You Take Your Broad Road, I'll Cross My Single-Plank Bridge

The next evening, the night market was ablaze with lights, its crowds flowing without end.

Li Changqing, Ye Guyi, and Jiang Nannan walked side by side through the streets, browsing the stalls and chatting idly.

After spending the past few days together, the three had clearly grown much closer, especially Jiang Nannan.

Though her mother's passing still pained her deeply, with Ye Guyi and Li Changqing by her side, her spirits had improved considerably compared to a few days ago.

As the three passed a grilled fish stall, Li Changqing suddenly stopped.

He had spotted a familiar figure.

It was a girl with a ponytail, standing before the grilled fish stall and craning up on tiptoe to look for something.

Beside her stood a somewhat frail-looking boy in plain cloth clothes. He kept his head lowered and appeared rather reserved.

"Xiao Ya?"

Li Changqing spoke first, asking with a hint of surprise, "Why are you here alone? Where's your Bei Bei?"

Hearing him, Tang Ya turned around. The instant she saw Li Changqing and the other two, a smile appeared on her face. "Changqing! Guyi! Nannan! You're here to visit the night market too?"

She explained with a smile, "Bei Bei said he'd be here soon. He had me come ahead to save us a spot, so we wouldn't end up with nowhere to sit when it gets crowded."

Then, as though remembering something, she pulled over the frail boy beside her and introduced him enthusiastically, "Oh, right, let me introduce you. This is Huo Yuhao, the boy Bei Bei and I rescued from the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest last time. He's not only my little disciple now, but also a member of the Tang Sect."

She then turned to Huo Yuhao and said, "Little Yuhao, hurry up and grill three fish! Bei Bei and I weren't the only ones who found you back then—Changqing was there too. He left before you woke up, so you never had the chance to thank him in person."

Upon hearing that, Huo Yuhao hurriedly raised his head and gave Li Changqing a deep bow. In a sincere yet somewhat shy voice, he said, "Thank you, Senior, for saving my life!"

Li Changqing waved dismissively, his tone casual. "It's nothing, just a small favor. Just grill your fish as usual. We'll pay whatever they cost."

As he spoke, his gaze swept discreetly over Huo Yuhao, silently sizing up the boy.

Judging by his appearance, there was nothing particularly outstanding about Huo Yuhao.

He wore faded old clothes, had a thin frame, and possessed ordinary features.

Only his eyes were fairly bright, carrying a steadiness and forbearance that did not belong to someone his age.

But Li Changqing was not focused on his appearance.

What he could now confirm was that Electrolux's remnant soul had indeed arrived on the Douluo Continent, just as in the original story, and had descended upon the Star Dou Great Forest.

It was only that, on that night, just as it was about to enter his sea of consciousness, it had been forcibly blasted away by the Destruction God.

In other words, if Electrolux did not wish to dissipate between heaven and earth, he had to find another person to serve as his vessel.

And as the chosen child of fortune of this era, Huo Yuhao was undoubtedly the best choice apart from himself.

After all, if not for that invisible hand secretly setting things right, he could not possibly have failed to notice Huo Yuhao that night.

At that thought, a trace of coldness rose in Li Changqing's heart.

Although he had already obtained the inheritances of the twin God Kings, Life and Destruction, Electrolux's remnant soul was no longer all that important to him.

Still, the feeling of being treated like a chess piece and pushed along without realizing it was fucking unpleasant.

Just like Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

That thing had neither strength nor foundation.

Di Tian's spiritual power was not the slightest bit weaker than its own.

Under normal circumstances, how could Sky Dream Ice Silkworm possibly break through Di Tian's blockade and escape from the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest?

Wasn't that a joke?

Li Changqing raised his head, his gaze casually sweeping across the pitch-black night sky. Deep within his eyes, a flicker of intertwined black-and-white light flashed past.

He did not care what Huo Yuhao would become in the future.

He did not care if the will of Douluo Star intended to cultivate Huo Yuhao to oppose Tang San.

As long as it did not interfere with his affairs.

Otherwise, forget opposing Tang San—Huo Yuhao would not even make it past him.

Of course, Li Changqing did not feel any dislike toward the current Huo Yuhao.

After all, the unpleasant things had all happened later.

The current Huo Yuhao was merely an ignorant boy who had just stepped into the world of soul masters.

"Senior? Senior?"

Huo Yuhao's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

Li Changqing came back to himself and found Huo Yuhao holding up a freshly grilled fish, looking at him somewhat nervously. "Senior, the fish is ready... Would you like to try it?"

Li Changqing took the grilled fish and lowered his head for a look.

The fish skin was golden and crisp, giving off an enticing aroma. It was sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, and looked quite appetizing.

He took a bite. The flesh was tender, and the seasoning was just right.

"Not bad." Li Changqing nodded and gave a brief assessment.

At those words, Huo Yuhao immediately revealed a relieved smile, as if he had received tremendous affirmation.

Just then, Li Changqing seemed to recall something and casually asked, "Oh, right. Have you obtained your soul ring yet?"

At that question, not only Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao, but even Jiang Nannan and Ye Guyi were slightly stunned.

Ye Guyi keenly sensed that something was off. Leaning close to Jiang Nannan's ear, she lowered her voice and said, "Nannan, something feels wrong."

Jiang Nannan blinked in confusion. "Sister Guyi, what's wrong?"

Ye Guyi furrowed her delicate brows slightly, glancing back and forth between Li Changqing and Huo Yuhao. "Why would Changqing suddenly ask whether this guy has obtained his soul ring? He isn't familiar with Huo Yuhao. Today is their first proper meeting, isn't it?"

Jiang Nannan thought for a moment, then ventured, "Could it be... that Changqing is kindhearted and wants to help him?"

Ye Guyi turned to look at Jiang Nannan as if she were an idiot. Her expression seemed to say, Do you really think that's possible?

Under that gaze, Jiang Nannan grew a little guilty and gave an awkward smile. "Uh... I don't know either. It can't be that he ate one of the guy's grilled fish and is now planning to help him obtain his first soul ring, right? Then that grilled fish would be way too expensive."

While the two whispered amongst themselves, Huo Yuhao had already come back to his senses and hurriedly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Senior. I've already obtained my first soul ring. It's just... the cultivation age is a little low."

Li Changqing raised a brow, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Low? How low?"

Huo Yuhao lowered his head, pretending to be somewhat embarrassed. His voice also softened a little. "T-Ten years."

The first ones unable to hold themselves back were Jiang Nannan and Ye Guyi.

Both of them widened their eyes at once, their expressions utterly spectacular.