Guiding Ma Xiaotao, First Meeting with Xu Sanshi (Seeking Collection, Seeking Follow-up Reads)

"Yuhao, your technique is quite skillful. Where did you learn it?"

In the market, watching the grilled fish turn golden and crispy under Huo Yuhao's hands, even beginning to sizzle with oil, Ma Xiaotao couldn't help but ask.

"It's not that my skills are particularly good; it's just that, because of my martial soul, I'm quite adept at controlling heat."

Huo Yuhao didn't stop his movements, answering while he continued to grill the fish.

"Heat?"

As the possessor of the top-tier martial soul Evil Fire Phoenix, Ma Xiaotao was naturally sensitive to any word related to fire.

Upon hearing Huo Yuhao's words, she couldn't help but wonder: could Yuhao's martial soul be fire-attributed?

But such exquisite technique was something even she couldn't achieve; how did Yuhao manage it?

Could the quality of Yuhao's martial soul be even higher than her own?

That didn't seem likely, did it?

Ma Xiaotao had a straightforward personality, so she immediately voiced her questions one by one.

Huo Yuhao had anticipated this and felt a secret joy in his heart.

Finally, she's hooked. Watch me slowly train... pfft, guide you onto the right path!

Thus, he spoke with a mysterious air.

"Controlling heat naturally involves technique; you can't just burn everything to a crisp with one blast of fire, right?"

"Even if the food were cooked that way, it would likely be inedible."

Tang Ya, standing to the side, watched Bei Bei throw away the fish he had just grilled like trash and suddenly felt like she was being implied.

So, she decisively smacked Bei Bei and turned away in a huff.

The big one and the small one, they only know how to bully me!!

Only Bei Bei was left with a head full of question marks.

Bei Bei: My dear lady, what is wrong with you again??

But in reality, Huo Yuhao wasn't intentionally targeting Tang Ya; his energy was entirely focused on the grilled fish and how to guide Ma Xiaotao. He had no time to worry about her.

Sure enough, after hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Ma Xiaotao looked thoughtful, and only after a long while did she ask.

"What technique?"

This was the moment he had been waiting for.

Hearing this, the corners of Huo Yuhao's mouth curled up slightly as he continued.

"You need to guide, and then exert control."

"Easier said than done..."

Perhaps thinking of herself, Ma Xiaotao muttered, revealing a rare, girlish demeanor.

"Every flame has a substance that fuels its combustion; that is the root of it all."

Huo Yuhao used tongs to lift a piece of burning charcoal so that Ma Xiaotao could see it more clearly.

"Look, if the fire from this charcoal is too big, it's easy to burn my fish, so I just take it away, don't I?"

"At the end of the day, it's just a piece of charcoal; it's nothing to be afraid of."

Huo Yuhao stared into Ma Xiaotao's eyes, his tone suddenly turning serious.

"Sister Xiaotao, you must understand: it is you who controls the fire, not the fire that controls you."

"And most importantly... do not seek the answer externally."

Huo Yuhao paused, then continued.

"Sister Xiaotao, at the end of the day, grilling fish depends on your own mastery of the heat. Others cannot grill the fish for you forever."

Ma Xiaotao fell silent upon hearing this.

But soon, she patted Huo Yuhao on the head and scolded him with a smile.

"Look at you, acting like a know-it-all!"

Huo Yuhao rubbed his head and returned his focus to the fish.

That's enough for now.

Stop while you're ahead, otherwise, it might be counterproductive.

Beside him, Ma Xiaotao watched the flames in the grill, her smile slowly fading.

Although there was nothing unusual on her exquisite face, the flickering fire reflected in her eyes truly mirrored the agitation in her heart.

"Teacher Tang Ya, the fish is ready!"

Soon, Huo Yuhao finished grilling the first fish and immediately handed it to Tang Ya, who had been waiting nearby for a long time.

"Hehe, then I won't stand on ceremony!"

Tang Ya stared at the fragrant, delicious grilled fish with glowing eyes, taking it and immediately devouring it in large bites, completely disregarding her lady-like image.

"Slow down, watch out for the heat..."

Huo Yuhao felt quite helpless and could only offer a reminder.

Ma Xiaotao, standing to the side, suddenly snapped back to reality. Smelling the enticing aroma in the air and watching Tang Ya eat with such relish, she subconsciously swallowed her saliva.

This grilled fish of Yuhao's... it really seems quite delicious...

The fragrance made Ma Xiaotao feel a bit greedy; she wanted to taste Huo Yuhao's handiwork immediately.

She subconsciously glanced back. What was it that Yuhao said earlier?

It seemed there was still a Bei Bei ahead of her.

It wasn't that Ma Xiaotao absolutely had to eat it; after all, she had already given her word, and going back on it now would look bad, putting Huo Yuhao in a difficult position.

With this thought in mind, Ma Xiaotao held back. After all, it was just a fish; it wouldn't take long.

However, Bei Bei noticed her subtle movements and smiled knowingly.

It seemed Huo Yuhao's grilled fish was simply too lethal for a gluttonous girl, so he spoke up immediately.

"Yuhao, give the next fish to Senior Sister Xiaotao first. I just ate, so I'm feeling a bit full."

Huo Yuhao turned his head, saw Bei Bei's expression, and naturally understood his good intentions. He caught on immediately and agreed, replying, "Understood, Senior Brother."

Ma Xiaotao saw this, but didn't point it out. Instead, she thought for a moment, took out a Gold Soul Coin, tossed it to Bei Bei, and said directly, "Don't refuse, or I'll take it as you looking down on me."

"...Alright, Senior Sister Xiaotao."

Bei Bei pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile and tucked the Gold Soul Coin into his pocket.

Ma Xiaotao didn't want to owe him a favor; this was normal.

Bei Bei knew she wasn't someone who lacked a Gold Soul Coin or two, so he accepted the money with a clear conscience.

As for whether this action would leave Ma Xiaotao with the impression that he was being sly or evasive, that didn't matter.

In any case, she would have to owe Huo Yuhao a favor, and since they were all on the same side, it was a win-win situation regardless.

But this little junior brother of his... he really had some talent.

Just as Bei Bei was feeling moved, he suddenly felt someone tap him on the shoulder.

He turned his head and was surprised to find a familiar face: Xu Sanshi.

"Why are you here? Where is Nannan? Did you lose her again?"

Seeing his good friend looking so dejected, Bei Bei guessed what had happened and teased him.

"Sigh, don't mention it."

Xu Sanshi wanted to say more but stopped, his words ultimately dissolving into a heavy sigh.

"By the way, is your little junior brother here? Let me see what he looks like."

He then looked around as if he had just remembered something.

"He's over there grilling fish."

Bei Bei pointed in the direction of Huo Yuhao, and Xu Sanshi followed his finger, catching sight of Huo Yuhao's busy back.

"Your junior brother is a bit thin. Is he capable?"

After looking Huo Yuhao up and down, Xu Sanshi asked with some skepticism.

"If Senior is suspicious, why not try it yourself and see if I'm capable?"

Unexpectedly, before Bei Bei could speak, Huo Yuhao retorted without even turning his head.

Xu Sanshi was stunned, not expecting him to have heard that, but then the corners of his mouth curled into a dangerous arc.

"Bei Bei, this little junior brother of yours... is quite interesting."

"Of course our Yuhao is excellent."

Although Bei Bei was surprised by Huo Yuhao's uncharacteristic temper today, he still held firm to his principle of protecting his own.

"How do you want to try?"

Seeing that Bei Bei wasn't taking his side, Xu Sanshi's temper flared, and he immediately stepped forward to demand an explanation.

Since when did a newly enrolled freshman dare to provoke him, Xu Sanshi?

If this got out, how would he ever hold his head high in the academy again?

How would he have the face to keep chasing Nannan??!

Xu Sanshi had only taken two steps when he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

He sensed an incredibly dangerous gaze fixed upon him, one that felt somewhat familiar.

Following that gaze, Xu Sanshi realized that sitting right next to Huo Yuhao was a person who appeared in his nightmares every single day.

Ma Xiaotao!

Xu Sanshi was startled.

Holy crap!!

Why is this living hell-raiser here?!

The moment he saw Ma Xiaotao, his legs went weak of their own accord, and the momentum he had built up to teach Huo Yuhao a lesson vanished completely.

The spot where he had been standing was perfectly obscured by a stall, which was why he hadn't noticed this flame-wielding maniac was also here.

Damn it! I'm having the worst luck!

Ma Xiaotao had heard every word Xu Sanshi just said, and the look she gave him now was extremely dangerous.

She stared daggers at him, enunciating every word.

"Yuhao is grilling fish for me right now."

"Do you have a problem with that?"