ached as he reminisced about the times they spent together.
But she was gone, taken from him too soon.
'...Do you see me now mom? I became a talented soul master thanks to Ancestor and a few...friends in the way. Don't worry about me; I'll definitely return to see you. Since you've suffered so many grievances, I'll definitely let you have a grand funeral someday. I'll make those who held you in contempt and bullied you pay.' Huo Yuhao's eyes hardened, flashing red and gold.
He clenched his hands so tight that his fingernails dug into his palms and started to bleed.
'And I'll start with the little asshole that had beaten you up.'
He didn't cultivate so diligently and devotedly just to become a peak-level expert or to become an expert amongst experts. He just wanted revenge—revenge for his mother.
He had to remind himself of that fact every single moment of his life as to not only remind himself but also to make sure the fire in his heart continued to burn.
Wang Dong pushed the door open and re-entered their room. When he saw Huo Yuhao, who was still standing by the window, he couldn't help but puzzledly ask, "Yuhao, you alright? It's your turn to shower."
"Hm? Oh, right... I was just thinking about my mom is all." Huo Yuhao muttered as he went to get a towel, not noticing Wang Dong flinching at the mention of his mother.
'Does he know?' For a moment he thought he got caught for diving into his emotions before shaking his head. Huo Yuhao wouldn't be acting so calm if he did know.
Softly coughing, Wang Dong tried to act natural and said. "O-Oh, your mom? Don't feel sad, man. What's happened has already happened. I'm sure that Aunty would want you to be happy, no? I mean, you already have a new beginning in the academy as a talented young soul master, with great new friends and, well, after you apologize to them for being an asshole and tell us what's going on with you. I bet aunty wouldn't be pleased with you for ghosting a girl."
"Hm."
Huo Yuhao grunted, then grabbed his toiletries and left the room. Could one simply just forget their revenge? No. Although some would accept the pain and move on with their lives, Huo Yuhao couldn't let go of his burning desire for revenge.
As someone who wields the Sharingan, revenge could never be forgotten. It could only grow and be a driving force for their growth.
After showering, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong hurriedly ate their breakfasts, then cultivated until the sun had risen. After the sun had risen, they left their rooms and headed towards the Assessment Area. The champions of this year's knock-out tournament would be decided today, and after getting all the way to the top 4, none of the teams would cower from the others.
They soon meet up with Xiao Xiao and she begrudgingly stood beside Huo Yuhao as they waited for the lot-drawing to begin.
However, the person in charge of the lot-drawing today was no longer the Director of the outer courtyard's Martial Soul Department, Du Weilun.
A white-clothed old man had taken his position. He had warm smile on his face, making him seem like he was an ordinary old man, and said. "Greetings, youths. I'm Yan Shaozhe, the 261st Dean of Shrek Academy."
He then went on to say congratulations to the 4 teams who had made it this far into the competition and a small speech to the teams to motivate them.
But Huo Yuhao's attention wasn't on the old man. Sure, he was a super extraordinary guy and could easily erase out of existence with a snap of his fingers, but he'd already seen and witnessed some of the bullshit Ancestor can do with his illusions and although Skydream might be a lazy, good for nothing Million Year Worm but he is a being close to divine after all and he had proudly showed off his abilities to them both in the spiritual sea.
No. Right now, his Spiritual Detection was focused on the boy as few meters away from him to the side.
His half-brother, Dai Huabin.
Just seeing his cold, arrogant face with his soul skill almost made him want to go crazy and attack him right then and there.
But unlike the other day, he managed to control his anger and composed himself. He couldn't let his emotions get the better of him, especially around so many witnesses and powerful people.
He had to be patient.
In the stage, only in the stage could he make the bastard that had a hand in his mother's death feel so much pain that he'll wish for death.
"Team Huo Yuhao from Class 1, please come forward to draw your lot." Their team was then called, snapping Huo Yuhao from his thoughts as he stepped forward with a calm expression. He glanced at Dai Huabin, who didn't notice and had likely forgotten about his existence, a slight smirk forming on his lips as he picked up a lot and took a step back and respectfully bowed at Dean Yan before heading back to his team.
'Hm. Cool, composed, respectful, though a bit...dark. Good characteristics. Paired with his combat prowess, his perfect soul power control and interesting affinity with fire, he'll be a good partner for Xiaotao.' Dean Yan inwardly remarked as he observed Huo Yuhao. Although he was unaware of the deep-seated revenge burning within Huo Yuhao's heart, he could sense the determination and strength in his eyes.
He had also heard about the true abilities of the little fella from Du Weilun and Xuan Lao and his interest immediately piqued by such interesting fellow.
Having such perfect control over their soul power to change its neutral, pure energy into an element was something only those above seven soul rings would only managed to do. And this boy, with only a white soul ring and Soul Master cultivation, had managed to do so? Not only that, but he also showed to have extreme proficiency in doing so that he had created self-created soul skills?
This boy was a hidden gem that if nurtured correctly, could become powerful expert in the future.
There was also a slight possibility that the one who culled Ma Xiaotao's previous rampage was him, although he didn't how considering their difference in strength and cultivation, it was still a possibility.
For his beloved disciple, he would do anything to help her alleviate her Evil Fire.
"What'd we get?" Xiao Xiao lowly asked.
"Team Huo Yuhao, Lot Number 2." Huo Yuhao held up the lot to his teammates. This meant that they'd be competing in the second arena during the semifinals.
"Team Dai Huabin, Lot Number 1." On the other side, Dai Huabin indifferently proclaimed to his team before crossing his arms and stood quietly in place.
Huo Yuhao frowned. 'Numer one...tch. So we'll only meet in the finals. Fine! It'll be more satisfying for me to humiliate you on the biggest stage in front of everyone. Just wait, Dai Huabin, I'll make sure you regret the day you killed my mom.'
With determination burning in his eyes, Huo Yuhao waited for the ceremony to end before saying to his teammates with a cold and authoritarian tone of voice, "C'mon. Let's get this match over and done with and fight for the finals."
Both of his teammates were stunned. This was the first time they'd ever see Huo Yuhao be this serious about the competition.
Huo Yuhao didn't say anything else and headed towards the arena first.
Xiao Xiao stared at his back and whispered to Wang Dong, "Hey. You think the championship has something to do with his sudden change of personality?"
Wang Dong furrowed his brows before shaking his head. "No. I think it's partially that and it's something more important. As for what it is...I have no clue." There was a pause for a moment before he replied.
After Xiao Xiao went to follow after Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong turned his head to look at the back of Dai Huabin who were heading to fight their own opponents.
His faintly narrowed his eyes, suspicion began to arose in his heart. 'This guy...who is he? For a brief moment I had sensed a great spike of hatred and disgust in Yuhao when he haf glanced at him. Does Yuhao know him?'
With growing questions in his mind, Wang Dong shook his head and put them to the side at the moment. Right now, they had a match to win.
.....
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