Wang Dongâer turned around and rolled her eyes at him. That sassiness was so enchanting it was suffocating. âAre you that unconfident in me? I have absolute faith in you, though. If you donât believe me, you can ask everyone.â She smiled faintly after she spoke, and continued walking towards Wang Qiuâer.
Wang Dongâer stopped walking in before Wang Qiuâer.
Wang Qiuâerâs eyes seemed like they had melted before this, but they were instantly sealed in ice once more as she stared coldly at Wang Dongâer and remained silent.
Wang Dongâer was also staring back at her. She gradually bent down and bowed like that at Wang Qiuâer in front of everyoneâs watchful eyes.
âIâm sorry, Qiuâer. I am apologizing to you sincerely for how unreasonable I was before this and how Iâve antagonized you. Everything was my fault, and I hope you can forgive me.â
âTskâ¦â Huo Yuhao drew in a cold breath as he thought to himself, Dongâer, Dongâer, what game are you trying to play?
Huo Yuhao had known how arrogant and prideful Wang Dongâer was ever since the first day they had met. Even though this pride was rarely displayed as they grew older, it was still deeply imprinted into her bones. Yet, she was willing to bow toward Wang Qiuâer for forgiveness at this moment, willing to bow to a girl that she had perceived with so much hostility before. What was happening?
Huo Yuhao wasnât the only one who was astounded. Everyone in Shrek Academy shared the same surprise, but only Cai Meiâer gave Wang Dongâer her silent approval. This girl is indeed smart!
Wang Qiuâer stared at the bowing Wang Dongâer and was equally shocked. She was momentarily stunned before she said, âYouâve never done anything to me, and you donât need to ask me for forgiveness. If you are doing this because I saved his life, then itâs even more unnecessary. He saved me before, and I was just returning the favor.â
Wang Dongâer said sincerely, âNo. Iâve always been rejecting you in my heart, and Iâm apologizing to you because of that. This has nothing to do with Huo Yuhao. Of course, you saved his life, and I am extremely thankful for what you did, as his girlfriend. If thereâs anything you need us to do in the future, we will help you out to the best of our ability, no matter what.â
Wang Qiuâer waved her hand and said, âItâs alright, let bygones be bygones. Iâve said this already, he doesnât owe me anything.â
Wang Dongâer came up beside her and touched her arm as she said softly, âIf youâre willing to listen, I can tell you our story, and then you will understand why I harbored that hostility against you before this. Let me escort you back to rest.â
Wang Qiuâer hesitated for a moment before nodding softly.
Huo Yuhao looked on with slack jaw and stunned eyes as Wang Dongâer helped Wang Qiuâer back into his tent, and even sealed the tentâs entrance.
âUhâ¦â Huo Yuhao didnât know what to do.
Han Ruoruo came up beside him and giggled. âSo? Are you nervous? Does it feel exciting?â
Huo Yuhao forced a laugh and said, âIâm absolutely nervous, but excitement⦠maybe a little too overwhelming. The two of themâ¦â
Han Ruoruo laughed and said, âThatâs what you get for flirting with girls everywhere. Youâre not satisfied with Dongâer, and you end up flirting with Qiuâer as well! Dongâer really has a big heart! When we were searching for the two of you yesterday, you were lying on the ground so unglamorously, while Wang Qiuâer was lying on your thighs. Her clothes had been torn to pieces, and she was wearing your clothes. If Dongâer had been someone else, that person would probably have been infuriated. Do you know what she said?â
Huo Yuhaoâs curiosity was immediately piqued. âWhat did she say?â
Han Ruoruo said, âDongâer said she trusts you. The truth is that I could tell that she was extremely sad because you were hurt, and because you were with Wang Qiuâer. I could read the look in her eyes, she would rather she herself be the one that was heinously wounded rather than see you with another woman in your most difficult of times. She must be feeling very dejected inside. This isnât about envy or jealousy, this is about her not being able to help you.â
Huo Yuhaoâs eyes grew solemn. Dongâer, Dongâer! How can I love you to return the affection you have for me?
Han Ruoruo whispered, âHey! You havenât actually done anything to betray Dongâer, have you?â
Huo Yuhao immediately tossed his head from side to side without hesitation. âAbsolutely not! Sheâs the only girl in my heart. No matter how much Wang Qiuâer looks like her, Dongâer will always be Dongâer in my heart, and Qiuâer will always be Qiuâer.â
Han Ruoruo laughed and said, âHeh, righteous words! It seems like Dongâerâs decision to trust you isnât wrong. In the end, you have to treat Dongâer as nicely as you can, and even I wonât let this go if you donât. Dongâer is such a good girl!â
âYes,â Huo Yuhao nodded in vigorous agreement.
An exclamation could be heard not far from where they were.
This was the Great Star Dou Forest, and danger could arrive at any moment. Han Ruoruo was still talking to Huo Yuhao in the previous moment, but a golden beam of light stretched out in the next and immediately wrapped around Li Yongyue and Mo Xuan, who were not too far away.
âItâs alright, itâs alright. Itâs good news!â Li Yongyue shouted.
Mo Xuan turned around with a look of excitement. âWeâve discovered soul bones! Real soul bones! Itâs a left thigh bone.â
He raised a shiny purple thigh bone into the air as he spoke and waved it in the sky. A dark purple color released brilliant shadows as it sparkled.
Mo Xuan and Li Yongyue had been going through the wolf-apesâ corpses for the two little Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bears when they discovered intense soul power undulations. They were both elites from Shrek Academyâs inner courtyard, and they immediately realized what was going on. They followed the soul power undulations and quickly discovered this wolf-apeâs left thigh bone.
Soul bones were extremely rare treasures, much more valuable compared to soul rings. The three wolf-apes were mutants, but they were still soul beasts with at least ten thousand years of cultivation. Every soul bone had a single soul skill, except for hundred thousand year soul bones, but soul beasts would always produce stronger soul bones the more powerful they were. Even a single soul bone like that had immeasurable value.
Li Yongyue handed the soul bone to Cai Meiâer after returning to the company, and everyoneâs eyes glazed over.
This left thigh bone was emanating a faint purplish-black light, and there were hints of silver light flickering within.
Huo Yuhao was the most surprised when he saw it. He realized, to his intense surprise, that this left thigh bone wasnât a darkness-type. The soul bone was releasing purplish-black colors, but there was a stronger aura on top of that, and it belonged to spatial undulations. This meant that the left thigh boneâs element was in line with the three wolf-apeâs spatial element. He thought about their Instant Teleportation ability, and Huo Yuhaoâs heart began to palpitate. If this soul bone contained that ability⦠a thought crossed his mind when he thought about this, and he said, âWhat about the other two? Have you checked them out, seniors?â Huo Yuhao and Wang Dongâer were the youngest in the company, so everyone else was a senior to them.
Li Yongyue and Mo Xuan immediately understood what he was trying to say. They exchanged a look and said, âWe canât be that lucky, can we?â
Huo Yuhao replied meaningfully, âThree-way martial soul fusion skill!â
They didnât need Cai Meiâer to instruct them, and they exclaimed at almost the same time as they separately pounced on the other two carcasses. Huo Yuhao had already blown one of them into smithereens before this.
âYes! Thereâs actually another one!â Li Yongyue was the first to declare the good news. He didnât have to check the other carcass, but instead found the second soul bone among the bloody parts in the vegetation. Furthermore, it was another left thigh bone, identical to the previous one.
It didnât take long before Mo Xuan exclaimed excitedly, âI also have one. This is just great, itâs a left thigh bone too!â
After another moment, three identical soul bones that released purplish-black auras and flickering with silver light appeared before Cai Meiâer.
Cai Meiâer was full of awe as she stared at these three identical soul bones. Even though she wasnât like Huo Yuhao, and hadnât guessed the soul skills that these soul bones contained, she knew that these identical soul bones could be fused together to forge an entirely new soul bone. Three together would be a lot more valuable than they were alone, and even she couldnât value these three bones. Furthermore, there was no need to give that estimate.
âYuhao!â Cai Meiâer called out.
âIâm here!â Huo Yuhao hurriedly acknowledged. He was starting to feel waves of weakness once more, especially about what Wang Dongâer and Wang Qiuâer were whispering in the tent on the other side. That gave him a lot of psychological pressure, and the distraction made him even weaker.
Cai Meiâer passed the three soul bones to him and said, âKeep them.â
âAh?â Huo Yuhao was taken aback. âWhat are you doing, Dean Cai? These soul bones belong to everyone. How can you give them all to me?â
Cai Meiâer shook her head and said, âThis is not a group prize. They belong to you and Wang Qiuâer. You two were the ones that killed those wolf-apes. We didnât do a single thing.â
Huo Yuhao hurriedly tried to dispute her words. âBut if not for your protection and the help of the company, we wouldnât have been able to venture so deep into the Great Star Dou Forest! Naturally-â
Cai Meiâer stuffed the three soul bones into his hands. âStop talking about all that. If not for you and Qiuâer, Iâm not even sure what the final outcome would have been like. The two of you are the academyâs prized students, so these three soul bones belong to you in the first place.â
Huo Yuhao thought for a moment, then said, âHow about this. Iâll keep one soul bone, and Iâll give one to Wang Qiuâer. We will donate the remaining one to the academy.â
It could be said that Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiuâer had risked their lives to kill the three wolf-apes to obtain these soul bones, but Huo Yuhao knew better than to be selfish and take everything for himself. It was better with Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo, but Li Yongyue and Mo Xuan had a look of envy on their faces.
Cai Meiâer hesitated for a while before she nodded and said, âAlright. You can keep them for now, and you can donate the last one directly to the Martial Soul Department after we return to the academy. You donât have to give it to me.â