Chapter 479 - 302: A Self-Imposed Prison (3)

Yang Chunxi’s brow furrowed. "What craving?"

Rong Taotao whispered, "A... uh, a craving for Coach Si."

Si Huan Nian: ???

Through the Prison Lotus petal, Rong Taotao could clearly feel a faint aura emanating from Si Huan Nian.

It was an aura unique to the Nine-Petaled Lotus.

Yang Chunxi asked urgently, "What do you mean?"

Rong Taotao: "I want it so badly... her Lotus..."

The Prison Lotus wanted Si Huan Nian’s Lotus, and that desire was bleeding over, making Rong Taotao want it too!

The Prison Lotus had finally connected with Rong Taotao, and it was sending him a clear message: ’I want that Lotus Petal! I need it to be with me!’

It was no exaggeration to say that this single Prison Lotus petal wanted the Lotus inside Si Huan Nian even more than Rong Taotao himself did!

As he mulled this over, Rong Taotao was surprised to find that the Prison Lotus wasn’t just pointing him toward Si Huan Nian. It had also sensed several familiar auras in the distant north.

Rong Taotao’s pupils contracted.

’Are those... the locations of the other Lotus Petals?’

’Holy crap, for real?’

’So your unique Attribute is basically a Divine Artifact homing beacon?’

"Hm?" The next moment, Rong Taotao couldn’t help but murmur in confusion.

It made sense that many of the auras were to the north. North of the school was the direction of the Three-Wall Area, and beyond that lay the Snow Realm Vortex. It was perfectly normal for the Lotus Petals to be scattered across the northern lands of the Snow Realm, or even within the Vortex itself.

’But... why is there a faint trace of that same aura to the west?’

’The west? If you head west from Songjiang Soul City, isn’t that the way to Songbai Town?’

"Coach Si." Yang Chunxi looked at Si Huan Nian. "Could I trouble you to step away for a moment?"

But Si Huan Nian had a strange look on her face. "If you want it... I can give it to you."

In fact, Si Huan Nian had long considered giving her Lotus Petal to Rong Taotao. She had thought about it more than once and had even told him so directly.

"You’re joking, Coach Si," Yang Chunxi said hurriedly.

Despite Si Huan Nian’s glamorous, arrogant, and domineering exterior, she was actually living a life of great pain.

Because of the Lotus Petal’s accelerated training effect, Si Huan Nian was permanently stationed at the Martial Arts Hall. It was as if she were imprisoned there, confined to helping one class of students after another with their training.

Her absolute authority here, the fact that her word was law, was a product of Pine Soul Soul Martial’s own guilt.

In truth, Si Huan Nian was already exceptionally "noble." Anyone else probably wouldn’t have been able to endure the loneliness and would have quit long ago.

Si Huan Nian had no vacations and no holidays. What was even sadder was that she didn’t even know when this kind of life would ever end...

"Hua Nian, why don’t you step out for a bit? We can sort things out once Taotao has stabilized," Dong Dongdong said, also sensing the problem, and gently patted Si Huan Nian’s shoulder.

Si Huan Nian fell silent for a moment before letting out a wry laugh.

’How rash of me. If I gave the petal to Taotao, who would be left to watch over this Martial Arts Hall? Who would watch over generation after generation of Pine Soul students?’

’Giving away the Lotus Petal isn’t something I can just decide on a whim...’

Si Huan Nian smiled and shook her head. With a deep sigh, she turned, pushed the door open, and walked out.

It was just as the rumors said, just as Rong Taotao had heard: the Soul Martial Artists who came to the Snow Realm were all people of great conviction.

Si Huan Nian walked down to the ground floor and pushed open the main doors of the Martial Arts Hall. A puff of white vapor escaped her lips. "Hah..."

She tilted her head back, gazing at the bright moon that flickered in and out of sight through the cold mist, as if reminiscing about someone.

’I’m sorry. I’m just a little tired.’

’But that kid... he’s really infuriating!’

’He keeps tempting me, time and time again, offering me a way out...’

...