Guiding Ma Xiaotao, Meeting Xu Sanshi for the First Time (Please Favorite and Keep Reading)

"Yu Hao, you're really good at this. Where did you learn?"

At the market, Ma Xiaotao couldn't help asking as she watched the fish turn golden and crisp under Huo Yuhao's hands, grease sizzling over the flames.

"It's not that I'm especially skilled. It's just that my Martial Soul makes me better at controlling the heat."

Huo Yuhao kept working as he answered, grilling the fish.

"The heat?"

As the owner of the top-tier Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, Ma Xiaotao was naturally sensitive to anything related to fire.

Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, she couldn't help wondering if Yu Hao's Martial Soul was fire-elemental.

But even she couldn't manage such exquisite technique. How did Yu Hao do it?

Could his Martial Soul be even better than hers?

That didn't seem likely, did it?

Ma Xiaotao was also a straightforward person, so she immediately voiced each of her questions.

Huo Yuhao had expected this, and secretly rejoiced.

Finally, she's taken the bait. I'll guide her little by little... Ahem, lead her onto the right path!

So he spoke cryptically.

"Controlling the heat takes skill, of course. You can't just throw everything into a fire and burn it all to ashes, right?"

"Even if the food came out cooked, it probably wouldn't be edible."

Nearby, Tang Ya heard this and looked at Bei Bei, who had just thrown away the fish he'd grilled as if it were garbage. She suddenly felt like she'd been called out.

So she promptly smacked Bei Bei and turned away in a huff.

The big one and the little one—always picking on me!!

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

Bei Bei: My dear young lady, what did I do this time??

But in truth, Huo Yuhao hadn't meant to take a jab at Tang Ya. His attention was entirely on grilling the fish and figuring out how to guide Ma Xiaotao. He didn't have time to worry about her.

Sure enough, after hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Ma Xiaotao pondered for a while before asking,

"What skill?"

That's exactly what I was waiting for you to ask.

Huo Yuhao's lips curled up slightly as he continued.

"You need to guide it, then keep it under control."

"Easier said than done..."

Perhaps she'd thought of herself, because Ma Xiaotao pursed her lips with a rare girlish pout.

"Every flame needs something to burn. That's the root of it."

Huo Yuhao picked up a piece of burning charcoal so Ma Xiaotao could see it more clearly.

"Look, this coal is burning too hot. It'll char my fish, so I just take it away, right?"

"After all, it's only a piece of coal. It's nothing special."

Huo Yuhao looked Ma Xiaotao in the eyes, his tone suddenly turning serious.

"Sister Xiaotao, you have to understand that you're the one controlling the flames, not the other way around."

"And most importantly... don't seek answers outside yourself."

Huo Yuhao paused, then continued.

"Sister Xiaotao, grilling fish ultimately depends on how well you control the heat yourself. Other people can't keep grilling it for you forever."

Ma Xiaotao fell silent.

But soon, she patted Huo Yuhao on the head and laughed as she scolded him.

"As if you know everything!"

Huo Yuhao rubbed his head and returned to grilling.

That was probably enough.

He'd said just enough. Pushing any further could backfire.

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

Her delicate face showed no sign of anything amiss, but the dancing firelight reflected in her eyes revealed the stirrings in her heart.

"Teacher Xiao Ya, the fish is ready!"

Before long, Huo Yuhao finished grilling the first fish and immediately handed it to Tang Ya, who had been waiting beside him for ages.

"Hehe, don't mind if I do!"

Tang Ya's eyes lit up at the sight of the fragrant, delicious grilled fish. The moment she took it, she began gobbling it down without the slightest concern for her ladylike image.

"Slow down, it's hot..."

Huo Yuhao had no choice but to remind her.

Ma Xiaotao suddenly snapped back to her senses. The tempting aroma filled the air, and Tang Ya was eating so enthusiastically that she found herself swallowing.

Yu Hao's grilled fish... really does look delicious...

The aroma made Ma Xiaotao crave it. She wanted to taste Yu Hao's cooking right away.

She glanced back, trying to recall what Yu Hao had said earlier.

There seemed to be someone ahead of her—Bei Bei, right?

Ma Xiaotao wasn't desperate to eat it. After all, she'd already promised him. What would it look like if she went back on her word? It would make things difficult for Yu Hao, too.

With that in mind, Ma Xiaotao held back. It was only one fish, after all. It wouldn't take long.

But Bei Bei noticed her little glance and smiled knowingly.

It seemed Yu Hao's grilled fish was just too tempting for a girl with a craving. So he immediately said,

"Yu Hao, give the next fish to Senior Xiaotao first. I just ate, and I'm feeling a little stuffed."

Huo Yuhao turned and saw Bei Bei's expression. He understood the kind gesture and readily agreed.

"Got it, Senior Brother."

Ma Xiaotao saw it all but didn't say anything. Instead, after a moment's thought, she took out a Gold Soul Coin, tossed it to Bei Bei, and said,

"Don't refuse, or I'll assume you look down on me."

"...All right, Senior Xiaotao."

Bei Bei considered it, then smiled and nodded.

He tucked the Gold Soul Coin into his pocket.

Ma Xiaotao didn't want to owe him a favor. That was perfectly understandable.

Bei Bei knew she wasn't short of a Gold Soul Coin or two, so he felt perfectly comfortable accepting the money.

As for whether his actions might make Ma Xiaotao think he was being sly and trying to get out of his promise, that didn't matter.

Either way, she'd owe Yu Hao a favor. They were all family, so he'd come out ahead regardless.

But this junior brother of his...

He really was something.

Just as Bei Bei was marveling to himself, he suddenly felt someone pat him on the shoulder.

He turned around and saw someone familiar.

Xu Sanshi.

"Why are you here? Where's Nannan? Did you lose track of her again?"

Seeing his close friend looking utterly dejected, Bei Bei immediately guessed what had happened and teased him.

"Ah, don't ask."

Xu Sanshi hesitated, but in the end, all he could manage was a heavy sigh.

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

Then, as if remembering something, he looked around.

"He's grilling fish over there."

Bei Bei pointed toward Huo Yuhao. Xu Sanshi followed his finger and saw Huo Yuhao's busy figure.

"Your junior brother's pretty skinny. Is he up to it?"

After sizing Huo Yuhao up, Xu Sanshi asked with some suspicion.

"If Senior doubts it, why don't you come and find out for yourself whether I'm up to it?"

Before Bei Bei could answer, Huo Yuhao retorted without even turning around.

Xu Sanshi froze. He hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to hear him, but then a dangerous curve lifted the corner of his mouth.

"Bei Bei, your junior brother... is interesting."

"Of course Yu Hao's excellent."

Bei Bei was surprised that Huo Yuhao was in such a fiery mood today, but he still held firm to the basic principle of protecting his own.

"How do you want to find out?"

When Bei Bei didn't take his side, Xu Sanshi got annoyed and immediately started forward to demand an explanation.

Since when had new students dared to provoke Xu Sanshi?

If word got out, how could he show his face around the academy again?

How could he ever pursue Nannan again?!

But after taking just two steps, Xu Sanshi suddenly felt a chill crawl up his back.

He sensed an extremely dangerous gaze fixed on him, and it seemed familiar.

Following that gaze, Xu Sanshi finally noticed the person sitting beside Huo Yuhao—a person who appeared in his nightmares every day.

Ma Xiaotao!

Xu Sanshi jumped.

Holy crap!!

Why is this living calamity here?!

The moment he saw Ma Xiaotao, his legs went weak on their own. All the swagger he'd had about teaching Huo Yuhao a harsh lesson vanished.

The spot where he'd been standing was perfectly blocked by a stall, so he hadn't noticed that this Flame Maniac was there.

Damn! What rotten luck!!

Ma Xiaotao had heard every word Xu Sanshi had just said. Now, her gaze turned dangerous as she looked at him.

Ma Xiaotao stared hard at him and spoke one word at a time.

"Yu Hao is grilling fish for me."

"Do you have a problem with that?"