"...I see, as I expected. You took revenge upon the Ironblood Sect, by yourself and your... sect master?" Zhang Lexuan said, glancing at Huo Yuhao with a raised eyebrow. The latter smiled at her and waved. "Well, congratulations on getting your revenge. As someone who has also sought revenge in the past, I understand the desire for closure."
Tang Ya nodded. "Thank you for your kind words, senior sister."
"Hm."
They both stared at each other, expressionless. Yet their eyes conveyed so much emotions, specifically dislike towards the each other. It was like there was bolts of lightning crackling in the air between them.
"I guess you feel satisfied and relieved now, huh?" Zhang Lexuan said.
"Yeah, I do. It feels really good to get my revenge with by my own hands, it's unlike anything anyone could feel, y'know?" Tang Ya sweetly smiled at her, something flashed across her eyes. "Watching how the man who took everything away from me fall to despair as how I, took away everything that he had loved as well. It's a... euphoric feeling."
Zhang Lexuan narrowed her eyes. "Careful junior student Tang Ya, you're treading on dangerous ground. Revenge may provide temporary satisfaction, but it is a path that leads to darkness and evil. If you don't find a way to let go of your anger and find peace within yourself, it will consume you and turn you into the scum you hate."
Tang Ya scoffed. "Hmph. I already have found peace with myself, what? Is it really that bad for me to cuss out the bastard who ruined my life?"
"...I just worry about you."
"Ha! Worried about me? Pfft, yeah right."
Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei and Ma Xiaotao sweatdropped. Bei Bei especially felt like his entire back was drenched in sweat.
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow at Bei Bei's actions. Why was he getting so nervous for? Actually, who is Zhang Lexuan? Tang Ya never did explained to him who she was...
Welp, since he wasn't getting any answers from either Bei Bei and Tang Ya, then it was better to rip the bandage off.
"Hey, senior sister Zhang." Huo Yuhao raised his hand, catching Zhang Lexuan's attention.
"Please, call me senior Zhang. We're not fellow disciples, but schoolmates."
"Alright, senior Zhang." He smiled. "Sorry for interrupting you but uh, can I ask you a simple question?"
Zhang Lexuan raised an eyebrow. She had to admit that she was pretty curious about this young junior of hers.
Although she had been out of the ongoings around the academy due to her intense training to reach Soul Douluo within a couple years, she still heard about this little troublemaker from Elder Yan when it was his turn to give her guidance.
In just a few months of being in the academy, he made great waves in the outer courtyard with strength and skills that would even put some older students to shame. From how despite leading a team of genius teammates, he still soloed most of their annual outer courtyard's matches and defeated the first year's previously top genius Dai Huabin, taking up the throne as the strongest first year despite only having one soul ring.
However, since the tournament more than half a year ago, he kept a low profile. That was what she heard from Elder Yan and yet...
'Half a year and he has reached the peak of Soul Elder? He has such perfect control over his soul power that, I can't tell of when he's going to make a breakthrough; it's so calm and steady. His cultivation speed is around the same level as I am or even more!' She pursed her lips, slightly swirling the cup of wine in her hand.
'Moreover, he somehow convinced the stubborn and prideful Tang Ya to disband Tang Sect and join his newly formed group. Is his charisma that good? Or was she simply influenced by him? I need more information out of him.'
"What's your relationship with brother Bei Bei?"
"He's my fiancée."
"..."
Everything around went dead silent.
Tang Ya clicked her tongue, Bei Bei's lips twitched, Ma Xiaotao looked between them with wide eyes and her hand covering her mouth(she already heard about this long ago, but it was surprising that Zhang Lexuan just brought it up like that).
Huo Yuhao went slacked jaw, looking up and down at Zhang Lexuan, he then turned towards Bei Bei.
"Damn!"
"Hmph!"
Huo Yuhao's lips twitched as he felt Tang Ya's fingers pinching his side.
"Interesting... development, would you like to share on how this happened?" He asked, curious.
"Uh, we don't have the time for that! Besides, it isn't that interesting to listen to..." Bei Bei nervously chuckled.
"No, no. Bei Bei, we're really interested about it. Really." Tang Ya said, smiling sweetly at him. Yet her eyes had no light in them.
"... Yes, ma'am."
'Drama...' On the side, Ma Xiaotao quietly enjoyed the show with starry eyes whilst eating some dumplings.
Zhang Lexuan went silent for a moment, looking down at her cup of wine, deep in thought. "No, no. Just as Bei Bei had said, it isn't that interesting. Just what happened to Tang Ya, my whole family was massacred right in front of me by a rival noble family. Alone and in despair, I felt as though I was going to die in some dark alley or become a ratm Fortunately, I was discovered by a teacher from Shrek Academy."
"Impressed by my potential, I was soon taken in the academy as a inner disciple of Sea God Pavilion and that was when I met a... relative of Bei Bei. Due to some... personal reasons, I cannot reveal to you the true name of his relative except that he's strong and holds a great position in the academy."
'Academy? Why do I feel like slightly emphasis that word? Does that mean, whoever senior brother Bei Bei's relative is, they're extremely powerful?'
She then glanced at Bei Bei, who looked up at the ceiling, not wanting to look at anyone right now.
"Filled with rage and vengeance, I went to all fours before, uh... Elder Mu, and asked for him to fulfill my wish to get revenge. But with a couple conditions of course, nothing's truly free in this world; get engaged with Bei Bei and guard Shrek Academy for the rest of my lifetime."
Tang Ya gritted her teeth, clenching her hands at the unfairness. Tang Sect and Shrek Academy has a long history together, stretching out for many millennia and that without Tang Sect, there wouldn't be a Shrek Academy! And despite this relationship, not only did they not provide her family with reinforcement or some support, but they didn't even help her avenge her family!
She took a deep breath. She had to calm down and relaxed her hands.
She was also responsible for their inactivity because she hadn't asked for their help. She didn't have much to bargain for anything with them.
Because she wasn't like Zhang Lexuan, who had impressive cultivation talent and abilities. Tang Ya had no value. She, with a trash Blue Silver Grass, zero talent on soul engineering, common comphrension and talent, and she couldn't even handle her fallen sect; leaving it to others.
She was worthless.
Tang Ya looked down on her meal, hiding the tears brimming in her eyes.
But not anymore. Thanks to Huo Yuhao's support, encouragement and training, she had regained her confidence and will. She no longer felt worthless and believed that she could make a difference in her life.
She could finally live the life of freedom that she had only dreamed about.
Huo Yuhao reached out and gently squeezed Tang Ya's hand under the table, offering her comfort and support. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and determination.
Zhang Lexuan observed the interaction between Huo Yuhao and Tang Ya, a faint smile playing on her lips. It seemed that there was more to this young man than meets the eye. She decided to put her judgment of him on hold for now and see how things unfolded.
On the side, Bei Bei felt slightly slightly. Although he didn't know why... but there was just something off.
"Hmm. So that's how that happened, I understand." Huo Yuhao nodded at Zhang Lexuan.
Zhang Lexuan tilted her head, "What do you think?"
"About what?"
"About how I got engaged with Bei Bei here." She softly giggled at the look she was getting from Bei Bei.
Huo Yuhao hummed and replied, "Honestly, kinda mid. Not gonna lie."
Everyone around the table froze.
"M-Mid?" Zhang Lexuan repeated, surprised.
Huo Yuhao nodded. "Yeah, mid, cliché, whatever. I mean, it's not terrible or anything, but it's not like a super exciting love story either. It's just... I've heard this kinda thing a lot of times from storybooks, you know?"
He blinked, realization flashing across his eyes.
"And holy sea shit, I... think this situation of senior brother Bei Bei kinda reminds me of a certain love story with a similar plotline; love triangle and all that shit."
The faces of Bei Bei, Tang Ya and Zhang Lexuan twitched as they tried to process Huo Yuhao's words. Ma Xiaotao, on the other hand, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
'This boy, is annoying.'
They continued talking for a while longer, mostly about how they managed to defeat the members of the Ironblood Sect, especially the Sect Master considering that he was a Soul Emperor, and what their next actions would be.
Huo Yuhao simply deflected on how they defeated Tie Lie and answered the latter that they'd be expanding the Akatsuki and rise it up to the continent's number one sect! During the talk, Bei Bei asked him if he can enter the sect and he unsurprisingly agreed.
What was the most unexpected however, was Ma Xiaotao asking to join the Akatsuki as well. Without any hesitation, Huo Yuhao agreed and let her join. The more, the merrier after all. Especially strong recruits.
They talked for hours until it became night time.
Just as they stood up to leave, Huo Yuhao's arm was then grabbed by Ma Xiaotao.
"Yuhao, can we talk right now?"
...
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