The corridors of Martial Soul Hall were lined with beauties of various appearances, all standing together in conversation.
Their faces varied greatly, but their legs were all similarly straight and slender.
Bi Bidong was the ice-queen Empress exuding the alluring charm of a mature woman, while Hulena was poised, elegant, and beguiling, like a bud ready to bloom, with hips and waist tempting as a ripe peach.
"Nana, what were you just daydreaming about here?"
"Nothing, nothing at all," Hulena hastily waved her hands, hiding the shadow that lingered in her mind.
"I have a task for you," her teacher said.
"Please instruct me," Hulena replied.
"I'm about to join the elders at this year's Martial Soul awakening ceremony. I need you to entertain a guest for me."
"A guest?" Hulena exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, he's in my sleeping chamber. Take him around Martial Soul Hall for a good visit. He can go wherever he wants—don't obstruct him."
Hulena was even more astonished; it was the first time she saw her teacher with such a formal expression.
"Okay, I will make sure to take good care of this guest for you," she assured.
...
Hulena quickly made her way to the entrance of the Empress's Sleeping Palace, her curiosity burning within her.
Which sect leader could possess such honor as to be waiting in the Empress's Sleeping Palace?
A member of the families of the upper three sects, or a reclusive female expert?
As for the possibility of it being a man, Hulena shook her head repeatedly. Impossible.
Betting in all the years she had known her teacher, not even if the sky fell would there be a male creature in her teacher's room.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Hulena knocked gently on the door, careful not to slight the distinguished guest.
Her gaze focused; she was eager to see just who this esteemed guest that her teacher valued so highly could be.
There was no response.
"Senior, my master has sent me to serve you," she called out.
Still no sound.
Hulena was puzzled. Could it be that no one was inside? She hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open and entering.
The moment she stepped inside, her pupils contracted, and she felt as if struck by lightning.
There was someone lying on the bed, back facing the door, revealing only their back and not their face.
But the broad shoulders and clothing unmistakably belonged to a man.
"This…"
Hulena's voice trembled as she took in the sight, her eyes filled with disbelief.
A man in the Empress's chambers?
The blow to her beliefs had come so fast; not only was there a man, but he also had the audacity to be sprawled on her teacher's bed asleep?
Was this guy out of his mind?
Could this man be the guest her teacher mentioned?
Impossible.
That was far too outrageous.
With her teacher's personality, how could she possibly allow a man into her sleeping chamber, let alone permit him to sleep on her bed? No way.
Could it be that this guy had taken the liberty to climb up there on his own?
Hulena tiptoed to the front of the bed.
Strange, this silhouette looked increasingly familiar the more she looked at it.
She walked around to the other side, and when she saw that otherworldly Banished Immortal face and the pink, plump bunny in his arms, a bolt of lightning crossed her mind and her mouth fell open.
It was him???
The noises outside awakened Luo Yu.
He was groggy, his eyelids fluttering, and as his gaze traveled upward from a pair of round and lovely legs standing in front of him, he saw the blonde girl staring in astonishment.
"You've arrived?" he said.
"How... how did you end up on the teacher's bed?" Hulena's eyes were wide open, her cherry lips agape, unable to close.
Luo Yu slowly sat up, stretching languidly, "Got tired, so I took a nap on her bed. That's not a problem, is it?"
"That's a huge problem!" Hulena was frantic. "You dare to climb onto the Empress's bed? Do you have a death wish?"
Luo Yu shook his head, "Even if you remove the words 'Empress's bed,' I would still dare."
"What?"
Hulena was first taken aback.
Then, realizing the implication, her cheeks flushed red and she glared fiercely.
"I think your other name must be 'Oblivious to Death'."
Luo Yu raised an eyebrow playfully, "Aren't you supposed to be here to attend to me? Is this how you talk?"
"Attend to you?" Hulena came back to her senses, her words starting to jumble, "You're not the guest teacher asked me to receive, are you?"
"Duh, who else is there in this room besides me?"
A dim silver light flickered in the hidden corner of the room.
Despite finding it hard to believe, Hulena couldn't deny the truth that lay stark before her eyes.
She forced down the shock in her heart and blurted out, "Who on earth are you, what's your relationship with the teacher, and why are you here?"
"Didn't I tell you all this before? Weren't you the one who didn't believe me?" Luo Yu looked down and fiddled with the rabbit ears, enjoying the truly nice touch.
"Nonsense! How could the Empress possibly have anything to do with you?"
Luo Yu glanced at her, "That's not important. The main point is, I told you we would meet again soon."
Hulena swallowed hard.
This guy really must have some grand supernatural powers.
Luo Yu's image progressively mystified in Hulena's heart, stirring up a strong curiosity to uncover the whole truth.
"You... You wouldn't happen to be some old monster from one of the upper families who's regained his youth, would you?" Hulena timidly suggested.
"Ptui! What old monster? I've told you already, I haven't awakened my Martial Soul yet."
Luo Yu glanced at the transparent system panel.
[Dragon God, awaiting awakening!]
[Nine Heavens Execution Sword, awaiting awakening!]
"Forget it, I don't believe you," Hulena shook her head dismissively.
She was convinced that Luo Yu must be an old monster with world-conquering Soul Power, otherwise, how could he act so recklessly?
It had to be the absolute truth!
"Still don't believe it?" Luo Yu rolled his eyes.
"Heh, I just don't, stop fooling people," Hulena snorted. "If you haven't awakened your Martial Soul, from now on, whenever we meet, I'll call you 'Daddy'."
Luo Yu sighed helplessly, "Do you really want me to become a dad at such a young age?"
"Dare you let me check it out? If you have awakened your Martial Soul, just call me 'little auntie' next time we meet!"
Hulena was brimming with confidence, joking to herself that her saintly intellect was not given for free.
An ordinary character catching the teacher's eye? Hardly possible.
If it weren't for having met Luo Yu before, she would certainly be more restrained now.
After all, this guy was too mysterious.
Luo Yu shook his head, "There's no need to check. Isn't it enough proof if I awaken my Martial Soul right here for you to see?"
Hulena scoffed, "I think you've calculated that there's no Awakening Stone here."
Luo Yu fell silent. "The Martial Soul Hall is so large, there's bound to be an Awakening Stone somewhere."
"Yeah, right, keep acting!" Hulena crossed her arms, certain of Luo Yu's charade.
"Fine, lead me to the Awakening Stone. Today, I'll make you regret your words," Luo Yu said with determination.
Hulena glared at him, "Let's go then. It just so happens that the Martial Soul Hall is holding an awakening ceremony today, and I can sneak you in."
"Awakening ceremony?" Luo Yu wondered.
"Yeah, didn't the teacher tell you?"
Hulena explained, "Every year on this day, the offspring of all Martial Soul Hall's Soul Sages and above are granted the opportunity to awaken their Martial Souls in unison at the Central Square. Those gifted with high talent may remain to receive the blessing of the Great Elder's divine light."
"If top-tier talent emerges, they might even be chosen in advance as the Holy Son of Martial Soul Hall."
Luo Yu pondered, "Interesting, but looking at the situation, I'd better not go."
"Tsk tsk, can't keep up the act, huh? Go ahead and reveal your Martial Soul, I'm really a bit curious," Hulena taunted with Beautiful Eyes, revealing a young girl's unique coquettishness.
"I haven't awakened yet, so what can I show you?"
"Then why don't you dare go?"
"I'm afraid the awakening will cause too much commotion and be too ostentatious!"
"Blowing your own trumpet!"
"Sigh, to tell you the truth, I'm really just afraid that once my Martial Soul awakens, all your so-called Elders and guest elders will beg to take me as their disciple and won't let me leave."
"Do you think I'd believe that?" Hulena blinked adorably.
"Fine, I can see that you're a little missy deprived of love today, hell-bent on recognizing me as daddy," Luo Yu said.
He got up and moved swiftly, grabbing Hulena's small hand.
"Let's go! I'll indulge you, take me to the Central Square."