Huo Yuqing gripped the Zhanmadao with both hands and swung it upward in a reverse slash, meeting the massive paw of the Nether White Tiger head-on.
The dark gold blade looked incredibly small in comparison to the giant, broad tiger paw—like a single chopstick against an adult's palm. The visual contrast was stark.
Some of the lower-ranked teachers watching from the stands began to feel anxious. Even though the azure figure on the battlefield looked powerful, could she really withstand a direct hit from the Nether White Tiger?
Only the tiger itself knew the terrifying power contained within that one slash.
That dark gold Zhanmadao seemed to cut through space like a fine thread, holding within it a wild, violent force—yet another power restrained and focused it, confining that force within the narrow blade.
Huo Yuqing's movement was simple, a seemingly casual upward slash. But at that moment, the giant white tiger instinctively wanted to avoid the blade—it simply did not want to face it head-on.
Yet, it couldn't dodge.
It was as if some unseen force had locked it in place.
Though he didn't want to admit it, a flicker of hesitation flashed through Dai Huabin's heart.
In his ghostly purple eyes, a trace of conflict emerged.
Meanwhile, the outer court teachers watching felt a moment of confusion.
How were they supposed to judge the winner when two Martial Soul Fusion Techniques clashed? Should they allow the attacks to collide? But if the students were injured, what would they do?
Of course, they couldn't let that happen.
At the last moment, a white-robed figure suddenly appeared in the center of the battlefield—it was Du Weilen, the Martial Soul Department's director.
And he positioned himself directly between the two clashing Fusion Techniques.
Du Weilen used his back to block the Nether White Tiger's paw while raising a hand to intercept the dark gold Zhanmadao. A burst of intense white light erupted skyward, forming a seemingly translucent yet impenetrable barrier.
The Nether White Tiger shattered upon impact with the white light, and Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu were sent flying like rolling gourds, tumbling across the ground. Their faces turned deathly pale.
But on Huo Yuqing's side, something strange happened.
The dark gold Zhanmadao in her hands effortlessly passed through the energy wall Du Weilen had raised—yet it left no trace.
Huo Yuqing remained in her fusion state. She stepped past the barrier, looking down at Dai Huabin with cold, golden eyes.
At that moment, when her dazzling golden gaze fell upon him, Dai Huabin felt as though he had been thrown into an icy abyss.
Yet, at the same time, his heart pounded wildly.
For a brief moment, all the noise of the arena vanished.
All he could hear was his own frantic heartbeat.
Once she confirmed that Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu had lost their ability to fight, Huo Yuqing released her Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
Wang Rui was abruptly pulled out of the state where he had been completely merged with another person—his soul, power, and emotions entwined as one.
For a split second, he felt an odd emptiness.
Like something was missing.
But he quickly pushed past the fleeting sense of loss, replacing it with a fierce expression as he turned toward Huo Yuqing—They had unfinished business.
Wang Rui had already decided that he would use his most intimidating tone to demand,
"We've been living in the same room for so long, but I still don't know your real name. Does that make sense, Xiao Huo? I expect a thorough reflection from you, right here, right now."
[T/N: Author again Forgetting about Wang Rui already knowing Yuqing was a girl]
However, when he faced Huo Yuqing directly, he was stunned.
Her eyes were red.
Her deep blue eyes were misted over.
What was going on?
Didn't she just win?
Was she too overwhelmed?
Wang Rui was bewildered. He reached out with his spiritual power and sensed that Huo Yuqing wasn't excited at all—she was sad.
Why?
Before he could figure it out, she suddenly threw herself into his arms.
She was trembling.
He could feel the warm, damp breath against his chest.
Wang Rui was stunned—then a little frustrated.
His arms instinctively wrapped around her waist.
After realizing Huo Yuqing's true gender, this kind of embrace felt...different.
She didn't have that delicate floral scent often associated with girls.
Instead, her scent was simple—plain soap, a trace of burnt ash, and the same faint, fiery aroma that clung to Wang Rui himself.
They smelled almost identical.
It was as if they were always meant to be one.
Wang Rui hesitantly patted her back.
He didn't notice it himself, but the restless beast in his heart had settled under her scent.
Huo Yuqing was sad.
What should Wang Rui be like?
He had never told her about his true identity, and she had never dared to ask. But she had some guesses.
She remembered how Lu Mingyou, her teacher, always spoke to Wang Rui with a hint of reverence in her voice, despite trying to hide it.
Even Moon Douluo Zhang Lexuan had shown subtle respect when speaking to him.Even Tianmeng Ice Silkworm had hinted at it—Wang Rui's identity was far from ordinary.
Huo Yuqing had assumed that he was probably like Ning Tian, the heir to Beast God Sect, the future Sect Master.
A person with such a status should have been born into absolute privilege, growing up peacefully and joyfully.
So why was Wang Rui so full of rage?
She had experienced cruelty and suffering in the Duke's Mansion, yet her anger hadn't been enough to fully shape the Blade of Wrath.But the fury Wang Rui had shared with her—It was monstrous.
A rage carrying the scent of blood and carnage.
Huo Yuqing felt a sharp pain in her heart.
What had he gone through?
Why was he so angry?
Why was he so hurt?
He was the last person who should have suffered.
Huo Yuqing wanted to say,"No matter what happens, I'll protect you. If anyone makes you angry, I'll beat them up for you."
But she realized how ridiculous it sounded.
She was too weak.
What right did she have to stand against the things that made Wang Rui so furious?
So instead, she simply hugged him tighter.
Her thoughts, too heavy for words, finally condensed into a whisper—"...You've had it rough."
She heard her own voice—it was dry, hoarse, and incredibly soft.
She rubbed at her eyes, wiping away the blur.
Wang Rui blinked, confused.
He didn't understand why she had suddenly said something like that.
But those words...
They landed on him like a thousand tons.
For the first time, he realized just how much exhaustion had built up over the years.
And Huo Yuqing—She was the first person to ever see it.
At that moment—A fragile yet breathtakingly beautiful butterfly fluttered in his stomach.
So Wang Rui quietly rested his chin on her shoulder.