Douluo: Legend of the Holy Land

Chapter 74 Fire Dance's Decision

Just as Xiao Yu was standing in front of the Blue Silver Emperor, lost in thought, Huo Wu appeared behind him at some point. Unlike usual, she didn't start arguing but simply watched Xiao Yu's back quietly, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

To be honest, she was really jealous of Ye Lingling. That was a 100,000-year-old soul bone, and Xiao Yu gave it to her without even blinking.

I traveled thousands of miles, leaving my hometown, to come to Nine Star Academy. Does this guy really not understand my feelings? He keeps saying those things to make me angry.

Xiao Yu now possesses a cultivation level of over sixty and has absorbed a 100,000-year-old head soul bone, making his spiritual power astonishing. He had long been aware that Huo Wu was standing behind him and even sensed her emotional changes.

In truth, he understood Huo Wu's feelings all too well, but he also had his own reasons for his predicament.

The Nine Heart Begonia family has joined the Nine Star Palace as a whole; their fates are intertwined. Furthermore, Ye Lingling and he have known each other since childhood, so he can confidently help Ye Lingling improve her aptitude and cultivation.

But Huo Wu is different; behind her is the Blazing Academy.

Nine Heart Begonia is a family that maintains its independence even while affiliated with the Heaven Dou Empire. However, Blazing Fire Academy has been inextricably linked to the royal family's support since its inception. Huo Wu's father and grandfather both held titles in the Heaven Dou Empire and were fiercely loyal to the royal family. This is evident in the fact that after the Soul Hunting Operation in the original story, when several elemental academies suffered a significant loss of students, they preferred to merge into one academy and relocate to Heaven Dou City rather than bow to the Spirit Hall.

According to Xiao Yu's future plans, one point overlaps with that of the Spirit Hall: he also intends to seize control of the Heaven Dou Empire and put its million-strong army under his control.

In this way, he will inevitably clash with the Heaven Dou royal family in the future. Of course, he could also use a borrowed knife to kill someone, such as using Qian Renxue to eliminate the royal family and then reaping the benefits. However, plans can never keep up with changes. The future situation is complex and unpredictable, with multiple forces converging in Heaven Dou City. A slight difference could lead to disastrous consequences. Once he goes to war with the Heaven Dou royal family, what will become of the Blazing Fire Academy, which is loyal to the royal family? This would be even more painful for Huo Wu.

Furthermore, Huo Wu's father and grandfather both held titles, and her status in the Heaven Dou Empire was not low. She and Ye Lingling had known each other since childhood, and the Nine Heart Begonia had contributed greatly to the sect's development over the years. In terms of seniority, Huo Wu could only be ranked after Ye Lingling. How could the Huo family father and son possibly accept their daughter as a concubine?

Therefore, although Xiao Yu understood Huo Wu's feelings, he pretended not to understand anything, kept a certain distance from Huo Wu, and would tease her occasionally, hoping to make this hot-tempered girl angry.

Aphrodite seemed to sense the awkward atmosphere and left the stone chamber under the pretext of going outside to keep watch. As for Milo and Aiolia, who were secretly following him, they had long since disappeared after confirming that there was no threat inside.

The two remained silent for an unknown period of time. Apart from the occasional sounds Ye Lingling made while absorbing the soul bone, the stone chamber was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

After a long silence, Huo Wu suddenly spoke up: "At the end of this academic year, I'm dropping out of this academy and going back to Blazing Fire Academy!"

"Um!"

Xiao Yu didn't turn around, but nodded slightly: "You're the daughter of Blazing Fire Academy, it's really not a good idea for you to stay with me. Go back soon, don't let your family worry!"

"You really want me to leave!"

Upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, Huo Wu's nose began to sting, and tears welled up in her eyes: "Am I really that annoying to you?"

Hearing the sob in Huo Wu's voice, Xiao Yu realized something was wrong and quickly turned around: "That's not what I meant!"

"Then what do you mean!"

Huo Wu couldn't hold back any longer, and tears streamed down her face like pearls from a broken string. But Huo Wu was a kind-hearted girl, and even at this moment she remembered not to disturb Ye Lingling who was absorbing the soul bone. She bit her lower lip tightly, trying not to cry out loud.

Xiao Yu was momentarily flustered. His relationship with Ye Lingling had always progressed naturally, and he had never encountered such a situation before.

He could only walk up to Huo Wu, gently wipe away the tears on her face, and say softly, "You must have misunderstood me. I didn't mean to hate you."

"Then why do you so desperately want me to leave?"

Huo Wu suppressed the sorrow in her heart and didn't let herself cry out, forcing herself to lower her voice and say, "Don't you really understand at all?"

Xiao Yu shook his head helplessly and said, "You are the daughter of the Blazing Fire Academy. Even in the Heaven Dou Empire, you are not someone that ordinary nobles can even dream of. Do you think your family would accept my relationship with Lingling?"

After a pause, Xiao Yu continued, "Lingling and I have known each other since childhood. The Nine Heart Begonia family used their connections to help me join the Nine Star Palace. I absolutely cannot let Lingling down for this deep kindness and gratitude."

"Just because of that?"

Huo Wu stopped crying, raised her head, and looked directly into Xiao Yu's eyes: "You don't hate me, do you?"

Why do I hate you?

Xiao Yu didn't shy away from Huo Wu's questioning gaze at all, and replied, "Although you can be a bit short-tempered at times, I don't think being straightforward is a bad thing!"

"Really?"

Huo Wu suddenly took two steps forward, almost touching Xiao Yu, who could smell her faint fragrance.

"Do you like me?"

The sudden question left Xiao Yu's mind blank. The usually calm and analytical Xiao Yu stammered, "I... this..."

Seeing the flustered look on Xiao Yu's face, who had remained calm throughout, Huo Wu burst into laughter through her tears. She stepped forward and hugged Xiao Yu like an octopus, whispering sweet nothings in his ear, "You hesitated. My mother once said that when a man hesitates instead of immediately rejecting a question, it already tells the answer."

Damn, why is Huowu's mother teaching her even this? Is she afraid her daughter's fiery temper will prevent her from getting married?

Xiao Yu was speechless for a moment. It would be a lie to say that he had no feelings for Huo Wu. In terms of figure and appearance, Huo Wu was a goddess. Although she was a bit fiery, it also showed that she was genuine and dared to love and hate. Xiao Yu had a good first impression of this girl when he read the original novel.

After arriving in Douluo Continent and getting to know Huo Wu through her years of academy life, Xiao Yu discovered that beneath Huo Wu's volatile personality lay a kind heart. Despite her noble birth, she did not have any arrogant superiority over commoners.

"Let go first!"

Even so, Xiao Yu understood that the relationship between him and Huo Wu was not something that the two of them wanted. There were many practical problems between them. He reached out and grabbed Huo Wu's arms, trying to untie her from his body.

"I won't let go. I'll handle things with my father myself. Just tell me if you're willing or not?"

Huo Wu had also used all her strength, and Xiao Yu couldn't be too rough, so they tried several times without success.

Xiao Yu couldn't help but feel a little helpless, and said, "It's not something that can be resolved with just a simple 'I like you' or 'I'm willing' between you and me. Putting everything else aside, what if Lingling finds out?"

"I have no objection!"

Just then, a clear voice rang in their ears.

(End of this chapter)