Turbulence in a Small Town, Selling Family Assets for a New Identity

At first light, the caravan arrived at the border town of Greenwood Town.

"We're finally here!" Fatty Wang wiped away his sweat. "This journey nearly killed me."

Huo Yuhao jumped down from the carriage and surveyed the seemingly tranquil town. Bluestone streets, wooden houses, wisps of cooking smoke—it looked like a place untouched by time.

But the [Thought Palace] immediately offered a different analysis.

[Anomaly detected: pedestrians' walking patterns are excessively uniform, suggesting rigorous training.]

[Observation: someone has been continuously watching from the second-floor window of the teahouse. Three groups have already rotated.]

[Conclusion: this place is far from as simple as it appears.]

"Interesting." Huo Yuhao's lips curled slightly.

Xuan Ziwen walked over and lowered his voice. "Kid, we part ways here. Remember our agreement."

"Don't worry. I'll contact you." Huo Yuhao nodded.

After a brief farewell, Huo Yuhao slung his bundle over his back and entered the town.

His first stop was the pawnshop.

He needed to turn the jewelry his mother had left behind into cash, and he also needed more materials for soul tools.

Virtue Prosperity Pawnshop's signboard was somewhat worn, but the shop itself was kept spotlessly clean.

"What would you like to pawn, sir?" A thin old man wearing reading glasses sat behind the counter.

Huo Yuhao took out a fist-sized luminous pearl. "How much can I get for this?"

The old man accepted the pearl and examined it closely. Suddenly, his hand trembled slightly.

"This is... a deep-sea luminous pearl?" The old man looked up, his gaze sharpening. "Young man, this is no ordinary item."

"How so?" Huo Yuhao pretended not to understand.

"Such pearls can only be found inside ten-thousand-year sea soul beasts, and they must be extracted while the beast is still alive." The old man set the pearl down. "Its market value is at least thirty thousand gold soul coins."

Huo Yuhao's heart stirred. This old man was no simple pawnshop owner—an ordinary shopkeeper would never recognize such an item.

[Thought Palace, analyze this man's identity.]

[Observation: his fingers bear traces of prolonged contact with soul tools. His gaze is professional, and he possesses extensive knowledge of rare materials.]

[Inference: a retired high-level soul engineer.]

"The owner certainly knows his trade." Huo Yuhao tested him. "I wonder, aside from taking pawns, do you do any other business?"

The old man narrowed his eyes. "What does this young man want?"

"Soul tool materials." Huo Yuhao went straight to the point. "High-grade ones."

"Oh?" The old man's interest was piqued. "You understand soul tools?"

"A little." Huo Yuhao pulled out a blueprint from his robes. "For example, this—an improved design for a Class 3 offensive soul tool."

The old man took the blueprint, and his eyes grew brighter the longer he looked.

"Brilliant!" he exclaimed, slapping the table. "This energy circuit design improves efficiency by at least thirty percent over the original!"

"Young man, who is your master?"

"It's a family craft." Huo Yuhao continued using this all-purpose excuse.

The old man pondered for a moment, then suddenly rose and headed into the back room. "Come with me."

The back room was a world apart. All kinds of rare metals were neatly arranged, and every tool needed for crafting soul tools was present.

"My name is Niu Tian. Before I retired, I was a Class 6 soul engineer." The old man introduced himself. "Your techniques have greatly interested me."

"Huo Yuhao."

"How about this? I'll take your luminous pearl, but I won't pay you in gold soul coins." Niu Tian pointed at the materials filling the room. "Pick whatever you like. Anything worth up to fifty thousand gold soul coins is yours."

Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. This was far more worthwhile than exchanging it for money directly!

"Deal!"

Over the next two hours, under Niu Tian's guidance, Huo Yuhao selected a large number of precious materials.

Stellar silver, lightning-patterned gold, soul power crystals... every one of them was essential for crafting advanced soul tools.

"Young man, I have a presumptuous request." Niu Tian rubbed his hands together. "Could you teach me a few of your family's techniques?"

"Of course." Huo Yuhao readily agreed. "But I'd also like to learn from your experience."

The two hit it off immediately and began exchanging techniques.

Just then, a noisy commotion arose outside.

"Have you heard? Someone is offering a reward for a boy!"

"What boy?"

"The illegitimate son who ran away from White Tiger Duke's Manor. The reward is ten thousand gold soul coins!"

Huo Yuhao's heart tightened, but his expression remained calm.

[Thought Palace, analyze the current situation.]

[Intelligence gathered: the bounty has been posted, and the search area is expanding.]

[Opportunity assessment: the bounty can be used to set a counterintelligence trap.]

[Plan: create false clues to mislead the pursuers.]

"Boss Niu, I'm heading out to buy a few things." Huo Yuhao rose to his feet.

"Go ahead. I'll keep an eye on the materials for you."

Huo Yuhao left the pawnshop and headed straight for the largest tavern in town.

The tavern was bustling with noise, with all manner of news flying about.

"Waiter, bring me a jug of wine." Huo Yuhao found a corner and sat down.

"Sir, have you heard?" The waiter leaned closer. "Someone's looking for the young master of White Tiger Duke's Manor. The reward is quite generous!"

"Is that so?" Huo Yuhao pretended to be interested. "What does the boy look like?"

"They say he's eleven years old, quite handsome, and knows how to use soul tools."

Huo Yuhao sneered inwardly. Their intelligence was fairly accurate.

"I think I saw a boy on the mountain road to the west yesterday." He deliberately raised his voice. "He was riding a horse and heading toward the Heaven Soul Empire."

The people at several nearby tables immediately pricked up their ears.

"Really?" someone hurriedly asked.

"Absolutely true!" Huo Yuhao thumped his chest in assurance. "I was even wondering how a child could be traveling so far alone."

Before long, this "news" had spread everywhere.

Satisfied, Huo Yuhao finished his wine and got up to leave.

[Thought Palace, evaluate the effectiveness of the misdirection.]

[Predicted result: it will buy at least three days. The pursuers will prioritize searching the western route.]

Next, Huo Yuhao went to the soul tool shop in town.

"Welcome!" The owner was a warm, middle-aged woman.

"I'd like to buy some soul tools for disguise," Huo Yuhao said bluntly.

"Disguise?" The owner's eyes flickered. "Are you heading on a long journey, sir?"

"I'm going to the Sun Moon Empire on business," Huo Yuhao made up an excuse.

"Then you've come to the right place!" The owner grew excited. "We have sets specially suited for traveling to the Sun Moon Empire!"

Half an hour later, Huo Yuhao had changed into a set of Sun Moon Empire-style clothing and bought several high-grade disguise soul tools.

"Sir, let me give you some advice." The owner lowered her voice. "A large merchant caravan is leaving for the Sun Moon Empire tomorrow. You could try joining them."

"Oh? What caravan?"

"The Flying Eagle Chamber of Commerce. Their captain is named Li Tieshan, and he's recruiting guards."

Huo Yuhao's heart stirred. This was exactly the opportunity he needed!

"Thank you for the tip."

Early the next morning, Huo Yuhao arrived at the caravan's gathering point.

A massive caravan was making its final preparations to depart, with more than fifty carriages in total.

"May I ask which one of you is Captain Li?" Huo Yuhao approached someone who looked like a steward.

"That's me." A burly, bearded man turned around. "You're here to apply as a guard?"

"That's right." Huo Yuhao took out the letter of recommendation from the forest. "This is my reference."

Li Tieshan took the letter and examined it carefully.

"Fatty Wang recommended you?" He looked up. "I heard you performed well in the forest?"

"I was just lucky."

"Fine, I trust Old Wang's judgment." Li Tieshan patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder. "But you're too young. You can only serve as a trainee guard."

"No problem."

"Then it's settled!" Li Tieshan waved his large hand. "Prepare to depart!"

At the command, the enormous caravan slowly began to move.

Sitting in a carriage, Huo Yuhao gazed at the road stretching into the distance, his heart filled with anticipation.

Sun Moon Empire, here he came.