Free Web NovelChapter 183: Chapter 183: Yan Huoshui’s Plan
That night, He Hanshi posted a rare status update: Missing you the moment we parted.
Beneath the text was a group photo from Yaoxing. He and Shi Lan were standing in the middle, looking for all the world like a perfect couple.
He didn’t specify who he missed, but his contacts were mostly military personnel. The group of males almost blew up that night, finding it hard to believe that the love-struck Admiral was like a completely different person, so clingy with a female.
They say even a hero can’t resist a beauty’s charm, and it seemed the Admiral had finally fallen.
Former Admiral Lu Ding, also one of He Hanshi’s contacts, saw the post and immediately contacted Yan Huoshui.
"You brat, it’s over! The girl you like has gotten away, hahaha! Your rival is He Hanshi. Why would that little lady even look at you now?"
Yan Huoshui had even fewer contacts, and he had also seen He Hanshi’s post. He was already in a foul mood, and Mr. Lu Sr.’s call was like walking right into the line of fire.
That night, he went straight to the Lu Family estate and dragged him into a sparring session that lasted all night. He helped Mr. Lu Sr. "loosen his old bones," which barely managed to quell the resentment in his heart.
Mr. Lu Sr. had a wealth of experience, while Yan Huoshui possessed the agility and sharp reflexes of youth. As both were 2S Spiritual Power Beastmen, they were more or less evenly matched, and the fight was an all-out brawl.
When it was over, they lay sprawled on the training room floor. It had been a long time since anyone had been so willing to spar with Mr. Lu Sr. Covered in sweat and gasping for breath, he said, "You brat, you’re still the better one. The new generation truly surpasses the old." He was getting old; he wasn’t as agile as he used to be. There were many moments where he was simply overwhelmed.
A rare hint of melancholy touched Mr. Lu Sr., but he was still glad that the military had an upright and promising talent like He Hanshi to hold the line.
Thinking of He Hanshi reminded him of the reason Yan Huoshui had sought him out for a fight, and he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of annoyance. "You can’t win the female over yourself, so why are you taking it out on me?"
"Hmph. Instead of wasting your energy on this, you should be figuring out how to win a place in that little lady’s heart."
Yan Huoshui placed a hand on his forehead. Sweat dripped from his damp red hair onto the floor. His hand covered his sharp eyes and the vermilion beauty mark, leaving only his dazzling, blood-red lips visible against his porcelain-white skin.
His lips twitched, but the muscles in his face remained tense, showing no trace of joy. "I need to take a leave of absence. I’m not teaching tomorrow."
"No way. You brat, are you really going to run off and chase after that female?"
"Or what? Are you going to replace my wife for me?"
As he spoke, a hint of disdain touched Yan Huoshui’s lips. "Even if you did, she wouldn’t be Lanlan. I don’t want her."
Lu Ding looked troubled. "You know the school’s final tournament is coming up. As the head instructor, you can’t be absent."
Yan Huoshui knew this, which was why he had been suppressing the urge to go find Shi Lan, planning to take leave and head for Yaoxing immediately after the tournament ended.
But now, seeing He Hanshi’s blatant declaration, his heart was in turmoil.
He knew a thing or two about He Hanshi; the man never made a move unless he was confident. To post something like that so directly, anyone could see that something had happened.
Yan Huoshui guessed, ’He must have confessed his feelings successfully.’
’Shi Lan has Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng by her side, while I’m still here on Capital Star. She’s probably forgotten all about me by now.’
Yan Huoshui had no more patience to wait.
Mr. Lu Sr. felt this wasn’t a sustainable solution. He knew Shi Lan had returned to her hometown, so he mused, "Why not have that child, Xiao Lan, come directly to Capital Star? It would be better for her future prospects, too."
Yan Huoshui was silent for a moment before replying, "She said she was only staying on Yaoxing temporarily, but she’s been there so long now, I’m not sure when she’ll want to come back."
"This won’t do. When did you become so indecisive?"
"In the past, if you wanted something, you would’ve done anything to get your hands on it."
Mr. Lu Sr. knew his temperament best. Perhaps because of the bond they’d forged through shared hardship, he would turn a blind eye as long as Yan Huoshui didn’t do anything truly depraved.
He even knew the identity of the mole Yan Huoshui had placed by his side, but in the end, he chose not to expose them.
He understood that Yan Huoshui was doing this to gain leverage over him, to seize more control.
This kid was, by nature, a fox skilled at disguising its ferocious true self. But now, for Shi Lan’s sake, he was willing to sheathe his sharp claws.
Yan Huoshui froze for a second, then suddenly gave a bitter smile.
’It’s true. When it comes to Shi Lan, I’ve already restrained myself so much, terrified that I might accidentally reveal my worst side and drive her away.’
Mr. Lu Sr. said, "If it’s inconvenient for you to get involved, I’ll do it."
"I hear that girl’s spiritual power and Fertility Value are both very low, making it hard for her to find a job. How about this: I’ll offer her a position as my assistant at the library. We can lure her back with a job offer first."
Yan Huoshui’s brow furrowed. "Don’t you say that to her face. I’m afraid it’ll hurt her feelings."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. She’s not even your wife yet, and you’re already so protective?"
Mr. Lu Sr. couldn’t help but laugh mockingly, but his excitement pulled at a cut on his face, making him suck in a sharp breath. He immediately started cursing, "You kid, you really don’t know how to pull your punches."
Yan Huoshui lowered his hand, revealing an eye that had been beaten black and blue, and gave him a smirk. "Right back at you."
"You have no respect for your elders."
Mr. Lu Sr. retorted, his vigor undiminished. Yan Huoshui scoffed lightly. "So you finally admit you’re an old fossil."
Mr. Lu Sr.’s face immediately soured, and he didn’t want to talk anymore.
After the banter, Yan Huoshui had calmed down considerably. "Stay out of this. I’ll figure out things between me and my Lanlan myself."
"So you’re still taking leave?"
Mr. Lu Sr. really didn’t want him to. He was the school’s only 2S training instructor, and besides, Yan Huoshui was a judge for the tournament. He couldn’t be absent.
Yan Huoshui controlled his volatile, dark emotions. "I’ll take leave after the tournament. If you still don’t agree, I’ll just quit."
’He had already earned more than enough, anyway.’
’But, for the sake of my female’s reputation in the future, a male has to have a respectable status. I can’t bring shame on Lanlan.’
Mr. Lu Sr. secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "We can talk, we can talk."
’After the tournament, things won’t be so busy. Taking a little leave will be fine.’
The next day, Yan Huoshui was severely injured while sparring with a student in class. He even broke a bone.
The student who had, for the first time ever, injured Teacher Yan so badly was deathly pale with fright. The other students around him all said, "You’re done for, totally done for..."
"Get ready to drop out. Otherwise, you’ll have to face Teacher Yan’s revenge every single day from now on."
This student wasn’t very brave to begin with and was now trembling so hard he was on the verge of tears.
He rushed to the infirmary to beg for forgiveness, but when he got there, he saw Yan Huoshui sitting on a Treatment Pod. His broken leg was propped up in a splint, and he paid no mind to the blood from his injuries staining the pod. He was staring at his comm chip with a chilling grin, like a deranged madman.
