Xiao Xiao

Huo Yuhao spoke to the little girl before him with slight apology:

"Child, your concealment skills are impressive. I didn't notice you at all."

The black-haired, green-eyed little girl seemed intimidated by the cold gaze Huo Yuhao wore as Shimura Danzo. Her body stiffened for a moment, but she quickly recovered, puffing out her cheeks like balloons.

"You adults are all so annoying."

The petite girl tossed her head aside and stopped looking at Huo Yuhao, thinking to herself:

Their heights are already fixed, but I can still keep growing.

Once I'm taller than them, I'll definitely look down on them fiercely!

Having adjusted her mindset through Ah Q's mental victory method, the black-haired little girl turned back to Huo Yuhao. With her hands on her hips, she said:

"My name is Xiao Xiao. And you are?"

At the sound of her name, Huo Yuhao's expression shifted slightly. He had never expected to encounter her here. According to the original plot, they should have met at Shrek Academy.

And since Huo Yuhao no longer intended to join Shrek Academy, he had assumed their lives would have no connection.

Even if they did meet, it would be at the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Competition, with him sitting in the stands watching Xiao Xiao and the others compete.

Huo Yuhao had no intention of entering such a competition. Being targeted by a crowd of people just for a few Soul Bones of uncertain worth did not fit his way of handling the world.

Participating in such a meaningless competition would simply be an insult to his Startling Wisdom.

Huo Yuhao concealed the flicker of surprise in his eyes, then said:

"I am Shimura Danzo."

Xiao Xiao tilted her head in confusion, curiosity flashing through her clear green eyes.

"Shimura Danzo? What a strange name."

Seemingly realizing that her words were inappropriate, Xiao Xiao hurriedly waved her hands.

"That's not what I meant! I just think your name is... very... very... very unique!"

Huo Yuhao found Xiao Xiao's flustered stammering rather amusing.

"It's fine. I don't mind."

"By the way, what is your relationship with President Xiao?"

Seeing that Huo Yuhao truly did not mind, Xiao Xiao let out a breath of relief. Then, her expression turned serious.

"He is my older brother."

"Your older brother?" A look of understanding flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes.

Xiao Xiao turned to glance at Xiao Dingyuan, a hint of loss appearing in her eyes as her voice took on a trace of melancholy.

"My brother is very capable, but he's changed over the past few years."

Xiao Xiao clearly did not want to linger on the topic. Her tone became lively again as she changed the subject.

"Uncle Danzo, can you tell me how you got the scar on your chin? Of course, forget it if that's too presumptuous."

Seeing Xiao Xiao's expression that plainly said, I'm really curious, Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment before replying:

"Sure. To explain that, I'll have to tell you a story about Konoha, where tears could not be hidden."

"I had a close friend named Sarutobi Hiruzen. We lived in a village called Konoha."

"We often trained together, but I was better than him in every aspect..."

After roughly recounting Konoha Village's somewhat wild past to Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao felt a little gratified as he watched her look at him with admiration.

Huo Yuhao felt that he could try writing novels in the future. Perhaps he could make some money from it.

"Uncle Danzo, I need to pack my luggage. I'll chat with you again next time." Xiao Xiao suddenly realized it was getting late and nearly forgot that she had not packed yet. After speaking to Huo Yuhao, she immediately left.

Huo Yuhao watched Xiao Xiao run into a house in the distance and shook his head. Just as he turned to find Lang Shan and ask about the mission arrangements, he suddenly noticed Xiao Dingyuan walking over with a smile.

Huo Yuhao gave him a slight nod. After Xiao Dingyuan returned the gesture, he gazed at the energetic Xiao Xiao in the distance. Though he had tried his best to hide it, Huo Yuhao still caught a trace of envy in his expression.

"Sir Danzo, thank you for looking after Xiao Xiao just now."

"This child has been kept at home training because of her good talent. Now that she has finally come out, she is curious about everything in the world."

Huo Yuhao shook his head. "It was no trouble. It is a good thing for children to be curious about the world. The path of a Soul Master cannot do without exploring the mysteries of the world."

"Miss Xiao's future will certainly be limitless!"

After speaking, Huo Yuhao secretly used his Spiritual Power to carefully observe the changes in Xiao Dingyuan's expression.

To his surprise, Xiao Dingyuan showed not the slightest hint of jealousy or resentment. Instead, he seemed gratified.

"Then I'll accept your kind words."

"Xiao Xiao is different from me. My Martial Soul underwent a malignant mutation, and my talent is extremely poor. Even now, I am merely a Soul Grandmaster, while she is regarded as the family's hope for the future."

"But as her older brother, compared to some vague and uncertain future, I hope more that she can live happily in the present."

Huo Yuhao secretly let out a breath of relief. It seemed there would be no melodramatic plot of siblings turning against each other.

Still, he was somewhat puzzled as to why Xiao Dingyuan would tell such obviously private matters to a stranger he had only met once.

As the president of a merchant association, Xiao Dingyuan's perception was quite sharp. Noticing Huo Yuhao's confusion, he explained:

"Although Xiao Xiao is young, her Martial Soul talent makes her very sensitive to the malice of others."

"Although your appearance is not particularly friendly, you were willing to patiently tell a child stories from your past."

"And most importantly, I trust the intuition I've honed over so many years of traveling far and wide."

"So I believe you can be trusted."

"I've said all this because I hope you will look after Xiao Xiao more during this period. I can increase your payment to fifty Gold Soul Coins."

Huo Yuhao nodded without hesitation and agreed to his request. It was not particularly troublesome, merely something he could do in passing.

Besides, there was no reason to refuse free Gold Soul Coins. Fifty Gold Soul Coins—how many grilled fish would he have to sell to earn that much?

"Employer Xiao, Brother Danzo, come over here! We're about to depart!"

After arranging the division of duties within the Mercenary Group, Lang Shan shouted to Huo Yuhao and Xiao Dingyuan from afar in a rough voice.

"Sir Danzo, let us get moving."

After hearing Lang Shan's urging, Xiao Dingyuan exchanged a glance with Huo Yuhao, and the two returned to the escort party together.

Led by Lang Shan and Xiao Dingyuan, the two leaders, a convoy of one hundred people formally gathered on the Star Luo Empire's Official Road outside the East Gate.

Members of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group served as the outer guards on both sides, while twenty one-ring Soul Masters were stationed in the inner perimeter to protect the central convoy. Several carriages of precious medicinal herbs and rare metals were stored at the heart of the convoy.

As the strongest Soul Elder, Lang Shan stood at the very front of the convoy, responsible for warning and deterrence.

Xiao Dingyuan had specifically assigned Huo Yuhao to the Core Zone of the convoy, where he would protect Xiao Xiao and the merchant association's other important personnel.

Their planned route would take them from Beiming City in the Star Luo Empire into the Heaven Dou Empire, then around the Heaven Dou Plain directly to Xuanfeng City.

They would not leave the Official Roads of the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire for the entire journey.

Each empire's Official Roads were regularly patrolled by powerful experts, so high-year Soul Beasts rarely appeared around them.

Moreover, as the face of a nation, there were generally no high-level Soul Masters who would openly cause trouble on an Official Road.

After all, all three great empires now had Titled Douluo loyal to them. They could still maintain the empire's prestige and would not let just anyone come and trample over them.