Auction Concludes

The clamor of the auction gradually faded away. Only the soft glow of soul lamps and the faint sounds of people leaving in the distance remained in the VIP room. Huo Yuhao and Demon Spirit did not leave. They were waiting for a definite result.

A knock sounded on the door right on time, neither too loud nor too soft, carrying the rhythm of professional training.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Xiaoxu appeared in the doorway. She still wore a professional smile, but her eyes held a trace of relief and quiet accomplishment after completing an important task. In her hands was a dark-blue velvet tray, upon which lay a simple silver-white soul tool ring emitting a faint chill.

"Good evening, sir, miss." Xiaoxu entered and gently closed the door. Her voice was clearer and softer than it had been during the auction. "The four materials you commissioned us to bid on—the Ten-Year Snow Silkworm, Fifty-Year Heart-Clearing Herb, Century-Old Soul-Calming Wood Slices, and Ten-Year Dragonblood Vine—have all been successfully acquired, without a single omission. Everything has been properly sealed and stored in this disposable low-temperature preservation soul tool ring."

She gently placed the tray on the tea table before Huo Yuhao and continued her report. There was a touch of appropriately restrained pleasure in her steady voice. "The bidding process went smoothly overall. Just as I predicted, the Dark-Gold Heavy Peak alloy drew most of the attention, so the competition for these materials was even milder than expected. The final expenditure came in slightly below even the lower end of our estimate."

At that point, she paused briefly and took a smaller velvet pouch from the inner pocket of her uniform, placing it beside the ring. "In addition, during a break in the auction, I noticed an independent soul master client who was eager to sell an item for cash. It was a Centennial Ice Crystal Fruit. It comes from ice crevices at the edge of the far north and contains pure ice-element energy, as well as mild calming and foundation-strengthening properties. It is remarkably effective at reconciling conflicting energies within the body and nourishing the spiritual source, and it is extremely rare. I recalled that you seemed particularly interested in cold-attribute and restorative medicinal herbs, so I took the liberty of using an amount equivalent to two Gold Soul Coins from the budget I saved for you to acquire it as well. Please forgive me for acting without your prior permission."

Huo Yuhao's gaze first rested on the soul tool ring for a moment, confirming that the auras of the four sealed materials inside were correct. When his eyes fell upon the Ice Crystal Fruit Xiaoxu had taken out separately—like a sculpture carved from ice crystal, with tiny snowflakes seemingly floating within—his ice-blue eyes visibly lit up.

He raised a finger and lightly sensed the pure chill emanating from the Ice Crystal Fruit without touching it. A smile of heartfelt approval appeared on his face.

"Ice Crystal Fruit... This is exactly what I urgently needed, even though it wasn't on my list!" Huo Yuhao looked at Xiaoxu, his tone filled with clear appreciation. "Miss Xu, not only did you fully understand the commission, but your sharp insight and decisiveness are even rarer. You did exceptionally well, far beyond my expectations. This Ice Crystal Fruit is worth far more than two Gold Soul Coins. I'll remember your thoughtfulness."

Without hesitation, he pushed the leather pouch containing more than a dozen remaining Gold Soul Coins back toward Xiaoxu. "This is the compensation you deserve, including payment for your excellent professional service and this extra surprise. Our previous agreement remains unchanged."

Then Huo Yuhao picked up a notepad and pen provided by the auction house, smoothly wrote down a soul tool communication number, and handed it to Xiaoxu. "This is my contact information. In the future, whether in Aolai City or if you hear of auctions in other cities offering rare materials of a similar nature, especially cold-attribute materials, spiritual nourishment items, or special herbs and minerals capable of stabilizing energy, you can contact me. As long as the information is reliable and the item meets my requirements, the reward will not disappoint you."

Xiaoxu accepted the seemingly weightless yet meaningful note with both hands and carefully put it away. She then solemnly accepted the pouch containing the generous reward as well. She deeply bowed once more to Huo Yuhao and Demon Spirit. This time, her gratitude was far more sincere. "Thank you very much for your trust and generosity, sir! It is Xiaoxu's honor to serve a client as understanding and discerning as you. Rest assured, I will pay particular attention to the categories you are interested in. Good night to you both."

Watching Xiaoxu leave the VIP room, the door gently closing behind her, Huo Yuhao put away both the soul tool ring and the precious Centennial Ice Crystal Fruit. Demon Spirit blinked at the side and smiled. "Brother Yuhao, Sister Xiaoxu is amazing. She's so thoughtful!"

"Mm, she's capable." Huo Yuhao nodded. "Professional, knowledgeable, perceptive, and aware of her boundaries. Someone like that is worth keeping in touch with."

By the time they left the auction house, it was nearly evening, and the sea breeze carried the night's chill. The two of them did not delay any longer and headed straight back to Di Tian's seaside residence.

The moment they opened the door, warm light and the tempting aroma of food swept over them. Di Tian stood at the stove in the open kitchen, and he was actually wearing a pure black apron. Its edges were embroidered with simple dragon-scale patterns in dark-gold thread—there was no need to guess that it was some "high-end custom home edition" produced by Deep Space Dragon Domain or Violet Dragon Pavilion.

His left hand firmly held the wok while his right wrist flicked, deftly stir-frying several times with the spatula before plating a glistening, fragrant dish of greens. His movements were not especially graceful or practiced, yet they carried a strange steadiness and meticulous seriousness.

"You're back so late? Hurry up, dinner's ready." Di Tian did not turn around. His voice was as flat as ever, but the way he busied himself plating dishes revealed that he had indeed been waiting for them to eat. "Three dishes and a soup. Standard setup. If you dare complain, get out and find your own food." Only then did he glance at the stunned Huo Yuhao in the doorway, his tone carrying its familiar threat.

Looking at this utterly fantastical sight—the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, who dominated Star Dou and inspired fear in countless soul beasts, wearing an apron and wielding a spatula in the kitchen—four words inexplicably popped into Huo Yuhao's mind: virtuous wife and loving mother. He hurriedly suppressed the smile that nearly escaped his lips and replied repeatedly, "Not complaining, not complaining. Lord Di Tian cooking personally is an honor beyond measure! We're coming, we're coming!" He turned to call Demon Spirit. "Xiaoling, go wash your hands. Time to eat!"

"Okay~!" Demon Spirit's eyes had already been drawn bright by the aroma. At his words, she scampered toward the washroom like a happy little bird.

Before long, the three sat around the dining table. The television was on at low volume, playing a program about soul tool technology and blacksmithing. At the center of the screen was Bear Lord, his muscles bulging beneath a sleeveless leather vest as he carried out the final quenching process on a massive piece of red-hot metal. His wild appearance stood out sharply against the other blacksmiths in their strict work uniforms, but when his hammer, containing terrifying strength, fell, the metal let out a clear, dragonlike tremor and its radiance withdrew inward. The entire venue fell silent before erupting into thunderous applause and astonished exclamations.

"Whoa, Bear Lord's doing pretty well, huh? He's even become an industry benchmark on a special program?" Huo Yuhao picked up some of Di Tian's stir-fried vegetables. They actually tasted quite good, and he looked at the television in surprise. In the past, he had always come and gone in a hurry, leaving after imparting knowledge. He had not paid close attention to the specific development of his companions.

"What did you expect?" Di Tian served Demon Spirit a bowl of soup, then poured himself a glass of water. "He's one of the Blacksmiths Association's signature names now. His temper is strange, and his output depends entirely on his mood, but his work is solid. Countless people bring money and materials to beg him to take a job." He paused, as though remembering something, and an expression of helpless amusement appeared on his face. "You haven't seen Crimson King's side. Last time, he released a limited-edition perfume called Dawn Overture, built around Millennium Dawn Rose and Star Spring Dew. The entire continent's perfume industry and noble circles nearly went mad. Preorders are booked three years out, and black-market prices have risen dozens of times over. Bi Ji and Zi Ji almost fought again over who would get to use that perfume first as their armor for attending events."

Demon Spirit sipped her soup in small mouthfuls, her eyes sparkling as she listened. These were all uncles and aunts she knew, and the feeling was especially familiar and warm.

"Tomorrow morning, I'll go meet that person alone," Huo Yuhao said, turning to business. "You and Di Tian stay home and do not reveal yourselves. Especially you, Di Tian. You already alerted Na'er yesterday. Gu Yue's true self has most likely become wary."

"Mm-hm, Brother Yuhao, you have to be careful!" Demon Spirit immediately set down her spoon and looked seriously at Huo Yuhao. "If there's danger, you have to call me right away! I might not be very good at fighting, but I run fast, and I can call people!"

Di Tian also looked at Huo Yuhao, his gaze turning more serious. "As long as you know what you're doing. Even though you currently... well, need to recover your strength, your brain still works. Don't do anything unnecessary, and don't test boundaries that shouldn't be tested. A Super Douluo may be troublesome, but if it comes to that, it's not like we can't deal with one." His words sounded stiff, but the concern within them was obvious.

Warmth rose in Huo Yuhao's heart, though he deliberately put on a look of disgust. "Got it, got it. You nag like an old mother. Don't worry, I treasure this little life of mine more than anyone." He took the bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice from Forest Life Chronicle that Di Tian pushed over and poured himself a glass.

Early the next morning, Huo Yuhao's grilled fish stall appeared on schedule outside Red Mountain Academy, though Demon Spirit's lively figure was absent today.

"Uncle, are you leaving this afternoon?" Tang Wulin appeared right on schedule like a little radar. After buying his grilled fish, he did not start eating immediately. Instead, he tilted his head up and asked with clever light gleaming in his blue eyes.

"Why do you say that?" Huo Yuhao asked with a smile as he turned the grilled fish.

"Look," Tang Wulin said, counting on his fingers. "Yesterday afternoon, that old grandpa who was always lying down disappeared. This morning, that pretty big sister didn't come either. Going by that order, doesn't that mean Uncle will be the one disappearing this afternoon?" His logic was clear and orderly, and his face wore the smug little expression of someone who had seen through everything.

Huo Yuhao was amused by his reasoning and lightly pointed at him from the air. "You little rascal, you've got quite the silver tongue. I told you, I still have another week or two. The two of them just had other matters to handle." He looked toward Na'er, who stood quietly at the side, eating her grilled fish in small bites. "Learn from your little sister. Be more quiet and obedient."

Na'er raised her violet eyes to glance at Huo Yuhao and softly said, "Thank you, Uncle," before lowering her head again. Her doubts had not faded, but Di Tian's absence made her feel far less pressure when facing Huo Yuhao. She had even begun to think that perhaps Di Tian had truly only passed by by chance and stopped because he had been drawn by the fragrance of the grilled fish. After all... the smell really was hard to resist.

Watching Tang Wulin and Na'er enter the academy, Huo Yuhao had only just begun tidying up his tools when he heard a clear female voice approaching with a smile.

"Oh? It smells so good! Gu Yue, you really weren't wrong. This aroma is truly tempting."

Huo Yuhao looked up and saw Leng Yaozhu approaching with Gu Yue. Leng Yaozhu was still dressed in an outfit convenient for movement, her smile gentle. Gu Yue's long purple hair stirred slightly in the morning breeze. Today, she wore a light-purple knitted coat that made her skin look even fairer, and her violet eyes gazed toward the grilled fish stall. Beneath her calmness seemed to be the faintest trace of anticipation. In the distance, Tang Ziran and his wife, who had originally intended to come forward and speak with Huo Yuhao, stopped the instant they saw Leng Yaozhu. Surprise and awe filled their faces as they murmured to each other, not daring to approach.

"Boss, how much is the grilled fish?" Leng Yaozhu asked casually as she came closer.

"Five Federal Credits each." Huo Yuhao named the same fair price as usual.

"So cheap?" Leng Yaozhu looked surprised as she examined the three obviously large, plump sea fish on the grill. "With your ingredients and control of the heat, restaurants in the city would charge far more than this."

Huo Yuhao smiled, his hands never stopping as he skillfully brushed on the sauce. "To be honest, I run a grilled fish shop in Eastsea City. It's my old trade. I came here to deal with some personal matters, but I can't keep my hands idle, so I've also been teaching an apprentice. These fish were originally set aside for him to practice with, but he didn't come today, so I put them up for sale. You two happened to catch me at the right time." As he spoke, the fish heated up, releasing an even richer aroma mixed with the special sauce that made mouths water.

Soon, three golden, crisp, sizzling grilled fish were handed to Leng Yaozhu. She carefully wrapped one in oiled paper and put it away, handed another to Gu Yue, and elegantly took a bite from the remaining one herself.

The skin was crisp, while the flesh within was tender and juicy. The salty fragrance and faint sweetness of the sauce blended perfectly with the fish's freshness, and the heat had been controlled to perfection. It truly was among the best grilled fish she had ever eaten. "Mm! It really is delicious!" she praised without reservation, then looked at Gu Yue. "Gu Yue, what do you think?"

Gu Yue ate in small bites, chewing slowly. At the question, she gently nodded. Rarely, a nearly imperceptible note of satisfaction appeared in her cool voice. "It's delicious. The most delicious fish I've ever eaten." Her thoughts regarding why Di Tian had appeared here increasingly leaned toward the seemingly absurd yet, under the circumstances, most reasonable explanation: he had been drawn here by food. After all, even she, who did not care much for the pleasures of eating, found this grilled fish extraordinary.

After eating to their satisfaction, the two packed another two portions before leaving for the bustling shopping district in the city, intending to take a good look around. There, stores such as Emerald Court, Violet Dragon Pavilion, and Three-Headed Spirit Scent stood side by side. Although their prices were steep, someone of Leng Yaozhu's status and wealth could naturally bring Gu Yue to experience them with ease.

Huo Yuhao watched them leave and waited a while longer. After confirming that Tang Ziran and his wife had no intention of coming over—they seemed to have had their doubts completely dispelled by Leng Yaozhu's appearance—he packed up his stall and left as well.

Upon returning to Di Tian's residence, he opened the door and saw that Demon Spirit had changed into a fluffy light-green one-piece pajama suit with white lace trim. Its hood even had two long rabbit ears. She was hugging a huge cushion, curled up on the spacious living-room sofa, giggling at the massive soul tool screen. Di Tian, meanwhile, sat at the other end of the sofa with a gloomy expression, a game controller in his hand as well.

"Ha ha, Brother Yuhao, you're back!" The moment Demon Spirit saw Huo Yuhao, she excitedly waved the cushion. "I'm telling you, Uncle Di Tian can't beat me at games! We agreed on a gunplay duel, and I won!" Her little face was full of smug pride.

Huo Yuhao looked at the screen. It displayed the settlement screen for Contract Battlefield. Demon Spirit's character, Spirit Eye, was prominently ranked first on the winning side, while Di Tian's character, Dark Blade, appeared somewhat dim. The eighth-ranked player on the national leaderboard for gunplay had lost to the second-ranked Omniscient God on the provincial leaderboard. The sight was indeed rather dramatic.

"Unfair! Absolutely unfair!" Di Tian tossed the controller aside, leaned back, and sank his whole body into the soft sofa. He put on the pose of someone saying, "I'm upset and need comforting," and even let out an exaggerated sigh. "I've practiced gunplay so hard for so long. How could I be just that little bit worse when it comes to movement and timing... Sigh!"

Seeing this, Demon Spirit immediately bounced over like a real little rabbit. She leaned against the sofa, lightly tugged on Di Tian's sleeve, and began coaxing him in a sweet voice. "Uncle Di Tian~ Don't be mad~ Next time, I'll let you use the close-combat spirit body you're best at, okay? Or... we can have Brother Yuhao make you a big delicious meal! Brother Yuhao's cooking is really good, right, Brother Yuhao?" As she spoke, she secretly winked at Huo Yuhao.

Di Tian immediately seized the opening. He sat upright in an instant, with no trace of gloom remaining on his face. Raising an eyebrow at Huo Yuhao, he said with perfect confidence, "That's right! Xiaoling is right! Huo Yuhao, did you hear that? To comfort my wounded heart, you're in charge of lunch today! My standards aren't high. It only has to be a little better than your grilled fish."

Looking at the two big and small actors working together so seamlessly, Huo Yuhao immediately understood that he had been set up by them. He deliberately pulled a long face and pointed at his own nose. "Hey! You two planned this from the beginning, didn't you? One is in charge of acting cute, the other is in charge of faking an injury, and in the end, the only one getting hurt is me, the cook who just got back and hasn't even sat down yet?" Despite his words, his eyes were full of laughter. The feeling of being latched onto by family was especially precious and warm.

"Congratulations, you got it right!" Demon Spirit giggled as she pounced over, hugged Huo Yuhao's arm, and shook it. "A world where only Brother Yuhao gets hurt has been achieved! But we'll be responsible for washing the dishes and cheering you on!"

Di Tian crossed his arms, a victorious smile curling at the corner of his lips as he looked at Huo Yuhao. "All the ingredients are in the refrigerator. It's fully stocked. Do you need this former head chef to lend a hand?"

"Forget it, forget it. You should rest, old man, or you'll say I'm looking down on you again." Huo Yuhao shook his head in feigned helplessness, rolled up his sleeves, and headed for the kitchen. Behind him came Demon Spirit's delighted cheers and Di Tian's low laughter. The sunlight outside was just right, the sea breeze gentle, and the house was filled with the warmth of daily life and playful chatter, as though all the troubles and schemes beyond its walls had been temporarily shut outside.