Deep in Huo Yuhao's pupils, a flicker of icy coldness vanished in an instant, so quickly that no one noticed.
Tang Ya and Beibei—people from the "original story" in Wang Teng's memories.
In his previous life, he had never crossed paths with them. But for some reason, the threads of fate in this world seemed to have remained untouched, leading him to meet them.
Tang Ya, walking in front, could no longer hold back. She took three quick steps, then sprang like a nimble little sparrow to the campfire in front of Huo Yuhao. Her dainty nostrils fluttered as she drew in a deep breath of the mouthwatering aroma, and her big eyes curved into crescents.
"Little brother, are you selling those grilled fish? They smell so good! How did you make them?" Her voice was clear and sweet, full of undisguised hunger and childlike innocence.
There wasn't a hint of emotion on Huo Yuhao's face—not the nervousness of meeting strangers, nor the pride of having his grilled fish praised.
He calmly turned the fish in his hand. His voice was flat, as if stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.
"Ten Copper Soul Coins per fish. Bring your own ingredients." He wasn't overcharging them.
With the grilling skills he'd honed in his previous life—good enough to earn the praise of even Level 9 Soul Engineers—ten Copper Soul Coins per fish was practically a bargain among ordinary people in this world.
Hearing Huo Yuhao's blunt, even slightly cold reply, Tang Ya visibly froze.
She'd expected that a boy who looked a few years younger than her, grilling fish alone in the forest, would either be shy or eagerly share them. She hadn't expected him to be so "strictly business."
Behind her, Beibei's eyes flashed with understanding and deeper curiosity.
He stepped forward, took a gleaming Gold Soul Coin from his pocket, and offered it to Huo Yuhao with a warm, courteous smile.
"Here's a Gold Soul Coin, young brother. Keep the change. Just give us five grilled fish."
Huo Yuhao had caught more than ten fish, so he surely couldn't eat them all. He and Tang Ya didn't feel like catching and preparing fish themselves, either. Buying some was the easiest option.
One Gold Soul Coin could be exchanged for a hundred Copper Soul Coins, more than enough to buy five fish. It was also a friendly gesture.
Huo Yuhao looked at the Gold Soul Coin Beibei held out, then at the few fish that had just finished grilling over the fire. He neither refused nor showed any gratitude, merely nodding. "All right."
He swiftly took down the five fish that were the most golden and crispy, their aroma wafting through the air, and handed them to Beibei and Tang Ya on clean leaves.
Tang Ya eagerly accepted hers. She blew on it as it scalded her fingers, but couldn't resist taking a small bite. Her eyes lit up, and she let out a muffled, satisfied moan.
Beibei was much more composed. He accepted the grilled fish but didn't immediately start eating. Instead, he looked at Huo Yuhao, who had sat back down and begun quietly eating his own portion, and asked with a smile,
"My name is Beibei, and she's Tang Ya. Young brother, judging by your skill and your courage in being alone on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, you're clearly no ordinary person. May I ask your name?"
Huo Yuhao chewed the tender fish without pausing. He didn't even look up as he answered, his voice as calm as before.
"I am Li Feiyu."
How could he casually reveal his real name to someone he'd just met while traveling?
Especially after he'd begun to suspect that they might have some connection to Tang San.
Almost without thinking, he borrowed an alias from a novel he'd seen in Wang Teng's memories, one often used by its protagonist.
"Li Feiyu?"
Beibei repeated the name softly. It seemed to carry some special significance, though he couldn't say exactly what.
He wanted to ask more—where Li Feiyu was from, for instance, and why he was alone here—but Huo Yuhao had already focused on his grilled fish, clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation.
Seeing this, Beibei was far too well-mannered to bother him again. He lowered his head and began to taste his own fish.
But after a single bite, even his blue eyes, usually bright with a gentle smile, flashed with surprise.
It was seasoned with nothing more than ordinary salt and perilla leaves. Yet the control of the heat, the understanding of the fish's texture, and a certain indescribable focus, as if infused into the food itself, had transformed this simple grilled fish into something miraculous.
The flesh was crisp outside and tender within, the saltiness just right. The fresh fragrance of the perilla perfectly balanced the richness, creating layers of flavor that lingered long after each bite.
It truly surpassed many so-called delicacies he'd tasted before.
Tang Ya ate with even less restraint, her cheeks stuffed full as she nodded again and again, utterly blissful.
Before long, the two of them had finished all five sizeable grilled fish.
Huo Yuhao had finished his own as well.
He swiftly put out the fire, buried the ashes in soil, washed the wooden skewers, and wrapped up the remaining raw fish in leaves.
When he was done, he slung his little bundle over his shoulder and gave Beibei and Tang Ya, who were still savoring the taste of the fish, a slight nod in farewell. Then he turned and strode toward the place where he remembered Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was, his figure soon disappearing among the trees.
"Ah! He left!" Tang Ya finally came to her senses. She looked toward the direction Huo Yuhao had vanished, licked her lips, still wanting more, then suddenly brightened and tugged at Beibei's arm. "Beibei, Beibei! What do you think... should we invite little 'Li Feiyu' to join the Tang Sect?
"His grilled fish are so delicious! No, that's not what I meant... I mean, he's alone here, and he looks so young. He might have real potential!"
Looking at his girlfriend's adorable attempt to invoke the grand cause of "reviving the Tang Sect" after being won over by grilled fish, Beibei couldn't help laughing. He gently tapped the tip of her nose and teased her,
"Xiaoya, don't tell me you just want him to join because you like his grilled fish. Since when did the Tang Sect start recruiting people based on their cooking?"
"I-I don't!" Tang Ya's cheeks flushed slightly, as though he'd hit the nail on the head, and she hurried to protest. "I'm thinking about the Tang Sect's future! Didn't you sense it too?
"He has Soul Power. It isn't strong, but he's definitely a Soul Master.
"And look at his clothes. They're clean but plain, and even patched. His family probably isn't well-off. He might need an opportunity. Besides, the Tang Sect... doesn't it need fresh blood right now?"
Her voice grew subdued at the end, clearly reminded of the Tang Sect's current decline.
Beibei's teasing expression faded. He nodded solemnly. "Yes, you're right. I sensed it too. His Soul Power is around level ten, just enough to meet the threshold for obtaining a Soul Ring.
"Judging by his appearance, he probably came alone to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a Soul Beast and obtain his First Soul Ring.
"A boy from an ordinary family who has the courage to act alone probably has a decent character. And..."
He recalled Huo Yuhao's eyes, far too calm and carrying a detachment that seemed out of place for his age. "He feels a little different. He might really be worth getting to know."
"Then let's hurry after him and ask! He just left, so we should still be able to catch up!"
At once, Tang Ya perked up again and tugged Beibei toward the direction Huo Yuhao had gone.
Beibei stumbled as she pulled him along, smiling helplessly and fondly. "All right, all right. Don't rush. But Xiaoya, remember: we can invite him, but we shouldn't force him. Everyone has their own choices and opportunities."
"I know, I know! Come on, let's go!"
The two of them soon disappeared among the trees beside the stream as well, chasing after Huo Yuhao.
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