Chapter 102: Maybe I Came at the Wrong Time

"Huh? This afternoon, Ho Yuhuo's team encountered Tang San's team?"

Upon hearing Xiao Xiao's words, Wang Dong'er instinctively widened her eyes.

"Did they win?"

"Of course they won. I also heard that the guy used his second martial soul and crushed them in a one-against-three battle."

Xiao Xiao's eyes sparkled with excitement, but as she finished speaking, her expression darkened, and her tone became a little dejected.

"The team with the best chance of winning the championship stopped at the top 32. Old Lady Zhou Yi is probably going to be really angry about this. It's a shame we were competing at the time and couldn't see that scene with our own eyes."

While muttering to herself, Xiao Xiao glanced at Wang Dong'er, who seemed lost in thought, and froze for a moment upon noticing her blank and distracted expression.

"Winter, what's wrong with you?"

"Ah."

Wang Dong'er trembled and instinctively shook her head.

"Nothing, nothing. So, where are Ho Yuhuo and the others now?"

"Now? After the competition, they should be back at their dorm."

Seeing Wang Dong'er's odd behavior, Xiao Xiao's big eyes quickly darted around, and a teasing smile appeared on her face as she lightly nudged Wang Dong'er on the shoulder.

"What's up? Do you want to go find him? Do you need me to tell you his dorm number?"

"Huh? You know?"

Wang Dong'er looked up in surprise, but upon meeting Xiao Xiao's teasing gaze, she suddenly realized her reaction might have been a bit off, and she stiffened up.

After a brief overload of her not-so-clever mind, she coughed lightly and said seriously.

"Don't think too much, I just want to thank him for helping me beat Tang San. If everything goes well, I plan to invite him for a meal."

".?"

I haven't said anything yet, so why is she thinking so mischievously?

By the way, weren't we always competing together? When did you secretly start flirting with handsome guys behind my back?

Also, why do you want someone to help you beat Tang San?

Of course, Xiao Xiao didn't ask these questions aloud. She was worried her head might suffer another blow, so instead, she skeptically sized up Wang Dong'er and slowly spoke.

"Room 116."

For some reason, as if remembering something, Xiao Xiao added in a strange tone.

"Be careful."

Wang Dong'er, who was about to thank her, froze for a moment upon hearing those words. "Careful? What do you mean by that?"

Noticing Wang Dong'er's confused expression and sensing she wasn't pretending, Xiao Xiao's face turned a little complicated.

So she hasn't figured it out yet!

"Life-and-death safety."

After leaving another cryptic remark, Xiao Xiao snorted and then muttered, "Looks like I'll have to go eat alone in the cafeteria tonight. Someone is already forgetting their friends for the sake of a handsome guy."

After saying that, Xiao Xiao turned and walked away, leaving Wang Dong'er behind with no further glance.

The word "leave" in the dictionary means...

Watching Xiao Xiao's lonely back, Wang Dong'er couldn't help but shake her head.

After shaking off the jumble of thoughts in her mind, the girl couldn't help but walk with light, quick steps toward her destination.

Most of the students had not finished their classes yet, so the dormitory building was a little empty.

As she walked through the first-floor corridor of the male dormitory, Wang Dong'er subconsciously lightened her steps. Her heart, which was beating faster and faster, made her mutter to herself under her breath.

"Winter, it's just a meal, why are you so nervous?"

As the room numbers grew higher, Wang Dong'er finally arrived at Room 116. Staring at the closed dorm door in front of her, she took a deep breath and gently knocked.

Knock knock knock—

"Who's there?"

A somewhat familiar voice came from behind the door, though it seemed a bit panicked for some reason.

Wang Dong'er didn't think much of it, and after a light throat clearing, her sweet voice echoed down the corridor.

"It's me, Wang Dong'er."

For some reason, upon hearing her words, the voice inside seemed even more flustered. After a brief sound of someone hurriedly tidying up, the door slowly creaked open.

A rush of hot air greeted her, and Wang Dong'er finally saw the scene inside the room, frozen for a moment in surprise.

"You... you guys... just now..."

On a large bed formed by two beds pushed together, a figure with long, fiery red hair was sitting cross-legged. Her pale pink eyes looked at Wang Dong'er with a hint of curiosity.

Her red inner courtyard uniform clung tightly to her skin as if it had just been pulled out of water, revealing her toned figure.

The collar was slightly open, and crystal-like beads of sweat dripped down her neck, rolling into the deep, white valley between her chest. Wang Dong'er's face immediately flushed as she looked down, feeling embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, maybe I came at the wrong time."

Noticing Wang Dong'er muttering to herself while subtly stepping back, Ma Xiao Tao couldn't help but laugh.

"Yuhuo, your friend is really interesting, hahaha."

Ho Yuhuo also had to hold back his laughter. He peeked his head out of the door, making sure no one was around, then grabbed Wang Dong'er's arm.

"Alright, come in quickly."

"Ah!"

Before Wang Dong'er could react, she was quickly pulled into the dorm by the strong force.

With a bang, the door slammed against the door frame, and the corridor fell silent once more.

Inside the room, Ho Yuhuo firmly pushed Wang Dong'er into a seat, then looked up at Ma Xiao Tao.

"Xiao Tao, this is my friend, Wang Dong'er."

Upon hearing Ho Yuhuo's introduction, Ma Xiao Tao, who had been sizing up Wang Dong'er, looked at him with a teasing expression and said playfully.

"Another little beauty, Yuhuo, you really are quite lucky, always surrounded by such pretty girls."

Ho Yuhuo pulled the corner of his mouth as he responded to Ma Xiao Tao's teasing.

"Xiao Tao, are you complimenting yourself indirectly?"

"Little brat."

It seemed that Ma Xiao Tao's comment had triggered memories of the first time she suppressed her internal "evil fire," and she blushed, muttering under her breath before she finally stopped teasing Ho Yuhuo.

"Winter, this is Xiao Tao, an inner courtyard disciple."

After briefly introducing Ma Xiao Tao, Ho Yuhuo coughed lightly and awkwardly added an explanation.

"Before you came, Xiao Tao and I were in the dorm, trying to suppress the evil fire."

"Evil fire?"

Wang Dong'er blinked in confusion.

Maybe it was because of the playful teasing between Ma Xiao Tao and Ho Yuhuo that lightened the mood, or maybe it was because she realized they hadn't been doing anything inappropriate, but Wang Dong'er clearly wasn't as tense as before.

"Yes."

Ho Yuhuo nodded slightly. "Xiao Tao's martial soul has some defects, so she needs help from my ice-elemental martial soul. Occasionally, she comes to me for assistance. But why did you come here?"

As soon as that last question was asked, Wang Dong'er, who had just relaxed, immediately stiffened up again.

"I heard you beat Tang San, so I came to fulfill my promise."

Hearing Wang Dong'er's somewhat hesitant voice, Ho Yuhuo suddenly understood and glanced at Ma Xiao Tao. He hesitated before speaking.

"Xiao Tao."

"You two go ahead, I'll clean up here. I'll dry your clothes before I leave."

Ma Xiao Tao looked back and forth between them, as though she had spotted something interesting. Her lips curled into a slight smile.

"Well, the evil fire is mostly under control now. Today's done. Next time I'll come over when I'm free."

"Thanks, Xiao Tao."

After thanking her, Ho Yuhuo glanced at Wang Dong'er. Seeing she hadn't responded yet, he reached out and lightly poked her waist.

"Ah! What are you doing?"

Wang Dong'er, who had bounced out of her seat like a spring, looked at Ho Yuhuo in amusement.

"Of course, I'm telling you to fulfill your promise. Just so you know, I have a big appetite, so get ready."

As the daughter of the Haotian Sect, who had never had to worry about money, Wang Dong'er wasn't going to take such a comment lying down. She immediately snorted.

"Get ready? I want to see how big your appetite really is. Are you going to eat me poor over just one meal?"

With that, under Ma Xiao Tao's slightly strange gaze, the two left the dormitory.

"This guy... he really does have a natural talent for flirting."

Shaking her head, Ma Xiao Tao looked at the now-empty room, and her gaze slowly fell on the pillow on the bed.

After a brief internal struggle, she finally buried her head into it, feeling the cool scent that filled her nose. The residual "evil fire" inside her finally began to calm down.

"Well, there are so many already. One more doesn't hurt."

After a long pause, Ma Xiao Tao spoke to herself as if justifying her actions.

For some reason, the thought of the "little cabbage" that the senior sister had so carefully nurtured being eaten by her made Ma Xiao Tao feel a strange surge of emotions.