Chapter 269 Bai Yuhao Cuts Off Bai Qiu'er
In the dark world, in the squares of major cities, Soul Masters looked at the sky, their discussions gradually subsiding, and all eyes were focused on the images that were about to be played.
[In the scene depicting the sky.]
Days passed by.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu'er continued to have frequent interactions on the training field.
[Sparring, chatting, discussing cultivation experiences—everything seemed no different than before.]
But Huo Yuhao began to notice something was amiss.
After their sparring session that day, the two sat down to rest on a bench by the training field.
Wang Qiu'er unscrewed the kettle, took a few sips of water, and casually recounted the power techniques of her previous move. Huo Yuhao listened, but seemed somewhat distracted.
He found himself unconsciously paying attention to Wang Qiu'er's movements lately. Whether she came to the training ground today, what color clothes she wore, what expression she made when she spoke. These thoughts, which he had never had before, now popped into his head from time to time.
Huo Yuhao was silent for a moment, then spoke: "Wang Qiu'er, I have something I want to tell you."
Wang Qiu'er put down the kettle, turned to look at him, and asked, "What is it?"
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, his voice calm, but his speech slower than usual: "During this time, we've often sparred and chatted together. I'm very grateful to you for helping me improve my combat skills."
"Here you go again." Wang Qiu'er smiled. "Why are you always so polite?"
"It's not just a polite remark," Huo Yuhao said. "I wanted to tell you that I have a girlfriend. Her name is Wang Dong'er, and we've been together for a long time. I love her very much, and she loves me very much too."
Wang Qiu'er's smile faded slightly, but not drastically. She leaned back in her chair, waiting for Huo Yuhao to continue.
"Our relationship can only be that of sparring partners," Huo Yuhao said earnestly. "I don't want you to misunderstand, nor do I want Dong'er to misunderstand. So I think we can't continue like this."
After listening, Wang Qiu'er remained silent for a few seconds. Then she spoke, her voice calm: "You're overthinking it. I haven't misunderstood anything."
"I know you don't," Huo Yuhao said, "but I don't want to wait until that day comes. It's better for both of us to be clear about it now."
Wang Qiu'er looked at Huo Yuhao, her golden eyes showing neither anger nor resentment. She simply stared at him, as if confirming whether he was telling the truth.
After a while, she nodded.
"Okay, I understand." Wang Qiu'er stood up and hung the kettle back on her waist. "I understand what you mean. I'll be more careful in the future."
"Thank you." Huo Yuhao also stood up.
"You're welcome." Wang Qiu'er waved her hand, her tone unchanged. "You're right, it's better for everyone to be clear. I won't put you in a difficult position."
She turned around and walked out of the training field.
He took a few steps, then stopped, turned around, and said, "From now on, we'll just spar; we won't talk about anything else. Don't worry."
Huo Yuhao nodded: "Okay."
Wang Qiu'er turned around and strode away from the training ground.
Her steps were still light and quick, showing no signs of anything amiss.
Huo Yuhao stood there, watching her figure disappear beyond the training ground, and let out a long sigh.
He turned around and walked towards the dormitory.
In the plaza of the Dark World, the Soul Masters witnessed this scene, and their discussions arose once again.
"That's right." A Soul Master nodded. "Huo Yuhao took the initiative to talk to Wang Qiu'er and make things clear. That's the responsible attitude."
"Yes," someone nearby chimed in. "It's better to cut ties sooner rather than later, so neither side gets too deeply involved. He was very decisive, leaving no room for negotiation. That way, Wang Qiu'er understood and won't have any other ideas."
"And he made it very clear. I have a girlfriend, and our relationship can only be that of sparring partners. There's no ambiguity, no vagueness. That's right," another Soul Master said.
"That should solve the problem." A female Soul Master breathed a sigh of relief. "Wang Qiu'er understood and said she would be more careful in the future. If the two of them keep their distance, nothing will happen."
"I hope so," said an older Soul Master. "At least Huo Yuhao took this step. That's much better than the one from the underworld. The Huo Yuhao from the underworld never had the heart to truly sever ties with Wang Qiu'er."
"That's the difference between the white world and the black world," someone said. "Huo Yuhao in the white world was taught by Bai Xuanzi and has a sound moral compass. Huo Yuhao in the black world, having spent too much time in a place like Black Shrek Academy, has even lost his basic principles of conduct."
"So, the environment really does matter," someone nearby remarked. "The same person, growing up in different environments, will have completely different outcomes."
Amidst the discussions in the square, most people were praising Huo Yuhao for handling the situation well.
However, some people are worried about Wang Qiu'er.
"Wang Qiu'er said she understood, but who knows what she was really thinking?" a female Soul Master said. "Although her expression was calm just now, I felt that something was off."
"She should be fine," another person said. "She's not the kind of person who clings on relentlessly. Huo Yuhao has already made it clear that she won't have any other ideas."
"I hope so," the female Soul Master sighed. "I really don't want to see Wang Qiu'er from the White World suffer as well."
All eyes were once again focused on the sky.
[In the scene depicting the sky.]
[For the next few days, Huo Yuhao did not go to the training ground.]
He changed his training location, practicing alone by the Sea God Lake. Wang Dong'er would sometimes come to keep him company, and the two would train together and discuss soul skills.
Wang Qiu'er still frequented Shrek Academy. She would go to the library to read, stroll around the city, and occasionally go to the training grounds to stretch her muscles.
But the two never met again.
On this day, Wang Qiu'er was reading in the library. She sat by the window, engrossed in a book about the circulation of soul power.
Huo Yuhao happened to be returning books to the library. As he entered, he saw Wang Qiu'er, hesitated for a moment, then put the books back in their place and turned to leave.
Wang Qiu'er looked up and saw Huo Yuhao's departing figure. She glanced at him, then lowered her head again to continue reading.
Neither of them spoke.
The scene freezes in a quiet corner of the library. Wang Qiu'er is reading with her head down, sunlight streaming through the window and falling on her.
It was as if nothing had happened.
(End of chapter)