stonecrandall Chapter 212 Heart-to-Heart Talk: Coldness and Warmth
Chapter 212 Heart-to-Heart Talk: Coldness and Warmth
Chapter 212 Heart-to-Heart Talk: Coldness and Warmth
In Maple Leaf City, Dai Youheng and Nana have been staying for almost two months.
The day has finally arrived for Shrek Academy and Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy to exchange students.
It was the same hotel as before. Dai Youheng looked down at the square as the handover was completed on both sides.
This time, however, he had completely concealed his aura, so even Yan Shaozhe couldn't detect him at all.
Both sides exchanged their students: the Hongchen siblings from Sun Moon Academy, and Huo Yuhao and He Caitou from Shrek Academy.
Before leaving, Jing Hongchen gave Huo Yuhao something and whispered something in his ear.
Dai Youheng knew that it was a star sapphire ring, and that it was filled with treasures.
Jing Hongchen used this as a bargaining chip to obtain some of Huo Yuhao's ingenious creations that combined Tang Sect hidden weapons and soul tools, but he could not allow Huo Yuhao to actually bring so many treasures back to Shrek Academy.
He didn't even intend to let Huo Yuhao return to Shrek Academy. With his considerable talent and the profound knowledge of soul tools he had learned from their Mingde Hall, wouldn't letting him go back to strengthen Shrek Academy be tantamount to aiding the enemy?
Therefore, he had secretly contacted evil spirit masters to help him, and they ambushed and killed Huo Yuhao halfway.
Huo Yuhao had actually anticipated this, so he suggested that he, Yan Shaozhe, and Xian Lin'er leave alone instead of going with the main group, so as not to implicate others.
"Youheng," the Snow Empress's illusory figure quietly appeared beside him, her icy blue eyes looking down at the slightly immature yet burdened boy below, "Back in Shrek Academy, this child at least genuinely called you 'brother' a few times. Now, scheming against him like this, do you have even the slightest hesitation in your heart?"
Dai Youheng's gaze did not waver at all, and his voice was so flat that no emotion could be detected. "He called me brother, and then what?"
Has he ever given me even the slightest benefit? Not in the past, and certainly not in the future. Since there's no conflict of interest, there's no affection to speak of, so why should I care about him?
He scoffed at his predecessor's almost foolish investment behavior. Huo Yuhao, despite possessing a top-tier Spirit Eye Martial Soul, was often swayed by his emotions, acting impulsively and recklessly, repeatedly putting himself and the many souls within him in danger.
Even if he truly becomes a god in the future, given his nature, he will probably only have eyes for his little Wutong. Just like in the original story, how much has he ever given back to his former classmates, comrades, and teachers after becoming a god? Investing in him is tantamount to placing one's hopes on a mirage.
"Truly, profit comes first, as always." Xue Di shook her head slightly, her tone unreadable, neither praising nor sighing. She then shifted the focus, asking the question that had lingered in her mind for a long time, "And—what about Xu Jiujiu?"
In the past, she didn't care how Dai Youheng treated Xu Jiujiu, but since experiencing four years of life together like husband and wife in her dreams, and even having Xiao Xiaoxue, the soul bond that embodies love and expectation, Xue Di's state of mind has long been different from before.
Dai Youheng's attitude towards the Star Luo Princess will determine how she positions that woman in the future.
"Xu Jiujiu?" Dai Youheng seemed to ponder for a moment before calmly saying, "Perhaps she does have some genuine feelings for me now."
But in her heart, this affection would never outweigh the Xu family's imperial power. If one day my ambitions clash with her stance, and she is forced to choose between imperial power and me, she will choose the former without hesitation.
He turned his head to look at the woman beside him, whose soul was as pure as ice and snow, a faint but real warmth flickering in his eyes. "Similarly, her place in my heart will never be as important as yours. If I were to have to choose between the two, my choice would only be you. Perhaps one day, she and I—will be on opposite sides because of this irreconcilable conflict."
"Youheng, there's no need to worry about this." The Snow Emperor's voice was clear and firm, carrying the unique domineering and decisive nature of the King of the Far North. "If you still have feelings for her, I have my own way of resolving this conflict. If you are determined to sever ties, then I will do it for you."
Upon hearing this, Dai Youheng chuckled softly, raising his hand to gently stroke Xue Di's hair, which resembled solidified ice crystals. Although he couldn't touch the physical body, the gesture carried an indescribable tenderness.
"Xue'er, the one who's struggling—is actually you." His voice was calm and indifferent as he said, "How I treat her in the future will never depend on me, but on her own choices."
Upon hearing this, Xue Di instantly understood. Dai Youheng had never truly placed Xu Jiujiu in a position worthy of agonizing over on the scales of self-interest in his heart.
Her fate, whether she lives or dies, hinges solely on whether she chooses to oppose Dai Youheng. If she doesn't block his path, she can live; if she does, this man will show no mercy.
"You're really cold-blooded." Xue Di couldn't help but lightly spit out a word, but her tone didn't carry much blame; instead, it was filled with a complex sense of understanding.
"I'm Xue Di's man, so naturally I should feel cold." Dai Youheng raised an eyebrow, his tone suddenly taking on a teasing tone. "However, cold is relative. Aren't I quite 'warm' next to you? You should feel it; my body temperature is much higher than yours."
"————" The Snow Emperor's illusory figure suddenly froze. The supreme ruler of the far north ice plains was so caught off guard by this cold joke that he shivered.
Yet, a warmth quietly spread from the deepest part of his heart. The "warmth" he spoke of was a double entendre, not just physical heat, but the warmth that his heart felt only truly warm when he was with her, not driven by self-interest. Wasn't this also a unique confession to her?
In this delicate atmosphere, a mixture of coldness and warmth, Nana, who had been standing quietly to the side, suddenly spoke up, pointing out the window, "Young Master, look, they've set off!"
Dai Youheng remained calm, his gaze sweeping over the figures that had begun to move below. He said indifferently, "No need to rush, Nana. To avoid attracting attention and to keep their distance from the main force, they won't fly at first; they'll just walk away. We can wait another half an hour before setting off."
After flirting with Xue Di in their hearts for another half hour, Nana reminded them once again before they finally set off.
Three figures silently left the inn, like three wisps of smoke, disappearing into the bustling streets of Maple Leaf City. They then sped out of the city at an extraordinary speed, heading southeast.
Everything went exactly as Dai Youheng had predicted.
Dozens of miles ahead of them, above a desolate valley, the sky had drastically changed. The once clear sky was now shrouded by a sudden, pitch-black cloud, which churned and coalesced into the outline of a gigantic, ferocious tiger's head, its empty eye sockets gleaming with a scarlet light.
A deep, booming voice, like rolling thunder, reverberated from the depths of the dark clouds, carrying a powerful and sinister aura: "Yan Shaozhe! Do you still recognize this old man?"
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