Bei Bei's Regret

Elsewhere.

By the river,

Bei Bei had been knocked unconscious after being suddenly flooded with an immense amount of energy. He still had half his health left, but his mental strength had been drained, and he simply could not endure it any longer.

He was now lying by the riverbank, the water washing over his clothes.

Footsteps sounded just then.

"Huh? Is that a person?"

It was Huo Yuhao, who had left the White Tiger Duke's Estate to hunt for a soul ring. Curiosity appeared on his face as he approached the unconscious Bei Bei. "Don't tell me it's a corpse?"

"Huh?"

Just then, Bei Bei let out a groan. Realizing that he was still alive, Huo Yuhao hurried over.

"Hey, hey, are you okay? Are you okay?"

Huo Yuhao quickly bent down, grabbed his arm, and forcibly dragged him onto the bank to keep him from being swept away by the river.

"Whew."

He panted heavily. Already malnourished, dragging a grown man had taken quite a bit out of him. After finally pulling him ashore, he collapsed onto the ground and gulped in air.

Grrr~

With no other choice, he began preparing lunch and started catching fish.

His Spirit Eyes martial soul was quite useful. It enhanced his powers of observation, and before long, he had caught several fish and begun grilling them.

After he sprinkled on his secret sauce, a mouthwatering aroma quickly rose into the air. It truly was worthy of Huo-style Grilled Fish.

The unconscious Bei Bei's nose twitched at the smell. He slowly opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings.

"Hm?"

All he saw was the back of someone grilling fish. He prepared to get up and ask what was going on.

"Ahhh!"

The pain in his body made Bei Bei cry out. He was still suffering from the backlash, and his face instantly turned deathly pale. Even the little color he had regained vanished, and his eyes widened dramatically.

The cry startled Huo Yuhao, who was grilling fish in front of him. His body trembled as he quickly turned around.

"You're awake?"

"Hm?"

Huo Yuhao helplessly set down the grilled fish and ran over to check on him.

After some simple recovery, Bei Bei finally felt better. Listening to Huo Yuhao's explanation, he realized that it had not been a dream. The pain in his body had been real as well.

"Thank you for saving me. My name is Bei Bei. What's yours?"

"Huo Yuhao."

"Brother Bei Bei, why were you lying by the river? Did you encounter some soul beast?"

Hearing Huo Yuhao's question, embarrassment appeared on Bei Bei's face. He did not know either, so he helplessly shook his head.

"Heh, I don't know why either. Maybe my luck went wrong?"

Huo Yuhao had little experience. Since even Bei Bei did not know, naturally he did not know either. He was left equally confused.

"Could it be that you're sick, Brother Bei Bei?"

Bei Bei shook his head. "I don't know, but it really is strange. I feel much better now. Once I'm back, I'll get myself checked out."

As long as the pain did not continue, that was enough for him. He had mostly recovered by now and could stand up, rather than lying there the whole time.

He slowly sat up from the ground and looked at Huo Yuhao.

"Brother Bei Bei, have a grilled fish."

Huo Yuhao could tell that Bei Bei was somewhat extraordinary. Even without a powerful faction behind him, he had strength. Becoming friends with him should not be a loss.

He held out the charred, fragrant grilled fish in his hand.

The aroma instantly enveloped Bei Bei. His nose subtly twitched, and he unconsciously swallowed, unable to bring himself to refuse.

"Thank you, Yuhao."

The grilled fish entered his stomach, and its deliciousness filled his mind. Bei Bei began wolfing it down.

After this simple time together, the two of them rapidly grew more favorable toward each other.

After taking a couple of bites himself, Huo Yuhao took the initiative to make conversation. "By the way, Brother Bei Bei, did you come to Star Dou Forest alone for something? To obtain a soul ring?"

"Oh, I came with someone."

"To help them obtain a soul ring?"

What else could someone be doing here with another person? Other than obtaining a soul ring, there were no other possibilities. It was not hard to guess, and Bei Bei did not react much to having it figured out. He simply nodded.

"Mm."

"Then where is the person you came with, Brother Bei Bei?"

Huo Yuhao looked around but did not see anyone else, leaving him somewhat curious.

He was prying too deeply. At those words, Bei Bei's expression changed slightly, and displeasure appeared on his face. Still, he did not hide it.

"We had an argument. We had different opinions over a small matter, and there was a minor conflict."

Bei Bei recalled his argument with Tang Ya earlier.

Bei Bei had supported Tang Ya as they fled, but—

Tang Ya had been restless the entire way.

"How could you take me away? Go back quickly, Bei Bei! Even if you wanted to run, you should have taken me back! Jiang Mu saved my life just now. How could we leave him behind?"

Bei Bei was deeply displeased. The moment he thought of Jiang Mu, he felt disgusted. Now that Tang Ya was bringing up a debt of gratitude for saving her life, an inexplicable fire rose within him.

But he liked Tang Ya, so there was nothing he could do. You indulged the one you loved. He helplessly suppressed his anger and patiently explained.

"Xiao Ya, the Xuantian Treasure Record of the Tang Sect states this very clearly: do not let strangers know the true extent of our strength. There was no need for us to act for someone we did not even know!"

And to keep her from accusing him of sophistry, Bei Bei had even brought up the general principles of the Tang Sect's Xuantian Treasure Record.

But the result had been far from ideal.

Tang Ya's expression changed slightly. She used all her strength to break free from him, then walked off in the opposite direction.

He had been expelled from the Tang Sect.

As he watched her grow farther and farther away, Bei Bei seemed to feel that the distance between them was growing farther as well. But he had already said what he said. Wouldn't going after her to beg her to stay make him lose face?

He was the great-grandson of an Ultimate Douluo. Being willing to stay in the Tang Sect, that shabby little sect, with Tang Ya had already been his limit.

He had his pride too, so he did not go after her. Instead, he came to the river to clear his head.

And then this happened.

But now, Bei Bei was beginning to regret it.

Should I go back and check on Xiao Ya? Without me, how could she possibly obtain a soul ring?

And what if Jiang Mu captured her to vent his anger?

The thought made Bei Bei shudder. Whenever he recalled Jiang Mu, he felt that the man had ulterior motives.

Huo Yuhao was not stupid either. He noticed the shift in Bei Bei's tone. It seemed the argument had indeed been real, and Bei Bei was worried. Their relationship must have been quite good. It would be best if he did not offer any advice. He should just hunt for his own soul ring.

He had originally thought he could ask Bei Bei to help him obtain a hundred-year soul ring, but reality never went quite as one hoped.

"Brother Bei Bei, don't worry. Nothing unexpected will happen."

Bei Bei no longer had the mood to eat. He directly tossed aside the grilled fish in his hand and stood up.

"Mm. If you ever have the chance, come to Shrek City and mention my name, Bei Bei. I'll look after you. Thank you for saving me!"

With that, he left immediately.

Xiao Ya, wait for me.

He muttered inwardly and quickly ran in the direction where he had separated from Tang Ya.

Meanwhile, Tang Ya, the one he had longed to pursue, was lifting her leg with a bashful expression as Jiang Mu touched her foot.

"Ah~ It's just a little cold."

Tang Ya's lips trembled as she looked at Jiang Mu touching her foot. She was so shy that she resembled a small animal under observation, allowing him to handle her as he pleased.

Jiang Mu had no improper thoughts. Only after wrapping it up and confirming that there was no problem did he finally let out a sigh of relief.

He raised a hand and took the waterskin tied at his waist to wash his hands. Even though there was no strange smell, he was still somewhat disgusted. He did not hesitate. He was not helping her to take advantage of her; he simply did not want to owe her a favor.

If he really wanted to take advantage of her, pinching her waist would be better.

At that thought, Jiang Mu's eyes suddenly lit up.

Looking at Tang Ya's current appearance—her leg stretched out, her face flushed red, and her expression troubled—he fell silent for a moment before speaking.

"You'd better not wear shoes for now. I'll support you."