Su Tong and Ye Guyi heard each other's words, exchanged a glance, and nodded in tacit understanding, instantly forming a united front.
Seeing their expressions, Ji Juechen felt somewhat left out, but he didn't mind.
"It seems you have things to discuss. I'll go meditate then."
Having developed a slight ability to read the room thanks to Jing Ziyan, Ji Juechen voluntarily left the lounge.
Then Ye Guyi and Su Tong's gazes fell on Huo Yuhao and Snow Empress.
After a moment's hesitation, Su Tong decided to start with a different question first: "Teacher, what's your relationship now? Compared to ten thousand years ago, you seem much closer."
The intimate way Huo Yuhao had addressed Snow Empress earlier hadn't gone unnoticed by Ye Guyi alone—Su Tong had noticed too.
Now, she'd use this to test the waters and see how they responded to such topics.
If they avoided the question, she'd drop it for now.
"We're partners." Huo Yuhao's tone was calm, completely candid.
Hearing him state it so simply and directly, Snow Empress's cheeks reddened slightly, but the corners of her mouth lifted involuntarily.
But to Su Tong, these words struck like a muffled thunderclap.
Wait,where had that oblivious straight man teacher from ten thousand years ago gone? When did he suddenly become so enlightened?
Su Tong's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Huo Yuhao. But thinking about his answer, she was again left speechless.
Still, this manner of answering was still terminal straight-man syndrome.
Having already guessed this outcome, Ye Guyi's expression remained unchanged upon hearing Snow Empress's words.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's open demeanor, she didn't hesitate and asked directly about what concerned her.
Though they looked young, they were all over a hundred years old and close. Huo Yuhao didn't shy away from such topics and was so direct—there was no reason for them to be embarrassed.
"So what about that Silver Dragon King you mentioned?"
From Snow Empress's earlier words, Gu Yuena clearly had feelings for Huo Yuhao. In fact, Snow Empress's tone gave them the impression that Gu Yuena was her romantic rival.
But based on their understanding of Huo Yuhao, if he didn't accept someone, he wouldn't give them false hope.
So what was the situation now? He already had Snow Empress—by rights, he would have made things clear with the Silver Dragon King. Was Gu Yuena simply persistent, or—
"Na'er?"
Huo Yuhao's tone remained calm. "Also."
The lounge fell silent again for a moment.
Su Tong felt she'd already suffered enough shocks today, but hearing this still made her eye twitch: "...Also?"
"Mm." Huo Yuhao said steadily. "Both Na'er and Snow are my future partners."
Su Tong took a deep breath and rubbed her temples.
So he really did have two.
She couldn't help muttering, "Teacher, with this approach of yours—how did we never see this side of you ten thousand years ago? And when talking about this, you're just openly admitting it?"
Oh no, her respected teacher had become a womanizer—what to do, asking for advice online, urgent.
"If I tried to hide it at a time like this, I'd truly be irredeemable trash."
Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes. "Alright, anything else you want to ask, just say it. I told you all this so you could clear things up."
If he didn't make things clear now, it would be truly awkward when they met Gu Yuena later. And this was his issue—he didn't want to pass the trouble onto Gu Yuena.
Su Tong and Ye Guyi were silent for a moment, exchanging glances. The former asked tentatively, "Teacher, I wake up and suddenly have two Mistresses. In the future, there won't be a third—or more—will there?"
Huo Yuhao looked at her calmly: "Do you think that's likely?"
His gaze made Su Tong's scalp tingle. She gave an awkward smile: "Probably not... but since you've already set the precedent, I was just asking."
"Having two companions in life is already rare."
Huo Yuhao looked up at Snow Empress, his gaze softening, his tone lightening. "There won't be more. I'm not exactly devoted, so I won't say pretty words."
"It's just that I barely have time to be with either of them, and I need them to be understanding. How could I divide this affection further?"
Snow Empress paused, her eyes growing soft.
Ye Guyi and Su Tong: "..."
They hadn't expected to be force-fed dog food.
"Any more questions?" Huo Yuhao withdrew his gaze, his tone returning to normal.
Su Tong said flatly, "No. If I ask any more, I probably won't need dinner tonight."
Ye Guyi's expression didn't change—if anything, it softened. Her tone light: "You're still the same. But that's the Huo Yuhao I know."
She paused, looked at Snow Empress and Huo Yuhao, and smiled. "You two probably have things to say to each other. We won't disturb you."
With that, she signaled Su Tong, who understood and rose.
"Then Teacher, see you at dinner."
"Mm. Rest well." Huo Yuhao nodded and said no more.
The door closed softly behind them.
After leaving the lounge, Su Tong turned to Ye Guyi, squinting as she lowered her voice: "How do you feel?"
Ye Guyi was silent for a moment, then sighed softly. "You wouldn't believe me if I said I felt nothing. But some things were already clear ten thousand years ago."
She paused, then smiled, her expression open: "So the disappointment isn't much. In fact, hearing his implicit refusal made me happy. Ten thousand years have passed—he's changed a little, but at his core, he's the same. His attitude toward what he values, his boundaries with everything—they've never wavered."
If Huo Yuhao had become someone who accepted everyone without boundaries, she would have been disappointed and disgusted. That person would no longer be the one she knew.
Su Tong raised an eyebrow: "But Teacher didn't choose back then—there was still a chance. Now, though—"
"So what? I'm still his comrade, his friend, his partner. Just not a lover."
Ye Guyi brushed her hair back, a faint smile curving her lips. "We're all over a hundred years old—not those naive young girls anymore. If we cared too much about these things, wouldn't we be just like those from Spirit Hall?"
She suddenly coughed, realizing she'd spoken poorly, and quickly stopped.
She didn't mean to disrespect their predecessors, but what Huo Yuhao had once taught Su Tong was true—being trapped by love and clinging to obsessions was never the right path. And she, Ye Guyi, had no intention of becoming such a person.
Su Tong stared at her for a few moments, then smiled. "You're quite open-minded."
Ye Guyi smiled back as she looked away. "He taught you this—there are many things in life worth caring about. Love and romance are just a small part. He's someone I respect and... like, someone I want to walk alongside. But the capacity in which I do so isn't really that important."
She paused, her gaze turning curious as she looked at Su Tong. "Speaking of which, what about you? Why are you so concerned about these questions?"
"Hm? Me?" Su Tong blinked, then shrugged. "I'm different from you two. I just wanted to hear Teacher's gossip. And I wanted to help you out."
Ye Guyi looked at her silently.
Su Tong met her gaze steadily. After a moment, Ye Guyi looked away first, thoughtful.
"So it really isn't that?"
Su Tong was speechless. "What were you thinking? We're teacher and disciple. You know Teacher's personality—if I'd had such ridiculous thoughts back then, I'd have been set straight immediately. What I feel for Teacher is more like admiration."
Don't be so self-absorbed—Teacher wasn't some universal heartthrob that every girl liked. He never thought that way himself.
Though the unofficial histories did include her, that was purely her having too much fun—or rather, going too far. It wasn't because she had any "improper feelings."
***
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