The golden-haired beauty looked at Huo Yuhao, her pretty face breaking into a radiant smile. "You must be Huo Yuhao. My name is Xue Ke, and I'm that rascal Xue Qinghe's younger sister. Big Brother told me about you yesterday."
"Xue... Xue Ke?" Huo Yuhao finally came back to his senses. Qian Renxue had introduced herself as Xue Ke, and she'd even changed back into a woman to accompany him to the Extreme North.
For a moment, Huo Yuhao felt conflicted.
"Hello, Princess Xue Ke. It's a pleasure to meet you." Huo Yuhao quickly composed himself and greeted "Xue Ke" before taking his seat. A black-robed man took the reins of the carriage, and they slowly headed north through the Heaven Dou Empire.
Qian Renxue watched Huo Yuhao with an amused smile as he sat there looking flustered, his cheeks flushed. She couldn't help laughing. "You don't need to be so nervous. I'm not going to eat you."
Huo Yuhao looked at Qian Renxue, her golden hair falling loose behind her and her face flawless. This must be what you really look like.
Qian Renxue was secretly pleased. Huo Yuhao came from ten thousand years in the future, and he only knew a little about what had happened ten thousand years ago. He'd learned about things like the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire from history books—and even about the fall of Spirit Hall.
The Heaven Dou Empire would split apart in the future, but Qian Renxue didn't care about that. She only cared about Spirit Hall. It was her home.
Qian Renxue had revealed her true appearance because she wanted to get closer to Huo Yuhao.
If Huo Yuhao really was from ten thousand years in the future and could travel back and forth through time, she had to work with someone like him.
But if he wasn't from ten thousand years in the future and had deliberately deceived her, then Qian Renxue would imprison him for the rest of his life. After all, she couldn't ignore the favor she owed him for the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
In any case, Huo Yuhao didn't know who was part of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. Qian Renxue was certain that her assumed name, "Xue Ke," was flawless.
"Princess Xue Ke, we're heading to the Extreme North. We might encounter some danger along the way, so please be prepared, Your Highness." Huo Yuhao looked at her seriously.
Qian Renxue immediately bristled. "I'm a Soul Emperor, after all. What does my big brother see in you that he'd ask me to lower myself to protect you on the way? You're only getting a Second Soul Ring. At most, you'll be hunting a Hundred Year Soul Beast, yet you insist on going to the Extreme North, that godforsaken place. I really don't understand you, little guy."
Huo Yuhao smiled without answering. Looking at Qian Renxue's peerlessly beautiful face and her smooth golden hair falling loose behind her, he nodded to himself. As expected of Qian Daoliu's granddaughter.
The Extreme North lay at the northernmost point of the Heaven Dou Empire. Traveling by carriage from Heaven Dou City at their current speed, Huo Yuhao and Qian Renxue would reach the edge of the Extreme North in less than two days.
That night, the man disguised as Snake Lance Douluo found a secluded spot with beautiful scenery and no one around, then lit a bonfire.
Huo Yuhao took off his shoes and stepped into the bone-chilling lake water. The farther north they went, the colder the weather became. Fortunately, Huo Yuhao had taken the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, so he couldn't feel the cold.
Wrapped in a thick fur coat, Qian Renxue sat by the fire, watching Huo Yuhao intently as he fished. A faint smile played on her lips.
"Young Master, have some hot soup." Snake Lance Douluo handed her a bowl. Qian Renxue thanked him and quietly drank it.
Snake Lance Douluo furrowed his brow. After thinking it over for a long while, he finally spoke. "Young Master, I still don't understand your true intentions. For a Huo Yuhao who claims to come from ten thousand years in the future, you've even revealed your true appearance. What if this little rascal is lying to you?"
"If Huo Yuhao lied to me?" Qian Renxue chuckled. She drained the bowl of hot soup, then her gaze turned cold. "Then I'll keep him locked up in Spirit Hall for the rest of his life, until I've completed my mission."
Someone had been assigned to impersonate Xue Qinghe in Heaven Dou City, so Qian Renxue could leave for a while without giving herself away.
"The fish is here!" Huo Yuhao came over to the fire carrying three cleaned-out crucian carp. Each was about twenty centimeters long.
"You know how to grill fish?" Qian Renxue asked, looking doubtful.
"I... Of course I do!" Huo Yuhao said, forcing himself to sound confident.
Huo Yuhao wasn't really Huo Yuhao. He genuinely had no idea how to grill fish. But if he wanted to show off in the future, he'd have to learn how to do it from scratch.
"I'll look forward to it, then. Show me what you can do." Qian Renxue looked thoroughly entertained, already eager to find out how Huo Yuhao's grilled fish would taste.
Being cooped up in the palace all the time, it was nice to get out once in a while.
Qian Renxue had a lovely smile, her beautiful eyes narrowing into crescents.
"No problem. Watch me work my magic!" Before leaving the hotel that morning, Huo Yuhao had specifically bought some barbecue seasonings in the city. He'd planned to travel alone, but who would've guessed Qian Renxue would come along?
He took various bottles and jars out of his backpack and evenly spread their contents over every part of the fish. He used the White Tiger Dagger to cut slits into both sides of each fish, threaded them onto sharpened wooden sticks, and set them beside the bonfire to roast.
Huo Yuhao's eyes gradually turned gray. Qian Renxue let out a surprised "Huh?" as she studied his eyes. "You have heterochromia? Were you born with it?"
"It's from the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew." Huo Yuhao focused his Mental Power on the fish in his hands and deliberately used his Martial Soul, Time Eye, to activate Time Slowdown.
The fish gradually turned golden as oil sizzled on its surface. Drawing on memories of outdoor grilling from his previous life, Huo Yuhao kept turning the fish over. Soon, both sides were golden brown, and an irresistible aroma filled the air.
Qian Renxue swallowed unconsciously. She didn't say a word, her beautiful eyes fixed on the grilled fish, unable to look away.
Sweat beaded on Huo Yuhao's forehead. Nobody would believe he was grilling fish for the young master of Spirit Hall—and the person beside him was even the future Angel God.
"All done! How does it taste?"
Qian Renxue took the fragrant grilled fish Huo Yuhao offered her. She gently blew on it with her lovely red lips, then took a small bite. She froze on the spot.
Huo Yuhao went pale. Oh no, I messed it up again!
Looks like I really have no talent for grilling fish!
"It's absolutely delicious!" Qian Renxue took another big bite, not caring in the slightest about her image. "You grilled it perfectly. The sauce has soaked right into the fish. It's crispy on the outside and tender inside. One bite and I felt like I'd been elevated to another plane. You're amazing!"
Qian Renxue gave Huo Yuhao a thumbs-up. Huo Yuhao breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you like it."
Huo Yuhao noticed Snake Lance Douluo watching eagerly. He still needed the Titled Douluo to protect him in the Extreme North. Although they were about to face one of the Extreme North Three Heavenly Kings, Huo Yuhao really didn't want Qian Renxue and Snake Lance Douluo getting involved.
But from the way the two of them were looking at him, that clearly wasn't going to happen. Huo Yuhao handed the grilled fish to Snake Lance Douluo, then turned his attention to roasting his own.
The firelight illuminated his profile, stretching his shadow long across the night.
Before you continue