Chapter 74: Huo Wu's Decision
Just as Xiao Yu stood in front of the Blue Silver Emperor deep in thought, Huo Wu quietly appeared behind him. Unlike her usual self, she didn't engage in their usual banter but instead silently watched his back, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.
To be honest, she was really jealous of Ye Lingling. That was a hundred-thousand-year-old soul bone, and Xiao Yu had given it to her without even batting an eye.
She had traveled so far from home to join Nine Stars Academy. Did this guy really not understand her feelings? Every day, he would say things just to irritate her.
Xiao Yu, now at a spirit power level of over sixty, had also absorbed a hundred-thousand-year head soul bone, significantly enhancing his mental strength. He had long been aware that Huo Wu was standing behind him and could even sense the fluctuations in her emotions.
In truth, he understood Huo Wu's feelings, but he also had his own reasons for holding back.
The Nine Heart Begonia family had fully integrated into the Nine Stars Hall; their fates were now intertwined. He and Ye Lingling had known each other since childhood, so he felt confident in helping her improve her talents and cultivation.
But Huo Wu was different. Her background was tied to the Blazing Academy.
The Nine Heart Begonia was a family that, although aligned with the Heaven Dou Empire, maintained its independence. In contrast, the Blazing Academy had been closely linked to the royal family from the very beginning. Huo Wu's father and grandfather both held noble titles and were fiercely loyal to the royal family.
This was evident from the original series, where, despite significant student loss after the soul hunting operation, the elemental academies chose to merge into one and relocate to Heaven Dou City rather than bow to Spirit Hall.
In Xiao Yu's plan for the future, there was one point that overlapped with Spirit Hall's goals: he also intended to seize control of the Heaven Dou Empire, putting its million-strong army under his command.
This would inevitably lead to a conflict with the Heaven Dou royal family. Of course, he could use a strategy like letting Qian Renxue eliminate the royal family and then reaping the benefits afterward.
But plans never keep up with the rapidly changing circumstances. The future would be complex and unpredictable, with many forces converging on Heaven Dou City. The slightest mistake could lead to significant consequences.
Once he found himself in conflict with the royal family, the Blazing Academy, loyal to the throne, would be in a difficult position. This would bring even more pain to Huo Wu.
Moreover, Huo Wu's father and grandfather held noble titles, making her status in the Heaven Dou Empire quite significant. Xiao Yu's longstanding friendship with Ye Lingling, coupled with the Nine Heart Begonia family's contributions to the sect's development, meant that Huo Wu would inevitably come second to Ye Lingling. But how could the Huo family ever accept their daughter being a concubine?
Therefore, even though Xiao Yu understood Huo Wu's feelings, he had to pretend not to see them and maintain a certain distance from her. He would even provoke her at times, hoping that this fiery-tempered girl might eventually give up and go back home.
Aphrodite, sensing the awkward atmosphere, made an excuse to leave the stone chamber and keep watch outside. As for Milo and Aiolia, who had been secretly following, they had long withdrawn after confirming there were no threats inside.
The two of them didn't know how long they had been silent. Besides the occasional sounds from Ye Lingling as she absorbed the soul bone, the stone chamber was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
After a long silence, Huo Wu suddenly spoke, "Once this school year ends, I'll be withdrawing from the academy and returning to Blazing Academy!"
"Mm."
Xiao Yu didn't turn around, merely nodding slightly. "You're the heiress of Blazing Academy. Staying with me isn't right for you. You should go back soon and not worry your family."
"So you really want me to leave!"
Upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, Huo Wu's nose began to tingle, and her eyes welled up with tears. "Do you really find me that unbearable?"
Hearing the sob in her voice, Xiao Yu realized something was wrong and quickly turned around. "That's not what I meant!"
"Then what do you mean?"
Huo Wu could no longer hold back. Tears started falling like broken pearls. But even in this moment, she was mindful not to disturb Ye Lingling, who was still absorbing the soul bone. She bit her lower lip hard, preventing herself from crying out loud.
Xiao Yu suddenly found himself at a loss. His relationship with Ye Lingling had developed naturally, but he had never encountered a situation like this.
He could only step in front of Huo Wu, gently wiping away the tears on her face, and softly said, "You must have misunderstood me. I don't dislike you."
"Then why do you want me to leave so badly?" Huo Wu, holding back her sorrow, forced herself to lower her voice as she spoke, "Do you really not understand at all?"
Xiao Yu shook his head helplessly and said, "You are the heiress of Blazing Academy. Even in the Heaven Dou Empire, you're not someone an ordinary noble could even dream of. Do you think your family could ever accept my relationship with Lingling?"
After a brief pause, Xiao Yu continued, "Lingling and I have known each other since childhood. The Nine Heart Begonia family has fully supported me, even joining Nine Stars Hall and using their connections to help. This deep bond and immense favorโI absolutely cannot betray Lingling."
"Is that really the only reason?"
Huo Wu stopped crying, lifted her head, and looked directly into Xiao Yu's eyes. "You don't dislike me, do you?"
"Why would I dislike you?"
Xiao Yu didn't avoid Huo Wu's probing gaze and answered, "Although you can be a bit hot-tempered at times, I don't think being straightforward is a bad thing."
"Really?"
Huo Wu suddenly took two steps closer, almost pressing up against Xiao Yu. He could even smell the faint fragrance emanating from her.
"Then, do you like me?"
This sudden question left Xiao Yu's mind completely blank. The usually calm and analytical Xiao Yu suddenly found himself stammering, "I... well... this..."
Seeing the normally composed Xiao Yu looking flustered, Huo Wu broke into a smile, tears still glistening. She moved closer and hugged Xiao Yu tightly like an octopus, her pretty face close to his ear as she whispered, "You hesitated. My mom once told me that when a man hesitates to answer this kind of question, it means he already knows the answer."
Damn it, Huo Wu's mom even taught her that? Was she worried that her hot-tempered daughter wouldn't find a husband or what?
Xiao Yu was speechless. It would be a lie to say he had no feelings for Huo Wu. In terms of appearance and figure, Huo Wu was also at the level of a goddess. Even though her temper was a bit fiery, it also showed that she was genuine and unpretentious, someone who loved and hated openly. When Xiao Yu first read the original story, his initial impression of this girl was positive.
After coming to Douluo, and interacting with her over the years at the academy, Xiao Yu also realized that beneath Huo Wu's volatile exterior was a kind heart. Despite being from a noble background, she never looked down on commoners.
"Let go of me first!"
Despite all this, Xiao Yu knew that their situation wasn't just about the two of them. There were many real-world issues between them. He reached out to grab Huo Wu's arms, trying to gently pull her off him.
"I'm not letting go. I'll handle things with my father myself. You just need to tell me whether you're willing or not."
But Huo Wu held on with all her strength, and Xiao Yu, not wanting to be too rough, couldn't pry her off despite several attempts.
Xiao Yu couldn't help but feel a bit helpless and said, "This isn't just about whether I like you or not. There are other factors to consider. What about Lingling?"
"I don't mind at all!"
At that moment, a clear voice suddenly rang out next to them.
(End of chapter)
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