Trust

Huo Yuhao strolled along the bustling streets of Heaven Dou City.

Yet in his heart, he was considering how to persuade his mother, once he returned, to stay home and recuperate rather than go out and exhaust herself looking for work.

After giving it some thought, Huo Yuhao decided to first visit a pharmacy and purchase several doses of herbs that replenished qi and blood, strengthened the foundation, and nourished vitality.

They could better tend to his mother's health and, at the same time, temporarily dissuade her from seeking work.

With that in mind, Huo Yuhao asked a passerby where the largest pharmacy in Heaven Dou City was located.

Once he had identified the direction, he headed straight for it.

As he approached a medical clinic, he happened to glimpse the scene inside through a window.

He saw Jiang Nannan, standing there with an anxious expression.

Opposite her stood a young man he did not recognize.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao's expression shifted slightly as he fell into thought.

Inside the clinic.

"Chen Wen, is what you said true?"

Jiang Nannan's voice trembled slightly, though it was filled more with barely concealed urgency.

"Do you really have a way to save my mother?"

Chen Wen looked at the young woman before him. Although she was plainly dressed, her delicate and refined beauty could not be concealed.

He secretly admired his young master's discerning eye. It was not in vain that he had asked Uncle Xu Sheng to use the Basalt Divine Pill as an exchange.

Otherwise, he might truly have found it difficult to accomplish this "good deed" for the Second Young Master.

"Of course. Would I, Chen Wen, lie to you?"

Chen Wen's face broke into a smile, his tone carrying a hint of smugness.

"As long as you agree to sell yourself to our sect, not only will our sect give you a large sum of Gold Soul Coins as compensation, we will also give you a Basalt Divine Pill unique to our sect."

He paused before continuing.

"You know that the Basalt Divine Pill is a treasure possessed only by our Black Tortoise Sect. It doesn't circulate outside at all.

"And your mother's heart condition is so severe. Without relying on the medicinal power of the Basalt Divine Pill, I'm afraid it will be difficult for her to pull through."

At his words, Jiang Nannan's face instantly turned pale as paper.

As a resident of Heaven Dou City, she had naturally heard of the Black Tortoise Sect's Basalt Divine Pill. She had also heard rumors that the Black Tortoise Sect secretly gathered beautiful, chaste young women.

But when she recalled the physician telling her earlier that her mother's illness had become extremely serious and that she likely did not have much time left, Jiang Nannan's heart sank.

If selling herself to the Black Tortoise Sect could keep her mother alive, then what did it matter?

Seeing that Jiang Nannan seemed to be wavering, Chen Wen secretly rejoiced.

He had once been Xu Sanshi's personal page. Since at least five generations of his family had served the Black Tortoise Sect, even though he had possessed no innate Soul Power after awakening his martial soul, his status within the sect was still not low.

However, after Xu Sanshi's cultivation improved and he entered Shrek Academy, contact between the two of them had gradually decreased.

That was precisely why he had taken the initiative to find Xu Sheng and accept this assignment.

He wanted to help Xu Sanshi fulfill his wish and restore the closeness between them.

Before Jiang Nannan could respond, Chen Wen saw a handsome black-haired boy walk in.

"Sister Nannan, if you were in trouble, why didn't you tell me?"

The boy's tone was gentle, carrying a trace of concern.

Jiang Nannan's expression changed slightly when she saw Huo Yuhao suddenly appear, and she instinctively asked,

"Yuhao, why are you here?"

Then, as if remembering something, she hurriedly added,

"Yuhao, it's not what you think."

Jiang Nannan herself did not know why she was so eager to explain herself to Huo Yuhao.

Perhaps it was because, during those days with the merchant caravan, she had seen reflections of herself and her mother in Huo Yuhao and his mother, leaving her with an inexplicable sense of closeness toward him.

Thus, she did not want him to see her in such a miserable and helpless state.

Chen Wen's expression immediately darkened as he looked at Huo Yuhao, who had appeared out of nowhere.

If this boy had not suddenly shown up, Jiang Nannan would likely have already agreed to his terms.

However, remembering Xu Sheng's instructions, he could only force down his irritation and speak as calmly as possible.

"Young brother, you don't understand. Her mother has an extremely severe heart disease. Other than the Basalt Divine Pill I brought, I'm afraid there is no other way to save her."

Jiang Nannan's mother was merely an ordinary person without Soul Power. Other than relying on the mild medicinal effects of the Basalt Divine Pill, treatment from a specialized healing-type Soul Master might instead prove counterproductive.

Most healing-type Soul Masters actually treated injuries by stimulating the life force within a Soul Master's body.

Jiang Nannan's mother already lacked vitality. If she were treated rashly, it might instead directly take her life.

Besides, judging by the boy's ordinary clothes—aside from those especially lively blue eyes—Chen Wen truly could not imagine what right he had to interfere in this matter.

Jiang Nannan's expression also dimmed.

Although Huo Yuhao's grilled fish had left an exceptionally deep impression on her, and he had helped bandage the injured drivers after the merchant caravan had been attacked by Soul Beasts, perhaps he understood a little medical theory.

Still, she did not believe that ten-year-old Huo Yuhao could have any way to resolve her mother's illness.

However, before Jiang Nannan could speak, Huo Yuhao had already stepped forward and gently taken her hand.

"Sister Nannan, please believe me."

Huo Yuhao's voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally resolute.

Jiang Nannan suddenly felt an incomparably pure and gentle life force flow from Huo Yuhao's hand.

That life force entered her body, making even her somewhat fatigued body feel refreshed and comfortable.

Looking down into Huo Yuhao's earnest, clear eyes, she froze slightly before speaking as though possessed.

"Alright, Yuhao. Then Sister Nannan will believe you."

Chen Wen was immediately at a loss as he watched this sudden scene unfold before him.

He truly could not understand why Jiang Nannan had suddenly changed her mind and chosen to trust a child of only around ten.

Was there something wrong with Jiang Nannan's head?

Was she treating her mother's life as a joke?!

Clearly, she only needed to agree to sell herself to the Black Tortoise Sect to save her mother's life.

Yet now, she insisted on believing a mere ten-year-old child?

Chen Wen took a deep breath, trying to suppress his displeasure before saying in a deep voice,

"Jiang Nannan, if this young brother cannot cure your mother, you may come find me anytime before tonight."

Chen Wen was still unwilling to give up on Jiang Nannan so easily. After all, she was the one Xu Sanshi had constantly pursued at Shrek Academy. She would surely suit Xu Sanshi's wishes better than the other candidates Xu Sheng had in hand.

After saying this, Chen Wen turned and walked out. However, he did not go far, instead remaining elsewhere in the clinic, clearly still waiting for Jiang Nannan to change her mind.