Chapter 254: Lingering Feelings and Looming Danger
"Big sister, are you okay?"
On the way to the Star Dou Great Forest, Beibei noticed that Zhang Lexuan seemed out of sorts. His brow furrowed in concern.
"It's nothing. What could happen to me?" Zhang Lexuan replied, her tone flat.
"Sister… I'm sorry," Beibei said sincerely. "But Elder Xuan has already made his decision. We can't change it. I just wanted to say something to keep him from getting angry at you later. That's all."
"I know." Zhang Lexuan quickened her pace, silently creating distance between them.
Beibei didn't follow. He didn't want to give her the wrong idea. His heart had always belonged to Tang Ya. His earlier words were merely to ease the tension between Zhang Lexuan and Elder Xuan—for Shrek's sake, not personal sentiment.
He wouldn't do anything that might deepen the connection between him and Lexuan. Even if she once harbored feelings for him, his affection had never wavered from Tang Ya—not even when he created a soul skill based on his Xuanzu's "Dominance of the World," solely to protect her.
"He didn't come after me? Figures… He never really cared," Zhang Lexuan thought bitterly. "From beginning to end, it was always me looking after him. Just me being sentimental."
Yet she forced the thoughts away. The deeper they ventured into the forest, the more uneasy she felt. That unease reminded her of someone—someone who had once stood before her like an unshakable mountain, even at level 98.
But that person… she knew she could never see again.
"I wonder if I'll get to see him once more before I die. Hah… what am I thinking? That's impossible." She scoffed at herself quietly. In truth, she couldn't even remember why she'd once liked Beibei.
When danger loomed, he gave her no sense of security. His heart had always been elsewhere.
That night, after a full day of travel—still shy of the forest's core—they made camp. Elder Xuan requested a fire, and Huo Yuhao began preparing roasted meat.
The meat was taken from soul beasts caught on the way. Outside of Shrek, this act would be condemned as evil, but within the academy, no one cared about such labels.
As usual, Elder Xuan claimed the first serving of meat. But since the beasts were plentiful and the portions large, no one complained. Soon, everyone had their share and praised Huo Yuhao's cooking.
After finishing one round, Huo Yuhao personally made a serving for Mu Xue, then took another plate and walked toward someone who hadn't approached the fire—Wang Dong'er.
"Try this. It tastes better with the pancakes I made," he said gently. If not for his background, one might almost be fooled by the warmth in his voice.
Wang Dong'er gave him a look, then glanced at Mu Xue nearby.
"I've already returned to my female body, yet you still come to me. Aren't you afraid your little girlfriend will get jealous?"
"She won't," Huo Yuhao replied with a small smile. "She trusts me. Besides, aren't we… brothers?"
After escaping the Sun Moon Empire, Huo Yuhao had found temporary refuge with the Body Sect. Though he refused to formally join, they had treated him well, even assigning Mu Xue to stay by his side. At first, their relationship was distant—almost strangers—but a moment involving sesame cakes sparked Mu Xue's sympathy.
Over time, aided by Huo Yuhao's cooking skills and the emotional closeness of adolescence, a relationship had formed.
Even now, though Huo Yuhao still hadn't officially recognized the Body Sect, they had accepted him. His martial soul—the spiritual eye—had unique value to the sect, and even though his cultivation could no longer progress through traditional means, they still accepted him. He now advanced only by absorbing soul power and vitality from others—human or beast.
"You say we're brothers, but when you came to see me… did you really think of me that way?" Wang Dong'er asked coldly.
As a partner in a martial soul fusion technique, she could sense his emotions clearly.
She could tell—he came not because of loyalty or brotherhood, but simply because she was beautiful.
Huo Yuhao's smile turned sheepish. He knew she could see right through him.
"Go back. You already have a girlfriend. It's inappropriate to come to me when we're not in battle."
"I'll leave the food here. Don't forget to eat it," he said, placing the plate beside her.
He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help it. Even in the original timeline, after confirming his relationship with Wang Dong'er, he had still pursued Wang Qiu'er. Compared to Wang Dong'er's ethereal beauty, Mu Xue—while sweet—simply wasn't in the same league.
"You're really attentive, huh?" Mu Xue said sourly after Huo Yuhao returned.
"She's just a friend."
"Friend? With a martial soul fusion technique? Hmph, sounds to me like you want two women to share one husband." Her words were sharp, and she reached over, pinching the soft flesh on his side with surprising force.
"Ow! It's a misunderstanding! I swear it's a misunderstanding!" Huo Yuhao cried. "If there's one thing I won't do in this life, it's taking multiple wives. My father, Duke White Tiger, had so many concubines that my mother and I lived in misery. I've already decided—I will only have one partner in my life. Just you."
"It better be true." Mu Xue narrowed her eyes and finally let go.
That night passed peacefully. With Elder Xuan standing guard, everyone slept soundly—safe, warm, and well-fed.
The next morning, as they resumed their journey, one disciple from the Body Sect commented cheerfully, "Thanks to Elder Xuan, we had grilled meat and a good night's sleep. If only hunting soul rings was always this easy."
Just as the words left his mouth, a terrifying beastly roar echoed from deep within the forest.
"Xuan Zi! How dare you come here!"