The Wind Was Too Loud to Hear Clearly

"Brother Roc, have you been well? When you clawed me back then, did you ever imagine this day would come? Brother Roc, what do you think of today's situation?"

Huo Yuhao grinned as he stroked the Wind-Thunder Roc's black feathers with the Dragon God's Claw. The Wind-Thunder Roc behaved as meekly as a quail. Di Tian's Dragon God's Claw, which he rarely used even once in eight hundred thousand years, was being tossed around by this brat Huo Yuhao like beans.

The Wind-Thunder Roc was truly terrified. It had never expected that after casually clawing a human on the road, that human would come for it shortly afterward with Beast God Di Tian's Dragon God's Claw.

Big brother, don't kill me!

"This is... over?"

Mu Xiaoqing's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. She pinched her cheek hard, feeling as though she were dreaming. A Thousand-Year Soul Beast had been caught just like that?

"What do you mean, over? You haven't even started controlling it yet." Huo Yuhao shot Mu Xiaoqing a glance. She was trying to control a Thousand-Year Soul Beast with one ring, yet she thought she had succeeded before she had even begun? How arrogant.

"Ah, ah, let's begin."

What, what was she doing? Wasn't what she wanted right in front of her?

Mu Xiaoqing patted her face, took a deep breath, and released her martial soul—the Bridle!

This martial soul was exceptionally unusual. Her cultivation had to rely on the power of soul beasts, which was why she had come to the carriage house to work as a soul beast rider. The soul beasts here were at most under ten years old. Once they reached ten years, they would quickly be taken away to larger cities.

The Bridle martial soul's cultivation speed depended entirely on the quality of the soul beast, so it was easy to imagine how slow Mu Xiaoqing's cultivation had been.

"What is this soul beast called?"

"Wind-Thunder Roc."

First Soul Skill, Bridle Beast Control!

Mu Xiaoqing's Bridle looped around the Wind-Thunder Roc's neck. The Soul Power of human and beast gradually merged together, and after an hour, Mu Xiaoqing slowly opened her eyes.

"Thank you."

From today onward, I belong to you.

Mu Xiaoqing looked at Wang Dong'er and Wang Qiu'er beside Huo Yuhao and did not speak the second half aloud. She knew that to the person before her, offering herself meant little. Perhaps his destination mattered more.

"Thank you all. Tomorrow, I'll take my benefactors to Maple Leaf City."

"No, no, no, don't call us benefactors. It makes me sound so old. Just call me Yuhao." Huo Yuhao hurriedly said.

"Ah... mm, Yuhao."

For some reason, Mu Xiaoqing found it difficult even to say Huo Yuhao's name as an equal.

Mu Xiaoqing had the Wind-Thunder Roc carry everyone back to Xiso City. The thousand-year-old Wind-Thunder Roc caused panic the moment it entered the city, until people noticed the young people seated on its back.

"Here, I can't hear their voices anymore," Mu Xiaoqing murmured.

The contemptuous voices, the mocking people, the malicious voices...

She could no longer hear any of them.

"Of course. As long as you fly high enough, you'll only hear your own voice." Huo Yuhao stood atop the Wind-Thunder Roc and looked down over Xiso City.

"Mm."

The Wind-Thunder Roc landed at the carriage house, and the nearby people fled in fear. Mu Xiaoqing jumped down from its back and walked toward the carriage house.

"Boss, I'm here to bring you business. Get the best set for my mount, and make it lighter." Mu Xiaoqing handed over a handful of Silver Soul Coins.

"Good, good..." The carriage house owner gaped. He had not expected Mu Xiaoqing to truly control a soul beast. "What... what kind of soul beast is this?"

"What ignorance." Huo Yuhao looked smug as he said triumphantly, "This is called a Wind-Thunder Roc! Ever ridden one? All you can do is watch Xiaoqing ride it! Hehehehe!"

"You brat." The owner was both annoyed and amused. Why was this kid so vindictive? He still remembered the matter of the Hornscale Horse.

"I'll get someone to install it for you now. A family once ordered a set for a Giant Armored Elephant, but they never used it. With a few modifications, it'll suit you perfectly." The owner turned and got busy.

Mu Xiaoqing nodded without saying anything.

"It's getting late. We'll leave tomorrow." Huo Yuhao stretched lazily. "Remember to consolidate your cultivation today. Controlling a Thousand-Year Soul Beast is still quite difficult for you. I'm leaving."

Watching Huo Yuhao's retreating back, Mu Xiaoqing opened her mouth, then tightly closed it again. She bit her lip, stepped forward to encourage herself, clenched her fists, and opened her mouth once more, but her voice caught in her throat.

Huo Yuhao...

"Why are you so concerned about Xiaoqing?"

"Well, don't you think this feels like one of those satisfying novels? A useless martial soul soul beast rider whom everyone looked down on suddenly controls a Thousand-Year Soul Beast. I bet before long, those important people she used to look up to will be running errands to come find her." Huo Yuhao smiled.

"Besides, isn't it only natural for the strong to help the weak?"

Mu Xiaoqing had already lost count of how many invitations she had received. Those Soul Elders who normally held their heads high now all behaved with extreme respect. It truly broadened her horizons.

"Miss Mu, the city lord looks forward to your arrival." The Soul Elder gave her a deep bow before leaving.

The previous night, just as Mu Xiaoqing began circulating her Soul Power to cultivate, the bottleneck she had been unable to break through for so long instantly vanished. Delighted, she continued cultivating. Then she discovered that she could now clearly feel her Soul Power growing.

I can finally continue cultivating!

She cultivated fiercely throughout the entire night, venting her Soul Power, and only the next morning did she bring the fully equipped Wind-Thunder Roc from the carriage house to the place where she had arranged to meet Huo Yuhao.

She had not waited long before one prominent Three-Ring Soul Elder after another hurried over, almost fawning as they presented invitations. The city lord's residence, wealthy merchants, nobles... there were invitations from everywhere. A scene from a storybook had actually happened to her.

This feels incredible!

Mu Xiaoqing felt a little lightheaded for a moment. Then she heard a familiar voice.

"Morning, Xiaoqing."

The familiar voice rang out. Mu Xiaoqing turned and saw Huo Yuhao arriving with Wang Dong'er and Wang Qiu'er, all of them happily greeting her.

He's here.

The instant Mu Xiaoqing saw Huo Yuhao, she immediately came back to her senses. Looking into his eyes, she felt that she might never be able to forget him for the rest of her life.

But I...

"Morning. The equipment is all ready. Everyone, come aboard with me." Mu Xiaoqing greeted them one by one and led them onto the Wind-Thunder Roc.

A small cabin had been installed on the Wind-Thunder Roc's back. Its shape had been deliberately designed to be streamlined, secured to its back with high-quality straps. It contained tables and chairs, shielding them from the wind while being even more comfortable than an ordinary carriage.

"Quick, quick, quick, let's go! Destination, Maple Leaf City!"

That was right, there was still plenty of time along the way.

I want to see where he will go.

Mu Xiaoqing was the last to step onto the Wind-Thunder Roc. She glanced at the familiar sights of Xiso City, let out a long breath, then released her martial soul and guided the Wind-Thunder Roc.

With a long cry from the Wind-Thunder Roc, it spread its wings, whipped up a gale, and shot straight into the heavens.