Bei Bei first reminded Tang Ya in an indulgent tone to mind her image, then took the grilled fish from Huo Yuhao and said to him, "Thanks for the fish, little brother. My name is Bei Bei, and she's Tang Ya. What are your names?"
"My name is Huo Yuhao. He's called..." Huo Yuhao replied while carefully grilling the fish, then suddenly realized that, up until now, he still didn't know Feng Piaoling's name.
So he could only look at him expectantly.
Feng Piaoling finally spoke, but only gave a brief three-word answer: "Feng Piaoling."
In the Sun Moon Empire, so as not to attract covetous eyes, Feng Piaoling had kept a low profile at the Crown Prince's Mansion. Other than the trip he'd made at the age of eight, taking advantage of the chance to hunt for his Second Soul Ring to settle a long-standing regret, he'd spent all his time improving his own strength.
There was no need to worry about anyone suspecting his identity.
"So the silent type does know how to talk," Tang Ya muttered, pouting in displeasure.
"Sorry, Brother Feng. Xiao Ya's just like that. Please don't take offense," Bei Bei explained to Feng Piaoling with an exasperated look.
Tang Ya's eyes widened. She glared at Bei Bei in mock anger. "What did you call me?"
"Teacher Xiao Ya. Surely calling you Teacher Xiao Ya is all right?" Bei Bei raised both hands, looking as if he'd been thoroughly beaten.
Only then did Tang Ya rein in her anger. "That's more like it. Remember your place."
She was young, yet possessed an irresistible charm. Even when she was angry, she still captivated Bei Bei. Huo Yuhao, sitting nearby, didn't dare look at her anymore and silently continued grilling the fish.
After they finished eating, Feng Piaoling and Huo Yuhao parted ways with Bei Bei and Tang Ya.
Watching the two of them walk away, Tang Ya mused, "Do you think they might also be going to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain Spirit Rings?"
Bei Bei nodded. "It's almost certainly the case. Huo Yuhao aside—his Soul Power is very weak—but the Soul Power fluctuations from that Feng Piaoling are already no weaker than yours."
Tang Ya was shocked. "He's at level thirty, and he's how old?"
Then she said, somewhat irritably, "Why didn't you tell me sooner? If you had, I could've recruited him into the Tang Sect and helped restore our ancestors' glory sooner."
"We've only just met him, and we don't know his background. It's better to be cautious," Bei Bei told Tang Ya seriously, though in his heart he was reluctant to let Feng Piaoling join the Tang Sect.
It wasn't that he disliked the man. It was just that the other's face was downright unfair—it was far too lethal to girls.
Tang Ya's flushed cheeks earlier had made that perfectly clear.
And Tang Ya was the woman he loved, so he couldn't help feeling a little threatened.
After listening, Tang Ya nodded. Then her eyes lit up. "Next time we meet, let's ask him properly. If there's nothing wrong with him, we can recruit both him and Huo Yuhao into the Tang Sect. What do you think?"
Bei Bei said, exasperated, "I can understand why you'd invite Feng Piaoling. But Huo Yuhao—are you sure you don't just want to recruit him because his grilled fish tastes good?"
Tang Ya had been found out. Her pretty face reddened, and she stuck her tongue out at Bei Bei.
Bei Bei sighed and said no more. But, come to think of it, Feng Piaoling's talent really was impressive. If he didn't have those kinds of feelings for Xiao Ya, recruiting him into the Tang Sect might ease quite a bit of the pressure on her.
Elsewhere, although Feng Piaoling had already taken Huo Yuhao far away,
his hearing was remarkably sharp, thanks to years of training his mental strength from a young age. Having heard Bei Bei and Tang Ya's conversation, he curled his lips in a barely perceptible sneer.
As the saying went, if you transmigrated into a book, you shouldn't join the Tang Sect—its chrysanthemums were sampled by countless men.
Whether for the sake of his plans for the future or simply because of how he felt,
he would never join the Tang Sect. He was quite interested in making the Tang Sect—and even the Tang name—vanish from Douluo Continent entirely.
"Brother F-Feng, you don't seem to like those two very much."
Huo Yuhao was self-conscious and sensitive, but he also had his own little thoughts. He could tell that Tang Ya and Bei Bei weren't ordinary people. The fact that they were out here in the wilderness without even carrying a bundle was enough to give it away.
Most likely, like Brother Feng Piaoling, they were Soul Masters with Storage Soul Tools.
He just didn't know why this Brother Feng, whom he'd met only a few days ago, seemed somewhat opposed to them.
Feng Piaoling answered a different question. "They should be from the Tang Sect."
The words "Tang Sect" made Huo Yuhao tremble. "The Tang Sect? The sect founded by Sea God Tang San ten thousand years ago?"
"You seem to admire the Tang Sect quite a bit," Feng Piaoling asked, narrowing his eyes slightly without changing his expression.
"Of course! How could I not know about it? The Tang Sect holds such an important place in Douluo Continent's history that no other sect could compare. I've heard the Tang Sect's legendary stories from my mother since I was little. Founded ten thousand years ago, it's one of the oldest sects in history and was unquestionably the greatest sect on Douluo Continent at the time. Its first sect master, Tang San, even changed the course of the entire continent, laid the foundation for the future of Soul Master development, and became a god who, according to legend, could neither die nor be destroyed."
The more Huo Yuhao spoke, the more excited he became. In an instant, he was practically beside himself.
It seemed he'd been thoroughly poisoned from childhood by those beautified and altered stories. No wonder Tang San would eventually train him into a dog, step by step.
Feng Piaoling had no intention of correcting Huo Yuhao. There'd be no point even if he did. Just think about it: on one side was the mother who'd been with him since childhood, and on the other was a stranger he'd met only a few days ago. Anyone could guess whom he'd choose to believe.
Besides, Feng Piaoling was walking on thin ice himself. There was no need to go out of his way for Huo Yuhao, someone who was destined to become his enemy and had nothing to do with him.
For all he knew, that bastard in the Divine Realm was watching them right now.
The most urgent thing was to get to Tian Meng and Electrolux first.
"Meeting each other is fate. You're going to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for a Spirit Ring too, right? If so, since we've met, I can help you hunt one."
Feng Piaoling changed the subject.
"Brother Feng, is that true? You're really willing to help me get a Spirit Ring?"
Huo Yuhao's eyes suddenly reddened. In all his life, apart from his mother, this was the first time anyone had treated him so well.
He was deeply moved.
Although he didn't know how strong Feng Piaoling was, someone who dared to hunt for Spirit Rings alone couldn't have low Soul Power—at the very least, it had to be far higher than his own.
With Feng Piaoling's help, his chances of successfully obtaining a Spirit Ring would undoubtedly be much greater.
"All right. Let's go."
Feng Piaoling said nothing more. It was true that he would help Huo Yuhao obtain a Spirit Ring, but only to cut Tian Meng off and add another safeguard.
Not long after they set off, the two of them saw a sign marking the Star Dou Great Forest.
Feng Piaoling said nothing. He simply brushed a hand over his Four Symbols Dragon Coiling Belt, took out a long, black sword in its scabbard, and hung it at his waist.
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