Chapter 39: Severing Bonds

Huo Yuhao sighed, the moonlight's glow illuminating his troubled expression as he sat alone in the beautiful waters of Sea God's Lake. Controlling his soul power to keep himself from plunging into the deep cold water was already second nature to him, but tonight, it felt like a struggle.

The weight of his actions weighed heavily on his heart, and he couldn't shake off the guilt that gnawed at him.

As the breeze rustled the leaves, he closed his eyes and let his thoughts wander.

Right after their match with Ning Tian, Huo Yuhao fulfilled his promise to Wang Dong and brought him and Xiao Xiao in the area where they previously had a barbecue party.

Of course, on the way, he invited Ning Tian and Wu Feng. Mostly because he wanted to apologize to them for being a jerk.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng were quite angry at him, obviously, but after some time, they agreed to join them. However, the atmosphere was still tense, and Huo Yuhao sighed to himself in self-blame.

Thankfully however, as he roasted and cooked the meals, the atmosphere turned warm and peaceful. Everyone had smiles on their faces as they started eating and talking to each other, even Wu Feng was enjoying herself.

It was only after he made enough for 20 people that Huo Yuhao slipped out and head towards the lake to... think.

Why did he do that to Wu Feng and Ning Tian? Why did he become so arrogant as to command his teammates like they're useless minions?

...But aren't they? No!

This was just a competition! Not a fight to the death. He should have fun and all, but not while acting like a mean jerk.

A long breath escaped his lips as he opened his eyes, the moonlight reflecting on the calm surface of the lake.

"The moonlight is quite beautiful tonight, huh?" A soft voice interrupted Huo Yuhao's train of thought.

He flinched, clearly recognizing that voice, and let out a sigh. "...Hey, Wu Feng."

"Hey to you too." Wu Feng snorted, crossing her arms as she stood on the shores of Sea God's Lake. "...Sea God, I still can't believe how you manage to do that."

"It's quite easy really." Huo Yuhao said, his back facing her.

"Huh. Easy my sweet hot ass..." Wu Feng scoffed as her gaze softened, watching melancholic back of the boy she had once hated with a deep passion.

She was a true man hater, especially to those who got close to her young mistress; Ning Tian. Not just because of her duty to protect her, but also because of personal issues that involved her family.

But that's a story for another time. Right now however, she had business with this man.

She had hated Huo Yuhao the moment he and young mistress Ning Tian unexpectedly became friends, not only because of his commoner background, bit also because of his inferior cultivation.

So obviously, she decided to bully him and "asked" him for a spar.

Worst decision she ever made in her life.

That was the day her buns had been touched by a male for the very first time.

But that wasn't the end, oh no, her arrogant and very hot tempered mind wouldn't accept such a humiliating defeat and asked for another spar.

Day, after day, after day... It continued for an entire month before she finally relented and learned her lesson; which was getting traumatized every time she gets in front of a combat ready Huo Yuhao.

She'd say she got PTSD... but it wasn't that severe, right?

Well, looking at Huo Yuhao, looks like it was pretty severe.

She let out a sigh and said, "Yuhao, could you come over here? I want to talk to you."

Huo Yuhao immediately turned to her in shock, this was the first time she'd ever say his first name! And in a soft, gentle voice at that!

'Is this a trick?' He narrowed his eyes, contemplating whether to use his Sharingan or not if this was all a conspiracy.

A pulsating vein appeared on Wu Feng's forehead at seeing Huo Yuhao's hesitation.

"HUO YUHAO! IF YOU DON'T COME OVER HERE RIGHT NOW, I'M GONNA KICK YOU INTO THE LAKE!" Wu Feng yelled, her anger flaring up.

Huo Yuhao jumped in surprise and quickly made his way towards Wu Feng, not wanting to incur her wrath any further.

Even though he could beat her down.

Was it a male instinct?

As he approached her, Wu Feng took a deep breath to calm herself down. She looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and concern.

"You don't need to apologize," she said sternly, surprising Huo Yuhao. "In the first place, I was the one who kept approaching you with ill intent and I deserved all... some, of those things you did to me."

She coldly snorted, "Trust me, I would've done worst if I we swapped places."

Huo Yuhao was at a lost for words.

He furrowed his brows, "Wu Feng, that–"

"Besides, you were trying your best to make it up to me already." Huo Yuhao froze, Wu Feng slowy walked up close to him. Her gaze unexpectedly softened, and her words carried a hint of vulnerability. "The match earlier, the one when you acted like some arrogant young master bully? You wanted to goad me, to provoke me into acting on my anger and hatred towards you; to finally make me... "Me" again."

"The cold, arrogant, and hot tempered girl that would beat anyone to submission just so she can prove her superiority."

"That's your way of apologizing, right?" She giggled, "Though the food should've been enough as an apology, to me that is. I don't know about other people you might have pissed off. I'm just a simple girl to satisfy."

She stopped and held out her palm, touching Huo Yuhao's left pectoral; where his heart was. She smiled at him, stunning him.

"People...change, Yuhao. Truthfully, I should be the one to apologize. Here you were, trying your best to mend the situation and make amends, and I didn't take the chance and meet your expectations. Sorry for disappointing you."

Huo Yuhao stared at Wu Feng, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the warmth of her touch on his skin, and it sent shivers down his spine.

Subconsciously, his face started heating up and turn red.

'....Was Wu Feng this beautiful?'

"...You didn't disappoint me," Huo Yuhao softly replied. Being taller, as he looked down, his head leaned against Wu Feng's but that unexpected little intimacy caused only a small pause. "...Just confused. I thought you were angry at me, no, I thought you hated me with a passion."

'Because trust me, I know that feeling well... Though your hatred couldn't compare to how I feel towards that "man" and his family.'

Wu Feng grinned, she raised her head and stared straight at Huo Yuhao's wide blue eyes with her clear crimson eyes.

The soft moonlight reflected off her short, flowing red hair, making her seem even more ethereal.

"But, Yuhao, how can I feel hatred when there's nothing like that in my heart towards you?"

"What?" Huo Yuhao blanched.

What did she just say? He clenched his hands, the light in his eyes darkened.

Wu Feng didn't notice his behavior and continued on saying, "Hehe. Surprised? Sister Tian was also as shocked as you when she heard me say it towards her a while ago. Ah, about that little trauma I have towards you... It'll be fine, we'll figure something out–"

"....go...." Huo Yuhao quietly muttered.

Wu Feng heard it and was surprised, "Huh? Go, what?"

"I have to go."

Before Wu Feng could react, Huo Yuhao disappeared into a swirl of leaves and vanished out of sight.

Wu Feng stood there, frozen in shock. She couldn't comprehend what just happened. One moment, they were having a heartfelt conversation, and the next, Huo Yuhao suddenly left without any explanation.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized that she might have said something wrong. She called out to him, her voice filled with desperation. "Huo Yuhao, wait! Please, don't go!"

But it was too late. Huo Yuhao was already gone, leaving Wu Feng standing alone on the shores of Sea God's Lake. She clenched her fists in frustration, unable to make sense of the situation.

"What did I do wrong?" she whispered to herself, her voice filled with self-doubt. "Why did he leave like that?"

Wu Feng sat down on the ground, tears streaming down her face as she tried to collect her thoughts. She wondered if she had pushed Huo Yuhao too hard, if she had revealed too much too soon. Maybe he wasn't ready to hear her true feelings.

"Hey, Wu Feng. I came to check on you." Ning Tian said as she walked out of the woods and towards Wu Feng, concern evident in her eyes. "So what happened? I just saw Huo Yuhao vanished–"

Wu Feng looked up at her, her tear-stained face revealing her vulnerability.

Ning Tian was stunned.

In her entire life that she spent with Wu Feng, this was the first time she'd her cry like this.

She'd seen her tear up in pain and in joy, but never like this. Wu Feng was always the strong and composed one, the one who rarely let her emotions show.

"Y-Young miss... Sister Ning Tian," Wu Feng said, her voice trembling, "I think I messed up. I said something... I said something that made him leave. I don't know what to do."

Ning Tian's face turned cold as she knelt down beside Wu Feng, wrapping her arms around her in a comforting embrace. "It's going to be okay, Wu Feng. We'll figure this out. Just breathe and tell me what happened."

Wu Feng shakily nod as Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao came through the bushes, listening to the girl talk about the conversation she had with Huo Yuhao.

....

What was with that?

What was with her?

Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth as he jumped across tree branches at great distances, and despite jumping around with great speed, he made almost zero sound. He was almost like a ghost as he zipped through leaves and trees.

He continued to run, not caring where he was going or how far he had gone. He needed to clear his head, to sort out his conflicted emotions.

But mostly to calm his rising anger.

'...how can I feel hatred when there's nothing like that in my heart towards you?'

Wu Feng's voice resounded in his mind.

Gritting his teeth, he let out a loud roar and appeared on a tall tree, jumping up further to reach the top and stood perfectly still.

He closed his eyes and opened to reveal his Sharingan, glowing a bright red. The power surged through his body, giving him a momentary sense of clarity.

But also a sense of a dark chill.

He silently gazed upon the upon Shrek Academy, its gigantic and majestic towering tree that was situated in the middle of the entire academy grounds. The moonlight shone down on the campus, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

But Huo Yuhao couldn't find peace in his heart. The turmoil within him was too strong, and he couldn't shake off the anger and confusion that consumed him.

'....how can I feel hatred when there's nothing like that in my heart towards you?'

Huo Yuhao furrowed his brows, the golden pupils in his eyes glowed brightly in a more... sinister luster.

'Hey. Had a good workout, Huo Yuhao? You're looking stronger every day. I'm glad to see all your hard work paying off.'

He felt his chest tightened, his face contorting in pain.

'However, I won't forgive you...unless you make me roasted fish and ramen.'

He gritted his teeth.

'Huo Yuhao, I like you! Please go out with me!'

"....I need to leave." He softly said, gasping, as his Sharingan shone with cold resolve.

"Being here...is just wasting my time. These bonds I'm making... they're making me weak, I wouldn't be able to to accomplish my goal if I keep being like this."

He looked down at his trembling hands and clenched them tightly.

"If that's how it is, I'll just have to sever these bonds."

....

Deep in his spiritual sea, a certain featureless figure sat in a cross-legged position.

Two slits appeared in his face before opening up to reveal his Sharingan, the pupils black than the gold Huo Yuhao has. He looked up, a strange glint flashed across his eyes as he muttered,

"Everything is going according to plan..."

Skydream floated behind him, a concern look flashed in his eyes as he turned his head up.

"Little Yuhao..."

....

AN: ....I have to be fucking honest here, I am completely confused on what I wrote here. All I remember was hearing "Payphone", "Perfect", and other songs and this happened! What?!

Eh, it kinda went with what I had wanted it to be so it's fine. Btw, I'm currently on another six hour Genshin Impact playthrough which is why this took longer than usual. And if you notice any errors, that's because my brain is tired as shit and couldn't processed the words properly. I'll edit this later on.

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