An Actor's Self-Cultivation

"Bullshit. It's because I've seen how you grill fish," Mu Feng grumbled inwardly, though he smiled and said, "I've tried grilling fish this way before, so I'm very familiar with the smell."

"Oh." Huo Yuhao nodded, then took out a grilled fish and handed it to Mu Feng. "Big Brother, would you like one?"

Mu Feng naturally accepted without any ceremony. Tang Ya sat to Huo Yuhao's right, so Mu Feng walked over and sat on his left, taking a bite of the grilled fish.

He looked at the fish in his hand and nodded. "Truly worthy of a professional."

Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes martial soul gave him far better control over the heat than Mu Feng had once managed with his own eyes, and the taste was much better as well.

Seeing that everyone had taken their seats, Bei Bei sat beside Tang Ya. However, Mu Feng was a hungry man whose interest lay not in the fish, but in Yuhao.

After exchanging a few words with Huo Yuhao about grilling fish, he said, "My name is Mu Feng. May I ask what your names are?"

Huo Yuhao's grilled fish had invisibly brought them much closer, sparing Mu Feng the need for more pleasantries.

"My name is Bei Bei, and she's Tang Ya." Bei Bei pointed to himself and Tang Ya, who was happily devouring her grilled fish beside him.

Her mouth was covered in grease, making Bei Bei both amused and helpless. He could only nudge Tang Ya lightly with his elbow, reminding her to mind her image.

Huo Yuhao, who was attentively tending the grilled fish, said, "My name is Huo Yuhao."

At last, Bei Bei had the chance to ask what had been puzzling him. "Brother Mu Feng, how did you end up alone in the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Mu Feng smiled. Though both he and Huo Yuhao were alone, Bei Bei had only asked him. He had likely judged from their clothing, and Mu Feng could not help being impressed by his careful observation.

"I'm on my way to take part in Shrek Academy's admissions. Shrek City isn't too far from here, so the elders of my family went back first."

Bei Bei raised his brows slightly upon hearing this. Every year, many people were eliminated during Shrek Academy's admissions. From Mu Feng's words, he seemed determined to get in.

"If that's the case, you might end up becoming my junior." Bei Bei explained, "Xiao Ya and I are both students of Shrek Academy. We'll be fourth-years when school starts, and we came out to obtain soul rings."

Mu Feng said in "surprise," "What a coincidence. Perhaps I'll have to ask you to take good care of me then, Senior Brother."

Bei Bei smiled. He could hear the courtesy in Mu Feng's words. By then, Huo Yuhao had finished grilling the second batch of fish. He handed one to Bei Bei and still held another in his hand. Tang Ya, who had just finished one herself, turned her gaze back toward Huo Yuhao.

Seeing Tang Ya's greedy expression, Bei Bei helplessly gave her the grilled fish in his hand. He said to Huo Yuhao, "Little Brother Huo, you've been busy for so long and haven't eaten yet. Go ahead and eat first."

Huo Yuhao nodded. He had long since been starving, so upon hearing Bei Bei's words, he immediately began eating in large bites. Naturally, he had also overheard Mu Feng and Bei Bei's conversation.

Shrek Academy was a gathering place for all genius soul masters. He had once dreamed of joining the greatest academy on the continent as well, but with his talent, he certainly would not pass its examination. Right now, the most important thing was to obtain a soul ring and officially become a soul master.

He quickly finished the grilled fish, then rapidly packed up his small bundle. Bidding the three farewell one by one, he said, "Brother Mu, Brother Bei, Sister Tang, I'll be leaving first."

During their brief conversation earlier, Huo Yuhao had learned that Mu Feng was only a month or two older than him. Yet Mu Feng gave off an especially dependable aura that made people feel comfortable, so Huo Yuhao still addressed the boy his own age as Big Brother.

Both Mu Feng and Bei Bei could sense the faint fluctuations of soul power from Huo Yuhao. Dressed so plainly, Huo Yuhao had clearly entered the forest alone. With only such weak soul power, he would likely struggle against even a ten-year soul beast.

Thus, Bei Bei still warned Huo Yuhao not to venture too deeply into the forest, or it would be troublesome if he encountered soul beasts. But Huo Yuhao merely smiled at them, waved, and headed deeper into the forest.

Tang Ya watched Huo Yuhao leave, worry in her eyes. "He isn't really heading deeper into the forest, is he? What if he encounters soul beasts?"

Bei Bei shook his head. He did not know what Little Brother Huo was thinking. Turning to Mu Feng, he asked, "How about you travel with us, Brother Mu? Then we can return to the academy together afterward."

Unlike Bei Bei and Tang Ya, who were confused and worried, Mu Feng knew that an enormous windfall was about to fall into Little Brother Huo's lap. He was eagerly waiting to get a share of it, so how could he agree to Bei Bei's request?

Mu Feng refused, "I'd better go check on Brother Huo, in case something happens to him." As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Feng followed in the direction Huo Yuhao had disappeared.

"Fine, then," Bei Bei said helplessly. He had not expected the two little brothers he had just met to be so individualistic. Since Mu Feng was planning to take part in Shrek Academy's admissions and was so confident, Bei Bei guessed that he was at most a two-ring Great Soul Master.

The chances of encountering a hundred-year soul beast in the outer regions of the Star Dou Great Forest were not low. The two were only eleven years old, so their combat experience could not be all that rich. If they unfortunately ran into a hundred-year soul beast, they would likely be in danger.

With that in mind, Bei Bei said to Tang Ya, "Let's hurry up and finish hunting the soul beast. Then we can go look for those two little brothers, so they don't run into any mishaps."

Tang Ya nodded. Little Brother Huo's grilled fish had left a deep impression on her. She could also sense the faint soul power fluctuations from him. After thinking it over, she said to Bei Bei as they traveled, "Do you think I should recruit Little Brother Huo into the Tang Sect?"

Bei Bei gave Tang Ya a strange look. "You aren't considering recruiting Little Brother Huo into the Tang Sect just because of his grilled fish, are you?"

Tang Ya stuck out her tongue. "That's part of the reason, sure. But I also noticed that Little Brother Huo is wearing cloth clothes. He doesn't look like a soul master with a background like Mu Feng, so he should be easier to recruit."

Tang Ya looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then quietly moved closer to Bei Bei and whispered into his ear, "Huo Yuhao appeared alone in the Star Dou Great Forest. He looks rather lonely and helpless. It seems like something may have happened to him, but when we spoke earlier, he didn't seem like a bad person."

"Mm." Bei Bei nodded. He had noticed those details too. Besides, the fallen Tang Sect could only recruit disciples like Little Brother Huo now. Bei Bei teased, "I thought you were too busy eating grilled fish to hear the rest of us talking."

Tang Ya rolled her eyes at Bei Bei. That charming glance made his heart stir. She said irritably, "Get lost. As the Tang Sect's sect master, my methods are quite formidable."

Bei Bei repeatedly nodded in flattery. "Yes, yes, yes. Teacher Xiao Ya is the most formidable."