Go Out and See Whether Spirit Hall Really Is Evil!

Here's the third update!!!

Because Qian Renchuan had strictly forbidden them from using Soul Skills.

Zhao Mang and the others spent quite a while just catching fish.

By the time they finally hauled a few plump fish ashore and cleaned them, afternoon classes had already started.

But Qian Renchuan waved his hand.

Using his authority as class monitor, he approved leave for all of them on the spot.

Naturally, they were delighted not to have to return to class, and they all gathered around the fire.

Seeing that the fish were ready, Huo Yuhao put away all his carving materials, walked over to the fire, and officially began his great fish-grilling endeavor.

Since Qian Renchuan had planned from the start to eat grilled fish on the Back Mountain that day, he had brought along all sorts of seasonings swiped from the cafeteria and handed the whole lot to Huo Yuhao.

Meanwhile.

That afternoon, in the Second-Year Class's classroom at Spirit Academy.

Their homeroom teacher, Instructor Zhao, entered the classroom and glanced around, immediately noticing several empty seats.

Qian Renchuan, Huo Yuhao, and followers like Zhao Mang and Li Yan were all absent.

At the sight.

Instructor Zhao's brow furrowed deeply.

He turned to Zhang Meng, the deputy class monitor seated at the front, and asked,

"Zhang Meng, where are the class monitor and the others? Why aren't they here?"

Zhang Meng could only stand up with a wry smile.

"Instructor Zhao, the Eldest Young Master took them to grill fish on the Back Mountain. He said they'd taken the afternoon off."

At those words, the entire class was dumbstruck.

Going to the Back Mountain to grill fish during class?

Only the Eldest Young Master would pull something like that!

Instructor Zhao's mouth twitched hard when he heard this. He was utterly helpless, too.

What an untouchable big shot!

But this was the Pope's Eldest Young Master. Even the Academy Chief didn't dare rein him in, so what could an ordinary instructor like him say?

Instructor Zhao could only pretend he knew nothing, nod for Zhang Meng to sit down, and open his textbook to continue the lesson.

Over on the Back Mountain.

Huo Yuhao certainly lived up to his reputation as the Douluo Continent's undisputed master of grilled fish.

Before long, he had grilled several fish until they were golden and crisp, sizzling with oil and giving off a rich, mouthwatering aroma.

Zhao Mang, Li Yan, and the other followers stood nearby.

Their eyes were fixed on the fish as they kept swallowing their saliva.

That smelled good!

So good!

The Third Young Master's skills were leagues beyond the Eldest Young Master's!

Neither Qian Renchuan nor Huo Yuhao was stingy. As soon as the fish were ready, they handed them straight to the followers.

Zhao Mang and the others took their fish.

Without even caring whether they burned their mouths, they wolfed them down, grease coating their lips.

Only then did Huo Yuhao take one for himself and begin eating at a leisurely pace.

Just then, he noticed that Qian Renchuan, seated beside him, hadn't immediately started eating the fish in his hand.

Instead, he took a clean oil-paper bag from his Storage Soul Tool and carefully wrapped up the last remaining fish.

At the sight, Huo Yuhao frowned.

He stopped eating and asked in confusion,

"Boss, what are you doing?"

Qian Renchuan was diligently wrapping the fish in the oil paper, and he didn't even look up when he heard the question.

"My little sister didn't come, so she didn't get any. I'm taking one back for her."

Boom!

Huo Yuhao's whole body jolted.

As though struck by lightning, he sat frozen in place, staring intently at Qian Renchuan beside him.

At that moment.

Huo Yuhao swallowed, unable to hold back the ache and emotion welling up inside him.

Boss hadn't even taken a bite himself.

And his first thought was to take one back for his absent sister?

Was this what pure familial love felt like?

That pure brotherly care, that constant thoughtfulness toward his siblings, struck Huo Yuhao right in the softest part of his heart.

Wasn't this what he'd spent his previous life...

Always hoping for, always longing to receive?

He never imagined that the sibling bond he had longed for throughout his previous life would become something he truly experienced after being reborn ten thousand years in the past.

Only after a long while.

Did Huo Yuhao draw a deep breath.

He split his unfinished grilled fish in two and held the larger half out to Qian Renchuan.

"Boss, let's share this one, then."

Qian Renchuan turned to Huo Yuhao and grinned.

"Sure. Thanks, Third Brother."

Huo Yuhao shook his head, his voice low.

"No need to thank me. Eat."

"You're our boss. You can't just watch us eat while you go hungry, can you?"

"From now on... as long as I have a bite to eat, I'll never let you go hungry, Boss!"

This time, Qian Renchuan's little string of gestures had won Huo Yuhao over completely.

For Huo Yuhao, who had never experienced an older brother's affection in his previous life and had known only betrayal and bullying, this feeling was especially precious.

Before long.

They finished their grilled fish.

Qian Renchuan clapped his hands and stood up, ready to lead everyone away.

But Huo Yuhao remained seated, making no move to leave.

"Third Brother, come on. We're heading back."

Qian Renchuan called.

But Huo Yuhao looked up at him and said softly,

"Boss, you go ahead. I'd like to stay here a little longer."

"All right."

Naturally, Qian Renchuan wouldn't interfere with Huo Yuhao's personal affairs. He nodded and led his well-fed followers away down the mountain path.

After they left.

Huo Yuhao sat alone on a rock by the river, staring blankly at the babbling stream below.

A breeze brushed past, rustling the leaves.

The words Qian Renchuan had spoken while wrapping up the fish surfaced unbidden in his mind once more.

"My little sister didn't come. I'm taking one back for her."

His eyes couldn't help growing warm.

This boss of his was lazy, playful, and spent every day slacking off, nothing like a hardworking, ambitious Soul Master.

But his innocent love and care for his younger siblings.

Were something those hypocrites with mouths full of virtue and morality could never hope to match!

Ripples stirred in Huo Yuhao's heart, refusing to settle for a long time.

At that moment, he even began to question his own understanding.

"Were Shrek Academy's records and stories about Spirit Hall ten thousand years from now really entirely correct?"

"Was Spirit Hall truly an utterly wicked place, just as they claimed?"

"A cancer on the Douluo Continent."

"But... the supposedly honorable White Tiger Duke's Mansion committed acts beneath even beasts, letting the lawful wife drive a concubine to her death and allowing older brothers to brutalize their own siblings."

"And yet this supposed 'den of evil,' Spirit Hall."

"Raised a boy like Boss, with such an innocent heart and eyes full of love for his family!"

"If Spirit Hall really is evil, then what does that make Boss's pure kindness?"

He drew another deep breath.

Rising to his feet, he gazed into the distance.

"Perhaps I really should leave Spirit City and go out into the world to see it for myself."

"I need to ask the people out there myself and find out what ordinary people on the Douluo Continent truly think of Spirit Hall."

"If Spirit Hall really has been slandered..."

In an instant, murderous intent flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes.

"Then in this life, I, Huo Yuhao, wouldn't mind becoming Spirit Hall's sharpest blade!"

"And rewriting the history ten thousand years from now with my own hands!!!"