Living Means Looking Forward, Not Dwelling in the Past

"We're not selling Grilled Fish," Huo Yuhao replied.

Hearing this, the chubby young man looked somewhat disappointed, but he did not force the issue. Instead, he smiled and said, "Then forget it."

"But I can grill fish for you for free."

Just as everyone was feeling disappointed, Huo Yuhao spoke again. At those words, everyone except the expressionless Ling Luochen's eyes lit up.

Han Ruoruo and Zhang Lexuan wore faintly amused expressions.

"Is that true?" The chubby young man looked delighted.

"It is." Huo Yuhao nodded. "But you'll have to catch the fish yourselves."

"Heh, that's easy." The chubby young man smiled and turned to the sharp-eyed youth. "Old Chen, catch some fish for this little brother."

"Mm." Chen Zifeng did not speak much. He did not want to eat the chunks of meat provided by the academy either; they were far too awful.

Very soon, under Huo Yuhao's watchful gaze, the sharp-eyed youth released a strangely shaped sword. Three blood grooves ran along its blade, giving off an exceedingly sharp aura.

"Soul Chasing Sword."

Huo Yuhao recognized this Martial Soul at a glance.

Looking at this group, Huo Yuhao's heart trembled as a guess surfaced in his mind, though he still did not dare confirm it.

Whoosh.

Under Old Chen's control, the Soul Chasing Sword seemed to automatically lock onto the swimming fish as it shot into the water. There was no need to think about it—the fish beneath the surface were surely facing the crime of having their entire families exterminated.

"I still have two that are already grilled. Who wants them?" Huo Yuhao asked, shaking the Grilled Fish in his left hand.

"Me!"

The chubby young man's eyes lit up, immediately making his desire to eat clear. But after speaking, he instinctively looked toward Zhang Lexuan and the others, seemingly seeking their opinions.

Ma Xiaotao waved her hand. "Eat it yourself. We're not in a hurry. We can't let Young Master Yao go hungry, can we?"

Yao Haoxuan scratched his head and chuckled.

Huo Yuhao walked over and personally handed the Grilled Fish to the chubby young man.

Ma Xiaotao exchanged a glance with the heroic-looking Xixi and silently laughed.

How could Grilled Fish that had been sitting around for a while compare to fish fresh off the fire?

The two of them understood that much.

"Whoa."

A sudden cry rang out from Yao Haoxuan. He stared at the Grilled Fish after taking a bite, amazement in his eyes.

He had eaten all sorts of delicacies from land and sea. Some foods were even tastier than this Grilled Fish, but when it came to fish alone, he had never truly tasted anything better.

With that thought, Yao Haoxuan immediately grabbed the wooden skewer and began devouring the Grilled Fish like mad.

His wolfish manner left Zhang Lexuan and the others staring.

You were the son of the Lord of Nine Treasures City, Yao Haoxuan. Did you really have to eat so wildly?

Was this thing really that delicious?

"Little brother, we'll have to trouble you with the Grilled Fish."

Suddenly, Huo Yuhao felt someone pat his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw Chen Zifeng walking over, the Soul Chasing Sword in his hand skewering more than a dozen fish.

Feeling its sharp aura, Huo Yuhao's breathing quickened. He felt as if his skin were about to be pierced.

"Zifeng, put your Martial Soul away." Zhang Lexuan noticed this and hurriedly spoke.

Chen Zifeng realized it as well and quickly withdrew his Martial Soul. More than a dozen fish promptly fell to the ground.

The stinging sensation vanished, and Huo Yuhao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sorry, little brother," Chen Zifeng said awkwardly.

Huo Yuhao crouched down to pick up the fish, preparing to clean and grill them. He smiled lightly. "It's fine. If I couldn't even withstand this little pressure, I wouldn't be qualified to travel alone. Please wait a moment. I'll deal with these fish."

Chen Zifeng's gaze shifted slightly. He smiled but said nothing, merely helping Huo Yuhao pick up the fish.

"We can handle these fish. We can't eat for free without doing any work, can we?"

Just as Chen Zifeng was about to help Huo Yuhao clean the fish, Ma Xiaotao and the other girls walked over. To Huo Yuhao's surprise, even the girl who seemed like a block of ice had come over.

Chen Zifeng said nothing and silently walked over to the chubby young man. "Give me one."

Yao Haoxuan froze for a moment before reluctantly handing him the other fish.

Naturally, fish were best cleaned by the stream.

Scraping off the scales, removing the tendons, draining the blood...

Once everything was ready, Huo Yuhao skewered all the fish on wooden sticks and began grilling them.

The girls casually sat in a circle around the campfire.

"Little friend, where are you heading?" Zhang Lexuan broke the silence and took the initiative to ask Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao kept his eyes on the fish, replying without turning around, "Shrek City."

At that, the girls subconsciously looked up at him.

"Where are your parents?" Zhang Lexuan could tell that Huo Yuhao was not very old. The wilderness of the Douluo Continent was far from safe.

"I'm an orphan," Huo Yuhao answered calmly.

Zhang Lexuan's expression stiffened. "Sorry, I asked too much."

"It's nothing." Huo Yuhao smiled. "Living means looking forward. You can't spend your whole life dwelling in the past."

Zhang Lexuan's eyes brightened, but she said nothing.

"Then what are you planning to do in Shrek City?"

Suddenly, Ma Xiaotao, who was sitting beside Han Ruoruo, could not help asking. Shrek City was indeed prosperous, with many opportunities available, but it never lacked people. Opportunities were not easy to seize, and the competition was immense.

Huo Yuhao turned the fish over. "I plan to find a Soul Tool shop in Shrek City and become an apprentice. As long as they provide food and lodging, that'll do."

"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed." The heroic-looking girl spoke. Her name was Xixi.

"Why?" Huo Yuhao paused, though he did not forget to keep grilling the fish.

"Because none of the Soul Tool shops in Shrek City take apprentices anymore. Starting several years ago, they began directly recruiting people from Shrek Academy's Soul Engineering Department," Xixi explained.

"Every year, many students graduate from Shrek Academy's Soul Engineering Department. To help with their employment, the academy partnered with the local shops in Shrek City, so..."

Huo Yuhao fell silent. Meow the hell, they could do that?

"Then I'll think of something once I get to Shrek City. There'll always be a way out." Huo Yuhao did not dwell on the matter for long. He was only waiting for Big Worm and Electrolux.

"If it really doesn't work out, I can always become an apprentice at a food stall. If nothing else, I'm pretty good at grilling meat."

"If you put it that way, I can offer you a pretty good place to go." Ma Xiaotao tilted her head toward Huo Yuhao. Her pale pink eyes, illuminated by the firelight and paired with her fair, lovely face, gave off an intensely seductive charm.

Unfortunately, Huo Yuhao was focused on grilling the fish and did not see it.

Hearing her say this, Han Ruoruo seemed to think of something. "Xiaotao, are you planning to let... Oh, right, little friend, we haven't asked your name yet. My name is Han Ruoruo."

"Huo Yuhao." Huo Yuhao did not hide his name. He already knew who this group was.

Huo...

Ma Xiaotao's gaze sharpened as her deep eyes fixed on Huo Yuhao.

I want to write a different Ma Xiaotao, but I don't know whether these descriptions are any good. Honestly, I really like Ma Xiaotao as a character.

And one more thing: thank you all for your support. This book successfully made it through the first round of PK. The second round begins next Monday, so let's charge ahead!