Oscar Stays in the Snowfields
"Hey!" Veya waved from afar, her ponytail swaying in the wind, "You're still alive!"
Hote was more composed than her, but his pace was noticeably quicker.
Upon approaching and seeing that no one was injured, they breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness, you're all alright."
"Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder roared in the forest. We were worried something might have happened to you, so we asked the Far North Town Soul Hunting Corps to come and rescue you!"
Ye Hua shrugged. "Everything's fine here. But you guys, making such a big fuss?"
Behind Veya, a dozen or so Soul Master wrapped in thick fur coats were gradually gathering.
In addition, there were many hunters carrying hunting bows and short axes at their waists.
The equipment wasn't top-notch, but you could tell they genuinely wanted to save lives.
"We were getting more and more worried after we got back," Veya said quickly. "Uncle Hote told the town about the Snow Tree Demon, and everyone came to help."
"Although you are... sigh, I'm just worried about your subordinates not being around."
Ye Hua nodded. In the eyes of the Soul Hunting Group and the hunters, he saw enthusiasm, but no fear.
Hote and Veya did not reveal his identity.
Hote shifted his gaze from Ye Hua to the vast snowfield.
"Please go back first. We'd like you to stay in town tonight, so we can show you the hospitality you deserve."
Ye Hua did not refuse.
He definitely needs to find a place to rest.
Forcibly altering the timing of the Snow Empress 'Lightning Tribulation is no easy task.
Oscar's lips turned purple from the cold, and his face was chapped.
That night, Ye Hua stayed at Veya's house, and Hote also brought his wife and children.
To keep warm, the houses in the Far North Town are low, with thick walls, and wisps of white smoke rise from the chimneys.
Veya's house is a stone house at the east end of town, with dried meat and dried fish hanging all over the courtyard walls.
The moment I pushed open the door and stepped inside, a wave of warmth, mingled with the smoke from burning firewood, washed over me.
A fireplace burned inside, flames licking at a black iron pot, from which steam rose in a bubbling gurgling sound.
"Mom! We're back!" Veya called out to the inner room.
The curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged woman strode out.
Seeing that her daughter was safe and sound, her eyes instantly reddened. She hugged Veya tightly and looked up at Ye Hua, thanking him repeatedly.
"Don't stand, sit down, sit down!"
The woman moved quickly and efficiently, bringing out two low stools and adding a few pieces of firewood to the fireplace.
In less than fifteen minutes, the stewed meat and baked flatbread in the pot were served.
Veya's father brought out two jars of homemade fruit wine from the cellar; the wine shimmered with an amber hue in the rough earthenware bowls.
Everyone simply thanked Ye Hua, tacitly avoiding mentioning the Ice Saint King's treasure.
If so, it's someone else who got it, and it has nothing to do with me.
If not, then it's purely fictitious and there's no need to ask further.
"Uncle Hote, do you still plan to go into the Far North Forest in the future?" Oscar put down the wheat cake he had just taken a couple of bites of.
Hote pressed his thumb against the rim of the ceramic bowl and nodded slightly. "I plan to go back to my old profession."
Veya looked up at him.
"After the team was broken up, someone had to take care of the families of my brothers."
"I want to revive the Soul Hunting Group and hunt Soul Beast in the outer regions."
Even if I don't earn much, I can still gradually help them out.
"I'm going too!" Veya raised her chin slightly. "I already agreed with the older man on the way back!"
Veya's parents exchanged glances and did not stop their daughter's choice.
Ye Hua watched this scene, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Then I wish Hote's Soul Hunting Group a speedy start to its plans."
"I also wish Veya a safe and successful Soul Hunting experience every time."
"Thank you for your kind words!" Hote a toast.
After Ye Hua clinked glasses and drank the wine, he was about to speak when Oscar suddenly spoke up.
"Teacher Ye..."
Ye Hua turned his head to look at Oscar.
Oscar hesitated for a moment, but then his expression hardened.
"I want to stay in Far North Town!"
The room fell silent instantly; even the crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace could be clearly heard.
Ye Hua put down his wine bowl. "Explain yourself."
Oscar mustered his courage and said, "Teacher Ye, I know that the cultivation speed is faster at Three-Flavored Study. As long as I stay there, it will be much easier to improve my Soul Power."
"But..." he clenched his fist, "High Soul Power doesn't mean I can fight."
"I need real combat experience, to hone my skills on the edge of life and death, Soul Hunting Group is an excellent choice!"
Ye Hua blinked and saw the stubbornness in his eyes.
"You want to join the Soul Hunting Group in Hote?"
"Hmm." Oscar nodded emphatically. "If you agree."
Ye Hua didn't rush to answer, but turned his head to look at Hote.
Hote opened his mouth, as if he had been overwhelmed by happiness.
How bad could the people around the leader of the Long Night Alliance be?
Besides, he's a food-type Soul Master, capable of replenishing supplies and saving lives—we couldn't be happier!
"I'm fine." Ye Hua knew he shouldn't stop him now.
Hote put down his fruit wine as well, "As long as you're not afraid, even though I, as the regimental commander, have a history of poor leadership, I'm fine with it!"
He was Soul Saint after all; as long as he remained in the outer circle, he was confident that he wouldn't be wiped out again!
Oscar couldn't hide his delight.
"Thank you, Teacher Ye!"
"Thank you, Commander!"
"I should be thanking you," Hote Oscar a drink. "You've really come to my rescue!"
Ye Hua picked up his wine bowl, took a small sip, and said, "Be careful. If you encounter anything you can't handle, contact me using the Voice Transmitter."
Oscar stood up and bowed deeply to him.
The flickering firelight in the fireplace cast shadows on his profile.
After the bonfire dinner, Ye Hua stayed overnight.
The next day, after bidding farewell to Oscar and the others, he flew south.
Although there was no Oscar, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm returned to the world of puppets.
Ye Hua took care of him, and since there was no rush, he simply walked back slowly.
"Aren't you worried?" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm teased.
"Oscar must always stand on his own." Ye Hua flapped Yinglong Wings.
"Pfft," Sky Dream Ice Silkworm couldn't help but chuckle, "If it were the girl next to you, you definitely wouldn't agree."
He then received a death stare.
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm wisely shut up.
After returning to the Crystal Palace, Feng Xiaotian became the first exchange student to break through to the Quasi-Soul King in the past few months.
Ye Hua personally helped him find a 20,000-year-old Wind Demon Wolf from the Sunset Forest as his Soul Spirit.
It's not that he's stingy; honestly, Feng Xiaotian couldn't possibly withstand Soul Spirit for 50,000 years.
Firstly, he lacked Ten-Thousand-Year Immortal Herb as a foundation, and secondly, he lacked Spirit Bone for support.
Even if the resentment of the Soul Beast is dispelled by forcibly absorbing a 50,000-year-old Soul Spirit, it is still difficult to withstand the swelling Soul Power!
Nearly a year had passed since the All-Continent Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academy.
Ye Hua wanted to rest a little longer, but Tang San, who had been missing for a long time, suddenly sent word.
[bite--]
[Tang San has emerged from seclusion; main quest issued]
[Mission Name: Carnage]
[Mission Objective: Tang San has mastered the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique and is heading to the Slaughter City training. Please instruct him to suffer a complete loss.]
[Quest Reward: Four-Hundred-Thousand-Year Seventh Soul Ring]
[Mission Description: The Slaughter City special rules. Those who enter will have their Soul Skill sealed and can only fight using Soul Power and physical techniques, but their Soul Spirit is not subject to these restrictions.]