Xiao Ya-jie, Can You Help Me Cultivate?

It was already deep into the night. The Soul Guidance Lamp cast a faint glow, bathing the young man and woman at the dining table.

"Mmm—Little Yuhao, this is just too delicious." Tang Ya's cheeks were stuffed full, making her look like a little hamster.

"Xiao Ya-jie, you should swallow what's in your mouth before picking up more food." Huo Yuhao helplessly caught Tang Ya's chopsticks with his own. He felt that if he did not stop her, Tang Ya might actually choke to death.

"It's fine, it's fine. I can eat it all!" Tang Ya did not take it seriously.

"Xiao Ya-jie, thank you for guarding me while I cultivated today," Huo Yuhao said.

"It was nothing." Tang Ya waved a hand, telling Huo Yuhao not to mind it, then asked curiously, "What did you realize, Little Yuhao?"

Huo Yuhao recalled how he had felt at the time and replied, "I suppose I figured out the direction my cultivation should take for a while. You know my control over spiritual power is fairly good, but I've neglected training my Soul Power. I've become a little too reliant on spiritual power. I also gained some insight into the use of spiritual power, the control of Soul Power, and multitasking. I even gained some understanding of my soul skills."

Tang Ya suddenly felt that her food no longer tasted as good. How could he realize so many things just from cooking? She was so jealous. Why did she not have such high comprehension? Tang Ya viciously bit into a rabbit leg, turning her grief and indignation into appetite.

"Xiao Ya-jie, do you think it would work if I sold these recipes to one of the restaurants in Shrek City?" Huo Yuhao suddenly asked.

That was why he had invited Tang Ya and Bei Bei out today. Back in Star Luo City, he had earned his first money through this.

Tang Ya pondered for a moment before saying seriously, "It could work, but ordinary people probably don't have your cooking skills. Still, it should earn quite a bit of money. How about this? I'll be busy tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow, I'll accompany you to ask around at the various restaurants."

So Xiao Ya-jie could be quite reliable when she was serious. Huo Yuhao looked at Tang Ya's earnest expression and could not help smiling as he thanked her.

"Then thank you, Xiao Ya-jie."

"As for the cooking issue, the dishes shouldn't turn out too badly as long as they follow the recipes. I can also train their chefs for a few days. Of course, that depends on what price they can offer. I'm earning money for cultivation—I can't let making money delay my cultivation."

Tang Ya said with a serious expression, "Since you understand that, Little Yuhao, I'm relieved. Remember, cultivation is the foundation of everything. Things like cooking and making money only exist to help you cultivate better."

"I'm finally full!" Having eaten and drunk her fill, Tang Ya stretched lazily, revealing her lovely, budding figure. Seeing how late it was, Tang Ya said with some distress, "It's already so late. Looks like I can't go back tonight. I can only return to the academy first thing tomorrow morning."

A trace of darkness flashed through Tang Ya's Phoenix Eyes. Tang Ya quietly leaned close to Huo Yuhao, her breath brushing against his cheek as she whispered, "Bad little brother, cultivate properly tonight. Don't get any crooked ideas. Your big sister is a Soul Elder now."

Huo Yuhao noticed that Tang Ya's aura had changed somewhat and immediately knew that her Dark Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was influencing her again. So was Tang Ya trying to tempt him just now, or warn him?

Huo Yuhao could not be bothered to investigate. There was no point.

"Xiao Ya-jie, since we can't return to the academy tonight, can you help me cultivate?"

Tang Ya tilted her head. "How should I help?"

Huo Yuhao looked troubled. "There's something wrong with my Martial Soul. I don't know why, but whenever I come into contact with girls, I can't control my spiritual power, and it makes them act strangely. You've experienced it too, Xiao Ya-jie. At Shrek Academy, you're the only girl I know. Can you help me find out what exactly is wrong with my Martial Soul?"

Tang Ya's expression turned solemn. "So that's what it is? A problem with one's Martial Soul is no small matter. It should be resolved as soon as possible. Little Yuhao, how should I help you? If it really doesn't work, why not ask a teacher after classes begin?"

Huo Yuhao smiled shyly. "I want to understand what's happening first. Even now, I don't know exactly how my Martial Soul affects others. So we only need some physical contact, like in the Star Dou Great Forest. I need to carefully sense the abnormality in my spiritual power before I can find a solution."

"Ah, just some contact..." Tang Ya's expression was slightly forced, though there was also a trace of anticipation in her eyes.

After hesitating for a moment, Tang Ya extended her hand and closed her eyes. As though facing death with unflinching resolve, she said, "Little Yuhao, go ahead. But don't tell Bei Bei about this. Let's... let's keep it a secret between the two of us."

Naturally, Huo Yuhao agreed with a beaming smile.

Looking at the pretty young woman before him with her eyes closed and long eyelashes trembling, Huo Yuhao did not rush to take her hands.

Huo Yuhao slowly grasped Tang Ya's wrist through her clothing and raised it before his eyes, carefully examining the maiden's slender jade hand.

Her fingers were slim and long, like the tender tips of bamboo shoots after the rain. Her hand was delicate and soft, making one want to hold it in one's mouth.

Huo Yuhao gently pressed his palm against the maiden's jade hand. Their fingers intertwined, their hands clasped tightly together.

Tang Ya's exquisite body slowly leaned into his embrace.

"Mm~"

The night concealed that soul-stirring sound.

It could only be said that people's constitutions could not be generalized. Wang Dong had lost consciousness shortly after making contact, yet Tang Ya remained in a half-conscious state the entire time.

Huo Yuhao merely held her hand for thirty seconds and did nothing else.

He was in no hurry. Ma Su had once said, "Attacking a city is inferior; attacking the heart is superior." Huo Yuhao felt that the Chief Staff Officer had spoken wisely.

If all he sought was a night of pleasure, Huo Yuhao naturally would not have let such an opportunity go. But that was not what he wanted. He wanted to see Tang Ya fall, but not completely—to fall for him alone. Girls like that were the most captivating, like a poppy blooming solely for one person.

Therefore, he had to stop when it was time to stop.

He had seen similar things in his previous life. Little by little, one involved oneself in a girl's life, becoming an important part of it, even her pillar of support. Then, little by little, one stripped away her original relationships, making her family and friends gradually misunderstand her, fail to understand her, and distance themselves from her. In the end, she would discover that the only person she could rely on was you. Even when others paid attention to her, it would only be because of you. By then, you would be everything to that girl.

Afterward, Huo Yuhao carefully checked Tang Ya's physical condition. Only after confirming that nothing was wrong did he settle her onto the only bed.

He returned to the Sea of Consciousness and saw that the Solidification Task under the Soul Elder category had been completed. He nodded in satisfaction.

The night was long. Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged on the floor and entered meditation.

Tang Ya's eyelids fluttered. She secretly peeked at Huo Yuhao, who was seated on the floor in meditation, and finally relaxed.

This was as far as she could go. Any further... any further would be letting Bei Bei down.

As for holding hands, holding hands did not count!

Without realizing it, Tang Ya squeezed her round jade legs together, their surface seeming to glisten with moisture, and drifted groggily into sleep.

Early the next morning, Bei Bei paced back and forth at the entrance to Shrek Academy, his expression anxious.

He had only learned that morning that Tang Ya had not returned to her dormitory the previous night. Tang Ya and Little Yuhao had gone to Shrek City too—could something have happened? He immediately rushed to the academy gates without stopping.

Before long, Bei Bei spotted Tang Ya and little brother Yuhao approaching from afar, chatting and laughing. Tang Ya saw him as well, waved at him from afar, and quickened her pace as she ran back.

"Xiao Ya, are you two all right?"

"We're fine, we're fine. Let me tell you, little brother Yuhao actually entered a state of enlightenment while cooking yesterday and didn't wake up until this morning. I could only guard him from the side. But I got to eat some especially delicious food too. Yuhao made a lot and stored it all in his Soul Tool, so we could eat it this morning. You're in for a treat!"

Tang Ya pulled Bei Bei along as she chattered away. In just a few sentences, she explained why she had not returned to the dormitory, without showing the slightest abnormality. When food came up, Tang Ya could not help swallowing hard again, looking every bit the foodie.

Bei Bei breathed a sigh of relief and said indulgently, "You only ever think about eating."

Afterward, the three ate breakfast together. Bei Bei also experienced Huo Yuhao's cooking skills and praised them greatly. Then they bade one another farewell.