From Now On, I'm Your Brother

Huo Yuhao looked at the redness around her eyes. The light of his Spirit Eye was as gentle as moonlight. "Elimination doesn't mean failure. Rushing to ruin your talent does. So many Twin Martial Souls in history didn't attach soul rings to their second martial souls at the lower levels, did they?"

He paused, picked up a fallen sycamore leaf, and let the Ice Silk at his fingertips form faint patterns across its surface. "It's like this leaf. When autumn comes, it turns yellow and falls, but its roots remain, and it will sprout again next spring. But if you dig up the roots just to preserve summer's green, then you'll truly be left with nothing."

Xiao Xiao lowered her head to look at the icy leaf. Its veins seemed to conceal a shadow of the future—the Nine-Phoenix Ceremonial Flute gleaming beneath a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring in the sunlight, working alongside the Soul-Quelling Cauldron, one attacking and one defending, no longer needing to rely on anyone else to pave her way. Suddenly, she raised a hand to wipe away her tears and pressed the jade flute tightly to her chest. "I won't attach it."

The three words were soft and trembling, yet filled with the resolve of someone burning her bridges.

Huo Yuhao rubbed Xiao Xiao's forehead, unable to keep a hint of indulgence out of his voice. "It's okay, Xiao Xiao. You can tell us anything. I believe everyone will do their utmost to help you."

Xiao Xiao clenched the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning white from the force. When she looked up, her eyes were still red, like a little rabbit that had just had its fur smoothed. She sniffed, her voice still thick with tears but unusually clear. "Classmate Huo... no, Huo Yuhao... can I, can I recognize you as my brother?"

Huo Yuhao froze at those words.

Xiao Xiao's cheeks were red as ripe apples, but she stubbornly tilted her face up, her eyes startlingly bright. They held gratitude, dependence, and the frankness of someone with nothing left to lose.

The Ice Silk at Huo Yuhao's fingertips nearly slipped out of control. A flicker of surprise passed through his Spirit Eye before it was replaced by a gentle smile. Looking at the girl half a head shorter than himself, he remembered how nervous she had been while gripping the jade flute, and how stubbornly she had wiped away her tears. Something softly struck his heart.

"Are you sure?" He deliberately slowed his voice, wanting to tease her.

But Xiao Xiao nodded furiously, her hand clutching her clothes even tighter. "I'm sure! What you said just now was more sincere than everything everyone in my family has ever said put together! I know I'm stupid and might cause you trouble, but I'll work hard to become stronger. I won't hold you back!"

"I've always wanted a little sister, too." Huo Yuhao reached out and gently rubbed her hair. It was soft, like touching a ball of cotton candy. "If anyone bullies you in the future, give them my name."

Xiao Xiao's eyes instantly reddened again, but this time not from grievance. It was from the sudden warmth flooding through her. She nodded hard, tears falling in big drops, yet she grinned. "Mm! Brother!"

"Ahem—"

A deliberately loud cough interrupted the warm moment. Wang Dong stood some distance away with her arms folded, staring brightly in their direction. She glanced at Xiao Xiao, who was still wiping away tears, then glared at Huo Yuhao with a sour tone. "Not bad, Huo Yuhao. It's only been a moment, and you've already picked up a little sister?"

Hearing her, Xiao Xiao immediately poked her head out from behind Huo Yuhao like a small beast guarding its food. "Wang Dong, don't talk nonsense! I recognized him as my brother willingly!"

"I never said you didn't." Wang Dong turned her face away, unconsciously rubbing her fingertips against her sleeve cuff. "I just think certain people are lucky, getting someone to call them 'brother' for free."

Zhou Ming scratched his head at the side, smiling sincerely. "It's a good thing that Xiao Xiao recognized Brother Huo as her brother. Brother Huo clearly knows what he's doing. With Xiao Xiao as his sister, there's no way she'll be bullied." He looked at Huo Yuhao. "Brother Huo, you'll have to take good care of Xiao Xiao from now on."

"Of course." Huo Yuhao smiled and nodded, reaching out to straighten Xiao Xiao's bangs, which the wind had ruffled. "But there's no need to spoil her too much. When her Three-Life Soul-Calming Cauldron smashes into someone, it doesn't hold back."

Xiao Xiao blushed at that and grabbed Huo Yuhao's sleeve, shaking it. "Brother!"

"Alright, alright. I'll stop teasing you." Huo Yuhao shook his head helplessly, then turned his gaze toward Wang Dong and Zhou Ming. "It's getting late. How about I take you to the training grounds and give you some pointers?"

Wang Dong's expression changed. The jealousy stirred by Xiao Xiao calling him brother vanished in an instant, replaced by an unyielding look. "Hmph, it's not certain who'll be teaching whom. There are three of us. Be careful we don't beat you flat!"

Huo Yuhao raised a brow, and the faint glow of his Spirit Eye swayed at his fingertips. "Oh? Perfect. I'll keep Spiritual Detection active the whole time and see just how solid the teamwork of your 'group of three' really is."

With that, he turned and headed toward the training grounds. Xiao Xiao immediately followed like a little tail, not forgetting to turn back and make a face at Wang Dong. "Wang Dong, don't let Brother's words come true!"

"Hmph!" Wang Dong blushed and quickly followed with Zhou Ming. "Come on! Let him see what real teamwork looks like!"

The night lamps at the training grounds had already been lit, their warm yellow glow spilling across the bluestone slabs and casting the shadows of the four of them. Huo Yuhao stood at one side of the field and gestured for them to summon their martial souls. "Come on. We'll simulate Class Seven's formation—Zhou Ming controls the field, Xiao Xiao supports, Wang Dong launches the main attack. Move when I say start."

Zhou Ming answered by activating his martial soul. Azure Sky Vines burst from the ground, dark green vines weaving a dense net across the earth and rapidly spreading over a thirty-meter radius, carrying the moist scent of vegetation. Xiao Xiao's Three-Life Soul-Calming Cauldron floated beside her shoulder, its ancient bronze patterns glinting darkly beneath the lights. Behind Wang Dong, the wings of the Light Goddess Butterfly spread open, their pink-blue scales refracting specks of light like fallen starlight.

"Start!"

The moment Huo Yuhao spoke, Zhou Ming controlled the vines to lash toward him, deliberately leaving a gap—a route for Wang Dong to rush through. As expected, Wang Dong beat her wings and rose into the air, wind blades gathering at their tips as she prepared to dart through that opening...

"Stop." A wave of cold erupted from Huo Yuhao, instantly freezing the surrounding area. Then he spoke, the glow of his Spirit Eye pointing at the vine net. "Zhou Ming, your net looks dense, but the spacing between the vines on the left wing is half a foot wider than on the right. You wanted to leave Wang Dong a path, didn't you? But in a real battle, an agility-type opponent would slip through that half-foot gap and ambush Xiao Xiao."

"Xiao Xiao's Three-Life Soul-Calming Cauldron can attack and defend, but it is ultimately a tool martial soul. While detached from her body, it doesn't grant her much physical enhancement. Don't ever leave a teammate in a position where they might be endangered."

Zhou Ming froze and looked closely. Sure enough, the vines on the left side were sparser. He immediately scratched his head. "I was too focused on leaving room for Brother Wang Dong..."

"And you, Wang Dong." Huo Yuhao turned to her. "The moment Zhou Ming's vines moved, you rushed to build momentum. You wasted at least ten percent of your soul power. Wait until the vines have fully locked down the opponent before charging in. It'll be more efficient."

Wang Dong pressed her lips together, her wings flapping and stirring a gust of wind. "Got it. Again!"

During the second simulation, Zhou Ming's vines were woven tightly enough that not even water could pass through. Wang Dong patiently waited until the vines wrapped around the practice dummy before diving down, her wind blade striking precisely where Huo Yuhao had been standing—yet she staggered as she landed.

"Xiao Xiao, where was your cauldron?" Huo Yuhao had already drifted some distance away, his gaze settling on Xiao Xiao, who had not moved at all. "When Wang Dong landed just now, her soul power was unstable. You should have smashed the Soul-Quelling Cauldron into the ground by her feet, dispersing the disruptive soul power around her and helping stabilize her footing."

Xiao Xiao gave a startled cry and hurriedly controlled the Soul-Quelling Cauldron to slam into the ground. The bronze cauldron hummed as it landed, and a steady wave of soul power truly spread outward. She stuck out her tongue. "I was too busy watching how cool Brother looked..."

"Can being cool win a battle?" Wang Dong glared at her, sounding thoroughly exasperated.

Xiao Xiao shrank her neck under Wang Dong's glare, but still stubbornly muttered, "Being cool can't win directly, but Brother's good guidance can!" As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Huo Yuhao. Seeing him smile at her, her cheeks reddened again. She hurriedly tapped the Soul-Quelling Cauldron against the ground. "I-I'll definitely remember to help Wang Dong stabilize herself this time!"

Huo Yuhao raised a hand to signal them to continue. The golden light in his Spirit Eye flowed softly through the night. "One more time. Zhou Ming, don't weave the vines so tightly this time. Leave thirty percent open for Xiao Xiao's cauldron to predict and respond; Wang Dong, pay attention to the rhythm of sinking your soul power when you land. Don't always try to do everything in one stroke; Xiao Xiao, watch Wang Dong's soul power fluctuations. The moment her toes leave the ground, you should already have the cauldron hovering near her landing point."

"Got it!" the three replied in unison.

Zhou Ming's Azure Sky Vines broke through the ground once more. This time, the spacing between the vines was indeed more open, but hidden nets formed at key points. When Wang Dong beat her wings, she restrained some of her sharpness, and the wind blades at her wingtips no longer erupted in a hurry. Xiao Xiao's Soul-Quelling Cauldron hovered in the air, its bronze patterns turning gently with Wang Dong's movements.

"Now!" Huo Yuhao shouted.

The instant Wang Dong dove, Xiao Xiao's Soul-Quelling Cauldron struck the ground half a foot before her landing point with a clang. The ripples of soul power it stirred perfectly supported the force of her descent. At the same time, Zhou Ming's vines tightened. Just as Huo Yuhao was about to struggle, Wang Dong's wind blade followed through and struck him squarely in the forehead.

"!!!Huo Yuhao!!!"

Seeing Huo Yuhao collapse into a pool of blood, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were so shocked that their souls nearly fled their bodies. The two of them rushed over in a flash to check on him.

Wang Dong's fingers hovered before Huo Yuhao's brow for a long time, too afraid to touch him. Even her voice trembled. "Y-you, how are you? Are you hurt? I didn't mean to! Just now... just now, I was too anxious... I thought you could defend against it..."

Xiao Xiao threw herself beside Huo Yuhao, her small hands clutching his sleeve tightly as tears fell like broken pearls. "Brother! Get up and look at me, okay? I only just got a brother... Huh? Why can't I feel anything?"

Thump!

Thump!

Two crisp flicks landed on their foreheads. Huo Yuhao's figure appeared behind them. "You didn't really think you could break through my defenses, did you?"

"Now for your second lesson: don't go soft just because an enemy appears weak. As long as they haven't surrendered, they're still your opponent. You must guard against any final attack they might launch."

Wang Dong hissed from the flick, covering her forehead as she turned and glared at Huo Yuhao. The panic in her eyes had not yet faded, though it was now tinged with embarrassment and anger. "Y-you tricked us!" Though she spoke that way, her tightly clenched fist quietly loosened. The fear from that instant had been too real. Now that she knew it was fake, a thin layer of sweat had formed on her back.

Xiao Xiao also covered her forehead. It took her two seconds to react before she angrily yet laughingly punched Huo Yuhao's arm. "Brother, you're awful! You scared me to death! I thought... I thought I'd never see you again!" As she spoke, her eyes reddened once more, but not from fear. It was from the relief of surviving a disaster.

Zhou Ming watched from the side with his jaw hanging open. Only then did he belatedly scratch his head. "Brother Huo... did you use a spiritual clone? Was the one lying on the ground just an illusion?"

"More or less. I created a mental illusion." Huo Yuhao nodded, golden light flowing through his Spirit Eye in the night. "In real combat, an opponent can use any method to create an opening—playing dead, acting weak, even injuring themselves. Their goal is to make you lower your guard. Wang Dong's wind blade was real, but my real body had already used spiritual power to predict its trajectory. I moved to the side before she attacked and left an illusion for you to see."

He looked at Wang Dong, who was still sulking. "When you rushed over just now, your soul power was completely exposed, and you had no guard up at all. If I had truly been an enemy, you would already be under my control."

Wang Dong's face flushed bright red as she stiffly retorted, "W-who said I wasn't on guard! I was... I was worried about you!" But her voice grew quieter and quieter, her confidence clearly fading. She really had panicked and forgotten even the most basic soul power vigilance.

But Xiao Xiao suddenly understood. Tugging Huo Yuhao's sleeve, she nodded repeatedly. "I get it, Brother! It's like a hunter catching a rabbit—pretending not to see it, then pouncing once the rabbit lets down its guard!"

"That's roughly the idea." Huo Yuhao smiled and rubbed her hair. "But it's even more dangerous than that. In a battle between Soul Masters, one second of carelessness can mean death. Remember this: as long as the referee hasn't called a stop, even if your opponent has only one breath left, you must remain completely alert."

He turned toward Zhou Ming. "Your Azure Sky Vines also lost their rhythm just now. In real combat, the opponent could have broken through the gaps in your vines while you were distracted."

Zhou Ming nodded repeatedly, the honest look on his face replaced by seriousness. "Brother Huo is right. I was too busy watching Brother Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao just now. I really neglected controlling the field."

Wang Dong took a deep breath and suddenly spread the wings of her Light Goddess Butterfly. Her pink-blue wings gleamed coldly under the lights. "Again! I won't fall for it this time!" She looked at Huo Yuhao, the embarrassment in her eyes replaced by stubborn determination. "Use whatever tricks you want. I'll definitely see through them!"

Huo Yuhao raised a brow. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!"

Xiao Xiao also raised the Soul-Quelling Cauldron, the bronze cauldron spinning once in her palm. "I'm ready too! This time, I'll keep my eyes on Brother's soul power fluctuations. I definitely won't be fooled!"

Zhou Ming's Azure Sky Vines burst from the earth once more. This time, the vines were woven even more densely than before, yet they left faint, almost imperceptible openings at critical points. Clearly, he had taken Huo Yuhao's words to heart.

The night grew deeper. Beneath the lights of the training grounds, among the crisscrossing light and shadows, Wang Dong's startled cries and Xiao Xiao's little yelps could sometimes be heard, followed at other times by Zhou Ming's muffled groans—Huo Yuhao's spiritual clone always appeared in the most unexpected places, forcing the three of them to keep their nerves taut at all times.

It was not until all three had exhausted their soul power that Wang Dong finally stopped, rubbing her aching arm. For once, she did not complain. She only looked at Huo Yuhao and said, "I think... I understand a little now."

"Understand what?"

"I understand that vigilance isn't doubting your teammates. It's protecting everyone." Wang Dong's voice was soft but exceptionally clear. "When you pretended to be injured just now, I was too busy panicking. I never even considered that Xiao Xiao might be ambushed."

Xiao Xiao nodded hard as well. "Me too! From now on, I won't just help Wang Dong stabilize herself. I'll watch the surroundings too. I can't let anything happen to my teammates!"

Huo Yuhao looked at the light in their eyes, and the smile at his lips deepened. He raised his head to check the sky. "It's late. Let's go back. The assessment is tomorrow. Remember how tonight felt."