Chapter 27: The Unreachable Cold God (2)
The weather in Haicheng in September was still hot and humid, a little stuffy.
[Ding.] Before going out, a gentle, artificial “ding” sounded in Huo Xian’s mind. This was a notification sound Huo Yuan had set up to prevent Huo Xian from being startled by his sudden voice.
Clearly, this was a conclusion drawn from Huo Xian’s previous interactions with the system when reversing time. Huo Xian hated the system, and Huo Yuan didn’t want to be hated himself.
[Huo Xian, it will rain today; bring an umbrella.] After the notification, Huo Yuan spoke softly.
Huo Xian couldn’t help but curl his lips into a slight smile. His mother, who was seeing him off, looked a little surprised, “So happy on the first day of school?”
Huo Xian, in keeping with his character, suppressed his smile, shook his head and nodded, without explaining further, turning to say, “Mom, it might rain today, I’ll bring an umbrella, you and Dad should bring one too.”
“The sky doesn’t look too good today, but it seems alright.” Huo Mu said, calling out to Huo Fu in the living room, “Lao Huo, did the morning news report the weather forecast?”
Huo Fu replied without looking up, “Bring an umbrella. Even if it doesn’t rain, it can provide shade.”
Huo Mu was speechless.
After saying goodbye to his parents, Huo Xian went downstairs to the carport to get his new bicycle. It was funny; although their community had a carport, residents generally used cars, and even children were chauffeured to and from school. The Huo family wasn’t poor, but the couple didn’t raise their child in luxury. From a young age, they cultivated the original owner’s independence, so although the original owner was aloof, he didn’t have any spoiled brat airs.
He got on his bicycle, the wind brushing past his ears, bringing a wave of coolness.
[Huo Xian, when I save enough points to appear in physical form, can I ride your bike? It looks like a lot of fun.] Huo Yuan said with interest.
Huo Xian smiled, [Of course.]
[That’s settled then. You can’t go back on your word.] Huo Yuan said happily.
[Going back on your word is for puppies.]
The Huo family’s community was a school district, with kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools nearby, including two high schools: Haicheng Experimental High School and Hai Da Affiliated High School. Hai Da Affiliated High School was the affiliated high school of Haicheng University, where Huo Fu and Huo Mu taught. It was next to Haicheng University, and its admission scores weren’t lower than Experimental High School.
Logically, the original owner would be more suitable for Hai Da Affiliated High School; he could go to and from school with his parents. However, Huo Fu felt that he and his wife were old acquaintances with the principal and some leaders of Hai Da Affiliated High School, and he didn’t want the original owner to receive special treatment from the school’s teachers because of his parents’ connections.
But Huo Fu didn’t know that the original owner actually preferred Hai Da Affiliated High School, not because of his parents’ connections, but because Hai Da Affiliated High School’s Rocket Class was renowned throughout Haicheng’s high schools. He wanted to get in, but his father didn’t ask for his opinion before making him apply to Experimental High School. This became the key point of conflict between father and son later, and the original owner used this to attack his father, saying that if his father hadn’t forced him to go to Experimental High School, he wouldn’t have met He Wenqu, and wouldn’t have suffered what happened later.
The original owner indeed suffered both mental and physical torture, his psychology becoming twisted and dark. Huo Fu also hadn’t considered the original owner’s thoughts; this was the conflict caused by lack of communication.
“Beep beep—” A car honked twice.
Huo Xian thought he was blocking the road and was about to move aside when he suddenly remembered that he was riding on the motor vehicle lane and there was no such thing as blocking the road. He glanced at the main road.
With this glance, he met a pair of eyes full of smiles, which brightened even more when he saw his face clearly.
“Hi, classmate, good morning.” A boy in Experimental High School’s uniform enthusiastically waved to him, “You’re really handsome!” After the compliment, he paused. He had wanted to compliment the cool bike, but why did he start by complimenting his appearance?
The boy was about to apologize when Huo Xian turned at the intersection, while the car had to wait for the traffic light, so he could only watch Huo Xian’s back as it disappeared into the distance.
[Huo Xian, that person is He Wenqu.] Huo Yuan, thinking Huo Xian didn’t recognize him, reminded him.
Huo Xian nodded, [Yeah, I know.]
Huo Yuan was puzzled. Why did Huo Xian know it was He Wenqu and remain so calm? The original owner had been hysterical towards He Wenqu, and having been thrown into a lake and disfigured, losing an eye, he should hate that person, right?
However, Huo Xian asked, [Huo Yuan, do you think He Wenqu is more handsome or I am?]
[…Ah?] Huo Yuan was bewildered, and after a moment of understanding, he weakly said, [Don’t all humans have two eyes, a nose, and a mouth?]
Huo Xian: “…” His words were like comparing a yellow chicken and a red chicken. How do you determine which chicken is more beautiful, given that the only difference is the color of their feathers?
[Huo Xian, I… did I say something wrong?] Huo Yuan cautiously asked.
[No.] Huo Xian replied, then asked again, [Is your human form your consciousness form?]
[Yes.]
Huo Xian said, [Your consciousness form is the same as your human form.]
[Yes, yes.] Huo Yuan agreed, [Many high-dimensional beings are humanoid. It is said that gods are humanoid. We high-dimensional beings tend to approach the gods in consciousness, and our consciousness form also tends towards the gods. But we are still different from humans in lower-dimensional spaces. Human bodies and souls are too, too, too, too fragile. No wonder the Bureau suggests that we find hosts to do missions; if we do it ourselves, the world might be destroyed before the mission is completed.]
Huo Xian twitched the corner of his mouth at the repeated “too’s”, [The laws should have restrictions on your power, right?]
[Ah… you’re right!] Huo Yuan suddenly realized, then awkwardly said, [But when our consciousness enters the host’s body, it’s still easy to injure the body, and repair requires points, and it’s possible that we won’t have enough points to buy repair fluid after completing the mission.]
Huo Xian: […] Sorry, humans are too weak and hold you mission workers back.
…
Huo Xian’s class was Class 9 of Grade 1. The key classes would be separated after the arts and science divisions in the second semester of Grade 1; now the new students were randomly assigned to classes, and the boys and girls were separated during military training.
He arrived a little late; most of the students were already in class, and the back seats were mostly occupied. He also saw two girls about five feet tall sitting in the fourth and fifth rows, while the front rows were relatively empty.
The seating arrangement would definitely be adjusted later. And his deskmate after the adjustment was none other than He Wenqu, another boy in Class 9 who was about the same height as the original owner, or even a little taller.
Huo Xian walked towards a seemingly empty seat in the back row, politely asking the student already sitting at the desk, “Hello, is anyone sitting here?”
“Huh? No.” The boy, who was engrossed in a game, replied without looking up.
“Thank you.” Huo Xian thanked him after getting the answer, then put down his schoolbag and sat down.
When he spoke, the previously noisy classroom quieted down. When he spoke to the boy playing games, the noise became even quieter. The boy was the only one in the class who wasn’t wearing a school uniform but was dressed in designer brands. When he entered the classroom, his face was particularly sullen, and he almost hit a classmate who accidentally blocked his way. He was very arrogant and domineering and had already been labeled as “unapproachable” by everyone.
Huo Xian’s pale face, despite the sun, made him feel out of place in the classroom, and his aloof temperament and distant demeanor were like a snow lotus on the Tian Shan Mountains, only to be viewed from afar.
Therefore, Huo Xian’s initiative to speak to the “unapproachable” boy made some students nervous.
Huo Xian ignored the curious glances of his classmates and called out to Huo Yuan, [Huo Yuan, are you there?]
[I am.] Huo Yuan immediately responded, [Huo Xian, what are your orders?]
Huo Xian opened a book, barely concealing the slight curve of his lips, saying, [No orders, just afraid you’re bored.]
[Not bored, I’m observing humans.] Huo Yuan said excitedly, [Huo Xian, there are 26 people in your class now, 15 girls. Except for the girl with glasses in the third row from the right and the girl in front of her whose hair covers her entire face, who haven’t changed, the other 13 girls are all experiencing increased heart rate and blushing.] Then he summarized: [They like you!]
Huo Xian: […]
He almost couldn’t maintain his composure and helplessly said, [Liking someone simply for their appearance isn’t true liking but a simple appreciation of beautiful things.] He shamelessly gave himself a gold medal, then, before Huo Yuan could elaborate on “true liking,” he said, [Can you connect to this world’s network?]
[I can.]
Huo Xian was about to guide him on connecting to the internet to learn about the history and culture of this world when his deskmate suddenly kicked the desk, muttering curses, “Damn, idiot!”
[Wow, this person is terrifying…] Huo Yuan was startled and quickly concerned for Huo Xian, [Huo Xian, are you scared?]
[I’m fine, don’t worry.] Huo Yuan’s concern was quite soothing.
“Damn, with this skill, you’re still a King? King your mother…” His deskmate continued his stream of insults, and his fingers almost poked a hole in the screen. Finally, he exited the game interface, intending to go to the restroom, but when he looked up, he saw someone sitting next to him. Already in a bad mood because of the game, he immediately found an outlet for his frustration. With a fierce expression, he asked, “Who are you? Who allowed you to sit here? Get lost.”
His voice was loud enough for everyone in the class to hear, including He Wenqu, who had just entered.
He Wenqu immediately saw the boy he had met ten minutes ago. His eyes lit up, then he frowned. The flashy boy’s attitude was too arrogant; he really needed a dose of reality. His fists clenched.
[Huo Xian, He Wenqu is coming over.] Huo Yuan reminded him.
Huo Xian replied, without looking at He Wenqu, he said to his irritable deskmate, “Why don’t you demonstrate how to get lost first?”
As soon as he said this, He Wenqu stopped in his tracks. Some classmates gasped, and the more timid girls covered their mouths, fearing that a violent incident would erupt.
Only Huo Yuan said, [Huo Xian, don’t be afraid, I’ll protect you!]
[Don’t.] Huo Xian stopped him, [I can handle it.]
Huo Yuan was doubtful but still gave him confidence, [If you need help, call me anytime, I’ll help you beat him up.]
Huo Xian thought better of it. Squashing an ant isn’t illegal, but beating someone up could land you in jail. He needed to teach Huo Yuan some basic laws later.
The brief exchange didn’t affect the deskmate’s cold demeanor. He stared sharply at Huo Xian, his ring-laden hands gradually clenching. The surrounding classmates dared not breathe, but despite the deskmate’s dangerous appearance, Huo Xian remained calm and composed.
Finally, the deskmate raised his fist.
He Wenqu’s pupils constricted, and he took a step forward to stop him, “Watch out—”
However, the deskmate’s fist didn’t fall. He Wenqu… stopped for nothing.
The deskmate met Huo Xian’s calm gaze, then curled one corner of his mouth, changing his fist into a palm and slapping it on the desk, his tone sinister, “Good, you’ve successfully piqued my ‘interest.’ For the next three years, just you wait.” He placed his palm on the desk, jumped up nimbly, and landed gracefully, his attitude arrogant.
The surrounding students made way for him, further confirming that this was someone not to be trifled with.
Huo Xian took out a tissue and leisurely wiped away the shoe prints on the desk, as if he hadn’t been affected by his deskmate’s provocation and threats at all.
Mei Heng, He Wenqu’s sworn enemy, had greatly assisted You Zi’an and He Wenqu’s relationship, and of course, hadn’t shied away from bullying the original owner.
It remained to be seen whether Mei Heng and He Wenqu would still become friends now that Huo Xian had severed their initial encounter.
Author’s Note: Third update~