48: Chapter 48 Fire Dance's Initiative

The first day of the exchange tournament ended quickly.

Everyone left the venue one after another, discussing the day's exciting duels in small groups.

Ji Xuan and the Shenfeng Team also left the Tianshui Soul Fighting Arena, preparing to return to Shenfeng Academy.

Just as they were about to walk out of the Tianshui Academy gates, a fiery red figure suddenly blocked their path.

"Feng Xiaotian, can we talk alone?"

Huo Wu stood at the gate, her fiery red hair fluttering gently in the breeze.

She seemed to have been waiting here for a long time, and her injuries from the morning had already healed.

Her usual proud expression was gone, replaced by a complex emotion that was hard to describe.

Feng Xiaotian looked at Huo Wu before him, his heart skipping a beat.

He hadn't expected Huo Wu to actually come and seek him out on her own.

He suppressed the excitement in his heart and subconsciously looked at Ji Xuan, who was beside him.

Ji Xuan glanced at Huo Wu calmly and gave a slight nod to Feng Xiaotian. "We'll head back first."

Having said that, Ji Xuan and the Shenfeng group continued walking forward.

The members of the Shenfeng Team behind them began to whisper to each other as they walked:

"My god! Huo Wu actually came to find the captain on her own!"

"Has the sun risen from the west?"

"Could it be that after the captain defeated Huo Wu today, she wasn't satisfied and came to cause trouble for him?"

After the others had walked far away, Huo Wu suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Feng Xiaotian's wrist.

"Follow me."

Without waiting for his response, Huo Wu led him toward the outside of the academy.

Feeling the warm touch on his wrist and looking at Huo Wu's back, Feng Xiaotian's heart beat uncontrollably faster.

This was the first time he had such close contact with Huo Wu.

This intimate gesture caused the Shenfeng Team members, who were looking back from afar, to immediately erupt in an uproar:

"Am I seeing this right? Huo Wu is holding the captain's hand!"

"It's been so many years, is the captain finally going to succeed?"

...

Huo Wu led Feng Xiaotian to a quiet alley and, after confirming no one was around, let go of his hand.

"Feng Xiaotian, tell me the truth, did you use some method to overdraw your potential to increase your strength?"

Huo Wu turned to look directly at Feng Xiaotian, her tone serious.

Feng Xiaotian was taken aback, then laughed. "Do you think I would do such a thing?"

"Then explain it." Huo Wu stepped closer. "Raising your level to forty-four in such a short time, and your fourth spirit ring is nearly ten thousand years old; is that reasonable?"

Looking at Huo Wu, who was within arm's reach, Feng Xiaotian could clearly smell the faint fragrance in her hair and swallowed involuntarily.

Feng Xiaotian suppressed the palpitations in his heart, struggling to maintain a calm exterior.

"I'm sorry, I can't say." Feng Xiaotian shook his head.

He could not reveal Ji Xuan's identity, nor could he reveal the secret of the Immortal Plant and whale glue.

"Feng Xiaotian, why have you changed so much all of a sudden? You weren't like this before."

"Are you... no longer interested in me?"

Huo Wu lowered her head, her voice dropping a few decibels, and her fingers twisted together unconsciously.

"No." Feng Xiaotian immediately denied it. He looked at Huo Wu and said earnestly, "You are still very important to me."

"Really?"

"Yes, my feelings for you have never changed. It's just that I've come to understand one truth: only by being strong oneself can one earn the respect of others."

Upon hearing this, a trace of guilt flashed in Huo Wu's eyes, and she spoke softly:

"Actually... after today's match, I thought a lot. Seeing you like this now, I'm very happy for you."

"But." Huo Wu suddenly raised her head, a flash of stubbornness in her eyes. "I will definitely win it back in the future!"

"I'll be waiting."

Looking at her suddenly returned tsundere demeanor, Feng Xiaotian couldn't help but smile.

"Hmph, take me back to the academy!"

Huo Wu put her hands behind her back and walked out of the alley first.

Feng Xiaotian looked at Huo Wu's back and couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

Huo Wu was clearly trying to make amends, yet she still had to put on a tsundere act.

"Alright."

Feng Xiaotian caught up quickly, keeping a perfect distance from her.

The two walked down the street in silence, the setting sun stretching their shadows long.

...

"Let's stop here."

When they were close to Blazing Academy, Huo Wu suddenly stopped.

She turned to face Feng Xiaotian, and after hesitating several times, she suddenly said, "Xiaotian, we can give it a try..."

She finished speaking with a blushing face, then turned and ran into the academy like a startled deer.

Huo Wu... she agreed?!

Feng Xiaotian stood frozen on the spot, watching her receding figure, and couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.

Unexpectedly, the method Your Highness taught really worked.

A feeling of admiration for Ji Xuan welled up in his heart.

...

When he returned to Shenfeng Academy, Ji Xuan was sipping tea in the courtyard.

"It seems the talk went well," Ji Xuan said calmly.

Feng Xiaotian rubbed his nose. "Ye... Yes, Your Highness."

Ji Xuan put down his teacup. "Remember what I told you before."

"Rest assured, Your Highness." Feng Xiaotian nodded solemnly.

Just then, Feng Qingyang suddenly walked into the courtyard.

"Grandfather."

"Xiaotian, you're here too. You performed well today!"

Feng Qingyang patted his grandson's shoulder with satisfaction.

Immediately after, he walked up to Ji Xuan and bowed respectfully.

"Your Highness, your subordinate has not failed the mission. The deans of Tianshui Academy and Blazing Fire Academy would like to meet you in person."

"I understand. Tell them I will go after the match tomorrow."

"Yes, Your Highness."

...

The next day, the morning sun rose.

Today, Blazing Academy had a bye. Huo Wu got up extra early and dressed up meticulously.

She was wearing a fiery red dress, with light makeup on her face, a stark contrast to her usual dashing image.

She was carrying an exquisite food box, waiting quietly at the gate of Shenfeng Academy.

When the Shenfeng Team walked out of the academy, Huo Wu immediately went up to meet them and walked straight to Feng Xiaotian.

Today, Ji Xuan did not accompany them; he would go directly to Tianshui Academy later.

"For you." She shoved the food box into Feng Xiaotian's hands, her tone still carrying a hint of tsundere. "Don't overthink it, I just made extra."

Feng Xiaotian took the food box and smiled knowingly. "Thank you."

"Today you are fighting Elephant Armor Academy."

Huo Wu said with obvious disgust in her tone, "They were too arrogant yesterday; you must teach them a good lesson!"

Before Feng Xiaotian could answer, the Shenfeng Team members on the side jeered:

"Captain, Miss Huo Wu came specifically to cheer you on!"

"It seems the captain performed too handsomely yesterday and completely conquered her!"

"Should we change how we address her to sister-in-law?!"

Huo Wu's pretty face turned crimson instantly. She glared at the jeering team members in embarrassment and annoyance, but for the first time in history, she did not speak up to refute them.

"You should do something about them!"

She tugged gently on Feng Xiaotian's sleeve and whispered.

Feng Xiaotian looked at Huo Wu, who was rarely showing such a girlish demeanor, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

He turned to the team members and said, "Alright, stop messing around, it's time to go to the arena."

Everyone exchanged knowing smiles and restrained themselves a bit.