Taking a Disciple

"Please don't misunderstand, Duchess. I won't do anything to you. I'm merely asking you to prepare some food for me and my companions."

Huo Yun'er had the delicate air of a widow. "You... don't try anything. I'll do as you ask. Please don't hurt my child."

Seeing that she was about to kneel, Xu Xiao raised a hand to stop her. He was not a bad person; her guard was simply too strong, so he had no choice but to resort to this.

He took out his Communication Soul Tool.

Xu Xiao: I'm treating you all to something better.

Meng Hongchen: Did you steal someone's egg-laying chicken?

Xu Xiao: Come or don't.

After sending the route to the girls, Huo Yun'er led Xu Xiao to her small courtyard. It did not look large, but it was kept exceptionally neat, with all kinds of green plants growing around its perimeter.

Using his Double Pupil, Xu Xiao noticed that when Huo Yun'er appeared, the flowers and grass gently swayed as though welcoming the owner of the little house home.

Before the two had taken more than a few steps, laughter and chatter came from behind them.

Snow Empress walked in front on her long legs, while Meng Hongchen whispered girlish secrets to Ye Guyi. When they reached an amusing part, neither of them bothered to maintain their image as they burst into laughter.

Thirty minutes later.

"You awful man! How could you bully Sister Huo like this?!" Like a mischievous child, Meng Hongchen leapt onto Xu Xiao's back and began biting him indiscriminately.

Xu Xiao finally managed to pull her off. Feeling a little embarrassed under everyone's gaze, he said, "Meng, you can't act like this just because her pastries are delicious."

When Huo Yun'er pointed at her mouth, Meng Hongchen hurriedly wiped away the pastry crumbs at the corner of her lips.

"You really went too far this time!" Ye Guyi joined in as well. With her sacred attribute, she did not want Xu Xiao bullying a widow.

"Alright, little sisters, give him some face. Besides, he had no choice..."

Seeing Snow Empress temporarily suppress the two girls' urge to stand up for Huo Yun'er, Xu Xiao blinked at her. Sister Xue is still the one who cares about me.

Snow Empress blinked back at him. Don't think this Emperor doesn't know what you're planning.

So what they're really angry about is that I flirted with a widow behind their backs? Xu Xiao's confusion immediately cleared, but he had genuinely only come here for a meal and to take a look at Huo Yuhao.

He had long learned through his subordinates that after the Duchess fell ill, Huo Yuhao had taken advantage of the chaos to obtain medicinal ingredients. Under the guidance of the physician Xu Xiao had arranged, he cured Huo Yun'er's condition.

This seemingly peaceful little town had also been constructed overnight with Xu Jiawei's help. Other than Huo Yun'er and her son, who had truly come here to live,

everyone else was a soul master arranged by the Star Luo Emperor for their protection. When Xu Jiawei learned of Xu Xiao's request, his eyes had widened.

Xu Jiawei: My brother-in-law certainly has unique tastes. Don't worry, I will protect that place until you arrive, brother-in-law.

After reading those words, Xu Xiao's Brain had trouble processing them. What the hell is in this guy's head? And he's an emperor, too.

Still, Xu Jiawei could not exactly be blamed. The nobles of Douluo Continent knew how to have their fun, and after being emperor for so many years, he naturally knew all too well.

"It's good that the misunderstanding has been cleared up. I wrongly blamed Young Master earlier." Huo Yun'er moved to bow, but the quick-eyed Xu Xiao caught her small hand.

"Just treat us as ordinary travelers."

Xu Xiao's sudden physical contact made Huo Yun'er's body, untouched by a man for many years, react strangely. But she quickly concealed it.

Seeing the peerless beauties around Xu Xiao, Huo Yun'er felt that she might have been overthinking things. How could he possibly be interested in me?

"Oh, Yuhao is still asleep. I'll go call him over."

Outside a small room, Huo Yun'er suddenly opened the door. Huo Yuhao, who had been eavesdropping by the door, nearly fell over in surprise.

Huo Yun'er tenderly rubbed her son's head. "Are you alright, Yuhao? Were you listening to Mother just now?"

Caught out, Yu Hao did not dare look at her. Like a child who had done something wrong, he merely nodded. "Mother brought home a big brother and three very beautiful big sisters today. Yu Hao was just curious."

Huo Yun'er did not blame him. She pinched his cheek, took his hand, and led him outside. "Mother will introduce you to them. One of them is even a very powerful soul master!"

Upon hearing that there was a powerful soul master, Huo Yuhao instantly forgot the little bit of unhappiness he felt at being discovered. After all, it had only been one year since his martial soul awakened.

Unfortunately, he had been suppressed at every turn in the Duke's residence and could not receive a proper soul master education. Yu Hao only wanted to meet that person as quickly as possible and ask him to teach him.

Very soon, the young Huo Yuhao saw a handsome big brother chatting and laughing with three sisters who looked like immortals.

As though sensing someone watching him, Xu Xiao turned and met the gaze of seven-year-old Huo Yuhao.

"This is your child, right? Come, sit to Big Brother's right." Xu Xiao patted the empty seat beside him.

Yu Hao ran over at once after hearing that, as if afraid someone might take the seat from him. Huo Yun'er looked at her child with aching tenderness. She had no money to provide him with an education.

Right now, she only hoped that Xu Xiao could help her child, even if he merely answered a few simple questions. Carefully lifting her blue dress, she sat down to Yu Hao's right.

"Big Brother, are you a soul master too?!" Yu Hao looked at Xu Xiao excitedly, his large eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge.

Snow Empress and the other girls all liked this well-behaved child who had just come out. They sent voice transmissions to Xu Xiao one after another, saying that they wanted to be the child's master in the future.

Xu Xiao's lips curved upward. As expected of the child of destiny—he had barely appeared before awakening the girls' dormant maternal instincts. Xu Xiao refused their requests and told them that they could only be his master's wives; he himself would be the child's future master.

Meng Hongchen fiercely glared at Xu Xiao, her expression seeming to say, Don't corrupt the child and turn him into someone as full of tricks as you are.

Ignoring the girls, Xu Xiao gently rubbed Yu Hao's hair as well. "Of course Big Brother is a soul master, and a very powerful one at that!"

"Wow! Big Brother is so amazing! Can you teach Yu Hao some knowledge about cultivation?"

Only after seeing that Xu Xiao did not seem angry did little Yu Hao continue, "Yu Hao will treat Big Brother and all the sisters to grilled fish. The fish Yu Hao grills is the tastiest!"

"Hahaha, this Emperor will make the decision for him and agree. Yuhao, go ahead and ask him anything you want. If he can't answer, this Emperor is here." Snow Empress suddenly cut in, patting Xu Xiao's shoulder as she laughed brightly.

Yu Hao merely looked at Xu Xiao pitifully with his big eyes. After suffering for so many years in the Duke's residence, he had developed a habit of judging people. The noble air around Xu Xiao was unlike anything he had ever seen in anyone before.

"Is Big Brother willing? Yu Hao only has these grilled fish." Huo Yuhao looked at Xu Xiao, his heart rising and falling.

"No."

Before Yu Hao had time to feel disappointed, he heard Xu Xiao continue, "You and I are fated. Simply teaching you some basics won't do. Are you willing to become my disciple?"