First Glimpse of Clues, Delicious Grilled Fish

"Yuhao, what are you doing?"

Watching this sudden action from her little junior, Ma Xiaotao tilted her head to the side and asked with some confusion.

Only then did Huo Yuhao realize he had been a bit too agitated; he hurriedly withdrew his middle finger and returned to his usual state.

"Ahem... this..."

Huo Yuhao didn't know how to explain it for a moment, feeling a bit awkward.

He couldn't exactly tell Ma Xiaotao what he had just been thinking.

Even if he did, she probably wouldn't be able to understand it.

He felt a pang of regret now; he shouldn't have been so obvious. What if God King happened to be watching from above and grew suspicious of him?

If that happened, his plans would be over before they even began.

Truly, man proposes, God King disposes.

Before he possessed sufficient strength, he still needed to endure and remain hidden.

Seeing Huo Yuhao remain silent, Ma Xiaotao thought it over herself, then said as if she had suddenly realized something.

"I understand!"

Huo Yuhao immediately became vigilant.

What do you understand? I'm warning you, don't go spouting nonsense! Spreading rumors can get people killed!!

I have always held God King in the highest esteem!! I absolutely have no thoughts of backstabbing him!!

Fortunately, Ma Xiaotao didn't think in such a complex direction. In other words, if she could really think that far, she would probably be able to refine a Rank Nine Wisdom Gu out of thin air on the spot.

Ma Xiaotao winked at Huo Yuhao and said in a playful tone that everyone understood.

"It's that, isn't it? That thing."

"Which thing?"

Huo Yuhao was a bit dazed, but he was left speechless by what Ma Xiaotao said next.

"It's just those inexplicable movements you boys sometimes make while walking, like hopping or jumping around; I've seen it before."

She said it so matter-of-factly that Huo Yuhao couldn't find a way to refute it for a moment.

It made sense.

But it also seemed wrong.

"What's wrong? Isn't it?"

Seeing Huo Yuhao's silent expression, Ma Xiaotao looked at him suspiciously.

"No, Sister Xiaotao, you are simply too smart! That's exactly it!!"

Huo Yuhao hurriedly gave a thumbs-up and kept praising Ma Xiaotao.

"I didn't expect you to know so much, Sister Xiaotao, you're amazing!!"

"That's right! Your Sister Xiaotao knows plenty! If you have anything you don't understand in the future, you can come and ask me!!"

These words made Ma Xiaotao feel like she was floating on air, her mood exceptionally wonderful.

Her favorability toward Huo Yuhao even rose by several levels, and she patted her chest to guarantee it.

At this moment, the more Ma Xiaotao looked at Huo Yuhao, the more pleasing he seemed.

Who invented this little thing called Yuhao? He's just pleasant to look at, sweet-talking, and articulate—simply perfect!

Ma Xiaotao felt that the evil fire in her heart had dissipated quite a bit.

This also made her secretly resolve to come find Yuhao to relax whenever she had time in the future; it would be very beneficial for her physical and mental health.

The matter was considered glossed over, and the two continued walking toward the market outside the city gate, chatting and laughing.

"Yuhao!!"

Just as they arrived at the market, before Huo Yuhao could say goodbye to Ma Xiaotao, he heard a miserable voice calling his name.

It sounded like Tang Ya?

What was going on?

Huo Yuhao felt puzzled and turned his head to look at the source of the sound.

Sure enough, it was Tang Ya calling for him, while Bei Bei stood beside her, holding two things that looked like charred charcoal, his face full of helplessness.

"Yuhao!!"

Seeing that her little Yuhao had finally appeared, Tang Ya shouted even louder, looking as if she were about to cry.

Given the situation, Huo Yuhao couldn't bother with saying goodbye to Ma Xiaotao and could only bring her along to Tang Ya and Bei Bei's side, asking in a gentle tone.

"What's wrong, Teacher Tang Ya?"

Seeing Huo Yuhao finally reach her side, Tang Ya couldn't care about her image as the Tang Sect leader anymore; she grabbed onto Huo Yuhao's leg, looking as pitiful as could be.

Ma Xiaotao, standing to the side, couldn't help but wrinkle her delicate nose beneath her mask at the sight, seemingly displeased.

Tang Ya, however, was completely oblivious to Ma Xiaotao's presence. She reached out, pointed at the charcoal-like object in Bei Bei's hand, and began to wail.

"I was waiting here for you to grill fish, but I couldn't stand the hunger anymore, so I tried doing it myself. Who knew this thing would be so hard to grill!"

"Bei Bei is even disgusted with me; he said I'm wasting food!!"

"He didn't even taste it! How does he know my grilled fish is inedible!!"

"..."

Looking at the two unrecognizable lumps of unknown matter in Bei Bei's hand, Huo Yuhao understood why he looked so helpless.

This stuff... it was practically carbonized. Did it even have anything to do with fish anymore?

It was pure, unadulterated culinary disaster. Even he wouldn't dare eat it.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Just as Huo Yuhao mentally passed the death sentence on the item, he heard Tang Ya's voice.

"How about... you try it, Yuhao?"

Tang Ya's tone carried a hint of anticipation as she looked up at Huo Yuhao with pleading eyes.

It seemed she wanted Huo Yuhao to prove that no matter how bad her skills were, it was at least somewhat edible, right?

That gaze made Huo Yuhao's scalp tingle, and he could only hurriedly change the subject.

"Ahem, well..."

"You must be hungry after waiting so long, Teacher Tang Ya? No time like the present, I'll start grilling the fish right now!"

He immediately rolled up his sleeves and stepped up to the grill.

Tang Ya and the others had naturally prepared the seasonings and equipment for him, ensuring they could eat the most perfect grilled fish the moment it was ready.

Faced with Huo Yuhao's deliberate change of subject, Tang Ya could only huff in frustration before standing up.

Tang Ya couldn't bear to lose her temper with Huo Yuhao.

There was no helping it; she was still waiting to eat grilled fish.

She decided she would just deal with Bei Bei later.

Only then did she notice Ma Xiaotao standing behind Huo Yuhao.

"Senior, you are..."

Tang Ya naturally recognized the uniform Ma Xiaotao wore, which signified an inner court student, so she asked tentatively.

"Don't mind me. I'm a friend of Yuhao's, just wandering around."

Facing Tang Ya, Ma Xiaotao's tone wasn't exactly friendly, but it softened slightly out of respect for the fact that she seemed very close to Huo Yuhao.

Upon hearing this, Tang Ya looked at Huo Yuhao, who was busy grilling fish, in shock.

The look in her eyes seemed to say, I never would have guessed, You kid are quite the dark horse, You've only been enrolled for two days, and you already know a senior from the inner court?

In another two days, will you be casting me, your Sect Master, aside for someone new?

Huo Yuhao pretended not to see her and focused on the fish.

"Tang Ya, this is Senior Ma Xiaotao from the inner court."

At the critical moment, Bei Bei stepped forward with a smile to smooth things over. As Xu Sanshi's best buddy, he naturally recognized Ma Xiaotao.

Tang Ya finally realized who she was and covered her mouth in surprise. Was this the Flame Maniac Ma Xiaotao, known as the number one genius of the inner court?

"You are... Thunderbolt Bei Bei?"

Ma Xiaotao looked Bei Bei up and down and recognized his identity as well.

Bei Bei's talent was top-tier among the outer court students, and he was almost guaranteed to enter the inner court, so she had naturally heard of him.

Bei Bei, having his nickname called out directly, scratched his head.

Although hearing the nickname from Ma Xiaotao's lips made him feel inexplicably embarrassed, it was, at the very least, an acknowledgment of his fame.

Not bad.

"By the way, Senior Ma Xiaotao, would you like to try my grilled fish? It's delicious!"

Huo Yuhao, who was grilling, seized the opportunity to smooth things over, but didn't forget to add:

"It's just that you'll have to wait a moment. These first two fish are reserved for Teacher Tang Ya and Senior Brother."

"It's fine, I'm not hungry right now."

Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Ma Xiaotao nodded indifferently.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei exchanged a glance, feeling quite pleased.

It seemed this kid hadn't forgotten his roots.

"Then, Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao, please come in and take a seat."

Bei Bei extended a hand, inviting Ma Xiaotao to sit nearby with great elegance.

Since his little junior brother was already so socially adept, he had no reason to do nothing.

"Mm."

Ma Xiaotao gave a soft affirmative. After a brief moment of hesitation, she chose to sit down beside Huo Yuhao, remaining silent so as not to disturb him.

The three of them waited quietly for the delicious grilled fish to be ready.