Chapter 220 The Twenty-Second Day of Entering a Rebirth Novel

Chapter 220: The Twenty-Second Day After Entering the Rebirth Novel

After the palace banquet, the reverence and devotion for the National Preceptor An Yi from both the court and the commoners reached an unprecedented peak.

Even those incorruptible civil officials who had harbored a trace of doubt in their hearts now completely shut their mouths, no longer dared to voice any dissent.

After this incident, the barbarian envoy became thoroughly docile. In the subsequent negotiations, they hardly dared to make any excessive demands, quickly leaving the capital with their tails between their legs.

And at the National Preceptor’s estate, the over thirty disciples, having witnessed their teacher’s awe-inspiring power, were filled with shock and fervor that knew no bounds.

They had already studied diligently because they were chosen, but now they devoted themselves entirely to their studies, almost to the point of forgetting to eat and sleep.

Whether they were sons of officials or commoner families, every single one now had only one thought—to seize this chance to defy fate!

If they could grasp even a hint of the “laws” and “transformations” taught by their teacher, might they also possess such world-shaking power?

Even if not, to learn even a sliver of authentic teachings would be enough to benefit them for life!

An Yi’s eyes curved as he smiled at his students.

“Good, good,” he thought. Studying hard, changing this world—it still depends on them.

Huo Huai sat in his spot, only dared to glance at An Yi out of the corner of his eye.

The scene in the Hall of Assembled Excellence that day replayed endlessly in his mind.

The National Preceptor stood on the high platform, his black robes billowing, deciding life and death with a wave of his hand, looking down upon all beings.

And himself?

He was nothing but an ordinary mortal, an ant who couldn't even dare to voice the longings in his heart.

The vast gap lay like an impassable chasm between him and that figure.

These days, he had come to see clearly: the National Preceptor was gentle to all who came to study—regardless of status, gender, or age. To him, everyone was the same.

To everyone...

Like the bright moon shining on every inch of land, like the clear breeze brushing against everyone...

Huo Huai lowered his eyes.

He resented that the bright moon hung high, not shining only on him; that the breeze blew wantonly, refusing to be devoted.

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That day, Huo Huai was reading in his own courtyard study.

Through the window, the moonlight was cold and clear, and autumn insects chirped.

Before him lay spread-out paper; originally, he was organizing notes from the day’s lecture, but as he wrote, his mind wandered of its own accord.

When he came back to his senses, he looked down at the paper before him and froze stiff.

On the white rice paper, besides the notes, in the most prominent spot, stood out two characters—An Yi.

His name.

Huo Huai’s face changed color, and he instinctively reached out to crumple the paper and destroy it.

“What are you looking at?” A voice came from behind him.

Huo Huai turned around and saw his father, Marquis Zhongyong, Huo Hong, standing at the study door, his sharp gaze fixed on him and the paper before him that he hadn't had time to cover.

Huo Huai froze, instinctively wanting to shield the desk with his body, but it was already too late.

Having spent years on the battlefield, Huo Hong’s eyes were far too keen; he had already clearly read the name on the paper.

The handwriting betrayed his feelings. His brow instantly locked in a frown, his face darkened, and he strode into the study, his gaze blazing as he stared at his son: “Whose name is that?”

Huo Huai pressed his lips together, a flicker of panic crossing his stern face, but he quickly suppressed it. He lowered his eyes and remained silent.

“Speak!” Huo Hong’s voice carried a barely perceptible shock and anger.

He already had a suspicion in his heart, but it was too horrifying to acknowledge, and he dared not believe it.

Huo Huai remained silent, but the hand resting on the desk pressed down tightly on the paper.

Seeing this, Huo Hong felt the premonition of disaster grow stronger.

He took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and said with incredulous horror: “You… could it be that you harbor improper feelings for the Immortal Master?!”

Huo Huai’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but he did not deny it.

A silent admission.

Huo Hong gasped, staggered back half a step.

A shudder of fear ran through him—thank heavens the Immortal Master was still unaware!

If the Immortal Master were to learn that a son of the Huo family had dared to covet the Immortal Master, harboring such rebellious and profane thoughts, the consequences… he dared not imagine!

The image of the barbarian envoy turning to ash at the palace banquet was still vivid in his mind!

“You… have you lost your mind?!” Huo Hong was both shocked and furious, pointing at Huo Huai as he scolded in a low, harsh voice:

“Daydreaming! Pure daydreaming! What kind of person is the Immortal Master? A true immortal! We are mere mortals, ants in the dust—how dare you entertain such blasphemous thoughts?!”

His voice was anguished and hasty: “Moreover, the two of you… you are both men! If word of this gets out, the century-old reputation of the Huo family would be destroyed! How could I face our ancestors in the afterlife?!”

Huo Huai raised his head and met Huo Hong’s gaze: “Father! Your son… has never meant to disrespect the Immortal Master, let alone harbor any thought of blasphemy!”

He took a deep breath and, with a bitter twist of his lips, continued: “I know this is utterly impossible. The Immortal Master is like the bright moon in the sky—pure, radiant, beyond the touch of mortal dust. If… if I could receive even a shred of his favor, even a single moment of his gaze, I would consider my life… without regret.”

Huo Hong understood that perfectly well!

If that were possible, he'd admit Huo Huai was impressive and support it wholeheartedly!

But clearly, it was impossible. To offend the Immortal Master would bring disaster!

“But it is impossible! I know it full well!” Huo Huai pressed on, his tone resolute: “I will never reveal my feelings to the Immortal Master, nor cause him any trouble or worry. I only ask to remain his student, to watch him from afar… and that is enough.”

Huo Hong trembled with rage at this “watching from afar” declaration—it was even more alarming than if his son had openly declared his pursuit of the Immortal Master!

This was clearly a love so deep he could never escape it.

“Absurd! Ridiculous!” Huo Hong paced furiously in the study, his mind racing for a solution.

He stopped, a glint of resolve in his eyes: “No! I cannot let you persist in this folly! I'll find you a good wife right away! Once you have a family, a wife and children, you'll naturally get rid of these crazy ideas!”

He couldn't stand by and watch his son go down this dead end.

But Huo Huai cut in again, his voice low but with a chilling stubbornness: “Father, don't trouble yourself.”

He raised his eyes, meeting Huo Hong’s gaze directly: “I will never take a wife, not in this life.”

“You!” Huo Hong’s eyes nearly popped out in fury.