Safe and Sound

Making and selling Soul Tools was no easy task.

Those rare metals were all exorbitantly expensive, and there was no guarantee he would even have a way to buy them.

With the mere dozens of Gold Soul Coins he had on him, he probably could not even buy a pound of the most ordinary metal.

Therefore, before he had accumulated enough Gold Soul Coins, he could only rely on the low-cost business of selling grilled fish to make a living.

After undergoing a simple inspection by the guards at the city gate, mother and son entered the bustling city.

The streets teemed with people, lively and crowded.

Huo Yun'er curiously looked around at everything, her eyes revealing a hint of unease toward the new environment.

By comparison, Huo Yuhao appeared much steadier.

He merely followed quietly at his mother's side, his gaze occasionally sweeping over their surroundings as though observing something.

When he spotted a blacksmith's shop on a street corner, Huo Yuhao's eyes immediately lit up.

Since he planned to make a living selling grilled fish, he needed a specially made grill.

So he took Huo Yun'er's hand and headed straight for the blacksmith's shop.

After arranging for the grill at the blacksmith's shop, the two began searching everywhere for a suitable place to live.

However, Huo Yuhao figured that once they made money in the future, they would certainly move into a bigger and better house.

Thus, there was no need to rush into renting a room long-term just yet.

Heaven Dou City was, after all, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, and prices were not low. Renting a satisfactory place for the long term would likely cost quite a bit.

In the end, after Huo Yuhao compared their options and Huo Yun'er haggled extensively with the agent, they successfully rented a house with its own small courtyard. The lease was set for three months for the time being.

Watching Huo Yuhao handle everything in such an orderly fashion, Huo Yun'er could not help but feel emotional.

When Huo Yuhao had returned covered in blood that day, Huo Yun'er had known that mother and son could no longer remain at the White Tiger Duke Mansion.

She recalled how, when they had first fled the White Tiger Duke Mansion, her heart had been filled with panic and confusion, with no idea where they should go.

Yet Huo Yuhao, only ten years old, had been exceptionally calm and mature, arranging everything in perfect order.

From fleeing the Duke Mansion to making their way here to Heaven Dou City, nearly everything had been arranged by Huo Yuhao.

Even while they were on the road, Huo Yuhao would send a warm current into her body, greatly easing her exhausted body.

All of it made her feel as though she were dreaming, too unreal to be true.

"Mom."

Just as Huo Yun'er absentmindedly arranged the bedding, Huo Yuhao suddenly called out to her.

"Hmm? What is it, Yuhao?"

Huo Yun'er came back to herself and looked at him, asking softly.

"I don't want to keep the surname Dai anymore. I want to change my name to Huo Yuhao."

Huo Yuhao calmly spoke words that left Huo Yun'er stunned. Before she could react, Huo Yuhao spoke again.

"From now on, I am no longer that White Tiger Duke's son. I am only your son. I will not let a single person who bullied you off the hook. I will make them pay the price they deserve."

Hearing this, Huo Yun'er's heart immediately ached, and her eyes reddened.

She hurriedly set down the bedding, walked several steps to Huo Yuhao, and pulled him tightly into her embrace.

"Yuhao, don't act rashly. Don't do anything foolish."

Huo Yun'er took a deep breath, struggling to calm her emotions as she raised a hand and gently stroked Huo Yuhao's hair.

"Mom has never cared whether you can take revenge. As long as you grow up safe and sound, Mom will be completely satisfied."

Black Tortoise Sect, a sect that had once enjoyed a modest reputation on the Douluo Continent.

After enduring ten thousand years of change and accumulation, it had now risen to become one of the Heaven Dou Empire's super sects.

Inside a private room at a restaurant in Heaven Dou City.

"Heaven Dou City..."

"Whether it's orderly or not, the Xu family has the final say..."

"The Black Tortoise Sect is Heaven Dou City's sky..."

A middle-aged man reclined in a lounge chair, humming a little tune and sipping wine.

The man was named Xu Sheng. Although he also possessed the Black Tortoise Turtle martial soul, his talent was mediocre. At more than forty years old, he was only a four-ringed Soul Ancestor.

His usual responsibility was to seek out virgins who had not yet known a man for the Black Tortoise Sect, because the Xu family's main line within the sect possessed a martial soul called the Black Tortoise Turtle Shell Shield.

It was said that this martial soul contained the bloodline of the divine beast Black Tortoise, but required a second awakening.

Thus, a secret known only to themselves circulated within the Black Tortoise Sect—the secret of the Black Tortoise Turtle Shell Shield's evolution.

Male members of the Black Tortoise Sect's direct line who possessed the Black Tortoise Turtle martial soul could awaken the power of the Black Tortoise within their bodies through a second awakening.

After ten thousand years of constant exploration and experimentation by the Xu family, they had gradually mastered a method for a second awakening that was both the safest and had the highest success rate.

It was for a Xu family descendant, while still a virgin, to consummate a marriage with a woman who had not yet known a man during a specific sacrificial ritual.

Knock, knock, knock.

A series of brisk knocks sounded.

A somewhat sleazy-looking youth pushed open the door, entered, and bowed. "Uncle Sheng, I have more or less finished investigating the matter you assigned me."

"That girl's family is indeed in dire straits, and something has happened to her mother as well."

When Xu Sheng saw Chen Wen enter, a faint smile appeared on his face.

"I knew there was no mistake. Sanshi has been relentlessly pursuing that girl at Shrek Academy."

"If this matter is handled successfully, neither of us will be lacking in rewards."

As Xu Sheng spoke, his brows lifted before his expression turned serious again.

"But you must be careful while handling it. Under no circumstances should you rush it and offend her."

"If it truly does not work out, then forget it. There are plenty of other candidates."

After all, such matters were hardly honorable.

Though the Black Tortoise Sect was a reclusive sect, it had no choice but to do this for the sake of the sect's inheritance and continued existence.

Therefore, whenever an outstanding young disciple of the family encountered such circumstances, they would carefully choose a woman from a respectable family.

Provided that she was completely willing, they would offer a large sum of Gold Soul Coins as compensation.

If the woman was willing to join the Black Tortoise Sect, she could at least become a concubine. There had even been precedents of women later becoming the principal wife because of deep affection.

If she was unwilling to join the Black Tortoise Sect, she could also leave with the money and begin a new life.

Only, the person they had chosen this time was a student of Shrek Academy.

Although she was merely an Outer Court student, they had heard that her talent was quite exceptional. Xu Sheng naturally did not want to make too much of a scene and invite unnecessary trouble.

"Don't worry, Uncle Sheng. You can rest absolutely assured when I'm handling things."

Chen Wen nodded repeatedly and thumped his chest in assurance.

"Just wait and see. I'll make sure this is handled perfectly for you."

With that, Chen Wen withdrew from the room and gently closed the door.