On the other side, Spirit Transmission Pagoda, Laboratory.
"...Mhm, the Energy Storage Ring remains stable, no issues. At the current rate, breaking through to Soul Saint by the time of the Soul Master Competition might be a bit difficult, but reaching Rank 67 or 68 shouldn't be a problem."
Huo Yuhao provided an assessment of Ling Luochen's current physical condition.
However, Ling Luochen only gave an absent-minded "Mhm" in response, then lapsed into silence.
"Something on your mind?"
Huo Yuhao asked, knowing the answer full well.
From the "I have something on my mind" expression written all over Ling Luochen's face, Huo Yuhao knew she had likely guessed what had happened between him and the Ice Emperor.
After all, as the first Soul Master to fuse with an Energy Storage Ring, Ling Luochen had lived at the Spirit Transmission Pagoda for a period to undergo Huo Yuhao's examinations.
Naturally, Ling Luochen had become familiar with Skydream and the Ice Emperor.
But it was precisely this familiarity that allowed Ling Luochen to sense that something was off.
Whether it was the change in Huo Yuhao's aura or the obviously "wrong" way the Ice Emperor and Huo Yuhao had been interacting these past few days, everything told Ling Luochen that during the two months she was away, her home had been burgled!!!
Even though she had anticipated it, it didn't mean she could accept it!
Ling Luochen looked up, her eyes full of resentment, looking as if she wanted to stab Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao suddenly felt a chill on his neck. Sigh... better get used to it. I'll likely be experiencing this feeling a lot from now on.
"You and Sister Bingbing... when did you get together?"
As expected, it's this question...
Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered slightly. He slowly pulled over a chair and sat down, then spoke in a gentle tone:
"Not long ago. Mhm... the day before you returned."
Ling Luochen's hands tightened involuntarily, and a lump formed in her chest. For a moment, she had the urge to go back and beat up Ma Xiaotao and the others again just to vent!
The day before?! You mean I was only one day off?!
Ling Luochen's breathing became slightly rapid; she was fuming.
"You... how can you face Sister Skydream?! Don't tell me you don't know Sister Skydream likes you! And you're even using her name out there right now!
"Your behavior is that of a scumbag! Do you deserve the sacrifices Sister Skydream has made for you?!"
Ling Luochen tried to exclude herself, using Skydream as the reason to interrogate Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao was slightly stunned. Thinking back to a certain Ice Silkworm who spent every day thinking about how to crawl into his bed, he didn't feel much guilt for a moment...
Hiss.
Strange.
But Huo Yuhao still answered seriously: "I will make it up to her."
"Make it up? I... then how do you count all the time Sister Skydream spent on you! You take advantage of Sister Skydream every day—except for the final step, you've probably done everything else, right? You've gained so much, and you think a simple 'I'll make it up to her' is enough?!"
Ling Luochen's voice was angry, and tears shimmered in her eyes. For a time, she had used every trick in the book. Even though it was all voluntary and she accepted that, Huo Yuhao had never refused her!
Not taking the initiative, not refusing... and not taking responsibility?!
Scumbag, scumbag, scumbag!
You hateful scumbag, I'm going to...
"Mhm... just as you said, I owe Sister Skydream too much. Therefore, I won't let Sister Skydream go."
Mhm... wait, what? Huh!
"What did you say?" Ling Luochen looked at Huo Yuhao in a daze. For a moment, she felt her worldview collapsing.
"I said, I won't let Sister Skydream go."
Huo Yuhao's voice was gentle as he repeated his words.
Ling Luochen's mind went blank, and most of her anger dissipated.
"You... she... I..." Ling Luochen was a bit confused. After a long while, she weakly asked:
"Are you planning to kill Sister Skydream to keep her quiet?"
Huo Yuhao let out a helpless sigh: "You know that's not what I mean."
Ling Luochen's attempt to rationalize her way out of the truth was shattered.
"You... you want... you want both of them?!"
Scumbag! This is a total scumbag! I'm going to—
"No, not just the two of them." Huo Yuhao shook his head. His deep blue eyes met Ling Luochen's shocked gaze, his meaning self-evident.
Ling Luochen: "..."
Ling Luochen's brain stalled.
Attempting to restart... restart failed... brain overheating... total overload!
"N-No, you... I..."
Ling Luochen's pupils trembled slightly. She subconsciously shifted her body, pulling herself a bit further away from Huo Yuhao.
Her breathing became rapid. Ling Luochen felt her mind was a mess. One strange thought after another popped up, only to be drowned out by even more thoughts.
Huo Yuhao didn't interrupt. He just sat there calmly, waiting in silence.
If he wanted to hold their hands, he had to start by being honest.
Yes, it was true—if he hid the truth, he could indeed keep them living in harmony for a long time. After all, he had a lot of experience in "time management," and hiding it from them in the short term wouldn't be difficult.
Being honest would certainly cause them to have a stress reaction. It was even possible they would be completely disappointed in him and... leave him.
But Huo Yuhao still felt that honesty was better than concealment.
There is no wall in the world that doesn't leak, especially regarding such matters. The longer he hid it, the more terrifying the eventual explosion of conflict would be. That was something Huo Yuhao didn't want to see.
When that time came, both they and he would surely be covered in scars.
Therefore... honesty was his only choice.
The laboratory gradually grew quiet, leaving only the faint sounds of their breathing and heartbeats.
Huo Yuhao watched silently as Ling Luochen slowly recovered from her panic and fluster, eventually becoming calm.
She slowly raised her head and looked at Huo Yuhao, her tone changing slightly:
"Scumbag."
"Mhm."
"Bastard."
"Mhm."
"Liar."
"Mhm... wait? I didn't lie. I'm being honest with you about this!"
"Hmph! Who knows if you're hiding other women!" Ling Luochen stared at Huo Yuhao, her tone resentful.
Huo Yuhao was suddenly speechless.
"You really do?!"
Ling Luochen's volume rose again.
This guy... having three isn't enough?! There are more?!
Ling Luochen stared deathly at Huo Yuhao, her voice cold and her gaze as if she were looking at trash:
"Scumbag..."
With that, Ling Luochen stood up and quickly fled the laboratory.
The laboratory fell into silence once more.
"Aren't you just purely breaking a girl's heart like that?"
Skydream, possessing "Eavesdropping LV.MAX," peeked her head out and spoke while looking at the silent Huo Yuhao.
"It's better than doing everything and then not taking responsibility."
Huo Yuhao sighed softly.
"True..."
Skydream mused. Luckily, she had known from the beginning that she couldn't monopolize Yuhao, so she had adjusted her mindset long ago.
Loser? Not even a little! After all, she just wanted to join in!
One could say she already stood on invincible ground!
And even though Bingbing currently held the initiative in this "Battle for Yuhao," one must remember that a certain Dragon King has always possessed the power to flip the table...
Mhm, according to her observations, that lady wasn't exactly fond of listening to reason.