Invitation

Huo Yuhao hadn't heard the rest of what Tang Ya was about to say, but he could guess that she wanted to recruit him into the Tang Sect. But he truly had no desire to join that lousy Tang Sect.

Setting aside the fact that joining meant it was nearly impossible to leave, becoming a member of the Tang Sect also meant shouldering the responsibility of reviving it—and acknowledging Great God King Tang as an ancestor.

As for the benefits of joining, there were only those Tang Sect secret arts. But Huo Yuhao had no need to join the Tang Sect for them.

It wasn't that the Tang Sect's secret arts were lacking or beneath Huo Yuhao's notice. After all, the Mysterious Heaven Skill could cultivate Innate Full Soul Power and accelerate one's training. It was the only cultivation method in the Douluo world; at the very least, it was top-tier in this little corner of the world.

But the problem was that the Tang Sect secret arts Tang San had left behind were all incomplete versions. Not only could they no longer cultivate Innate Full Soul Power, but their other effects were also inferior to what Tang San himself had practiced. As for those powerful Hidden Weapons, Tang San had not left them behind at all. The people of the Tang Sect had never even heard their names.

So, forget the Tang Sect. It would already be generous of him not to pull Tang Ya, the Tang Sect's Sect Leader, out of it.

Besides, Huo Yuhao was planning to establish his own sect. His ideas differed greatly from those of the Tang Sect and Shrek, and they were bound to part ways sooner or later. It would be better to build a sect of his own, and Shrek would be the perfect place to recruit some people.

Bei Bei asked Huo Yuhao, "Little Brother Huo, who else is in your family?"

Huo Yuhao recalled his mother, who had passed away a few days ago. His gaze dimmed as he said dejectedly, "I'm the only one left in my family."

Tang Ya was overjoyed and blurted out, "Then that's wonderful!"

Huo Yuhao's expression turned cold. Though he knew Tang Ya hadn't meant it that way, she had said something she shouldn't have. Did she expect him to remain pleasant after that? The only reason he hadn't hit her a couple of times in return was because she had shown him concern earlier—not because he was worried he couldn't beat her.

Bei Bei was speechless. He raised a hand and knocked Tang Ya on the head, sternly scolding, "How could you say something like that?!"

Tang Ya also realized she had misspoken. She glared at Bei Bei and said, "I didn't mean it! Why are you yelling at me? You never used to yell at me like this. Bei Bei, you've changed."

Bei Bei truly had never reprimanded Tang Ya like this before. He fell into self-doubt. Have I really changed?

Xiao Ya looked at Huo Yuhao again. "Little Yuhao, in that case, why not join our sect?"

Huo Yuhao asked calmly, "A sect? What sect are you?"

Tang Ya proudly introduced it to Huo Yuhao in earnest. "Our sect was once the number one sect on the continent. You definitely won't lose out by joining us. Besides, our sect's secret arts are very suitable for your cultivation. You're all alone and still so young. If you join the sect, we can look after each other from now on. That's better than you recklessly running around by yourself. Luck can't always follow you, after all. What if something happens while you're acting alone?"

Huo Yuhao remained expressionless. "I said, what sect are you?"

Tang Ya's expression turned solemn. "The Tang Sect. Once the number one sect on the continent. Our sect has an Exemption Quota for Shrek Academy. If you join us, you can enter Shrek Academy through that quota. In addition, we have several great secret arts, each with its own unique traits. Mastering them can strengthen your abilities."

"The Tang Sect..." Huo Yuhao pretended to recall something. "The Tang Sect founded by Sea God Tang San, famous for its Hidden Weapons, and recently fallen into decline?"

"Little Brother Huo, you've heard of the Tang Sect?" Bei Bei asked.

Huo Yuhao nodded. "I do know a little about the Tang Sect."

Bei Bei and Tang Ya were somewhat surprised. The Tang Sect had declined to the point where only the two of them remained, yet someone still remembered it.

Tang Ya's eyes suddenly reddened. "The Tang Sect has already declined, and our foundation has been taken away. At present, the only ones left in the Tang Sect are Bei Bei and me. I am the current Sect Leader of the Tang Sect, and Bei Bei is my first disciple."

Delight immediately appeared on Huo Yuhao's face, and he blurted out, "Then that's wonderful!"

Bei Bei's expression darkened slightly. "Little Brother Huo, was that an accident, or did you say it on purpose?"

Huo Yuhao put on an apologetic expression. "I didn't mean it. I just never expected that we were both fallen people at the ends of the earth, both orphans. For a moment, it felt like I had found my own kind, so I was a little happy."

Bei Bei fell silent. He could tell that Huo Yuhao had deliberately said that to get back at them, but he could also feel the sincerity in Huo Yuhao's later words. He couldn't bear to reproach him further.

Bei Bei himself had not noticed it, but if someone had treated Tang Ya like that in the past, he definitely would not have let them off so easily. Yet today, he had only felt mildly angry, and even that anger vanished after Huo Yuhao apologized.

When Tang Ya heard Huo Yuhao's apologetic words, the small amount of anger gathering in her heart also dissipated. Especially that line about being fallen people at the ends of the earth—it made her gaze at Huo Yuhao with an unconscious hint of closeness and pity.

The same happiness might not necessarily bring two people closer, but the same suffering could make them sympathize with each other and huddle together for warmth.

Tang Ya looked at Huo Yuhao with gentleness filling her moist Phoenix Eyes, and comforted him softly, "It's all right, Little Yuhao. Just as you said, orphans like us should help one another. But Bei Bei isn't an orphan. So, what do you say, Little Yuhao? Join the Tang Sect! From now on, the Tang Sect will be our home!"

Seeing Tang Ya reveal such genuine emotion, Huo Yuhao could not help but lose himself for a moment. Her clear, lovely eyes gazed at him with tenderness and expectation. Together with her youthful, pretty face and her long, rounded, jade-smooth legs, they made Huo Yuhao's heart stir.

Huo Yuhao did not think he was some lecherous creep who fell for every pretty girl he saw. What he liked was the unique charm beautiful girls revealed when facing him. Just like Tang Ya at this moment.

But—

Sorry, Xiao Ya-jie, but I still can't join the Tang Sect. There's something dirty in your Tang Sect. You should leave it instead.

At that moment, Huo Yuhao decided to poach someone from the Tang Sect.

"Xiao Ya-jie, I can't join the Tang Sect. I've already joined another sect. Although my sect doesn't prohibit ordinary members from joining other factions, I can't join the Tang Sect." Huo Yuhao found an excuse to refuse Tang Ya.

"Eh, why?" Tang Ya was puzzled and surprised. She had thought Little Brother Yuhao would definitely join the Tang Sect, but an unexpected complication had arisen. Still, she would not be discouraged. Though Huo Yuhao said he already belonged to a sect, couldn't he still join another faction? She was determined to recruit this little brother who suited her tastes—and whose grilled fish suited her tastes even more—into the Tang Sect!

Huo Yuhao explained, "Because I knew a little about the Tang Sect before, my impression of it isn't very good."

Bei Bei could not help frowning. "Little Brother Yuhao, do you think our Tang Sect has declined and therefore don't want to join?"

If that was the case, much of Bei Bei's favorable impression of Huo Yuhao would disappear.

Huo Yuhao said, "No. Whether the Tang Sect has declined or not means nothing to me. If anything, I prefer the feeling of building up my own sect bit by bit through my own efforts and creating glory."

"It's just that my impression of the Tang Sect in other respects isn't very good."