Free Web NovelChapter 488: Chapter 488: Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan — Elder Mu Plays Matchmaker (Extra)
As people grow older, they develop a fondness for matchmaking.
Even someone as powerful as Mu En was no exception.
Seeing the gentle, expectant smile on the old man’s face, Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned before giving a wry shake of his head.
"Teacher, this disciple only wishes to focus on cultivation. In my heart... I harbor no such thoughts."
Mu En spoke earnestly.
"Cultivation is indeed important."
"But the bonds of the mortal world are also part of the Great Dao."
"Yuhao, you are in the bloom of youth. Do not, in your pursuit of power, miss the spring blossoms and autumn moons that life ought to have."
"Otherwise, when you one day stand at the summit..."
"And look back..."
"I fear you may see only the desolation and regrets along the road of cultivation. How then will your heart ever be complete?"
Huo Yuhao pressed his lips together in silence.
In this lifetime—
he had indeed placed cultivation above all else.
Even because of the failure of his past-life relationship—
he had developed a certain distance and resistance toward the word "love."
He had deeply reflected on his former self. In summary, it was both pitiful and lamentable.
Pitiful, because his sincere heart had been manipulated at will; even after becoming a god, he had failed to break free of his shackles.
Lamentable, because his temperament had been too indecisive, lacking the resolute courage to charge forward without hesitation.
"Teacher, this disciple wishes to bid you farewell and travel the continent to temper my cultivation." Huo Yuhao bowed deeply and solemnly. "But Yuhao will return often to visit you."
Mu En looked at his most dazzling disciple.
"In today’s Shrek, there is indeed no one qualified to teach you anymore."
"However, could you postpone your departure for half a month?"
"My birthday is approaching..."
"Your birthday?"
Huo Yuhao widened his eyes, confusion flickering across his face.
Mu En feigned displeasure.
"What? As my disciple, are you unwilling to attend your teacher’s birthday?"
"This disciple would never dare think such a thing." Huo Yuhao hurriedly shook his head. "In that case, this disciple will remain in Shrek City for another half month."
Hearing this, Mu En finally nodded with a satisfied smile.
Huo Yuhao bowed once more and withdrew.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea—
Zhang Lexuan stepped lightly into Sea God Pavilion.
"Teacher, you summoned me?"
Mu En half-closed his eyes, gently rocking in his chair. "Lexuan, what do you think of Yuhao?"
Without hesitation, Zhang Lexuan replied:
"Junior Brother possesses extraordinary talent—the most exceptional I have ever seen in my life..."
She suddenly paused, her clear eyes blinking.
"Teacher, you are..."
"The engagement between you and Bei Bei was my oversight back then."
"Since neither of you had feelings for it, resolving it peacefully was a good thing."
Mu En spoke leisurely.
"With the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival approaching, I was thinking—you and Yuhao..."
A faint blush rose on Zhang Lexuan’s cool and elegant face.
"Teacher, this disciple wishes only to devote her life to the academy. I have no intention toward matters of romance."
Upon hearing this, Mu En did not grow discouraged. Instead, his cloudy eyes brightened slightly.
"Good, good. Even your excuse for refusal is identical to your Junior Brother’s."
"It seems your temperaments are aligned—you are well matched indeed."
Unbidden, images surfaced in Zhang Lexuan’s mind of Huo Yuhao defeating powerful enemies time and again.
"Junior Brother... he also has no such intentions?"
Her slender hand unconsciously tightened.
"Teacher, please do not tease me further. I am much older than Junior Brother..."
"And what of it?"
Mu En straightened his back slightly.
"In the future, both of you will be top-tier powerhouses who linger long in this world. What does a mere difference of years amount to?"
Seeing that Zhang Lexuan still wished to argue,
Mu En rose to his feet, turning his back to her.
"Lexuan, your wholehearted devotion to the academy is sincere and admirable."
"But when your youthful years fade and the long nights grow silent—can you truly be certain that your heart will not feel even a trace of emptiness?"
The old man turned back around.
Her gaze was gentle yet perceptive.
"Lexuan, your temperament is cool and reserved. You have never given your heart to anyone."
"As your teacher, I can see it clearly. Though it is still too early to speak of ’being deeply in love’ with Yuhao, he is indeed the only young man in these years whom you have been willing to look at a few more times, to ask a few more questions about."
"Yuhao originally intended to leave this time. I only kept him by mentioning my birthday."
"Whether or not you participate in the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival—think it over carefully."
Zhang Lexuan said nothing further. Her eyelashes lowered slightly as she stood in silence for a moment.
She respectfully bowed to Mu En, then withdrew from Sea God Pavilion.
...
Outside Shrek City, inside a room at an inn.
Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged.
Golden Spirit Power flowed endlessly around him like tides, radiating a vast and pure aura of life.
From dusk until dawn the next day—
the first ray of morning light pierced through the window lattice and fell upon his refined face.
His eyelashes trembled lightly as he slowly opened his eyes.
"Hu..."
A long breath escaped his lips, and his Spirit Power gradually settled.
"Bear Lord’s spirit soul occupies three of my Spirit Ring slots. Together with the Titan Snow Demon King’s Spirit Ring, my second Martial Soul has only one slot remaining."
"Now that my Spirit Power has broken through level 60, I’ve gained another slot. The power of Ultimate attributes has transformed once more."
"Perhaps with two Spirit Ring slots, I can try to bear the spirit soul of a ferocious beast."
Within his sea of consciousness, the Skydream Ice Silkworm responded: "Bear Lord’s power is tyrannical beyond compare. The remaining ferocious beasts are relatively more gentle."
"Your physical body has undergone another transformation. Taking in another ferocious beast soul spirit should not be a problem."
Huo Yuhao nodded slightly.
As for the choice of his second spirit soul, he already had an idea in mind.
"In that case, I should set off for the Star Dou Forest as soon as possible. It would also be fitting to find a birthday gift for my teacher."
After a simple breakfast at the inn,
Huo Yuhao prepared to leave Shrek City.
Unexpectedly, just as he stepped into the inn’s front hall, he saw a slender figure in Shrek Academy attire seated in a chair, seemingly waiting for someone.
Huo Yuhao raised a brow.
"Senior Sister Xiaotao, why are you here?"
Ma Xiaotao lifted her bright eyes and looked at him with displeasure.
"Junior Brother Yuhao, have you forgotten what you promised me?"
Huo Yuhao paused.
"What do you mean?"
"You said back then that you would help me suppress my evil fire in the future, in exchange for my Life Guardian Blade."
Realization dawned on him.
"My apologies, Senior Sister Xiaotao, but I’m about to head out. How about we wait until I return—"
"No!" Ma Xiaotao abruptly stood up.
Her fiery red hair swayed through the air with the motion.
Without another word, she grabbed Huo Yuhao’s wrist and darted upstairs toward the inn rooms.
"I’ve suppressed this evil fire for far too long. Today you must help me deal with it!"
Watching the two hurried figures ascend the stairs,
the young woman who had been quietly standing at the front desk wore a suddenly subtle expression.
"Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao from the inner court... and the now-famous Junior Brother Huo Yuhao... what are they going upstairs for..."
She seemed to imagine something, and her face grew increasingly red.
Her fingers quietly reached beneath the counter for a simple recording soul tool, aiming it toward the staircase.
Excitement flickered in her eyes.
She had been working part-time at the inn outside the academy for quite some time.
As a Shrek student herself, she naturally recognized Ma Xiaotao and Huo Yuhao.
"Wasn’t there a rumor before that Junior Brother Yuhao and the Senior Sister were a pair?!"
"So how is it that he’s with Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao..."
The flames of gossip burned fiercely in her heart.
"And from the looks of it... it was Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao who took the initiative..."
"If this gets spread back to the academy..."
"Wouldn’t it cause an uproar throughout the entire school!"
