Two months earlier.
Qian Xunji and the two Spirit Hall elders assigned to protect him hurried back to the Pope's Palace.
When Qian Daoliu saw Qian Xunji return, he smiled. "Ji'er, you're back. How did things go this time?"
As he spoke, he looked behind Qian Xunji. When he didn't see Huo Yuhao, his brow furrowed slightly.
"Where's Yuhao?"
Qian Xunji looked troubled, too. He gave Qian Daoliu a detailed account of what he and Huo Yuhao had encountered on their journey.
"That man in black told me all this and then left. Father, Yuhao should be all right, shouldn't he?"
Qian Xunji had already guessed that Huo Yuhao was safe, but he still wanted to hear something more definite from Qian Daoliu.
Qian Daoliu's expression shifted several times.
"If it really was him, then what he said was true."
"It seems Yuhao's Second Martial Soul is even more powerful than I'd imagined. It actually made him take Yuhao so seriously."
"I never told you before, but the man you saw is known as the Beast God. His true form is an exceptionally powerful black dragon. I fought him once, and I couldn't defeat him."
"With his pride, he wouldn't stoop to lying."
Only after hearing Qian Daoliu's confirmation did Qian Xunji finally relax.
"Then I'll go tell Yuhao's mother, so she doesn't worry."
Thinking of Huo Yuhao's mother, who was just over twenty and more than ten years younger than him, Qian Xunji couldn't help twitching the corner of his mouth.
His father had really done it this time!
Huo Yun'er had indeed changed a lot after arriving in Spirit City.
At first, she'd been a little uneasy. Every day, she did little more than clean the house. When she didn't have to worry about making a living, she seemed at a loss for what to do.
Afraid she'd spend too much time worrying, Huo Yuhao found her something to keep busy with.
Spirit City wasn't as heavily populated as other cities, but it was still quite lively.
Besides, most of the people living here were Spirit Masters, and they all had money.
Huo Yuhao simply had someone buy some Soft Bone Rabbits, as well as chicken, duck, pork, and other ingredients. Then he taught Huo Yun'er how to cook rabbit and make braised meat.
Once her food tasted good enough, she could set up a stall on the street and sell it.
It would give her something to do.
Too much free time could make someone lovesick, and that was no good.
Now that she was busy and meeting more people every day, Huo Yun'er seemed livelier than she had back in Guyan Village.
When Qian Xunji found Huo Yun'er, she was handing a plate of spicy rabbit heads to a Spirit Master.
Noticing someone approach, Huo Yun'er instinctively asked, "What would you like? We have spicy rabbit heads, cold rabbit, braised chicken, braised duck, and braised pork."
" young master?"
Huo Yun'er wasn't a member of Spirit Hall, but she still addressed Qian Xunji as young master, like the Spirit Hall Spirit Masters did.
What else could she call him? The next Pope was older than her and had a much higher status. Was she supposed to call him her grandnephew?
"Madam Huo..."
Huo Yun'er quickly cut him off. "Young master, please just call me Madam Huo..."
Being called "Auntie" just wouldn't do.
Qian Xunji readily changed how he addressed her.
"Madam Huo, I came to let you know that Yuhao is currently obtaining his First Soul Ring. Absorbing a Soul Ring takes some time, so please don't worry too much."
Huo Yun'er only understood the ways of Spirit Masters a little, but she believed Qian Xunji when he told her this.
Spirit Hall awakened Martial Souls for ordinary people for free and provided subsidies to lower-ranked Spirit Masters. There was no warfare anywhere on the continent, and no Evil Spirit Masters were killing ordinary people.
How could Spirit Hall, the organization behind all this, be bad?
You say the subsidies Spirit Hall handed out came from the Two Great Empires?
Then why was it that when Spirit Hall was around, Spirit Masters received subsidies, but after Spirit Hall was gone, the Two Great Empires were still there and the subsidies had disappeared?
In Huo Yun'er's eyes, Spirit Hall was a wonderful organization.
"Sorry for the trouble of coming all this way to tell me." Huo Yun'er quickly packed up a serving of every dish in front of her.
Qian Xunji reached out to refuse, but then he heard what Huo Yun'er said next.
"Yuhao taught me how to make these, and the Spirit Masters in the city all love them."
As soon as he heard that his junior brother had taught her, Qian Xunji's hand, which had been about to refuse, accepted the food instead.
He and his junior brother were family. What was the point of being so polite with family?
By the time Gu Yuena brought Huo Yuhao back to Spirit City, the city had become extremely lively.
"Why hasn't that Braised Meat Fairy set up her stall today? If I can't eat her delicious food again, I'm going to die."
"Didn't they say they were turning the stall into a shop? The Braised Meat Fairy must be busy with that."
"Is the braised meat really that good? I've heard so many people talk about it that I came all the way to Spirit City to try it."
"The next Pope of Spirit Hall personally vouched for it! Spirit Masters on duty at the Pope's Palace come by every day, and they always buy a huge bag to take home!"
"Don't wait around today. The Braised Meat Fairy already set up her stall, but she sold out in no time. If you want to buy anything from her, you'd better come early tomorrow."
As he walked along the streets of Spirit City and heard the bizarre nickname, Huo Yuhao's mouth twitched.
Every part of the rumor was right.
His mother had actually earned herself the nickname "Braised Meat Fairy."
Beside him, Gu Yuena was still curious. "What is braised meat?"
The Silver Dragon King, who had never eaten any decent food, was full of curiosity about what people were eating.
"It's made by..." Huo Yuhao paused. "It's a little complicated to explain. You'll understand once you try it, Sister Nana."
"The Braised Meat Fairy they're talking about is... my mother. I'll take you to my house first, then I'll go see my teacher at the Pope's Palace."
Gu Yuena had originally planned to leave once she'd safely escorted Huo Yuhao home, but she didn't turn down his invitation.
At her level, satisfying her appetite wasn't a necessity anymore.
When Huo Yuhao brought Gu Yuena back to the little villa belonging to the Huo Family, Huo Yun'er was busy in the kitchen.
Watching the woman bustling about, yet clearly happy, Huo Yuhao felt relieved.
He'd been away from home for a while, and she hadn't gone astray. Good, good.
"Mother, I'm back."
Huo Yuhao called to Huo Yun'er's back.
She turned around, and her face lit up when she saw him.
She'd spent so many years raising her child, but this was the first time she'd been away from him for so long.
Huo Yun'er asked gently, "You didn't run into any danger, did you?"
Only after Huo Yuhao shook his head did she relax. Then she looked curiously at the astonishingly beautiful woman beside him, someone so beautiful that no one could even feel jealous of her.
"Who is this?"
"Mother, let me introduce you. This is Sister Nana. We met while I was obtaining my Soul Ring."
Gu Yuena nodded to Huo Yun'er and smiled faintly. "I'm Gu Yuena. Hello, Auntie."
Gu Yuena looked like a girl of fifteen or sixteen. "Auntie" was still a bit of a stretch, but it wasn't so hard to accept.
"Nana, thank you for looking after Yuhao."
"By the way, Mother, we heard what people call you on our way back. Sister Nana is curious about the braised meat. Is there any left at home?"
Remembering the Spirit Masters' nickname for her, "Braised Meat Fairy," Huo Yun'er wore a strange expression. "There's still some. Wait a moment, I'll get it."
"Really, you don't have to trouble your mother. I'm not particular about food..."
An indescribable aroma suddenly filled the air, and Gu Yuena sniffed.
Huo Yuhao held back a laugh, doing his best to keep the corners of his mouth from curling up.
"Sister Nana, what were you saying about food?"
Gu Yuena composed herself, looking exceptionally reserved. "I'm not particular about food."
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