Eastsea Five Years

Eastsea City, Seafood Street.

Five years was enough for the warmth of daily life to seep into every brick and stone of a street, enough for a small shop to become part of the neighborhood's routine. The sign for "Yuling Grilled Fish" had been mellowed by sea wind and cooking smoke, while the shop itself had doubled in size and its business had grown ever more prosperous.

Half of the expanded shop was an open grilled-fish counter, steaming hot and fragrant, with Huo Yuhao as its constant center. The other half held eight or nine wooden tables, with simple seascape paintings and old fishing nets hanging on the walls. The place was kept neat and tidy. Besides Xiaoling, who had grown into a graceful young woman and looked every bit the "little proprietress," several young students in East Sea Academy uniforms bustled about the shop.

East Sea Academy was the best junior soul master academy in Eastsea City, and many students from ordinary families looked for part-time work. Since the owner of Yuling Grilled Fish spoke little, did good work, and never shorted anyone's wages, it had become a popular choice. Huo Yuhao's standards for hiring were simple: diligent hands and a clean heart. Over the years, three or four students had become regular helpers after class, adding a touch of youthful energy to this place filled with the scent of food.

By evening, the shop was packed with voices.

"Boss Huo! Two signature grilled fish, a plate of shredded kelp, same old table!" A boisterous voice rang out as three men in Eastsea City Defense Force uniforms entered. The leader was a tall, dark-skinned man named Guang Biao, the patrol captain responsible for this block. He was an old regular, especially fond of the unique spicy flavor of Huo Yuhao's grilled fish.

"Captain Guang, off work? Have a seat inside." Xiaoling looked up from the account book and greeted him with a smile. Five years had transformed the once-timid forest spirit into someone who could calmly handle all kinds of diners, her smile sincere and her accounting swift and precise.

"Little Xiaoling's getting more capable by the day!" Guang Biao made his way to a table against the wall, then said to a student waiter wiping down a nearby table, "Lin Dong, how's your soul power cultivation lately? Don't spend all your time working and neglect the important stuff."

Lin Dong chuckled. "Don't worry, Brother Guang. Boss Huo's hours are fixed, so it doesn't interfere. I'm hoping to save up a little more and see if I can trade for something good at the Spirit Pagoda." He was a student in East Sea Academy's intermediate division, with an ordinary martial soul and a steady nature.

Another student helper, Wang Li, who was carrying dishes, leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Captain Guang, I heard the city hasn't been very peaceful lately? There are rumors that evil soul masters have been moving around?"

Guang Biao waved a hand and took a sip of the barley tea Xiaoling had just poured. "The higher-ups told us to stay on alert, sure, but what could happen in an old neighborhood like ours? Evil soul masters wouldn't even spare a glance at this little bit of everyday bustle. Me and the boys are watching over the place. You study when you should study and work when you should work." He was a straightforward man, and over the years he had indeed looked after this district well. Yuling Grilled Fish had never run into any trouble.

Just then, the wind chime at the entrance tinkled softly, and someone walked in. The newcomer looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He stood straight as a pine, with cold, stern features. Most striking of all was his rare white hair, simply tied behind his head. Dressed in neat black clothes, he radiated a chill that kept strangers at a distance, utterly out of place amid the shop's lively atmosphere.

"Teacher Wu, you're here! This way, please!" Lin Dong immediately called out. The man was Wu Changkong, a well-known combat instructor at East Sea Academy. His teaching was strict, his strength mysterious, and his personality solitary. Yet for some reason, he had become a regular at Yuling Grilled Fish. He especially favored the plain grilled fish, coming alone once or twice every month.

"Mm." Wu Changkong answered blandly without looking around, then headed straight for the smallest, quietest table in the farthest corner. He seemed to enjoy being alone amid the bustle.

"Teacher Wu, one plain grilled fish, with extra lemongrass?" Xiaoling walked over with her order slip, her tone natural. After five years, she knew this cold-faced customer's habits inside and out.

Wu Changkong nodded, his gaze seemingly passing casually over the silent, busy figure behind the grill. This owner called Huo Yu had skills too refined for an ordinary cook. His aura was excessively steady, and whenever he occasionally looked up, there was a calmness deep in his eyes that no common street dweller should possess. But Wu Changkong never pried, just as he himself had many past events he did not wish others to know.

Before long, the fragrance of grilled fish filled the shop. Guang Biao and his subordinates had already started drinking with their grilled fish, chatting about trivial matters in the city defense force and local gossip. The students moved busily through the shop, occasionally exchanging a few words with familiar customers. Wu Changkong ate quietly, every movement meticulous. Xiaoling moved between the counter and kitchen, speaking softly and keeping everything in perfect order.

Huo Yuhao stood behind the grill, firelight reflecting off his calm face. His hands moved as smoothly as flowing water, precisely controlling the heat for every fish. These five years of ordinary city life had wrapped around him like warm water. Captain Zheng's hearty nature, Wu Changkong's loneliness, the students' vitality, the neighbors' laughter... these living people and everyday moments were his truest anchors to the human world while he kept his godhood sealed and lay low to recover. The auxiliary unit on his wrist continued silently gathering fragments of information, especially scattered discussions leaking from academy teachers, students, and city defense personnel about the Spirit Pagoda's movements, the soul spirit market, and even higher-level policies.

He occasionally looked at Xiaoling, warmth in his eyes. Over the past five years, he had not only taught her much about soul guidance devices—she could already independently make some delicate and practical low-level soul guidance devices—but had also incorporated basic methods from the God Realm concerning energy perception and emotional balance into her daily lessons. Xiaoling had grown remarkably. Her sensitivity to energy and emotions increased by the day, and she could even vaguely sense diners' moods while they ate, naturally giving them more thoughtful responses. She played the role of "Huo Xiaoling" perfectly, becoming a gentle bridge between forest and city.

Returning to Star Dou Forest for "lessons" during the last two days of every month had become a fixed routine. Through exchanges of knowledge and the preservation of shared secrets, he and Di Tian and the other fierce beasts had developed a subtle yet stable understanding. The concepts and knowledge he brought were quietly changing the ancient ways of thinking in the core region. Of course, every night, confirming that the steady, thriving life aura filled with youthful energy from the direction of Aolai City remained unchanged was still the deepest comfort in his heart and the force that kept him going.

The days were like grilled fish slowly turning over charcoal, steadily giving off a reassuring fragrance and warmth.

Late one night, after closing up, the students returned to the academy while Xiaoling counted the day's earnings in the inner room. As usual, Huo Yuhao stepped outside the shop. The cool sea breeze dispersed the smell of smoke and fire clinging to him. Facing the direction of Aolai City, he closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and began his daily sensing.

The familiar pulse soon reached him—steady, healthy, carrying the vigorous life force an eleven-year-old boy should possess, seemingly mixed with lingering excitement from running and playing during the day. Huo Yuhao relaxed slightly, and the corners of his lips nearly curved into a smile no one would see.

Yet at the very instant his mind relaxed and he prepared to end the sensing—

An exceedingly faint and shifting presence suddenly brushed the edge of his perception like the finest silver thread, making something deep within Huo Yuhao's soul shudder violently! It was cold and ancient, carrying an indescribable nobility and desolation, as if it came from the end of the stars, yet also seemed to resonate faintly with certain laws buried deep beneath this land. It was so weak that it could easily have been overlooked, more like a trace of innate essence accidentally leaked by some existence. But the sense of its level made every hair on Huo Yuhao's body stand on end!

This presence... absolutely did not belong to a mortal! It did not even fully resemble any god he knew! It gave him a vague, ancient sense of familiarity, as though he had encountered something with similar traits somewhere before, yet it was utterly different—closer to some primal, powerful beast-like essence? It also seemed to contain an extremely faint draconic majesty, but it was entirely unlike the Golden Dragon King's violent, destructive aura.

Who was it? What kind of existence would appear in Aolai City? And so close to Wulin?!

Huo Yuhao abruptly opened his eyes. His ice-blue pupils contracted sharply in the night. When had such an existence appeared near Wulin? Was it friend or foe? What was its purpose? Could it be... connected to the Golden Dragon King divine core within Wulin?

He had to go to Aolai City himself! He had to see Wulin's current situation with his own eyes.

"Xiaoling." Huo Yuhao turned and returned to the shop, his voice carrying rare urgency.

Xiaoling, who had been recording the accounts, looked up. Seeing the grave expression on Huo Yuhao's face, she was startled. "Brother Yuhao? What happened?"

"Pack immediately. We leave tomorrow morning." Huo Yuhao's voice was low. "We're not going to the forest. We're changing course and heading north, to Aolai City."

"Aolai City?" Xiaoling froze, then immediately understood. That was the direction the snowflake's sensing had indicated. "Did something happen? Wulin, he..."

"He should be fine for now." Huo Yuhao cut her off, his brow tightly furrowed. "But just now, I sensed a... very unusual, very powerful unfamiliar presence near him. I have to go see for myself." He did not voice the specific associations that presence had stirred in him, because even he could not be certain.

"Alright, I understand." Xiaoling did not hesitate in the slightest. She immediately closed the account book. "I'll let Lin Dong and the others know that the shop has an urgent matter and we need to travel far away. We'll close for a while."

"Mm. Also," Huo Yuhao added, "prepare some things. Ordinary travel supplies, and... a few medicines and tools that can temporarily change our hair color and slightly alter our appearances. We can't go this time as 'Huo Yu' and 'Huo Xiaoling.' We need to take on different appearances and investigate quietly."

Xiaoling nodded firmly, her gaze turning sharp as well. A forest spirit's instincts gave her an extraordinary alertness toward potential danger.

Early the next morning, a sign reading "Owner Traveling, Return Date Unknown" was hung outside Yuling Grilled Fish. It seemed far more abrupt and long-term than the usual "Closed for Several Days." The old customers discussed it among themselves. When Guang Biao passed by on patrol, he rubbed his chin and muttered, "Boss Huo left in such a hurry this time. He didn't even get a chance to say goodbye." And Wu Changkong, who habitually practiced swordsmanship in a nearby open area each morning, slowed slightly as he passed the tightly shut shop door, his cold gaze sweeping over the sign.

Huo Yuhao did not take the conspicuous Realm Patrol. Instead, he chose the most ordinary public long-distance soul guidance carriage. Both he and Xiaoling had altered their attire slightly, concealing their more noticeable hair colors and facial features. Blending in among ordinary travelers, they headed toward the small northern coastal city—Aolai City.