Partners in Shared Fate!

With his Spirit Eyes Martial Soul activated, Huo Yuhao spotted a petite figure secretly watching him from behind a large tree. A little head peeked out from behind the trunk, its face full of curiosity.

"Hmm? Are you here to spy on me, or...?" Huo Yuhao warily watched the child behind the tree. Judging by her build, she was about the same age as him.

He swung the longsword in his hand, sword cries ringing around Huo Yuhao. With every swing, he seemed to be fighting Dai Huabin, hacking him into pieces.

As sword shadows flickered, the little figure behind the tree watched Huo Yuhao practice his swordsmanship with great difficulty. For some reason, she was utterly absorbed; the figure wielding the sword before her was incredibly captivating.

She was Zhu Lu, a young lady of the Zhu Family who had come to the Duke's Estate today to meet Dai Huabin, her fiancé. As a concubine-born daughter, she had no say over her own life. Marriage alliances were her only fate.

She had originally been touring the Duke's Estate today, intending to see the place where she would live in the future. Little by little, she had wandered here, and Huo Yuhao's sword practice had suddenly drawn her in.

Young girls liked boys who were resolute and manly, especially now that Huo Yuhao's nutrition had improved under the old steward's care.

He had become quite a handsome young boy. Looking at the pretty Huo Yuhao, Zhu Lu found the little fellow rather adorable.

"Excuse me, who are you? Why are you spying on me over here?"

At that moment, a questioning voice came from behind her. Zhu Lu's heart instantly tightened. She slowly turned around and discovered Huo Yuhao standing behind her, leaving her utterly shocked. When she looked back at where he had been, his figure was still there.

"Th-then... weren't you cultivating?" Caught red-handed, Zhu Lu awkwardly rubbed her fingers together, her cheeks flushed crimson. She had not expected him to discover her spying.

"As long as I have my person disguise himself, naturally he can evade your sight." Huo Yuhao offered a brief explanation, then fixed the little girl before him with a sharp gaze.

"Um, sorry, I didn't mean to. I was just drawn here by the sound, and then I looked. After looking, I... I accidentally got absorbed in watching."

By the end, Zhu Lu shyly lowered her head, not daring to meet Huo Yuhao's eyes. Because he had activated his Martial Soul, his eyes shone with golden light, like stars.

Zhu Lu was afraid she would be drawn in again.

Seeing the little girl so awkward before him, Huo Yuhao came to his senses and remembered that today seemed to be the day that bastard Dai Huabin's engagement had been arranged.

So this girl was Dai Huabin's fiancée? But logically, she should not have come here.

"Could Xu Xingling, that bitch, be plotting something again?" Huo Yuhao did not dare let down his guard. Grandpa Steward was recovering from his old injuries, and he did not want to disturb his rest.

"Since there's nothing else, leave. Remember, don't come in here again!" Huo Yuhao pointed in the direction of the Duke's Estate, signaling for her to leave.

"Got it!" Zhu Lu looked at the stern Huo Yuhao and felt somewhat frightened, but she knew he did not intend to pursue the matter. All she could do was leave.

Just as Zhu Lu was preparing to leave, Huo Yuhao's voice drifted over. "Remember, don't reveal a single thing about what happened here, or I won't be polite!"

Hearing that bone-chilling voice, Zhu Lu nodded repeatedly and quickened her pace. After putting some distance between them, she broke into a run, hoping to leave as quickly as possible.

"This is really troublesome!" He had not expected his cultivation spot to be discovered. He would have to change locations now; he could not keep using this place. If that girl leaked the news, that bitch Xu Xingling would surely start causing trouble.

"Lord! That girl from the Zhu Family has returned to the Duke's Estate." Wei Qing walked over from the side. Judging by the fluctuations of spiritual energy, Zhu Lu had already returned to the Duke's Estate.

It really was troublesome. He could not bring himself to harm a little girl, so he could only let her go back for now. As for what came next, he could only see whether there was another cultivation site.

"Lord, there is a lake elsewhere. It would make an excellent cultivation ground." Wei Qing pointed in a direction. While tracking Zhu Lu, he had discovered that location.

"Oh? Uncle Wei Qing, please take me there."

Hearing that there was another excellent cultivation spot, Huo Yuhao nodded and headed in the direction Wei Qing had indicated. Wei Qing nodded as well, walking ahead to lead Huo Yuhao toward the lake.

The man and spirit arrived at the lakeside. Looking at the tranquil water and the open grassland around it, it truly was a peaceful place. Huo Yuhao nodded in satisfaction at the precious site before him.

"Good! I'll cultivate here from now on. Uncle Wei Qing, I'll have to trouble you to keep watch around the area."

This time, Huo Yuhao intended to be more cautious. In truth, his Soul Power had already reached level ten, but at Wei Qing's suggestion, he first nurtured the Heavenly Cycle in his abdomen. Once it reached its limit, he would absorb a soul ring.

A brand-new day began. Huo Yuhao arrived by the lake and took out the heavy sword specially made by Wei Qing, swinging it to train his endurance. On the first day, he had some trouble adapting to it.

After swinging it for two hours, he had begun to grow accustomed to the heavy sword's weight, and it became easier and easier to wield. As the speed of his swings increased, Huo Yuhao's strength improved further.

"Sigh! Tell me, why did you come running over here again?" Huo Yuhao looked helplessly toward the nearby bushes. The bushes trembled a few times, and Zhu Lu slowly emerged from within.

"Um... hello?" Zhu Lu looked at him at a loss. For some reason, she could not bring herself to dislike Huo Yuhao. She felt that he lacked the aristocratic air and haughty expression of others.

"What is your name?" Zhu Lu looked at Huo Yuhao with curiosity. Though she was afraid, she truly wanted a friend. Back in the Zhu Family, only her mother had kept her company.

After her mother died, she no longer had any friends. Even the servants under her had always kept their distance; not a single one was willing to befriend her.

Looking at the young man before her now, Zhu Lu admitted that she hoped she could become friends with him.

"Huo Yuhao! You'd best not get close to me. You can't bear the karma surrounding me." After saying those cryptic words, Huo Yuhao ignored her.

He walked to one side and began cultivating. Seeing that Huo Yuhao ignored her, Zhu Lu felt helpless, but that was only natural. She had also learned some things about the Duke's Estate.

The Duchess had been targeting the young man before her. The fact that he had survived until now was likely due to his cautious and careful way of conducting himself.

Her situation in the family was more or less the same. For a moment, Zhu Lu truly felt that they shared the same plight, and that was why she wanted to befriend Huo Yuhao.

Seeing that he would not pay attention to her, Zhu Lu had no choice. This was not something she could force, so she sat cross-legged and began meditating. Yet Zhu Lu's cultivation drew Huo Yuhao's attention.

"I wonder how long you can keep this up."

From her actions, Huo Yuhao had already preliminarily determined that Zhu Lu had not come under anyone's orders. If she had come with an ulterior motive, Wei Qing would never have allowed her in.

In truth, Huo Yuhao also longed for companionship, but in an environment like this, he simply did not dare hope for it.