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Chapter 88 – Am I… lustful?
Three days later.
"Huo Yuhao, I've said all this because I truly hope you can receive the best cultivation guidance. After all, the innate Martial Spirit..."
Walking down the corridor toward the Dean's office, Huo Yuhao listened to Du Weilun's incessant chatter. His face bore a faint, polite smile from start to finish, unmoved by the other's well-meaning yet overly earnest persuasion. No matter how heartfelt the words, he gave not the slightest hint of emotional sway.
Beside him walked Gu Yuena, whose performance and talents far surpassed his own, yet from the moment they set out, Du Weilun ignored her entirely. His attention seemed to focus solely on Huo Yuhao, yet he never mentioned the benefits of joining the Battle Spirit Department.
Had any ordinary freshman been subjected to this torrent of sweet-talk from the Director of Outer Academy Battle Spirit Department, they would likely have been overwhelmed with excitement, ready to pledge their loyalty to the Battle Spirit Department with heart and soul.
But Huo Yuhao was no ordinary freshman.
The purpose of this meeting was simple: to entice students with resources. Du Weilun ignored Gu Yuena only because he was confident that she would accept whatever offer was presented. She was sure to join the Battle Spirit Department without hesitation. {T/N: Fools}
As for him? Huo Yuhao understood perfectly—he was merely a target for verbal persuasion. If he didn't yield, well… that was that.
Huo Yuhao sighed inwardly. He really couldn't hold back. In his previous life, he only had a white spirit ring, and his entrance level was indeed below standard, so it was understandable that he wasn't valued by them.
But now, starting with a thousand-year Spirit ring and as a Spirit Grandmaster, he still received the same treatment.
In that case, there was nothing more to discuss.
He turned slightly toward Gu Yuena and asked softly,
"Which department do you want to attend?"
Gu Yuena's purple eyes blinked, as if surprised by such an obvious question.
"I'll go wherever you go."
Upon hearing this, Du Weilun, who was walking in front, suddenly trembled and stopped speaking abruptly.
Seeing the pair so inseparable over the past few days, a terrifying thought suddenly struck him, causing cold sweat to break out across his body:
Could it be… they're a couple?!
But immediately, he tried to dismiss it.
No. That was impossible.
To secure Gu Yuena and Tang San, the Battle Spirit Department had offered unprecedented terms. He was certain, no student could reject them.
Besides, the two could meet even if they were in different departments. He understood the desire of young couples to be together constantly, but surely no one would risk their future…
The more Du Weilun tried to calm himself, the more his heart raced.
It was too quiet.
The tone in which Gu Yuena spoke seemed to indicate complete indifference to whatever advantages might be offered.
He couldn't risk a gamble. If she truly acted on her words, all the Dean's painstaking plans would be ruined.
Lost in thought, Du Weilun glanced back instinctively, only to catch sight of Gu Yuena reaching for Huo Yuhao's hand, gently squeezing it.
!!!
Dean, our Battle Spirit Department… we might really be doomed this time.
No.
Calm down… calm down. They hadn't even entered the office yet. There's still a chance to salvage the situation, there's still a chance…
Wait, didn't the academy rules forbid romantic relationships in the academy?
"Director Du, are you okay?"
Huo Yuhao's slightly concerned voice brought Du Weilun back to reality. Looking at the handsome face partially hidden by his hair, he forced out a smile far more awkward than tears.
"Ah… nothing, nothing at all."
Flustered, he waved a hand, then slapped his forehead as if recalling something.
"Oh dear, what a memory lapse! I suddenly remember the Dean mentioned this morning that he'd be out for a while. Why don't you two go to my office for some tea in the meantime?"
"...Is that so?"
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow in a faintly amused expression, glancing toward the Dean's office behind Du Weilun, its door tightly shut.
"Yes, yes," Du Weilun nodded profusely, moving subtly to block the doorway while nervously wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"See, the office door is closed. And as Director of Outer Academy, would I lie to you?"
Straightening his posture, he continued with feigned seriousness,
"You probably don't know, but trespassing into the Dean's office is a serious offence, potentially punishable by expulsion. Since the Dean is not here, we naturally cannot enter casually. Come on, let's head to my office."
Before he could finish, Xian Lin'er's voice rang from inside, tinged with accusation and clearly audible.
"Yan Shaozhe, didn't you send someone to bring them here? How could it take so long from the freshman teaching building? Are you two secretly up to something on the way?!"
Then came Yan Shaozhe's slightly embarrassed reply:
"Ahem, what are you saying? We're old friends. I, Yan Shaozhe, can be trusted."
"Trusted by me?" Xian Lin'er sneered, her voice rising a bit, "I can see through you. If they don't come now, I'll personally fetch them."
"Eh, eh, they're just a little late… no need to get so worked up. Maybe they're already at the door. I'll go see."
Footsteps soon approached, unhurriedly moving toward the entrance.
But outside, the scene was quite the opposite. Huo Yuhao's gaze sharpened as he watched Du Weilun's face turn crimson, almost as if he had experienced the apocalypse.
Click.
The crisp sound of the door opening echoed like the snapping of a guillotine rope dangling above him.
...
The Dean's office door swung open, and Yan Shaozhe's eyes lit up at the sight of the three.
"You two are here! Welcome! Director Du, why are you standing there? Let them in!"
Ignoring Du Weilun's apocalypse-like expression, Yan Shaozhe stepped aside and called inside with a self-satisfied grin,
"See? I told you they were at the door."
"Thank you, Dean Yan."
Huo Yuhao cast a meaningful glance at Du Weilun, then smiled warmly, thanking him before taking Gu Yuena's hand and stepping into the legendary Battle Spirit Department Dean's office.
Even Yan Shaozhe's gaze flickered slightly at the sight of their holding hands, yet he said nothing.
The office was not luxurious; it had a slightly dated feel. Besides a cluttered desk and a row of cabinets, there were only a few sofas for visitors.
Besides Xian Lin'er, another unexpected figure quietly sat on a sofa:
Tang San.
Compared to the last encounter when he had been near hysteria, Tang San now appeared far calmer. Their eyes met briefly before he looked away, treating Huo Yuhao as a stranger.
Even so, a flash of killing intent in his eyes and the Sin of Wrath swelling in Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea revealed Tang San's inner turmoil.
After nodding politely to Xian Lin'er, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena sat on the sofa, and the crisp voice of Ice Empress echoed in his mind:
"Yuhao, this Original Sin of Envy seems almost unlocked."
Following the reminder, Huo Yuhao focused on his spiritual sea. Skydream Ice Silkworm and Ice Empress hovered around a mostly dark pink sphere of light.
Thanks to Gu Yuena's constant presence, as well as Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan occasionally visiting him, Huo Yuhao's accumulation of the Sin of Envy since arriving at Shrek Academy had skyrocketed.
Even among Outer Academy students with modest cultivation, their sheer numbers contributed greatly.
If it weren't for the fact that many people witnessed his spirit battle with Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao probably would have already fully unlocked the Sin of Envy by now.
"I wonder what abilities Envy might grant…" Skydream murmured softly, his small golden eyes blinking.
Having spent so long near the Seven Original Sins, he had grown accustomed to their influence and no longer avoided them as before.
Ice Empress asked softly,
"Yuhao, is this unlocking truly without effect on you?"
"Don't worry. At least the first three are fine. As long as I'm cautious later, everything will be manageable."
Huo Yuhao had been unlocking the Seven Original Sins naturally, without overreaching, so even unlocking three consecutively had posed no issue.
Among the remaining four Original Sins, Jealousy/Envy progressed fastest, followed by Lust. Wrathand Slothwere still in early stages. {T/N: The first three are Pride, Gluttony, and Greed}
With three unlocked and prolonged exposure, Huo Yuhao had made new discoveries: if the host's nature aligned with the Original sins, the effect intensified. Prideful individuals, for example, suffered more from the Original Sin of Pride.
Fortunately, this was not a concern for him.
Besides, the upcoming Original Sins—Envy, Sloth, and Wrath—were unlikely to affect him significantly.
The only uncertain one remained: the Original Sin of Lust.
Am I… lustful?
(End of Chapter)