A Family's Warmth He Had Never Known, in This Life or the Last

In his previous life.

Huo Yuhao had lived at the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.

Back then, he never had enough to eat or warm enough clothes to wear.

He had endured bullying from his older brother Dai Huabin and the others. No one had ever gone out of their way to find him anything nourishing.

He had never expected to be reborn ten thousand years in the past, in the place he considered the most evil of all.

And yet Qian Renchuan, the lazy eldest brother he usually looked down on, had gone out of his way to find them something nourishing.

For a moment, the same thought rose in Qian Renxue's and Huo Yuhao's minds.

Our eldest brother may be lazy and hopeless, but he really is kind.

Once I become a god and change my fate, perhaps I can give him a hand.

Even if I can't take him to the Divine Realm, I can make sure he lives out his life safely and peacefully on Douluo Continent. I won't let anyone bully him!

Hearing their thoughts fall into perfect step, Qian Renchuan smiled to himself.

He had guessed right.

Both Qian Renxue and Huo Yuhao were starved for affection deep down.

Qian Renxue had grown up without Bibi Dong's motherly love.

Huo Yuhao had suffered bullying since childhood.

All he had to do was treat them a little better and show them some warmth as their eldest brother, and they would start to see him differently.

This investment in their affections is bound to pay off!

Out in the corridor,

Silence lingered after Qian Renchuan's words.

Qian Renxue, who knew little about Whale Rubber, was the first to recover.

She had begun to see Qian Renchuan differently and believed her eldest brother did care about them.

But what she had endured in her previous life made it hard for her to open her heart to anyone again.

So Qian Renxue kept her face taut and pushed the half piece of Whale Rubber back toward him, her voice cool.

"I don't need this."

"Eldest Brother, if you truly want what's best for us, then work hard at cultivating."

"Help shoulder some of the burden when the time comes, instead of wasting your efforts looking for useless things like this."

Qian Renchuan looked at the Whale Rubber she had pushed back and was about to speak.

But Huo Yuhao suddenly cut in.

"Second Sister, this isn't some ordinary thing."

Qian Renxue whipped around to face Huo Yuhao.

"What did you just call me?"

Damn it. Calling him Eldest Brother is one thing, but he actually called me Second Sister.

Doesn't he know to show his second sister some respect?

But Huo Yuhao paid her no mind.

His eyes were fixed on the black-and-yellow lump, and he blurted out,

"This is Whale Rubber. Refine and absorb it using a special method, and it can greatly strengthen the body!"

At those words,

Qian Renxue's expression changed at once.

Anything that could "strengthen the body" had her full attention these days.

Why else would she climb Back Mountain every day with fifty pounds of pig iron on her back, pushing through even when she scraped her knees bloody?

She was putting herself through that grueling training to strengthen her body as much as possible.

Then, when it came time to obtain Soul Rings, she could absorb rings beyond what her body would normally withstand.

She had sworn her first Soul Ring would be seven hundred years old and her second a thousand. Both would demand an exceptionally strong body!

And now Huo Yuhao was saying this thing could strengthen it.

Qian Renxue's voice rose sharply.

"What did you say?"

Qian Renchuan played along at once, putting on a puzzled expression.

"This thing can strengthen the body?"

At the same time, Huo Yuhao's gaze flicked across Qian Renchuan's face.

A thought stirred in his mind.

He had revealed what Whale Rubber could do so bluntly precisely to test him.

He wanted to watch their eldest brother's reaction.

And see whether he truly knew the Whale Rubber's value.

If he knew what Whale Rubber could do, hearing me say it would make him try to hide something—or at least change his expression.

But Qian Renchuan looked just as puzzled. His reaction did not seem faked at all.

Could he really not know what Whale Rubber is?

Is he not a reincarnator?

Was he simply lucky enough to stumble upon this top-quality Whale Rubber?

Huo Yuhao's thoughts raced.

Hearing them, Qian Renchuan burst out laughing inwardly.

Oh, little brother. What if you do have ten thousand years of memories?

You're still too trusting.

Your big brother has a system. Whatever reaction I want you to see is the reaction you'll get.

Qian Renchuan had given nothing away, and Qian Renxue kept pressing him. Huo Yuhao finally took a deep breath and explained.

"I saw it in an ancient text."

"It's called Whale Rubber, and it comes from Sea Soul Beasts."

"If it's refined and absorbed, it can strengthen a soul master's body considerably."

Qian Renxue's eyes widened in shock.

"Really?"

"How did I not know?"

If Whale Rubber is really that remarkable, why didn't I know about it in my previous life?

But Huo Yuhao nodded with certainty.

"It's true."

"I... I happened to come across it in a very old, damaged manuscript while browsing the Spirit Hall Library."

In an instant,

Qian Renxue spun around.

She stared at the Whale Rubber in Qian Renchuan's hand, her eyes burning with desire.

It can strengthen the body!

If I absorb that Whale Rubber, won't it save me months of hard work?

I could gain a powerful body without going up Back Mountain every day and battering myself bloody.

Then I could absorb a powerful Soul Ring beyond my body's usual limits and take the first step toward changing my fate!

But...

Qian Renxue's heart suddenly tightened.

She had just given the Whale Rubber back to her eldest brother!

When he had divided it between them, he had known nothing of its true value.

He had simply thought it was nourishing.

That was why he had generously offered it to his younger brother and sister.

Now Huo Yuhao had revealed how precious Whale Rubber was.

Would their eldest brother still give it to her, knowing it was a treasure that could strengthen the body?

He was so lazy because he feared hardship and exhaustion, after all.

Now that he knew about this shortcut,

Would he still give her the Whale Rubber?

No.

He probably won't give it back.

At the thought, Qian Renxue's expression grew deeply conflicted.

Qian Renchuan noticed her look and smiled faintly. Without the slightest hesitation, he pressed the half piece of Whale Rubber back into her hand.

"Here, little sister. Take it."

"If this Whale Rubber really does what our little brother says, go and refine it."

"With this, you won't have to suffer every day carrying such heavy stones up the mountain."

"You're a young girl. You shouldn't have to end up covered in scars."

"And you, little brother. You've always been frail. With the Whale Rubber to build you up, your cultivation will be much easier too."

Boom!

Qian Renxue jolted.

She stared blankly at the Whale Rubber in her hand, unable to believe it.

He really gave me a treasure like this?

Even after learning it can strengthen the body, he didn't hesitate for a moment?

Without thinking,

Qian Renxue looked up at Qian Renchuan.

His eyes held nothing but sincerity and warmth. There was not a trace of pretense in them.

A powerful feeling of gratitude suddenly rose in Qian Renxue's heart.

It was a family's warmth she had never known,

Not once in all her childhood,

Not in her previous life or this one.