It's Coming (Two-in-One)

The figure entering the room had smooth, golden hair that reflected a warm glow, and her ruby-like eyes sparkled with excitement. Her skin was as white and translucent as fresh snow, and her cheeks were flushed with joy, making her exquisite face even more captivating.

She held a delicately woven little basket in both hands, her white silk skirt swaying with her light steps, making her look like a forest sprite.

"Na'er, look, I brought you..."

The cheerful voice abruptly stopped. Gu Ruiqiu stopped abruptly, her gaze falling on the blue-haired boy beside Gu Yuena. A hint of surprise flashed in her red eyes, and then she narrowed her eyes.

"We have guests, my apologies."

She gently placed the small basket on the coffee table beside her, folded her hands in front of her skirt, and gave a slight bow. "I am Na'er's older sister, Gu Ruiqiu. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Gu Ruiqiu straightened up gracefully, a smile playing on her lips. "Na'er is rather simple-minded; please forgive her if there has been any inadequacy in our hospitality."

Huo Yuhao: "..."

He glanced at Gu Yuena's indifferent expression, then fell silent and did not reply.

Na'er's position in this family is precarious.

Gu Yuena took a deep breath and said coldly, "Stop pretending, there are no outsiders here! Who are you trying to fool with this act? Trying to take advantage of me by pretending not to know Yuhao?"

If you don't discipline someone for a day, they'll be tearing the roof off... What will happen if you don't discipline them for three years?

The person in front of her had already given her the answer.

"Pretending? I didn't."

Gu Ruiqiu tilted her head, feigning confusion, and asked, "And what do you mean by 'no outsiders'?"

"..." A faint blush rose on Gu Yuena's face, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes, instantly turning the atmosphere in the room dangerous.

Seeing this, Gu Ruiqiu promptly stopped smiling, picked up a basket, sat down next to Gu Yuena, and took out some delicate desserts. "My Master, it's been years, I'm just a little excited. Just kidding."

As far as she knew, if she stopped there and offered delicious food as appeasement, her sister... ah, no, the Master would soon calm down.

Gu Yuena glanced at the dessert, but her gaze didn't linger on it. Instead, she looked at Huo Yuhao on the other side.

"My Master?" Gu Ruiqiu tentatively pushed the dessert forward.

Gu Yuena ignored him, only staring at Huo Yuhao with her bright eyes.

The latter understood and took out a box of pastries. The moment the lid was opened, a rich aroma of milk mixed with the sweetness of honey immediately filled the air.

Gu Yuena's purple eyes brightened noticeably as she picked up a piece of pastry with her slender fingers. The pastry flakes fell from her fingertips, revealing the glistening sugar strands inside.

Gu Yuena took a small bite, and the sweet but not cloying taste melted on her tongue, causing her to unconsciously squint her eyes.

Gu Ruiqiu: "..."

The smile on her face gradually disappeared. Although there was no wind in the room, she felt a strange chill and sorrow creeping over her.

So, has her responsibility of feeding the Master been taken away?

A sentence seemed to echo in Gu Ruiqiu's ear:

There's no place for you in this home anymore!

Huo Yuhao watched this scene from the side, speechless.

Your way of winning was quite unique, Na'er.

But wouldn't this just be a lose-lose situation?

Where is your dignity?

I feel like I've disappeared.

After a brief commotion, Gu Yuena breathed a sigh of relief and stopped being angry. Miss Rachel, whose heart had been wounded, ate her dessert and gradually calmed down. She looked Huo Yuhao up and down for a moment before reintroducing herself.

"This should be considered our first meeting in some sense, right? My name now is Gu Ruiqiu."

"My real name is Huo Yuhao. Nice to meet you."

Huo Yuhao glanced at Gu Ruiqiu's appearance, subconsciously comparing her to someone else to see if there were any similarities.

Gu Ruiqiu paused her observation and said with interest:

"So you really are human? I've heard some rumors before about you being the Re-Cultivation of Ice Empress, and they seemed plausible and hard to refute. If Di Tian hadn't confirmed that you were human, I might have believed them."

She paused, her red eyes flickering slightly, "Di Tian and the Master should have already expressed their gratitude, so I won't say any more... After all, I said those things at your grave, and it feels strange to say them to your face now."

"..."

Is the "grave mound" meme going to never be forgotten?

Why do I feel like you all like to harp on this? You'd only be happy if I were gone?

Huo Yuhao was speechless, but looking at Gu Ruiqiu's red eyes, which held a hint of a smile, he couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

"I'm still here, and you're already thinking about my 'grave'?"

Gu Ruiqiu blinked and said with a smile, "What, a dignified Spirit Ice Douluo can't even take a joke like this? Besides, we're very serious—your 'grave mound' is one of the Sacred Land of the Star Dou Great Forest, with words personally carved by Di Tian and incense offered by Ferocious Beast beside it; it's already the highest level of treatment."

"By the way, although you've returned, only we know about it, so your tombstone is still there, and in recent years some Soul Beast have even come to pay their respects."

"... There's no need for that, just stop."

It felt a little creepy, like it was cursing me.

As Gu Ruiqiu took the initiative to ease the atmosphere, Huo Yuhao's expression relaxed. Noticing the two women casting strange glances at him, he said, "It seems my expression just now was a bit impolite."

"I can vaguely sense your unease. We've only interacted a few times, and we weren't particularly close Ten Thousand Years Ago. It's a bit strange that you have that reminiscing look on your face."

Gu Ruiqiu picked up a teacup and poured tea for the three of them, then sat down on the other side of Gu Yuena. "I don't think there's anything good to reminisce about those didactic scenes from back then."

Her few meetings with Huo Yuhao were all spent listening to his teachings about the future of Soul Beast, which was also the source of her ambition.

But honestly, it wasn't a pleasant memory. If she hadn't been outmatched Ten Thousand Years Ago, she would have punched Huo Yuhao in the face long ago...

"Nothing, I was just wondering if you resembled someone I've met before," Huo Yuhao said casually, revealing no emotional fluctuation.

Well, the result is good; it doesn't resemble that person at all... Good thing.

Gu Ruiqiu was taken aback. "How could I resemble someone else? I am Emperor Auspicious Beast. When I transform, I naturally base my appearance on my own preferences. Who do you think I would take as a reference..."

She paused, looked at Gu Yuena, pondered for a moment, and said with a smile, "You didn't think I looked a lot like the Master, did you?"

"I transform not to please others, nor to become anyone's shadow."

"I just... want to see the world's wonders from my own eyes, to live my own life. As for appearance, of course, it's just a matter of what I think is good-looking."

Huo Yuhao shook his head and smiled, "That's only right."

Gu Ruiqiu frowned slightly and muttered, "The same as before... the riddle teller."

After saying that, he went to find Gu Yuena and began to reminisce about their long-awaited reunion, no longer speaking to Huo Yuhao.

Over the years, she had spent the most time with the Master, and even his subtle habits bore her shadow. Their relationship had long since transcended a simple subordinate one.

After not seeing each other for many years, she had a lot to say.

Watching Gu Ruiqiu and Gu Yuena talk, Huo Yuhao shifted his gaze, quietly observing the tea leaves floating in his teacup, and then picked up the teacup to take a small sip.

For some people, passing by is the best ending.

It's almost time to make dinner.

After chatting for a while, Gu Ruiqiu realized it was getting late and was about to cook when she noticed a figure already standing in the kitchen.

This guy has completely stolen her ecological niche!

Gu Ruiqiu sat down again, still indignant, and stole a glance at Huo Yuhao, who was busy in the kitchen, before turning to Gu Yuena, her red eyes flashing.

"My Master, he is a guest; it is I who should entertain him."

Gu Yuena's anger had subsided. Hearing her words, she lifted her gaze from the teacup in her hand and looked towards the kitchen, her lips unconsciously softening slightly.

"Yuhao is different," she said softly, the tea in her cup reflecting the shimmering light. "He's family."

"..." Gu Ruiqiu looked at her expression and was slightly taken aback. The aroma wafting from the kitchen suddenly became exceptionally clear, mixed with some emotion she couldn't describe, slowly spreading in the silent air.

Finally, Gu Ruiqiu replied softly, "Yes, I understand."

Soon after, the three of them had dinner, and Huo Yuhao noticed that Gu Ruiqiu's tone of voice seemed more intimate when she spoke to him, without the previous aloofness she displayed when facing guests.

Did Na'er say anything?

"You're quite famous at the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters now." Gu Ruiqiu's eyes held a mischievous glint. "Quite a few people are interested in you; some are even waiting at the door for you to pass by."

Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Then they'll be disappointed; they might have to wait a few days."

"Although I also think their challenge to you won't end well, it's best not to be too overconfident. You might just suffer an unexpected setback," Gu Ruiqiu shrugged. " Among the Candidate Spirit Envoy, some have also taken an interest in you. They are all Three-Word Battle Armor Master at the Soul Saint or above."

The four Spirit Transmission Envoys hold a position second only to the three Deputy Tower Masters and the Tower Master of the Spirit Transmission Tower, and are on par with the Tower Masters of the Eighteen Branches.

At headquarters, the typical promotion process is: core disciple → Candidate Spirit Envoy → Spirit Envoy → run for Tower Master in the council meeting!

The Tower Master election was held three years ago, when Huo Yuhao and the others were nine years old. The next re-election will be held seven years from now, so it has nothing to do with them for the time being. But it's different for the Candidate Spirit Envoy.

Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena will be promoted to the position of Candidate Spirit Envoy sooner or later upon arriving in Mingdu; this is a necessary procedure.

The Candidate Spirit Envoy requires consideration of factors such as age and strength, but those who can fill this position are basically Three-Word Battle Armor Master at the Soul Saint level or above!

"Including you too?" Huo Yuhao looked at the smiling Gu Ruiqiu.

This person has been a member of the Spirit Pagoda for quite some time, and is also Candidate Spirit Envoy, and the strongest among them, who could be promoted to the position of Spirit Envoy at any time.

"Hmm... I am somewhat interested." Gu Ruiqiu blinked. "What, scared? I can do it without the Battle Armor."

She couldn't defeat him Ten Thousand Years Ago, and now that Huo Yuhao hasn't recovered, he's no match for her.

"Stop fooling around."

Gu Yuena said from the side, "Soul Saint Battle Soul King is something most people can't do. They won't make a move unless Yuhao takes the initiative to challenge him. Tell me about the others."

This girl shouldn't act recklessly. Once they fight, Yuhao won't hold back because of his own goal.

From Gu Ruiqiu's perspective, Huo Yuhao is definitely an opponent she needs to fight with all her might.

The situation might become rather ugly then, and she would be heartbroken if either of them got hurt, so she should stop Gu Ruiqiu's idea.

"..." Seeing Gu Yuena's expression, Gu Ruiqiu muttered, "I understand, I won't do anything."

At this point, her gaze shifted to Huo Yuhao, "Among those who are eager to challenge you, some are connected to you..."

At the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, many Soul Masters waited for a long time but the person they were waiting for never arrived, which puzzled them.

What happened? Why didn't they come?

Only after Ling Zichen walked out of the research institute and saw the group blocking the entrance did he speak calmly:

"Don't wait any longer. He went to the Mecha Master Association Headquarters today and received an invitation from the Ming De Hall as a result. He won't be coming for the time being."

"What?!"

This statement caused an uproar throughout the room!

"An invitation from the Ming De Hall? He's the one who received the title of Spirit Transmission, how could he possibly gain the favor of the Ming De Hall?"

"Ming De Hall hasn't sent out an invitation in about a hundred years, has it? How could he manage something like this..."

A young Soul Master exclaimed in surprise, "He's reached this level in both Soul Master and Side Profession? Is he destined to reach the pinnacle in both?"

"Sister Ling, is this true?"

Many people looked in Ling Zichen's direction.

"If you think it's fake, then go and verify it yourself." Seeing Ling Zichen snort coldly and turn to leave, the Soul Master who had asked the question felt a jolt in his heart and his scalp tingled.

Ling Zichen is not someone to be trifled with. She is arguably the most outstanding among her peers, as she is already the most capable and promising researcher of the younger generation at the Soul Guidance Research Institute.

But even someone as capable as Ling Zichen seemed to be outmatched by Huo Yuhao? How could the latter actually gain an invitation from the Ming De Hall based solely on his research abilities?

"Since it was an invitation from the Ming De Hall, but the news hasn't spread yet, it means he hasn't gone to the Ming De Hall. Arriving in Mingdu, instead of reporting to headquarters, he went to the Mecha Master Association first... what does that mean?"

A Soul Master muttered to himself, sighed, and walked towards the training room, "I'm not waiting anymore. It seems he won't be coming today."

The group dispersed for the time being, planning to continue their investigation the next day.

Only one person remained in place, radiating a sharp aura that chilled the hearts of others.

For several days in a row, Huo Yuhao did not go to the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, but instead traveled back and forth between his home and the Mecha Master Association Headquarters.

During this time, through Yi Hongchen's connections, he confirmed the time to report to the Ming De Hall, and also studied the collections of the Mecha Master Association Headquarters over the years, increasing his own knowledge.

It wasn't until the tenth day, when Gu Yuena and Gu Ruiqiu saw Huo Yuhao finish his morning practice and instead of heading towards the Mecha Master Association, look towards the center of Mingdu, that they had a sudden thought.

It's coming.