Chapter 23: Calm Before the Storm

Ugh... my head hurts...

On the sickbed in the infirmary of Shilake Academy's Outer Courtyard, Huo Yutong let out a soft groan and opened her eyes with difficulty.

Seeing her wake up, a delighted voice sounded in her ear.

"Huo Yutong, you're awake? How do you feel now?"

She tilted her head slightly and saw Tang Wulin looking at her worriedly.

She assessed her own condition and replied:

"I'm fine, just my head hurts a bit and I can't muster any strength... Come to think of it, did I faint?"

"Hmm." After confirming Huo Yutong's body was fine, Tang Wulin visibly sighed in relief, "The infirmary teacher said you suffered from both mental and soul power overexertion, and also said that judging by your condition, you haven't relaxed much lately, constantly pushing yourself too hard."

Saying this, he visibly became somewhat dissatisfied.

"Huo Yutong, you need to look after your body; you can't keep cultivating recklessly, or else you'll worry those around you."

"... It's also alright."

Huo Yutong shifted her gaze away guiltily.

For some reason, when facing Xiao Xiao saying similar things, she could easily retort, but when facing Tang Wulin, she completely lacked the confidence to talk back.

Even hearing him care for her made her feel a little happy inside.

This unfamiliar feeling left her somewhat at a loss.

Tang Wulin sighed.

"Forget it, you passing out in class is also partly my fault for not monitoring your condition properly; if I had noticed your abnormality in time, things definitely wouldn't have turned out like this."

Saying this, he suddenly recalled a question.

He had wanted to ask this question all through this class, but because there were always people around, he felt awkward to ask it out loud.

Now they are in the infirmary, and the teacher just stepped out, making this the perfect moment for him to ask.

"Huo Yutong, isn't your soul skill Mental Detection Sharing? How can you knock out opponents from a distance then?"

He couldn't figure out this question the whole class.

Zhou Sichen and Dai Huabin are both formidable opponents; with Tang Wulin's current strength, he might not necessarily beat them in a one-on-one.

The reason these two battles could be fought so easily is that Huo Yutong's mysterious attack ability is crucial.

"That kind of attack power seems like something only a soul skill could have, but Huo Yutong's soul skill that Tang Wulin knows obviously lacks such offensiveness."

"How did she do that?" Huo Yutong hesitated, then explained, "My Spirit Eyes martial soul is of the mental attribute; due to its excellent compatibility with the Tang Sect's Purple Extreme Magic Eyes technique, I have developed a skill similar to a mental attack, which works well for sneaky strikes, though it consumes a lot."

"So that's how it is." Tang Wulin had no doubt about her words, feeling quite surprised, "I never imagined the Purple Extreme Magic Eyes still had such a hidden ability; unfortunately, I'm not a mental-type, so I probably can't use it like you."

"..."

Huo Yutong didn't respond; looking at Tang Wulin's trusting gaze, she only felt her heart filled with guilt.

Tang Wulin trusted her so much, yet she lied to him, making her feel terrible.

If she merely had four first-tier soul skills, she would probably have already confessed to Tang Wulin.

The current problem is that Tianmeng, the entity that granted her the soul skill, possesses wisdom and has given her a second chance at life; she cannot, under any circumstances, reveal the matter of the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm.

This feeling of being caught in the middle makes her feel awful.

She didn't notice, but seeing her like this, Tang Wulin showed a worried expression.

In his view, Huo Yutong's pained expression is surely due to the aftermath and lingering effects of her mental power being exhausted.

Just now, the infirmary teacher told him it would be best to let Huo Yutong rest for two days.

But he knows Huo Yutong's temperament; she is unlikely to indulge herself in laziness.

What should we do......

At that moment, as if a flash of inspiration struck, Tang Wulin suddenly recalled what Wang Dong had said to him in the dormitory that morning: "Tang Wulin, Shilake City holds various events each year when enrolling new students, commonly called the Opening Festival; this weekend, do you want to go around with me?"

Back then, Tang Wulin refused on the grounds of needing to forge for money, but now thinking about it, this isn't a great opportunity? He could take this chance to bring Huo Yutong out of the dormitory to relax, while also keeping an eye on her to prevent her from overexerting herself.

"It's practically like someone bringing a pillow when you're sleepy."

Tang Wulin excitedly said to Huo Yutong:

"Huo Yutong, how about we go play in Shilake City together tomorrow weekend?"

"..."

Hearing his words, Huo Yutong blinked in surprise.

"...... Ah?"

In a corner of Shilake Academy, Dai Huabin leaned against the wall with a grim expression.

Not long after, several black-clad individuals approached him, lowered their heads, and said respectfully:

"Young Master, what are your orders?"

Dai Huabin coldly said:

"I want you to help me eliminate a person."

Tang Wulin repeatedly embarrassed him in front of the whole class and even took the class monitor position that should have been his; he can't tolerate him anymore.

The bloodline education he received since childhood told him that to obtain what he wants, he must give it his all.

Therefore, in his eyes, Tang Wulin is as good as dead.

The black-clad individuals looked at each other, and the leader eventually probed:

"Young Master, is the target you want us to eliminate a student from Shilake?"

"Yes."

The leader's face instantly turned into a bitter melon expression.

"Young Master, please think twice; even as our Duke's Mansion, we cannot casually move against Shilake's students."

"You mean the inner court students?" Dai Huabin remained unmoved. "Don't be afraid; the ones I want you to eliminate aren't just inner court disciples— they're merely a first-year newcomer. Even if you act against him, the academy won't say anything."

"This..."

"The black-clothed person still wanted to say something, but Dai Huabin seized their collar."

"His eyes flashed with a fierce light as he snarled:"

"Enough! You're nothing but my dogs. Know your place and don't forget the Duke's Mansion's kindness to you!"

"After saying that, he exerted force and flung the leader of the black-clothed men to the ground."

"The other black-clothed people all lowered their heads, concealing their emotions."

"The black-clothed leader fell to the ground, their eyes instantly turning vicious, then quickly concealing it as they rose and said:"

"Understood; I'll go devise a plan."

"Hmph."

"To his words, Dai Huabin just snorted, showing he had heard."

"Seeing this, the black-clothed people all bowed deeply to him, then turned and left."

"A flash of ruthlessness crossed the eyes of the leading black-clothed person."

"He had already warned this clueless second young master; since he wouldn't listen, what happened next was no longer something this brat could control."

"He had endured plenty of resentment lately; since he was about to die, he didn't mind dragging this second-generation heir down with him in a death struggle."

"(End of chapter)"