Settling Down in Dou-I

The Bronze Gate's faint glow faded, and the scenery around them had completely changed.

The cold, cramped woodshed had vanished, replaced by a boundless expanse of clear blue sky.

A breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees brushed their faces, refreshing them to the core.

Soft, damp earth lay beneath their feet, mingling with the crisp scent of grass and the warmth of vibrant life.

"Is this... the world on the other side of the gate?"

Huo Yun'er gently rested a hand on Huo Yuhao's shoulder. Her breathing was slightly labored, and her face was a little paler than before.

Traveling through space with the Bronze Gate had taken a heavy toll on her already frail body. Yet as she looked at the natural scenery before them, so utterly unlike the cold luxury of the White Tiger Duke Mansion, a faint light still shone in her eyes.

"Uh... yeah."

Huo Yuhao's expression, however, was complicated.

As soon as he had entered this world, the Bronze Gate had sent relevant information flooding into his mind.

This, too, was a world ruled by Spirit Masters and Soul Beasts. The Three Great Empires—Heaven Dou, Star Luo, and Sun Moon—stood alongside the transcendent Spirit Hall, while the Clear Sky Sect, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were renowned far and wide.

This was unmistakably the world of Dou-I.

He just didn't know what year it was, or whether that God King Tang had been born yet.

At the thought of soon coming face-to-face with that pure and spotless Tang San, a flicker of anticipation crossed Huo Yuhao's eyes.

Without the advantage of ascending to godhood early, what could this God King Tang possibly use to stand against him?

That useless teacher who had been stuck at level 29?

Or the Blue Silver Grass that had been trained into a complete wreck?

He truly couldn't wait to meet the God King Tang of Dou-I!

Just as Huo Yuhao was about to explain things to Huo Yun'er, a middle-aged man came walking over, carrying a hoe on his shoulder.

The man looked to be around forty. His skin was dark and shiny from the sun, his hands and feet thick and sturdy, and his face etched with the weathered marks of years of hard labor. Yet his eyes held the plain, clear honesty unique to country folk.

When he spotted Huo Yuhao and his mother, the man first looked startled. Then he stopped, broke into a kind smile, and asked, "Did you two come here fleeing some disaster?"

Though Huo Yuhao and Huo Yun'er's clothes were clean enough, they were both patched. Add Huo Yun'er's sickly pallor and Huo Yuhao's small, thin frame, and anyone would have thought they'd suffered some misfortune.

Huo Yuhao's heart stirred. He seized the first chance to blend into this world.

Taking Huo Yun'er by the hand, he hurried forward. His voice trembled with a child's fear and sorrow. "Uncle, our village got caught up in a fight between Lord Soul Masters. So many people died..."

As he spoke, he quietly tugged at Huo Yun'er's sleeve.

Huo Yun'er understood. Her face already carried a trace of sorrow, and she added a pitiful air to it, forcing a gentle smile. "We suffered a terrible disaster. We were afraid those Spirit Masters might come back, so I fled with Hao'er. We've been walking for a long time and don't even know where we are. We're only hoping to find somewhere to stay before dark."

Her voice was soft, her expression gentle. Looking so helpless and alone, she immediately stirred the man's sympathy.

Hearing this, the smile faded from the middle-aged man's face, and his gaze grew more compassionate.

"Getting caught up in a battle between Spirit Masters and surviving is already a blessing." Afraid that bringing up the past would upset them, he quickly changed the subject and explained kindly, "This is Guyan Village, on the border of the Balak Kingdom, next to the Star Dou Great Forest. It's usually quiet here, though a little remote."

He looked the two of them up and down, taking in their thin frames and worn clothes. His pity deepened, and he waved a hand. "You two look exhausted. I'll take you to see the village chief first and find out if we can get you somewhere to stay."

"Thank you, Uncle!" Huo Yuhao chirped, then turned to Huo Yun'er with a smile. "Mother, the people here are so nice. If the village chief agrees, can we live here from now on?"

With no proof or connections in this world, finding a place in the village and establishing themselves was the best refuge they could hope for.

Huo Yun'er bowed to the middle-aged man as well, gratitude in her eyes. "All right."

It was time to bid farewell to the past and begin a new life.

The middle-aged man laughed heartily and waved a hand. "Don't worry. The village chief has a soft heart. He'll definitely agree!"

With that, he led the way, hoe over his shoulder, deliberately slowing his pace to match theirs.

Huo Yuhao held Huo Yun'er's cool, rough hand and followed behind at an easy pace, quietly scanning their surroundings.

Guyan Village was small, with about forty households. Broad fields spread around its outskirts, where most of the villagers, dressed in rough homespun clothes, worked in pairs and groups. It was a scene of peace and quiet.

Every so often, someone noticed the two strangers and looked at them curiously, but they only smiled and nodded in greeting. There was no hostility.

Before long, the three of them reached a spacious wooden house near the front of the village.

It was a little larger than the other houses in the village. Several old people sat by the door, soaking up the sun. When they saw the middle-aged man bringing two strangers over, they all looked up curiously.

"Village chief! Are you home?" the middle-aged man called into the house.

A moment later, an elderly man came out. His hair was white, his back slightly hunched, but his eyes were bright and alert.

He wore a blue homespun coat and leaned on an old vine cane. Though his eyes were a little cloudy, they held the shrewdness of someone who had seen countless people.

His gaze settled on Huo Yuhao and his mother, quietly sizing them up.

"Old Four, what is it?" he asked, his tone mild.

The middle-aged man, called Old Four, hurried over and briefly explained what had happened to the mother and son.

Then he pleaded, "Village chief, the poor things have been through a lot. Could you let them stay for a while? The empty house at the village entrance is still unoccupied. We'd only need to clean it up."

The village chief stroked his white beard, his gaze lingering on Huo Yun'er and Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yun'er seemed gentle and proper, her eyes clear, with not a trace of slyness.

Huo Yuhao, too, had bright eyes despite his young age. He didn't shy away from the village chief's scrutiny; instead, he seemed rather quick-witted.

After pondering for a moment, the village chief spoke slowly. "Our village is on the border and isn't wealthy. If you don't mind that, you can stay for now. That empty house hasn't been lived in for a long time, so I'll have someone help clean it up. You can do a few light chores for the village in exchange for meals. That should give you a stable life."

Huo Yuhao's heart leaped with joy. He immediately put on a sweet, innocent look and thanked him brightly. "Thank you, Grandpa Village Chief! We finally have a home again!"

Seeing his undernourished, scrawny frame and thinking of what he had suffered, the village chief felt even more tenderness toward him. "Your name is Hao'er, right? How old are you this year?"

"Grandpa Village Chief, I'm six," Huo Yuhao answered obediently. He was quite fond of the village chief, who was willing to take them in.

"Six..." The village chief sighed.

At six years old, that frame looked more like a child of four or five.

The village chief asked again, "Has your Martial Soul awakened?"

Huo Yuhao instinctively almost nodded.

But then he reconsidered. He was bound to become someone of consequence in the future.

And famous people often liked to trace their origins.

His Spirit Eye Martial Soul was too unusual. Even if his Innate Soul Power wasn't high, it would still attract some attention in a little village where Spirit Masters were almost never seen.

It would be safer to pretend he'd missed the Spirit Hall's awakening ceremony and find a chance to awaken openly later.

Thinking this, he gently shook his head, his voice tinged with disappointment. "The Spirit Hall's Lord Soul Masters hadn't come yet when something happened to our village..."

The village chief sighed again. "The Spirit Master responsible for awakening the children in our village left two days ago. If you want your Martial Soul awakened this year, you'll have to go to the Spirit Hall in Feimu City."

If there was a village farther from Feimu City, theirs was surely it!

"That's all right, Grandpa Village Chief. I can wait until next year to awaken it."

Apart from the Bronze Gate, his cross-world cheat, he was bound to have another hidden cheat. Otherwise, his Innate Soul Power wouldn't have been two levels higher than in the original story.

But there had been too little time since his Martial Soul Awakening for him to explore it.

He hoped this cheat would help him break through to level ten within a year. Then he could return to the world of Dou-II and claim the golden finger that belonged to him.