Tang Sanmei understood at once and brushed her hand over the Ruyi Treasure Pouch at her waist.
A gentle glow flashed, and two jade boxes rested securely in her hands.
"Xiao Wu, this is for you."
Huo Yuhao pushed the smaller jade box toward her.
The lid opened, revealing a palm-sized aromatic silk beauty inside.
Although it had yet to mature into a true immortal herb, the rich fragrance wafting from its stamens filled the entire room the instant the box opened.
It was an immature companion immortal herb of the aromatic silk beauty.
Huo Yuhao knew perfectly well that the immortal aromatic silk beauty capable of evolving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had another use.
As for this immature companion flower, although it lacked that medicinal effect, it was perfect for concealing Xiao Wu's soul beast aura.
"Make this into a sachet and hang it at your waist."
Huo Yuhao looked at the curious Xiao Wu and said,
"Although this flower hasn't matured yet, it's still one of the finest tulips. Its fragrance excels at absorbing and masking auras. As long as you keep it on you, that troublesome aura of yours will be concealed. Even a Titled Douluo won't be able to spot anything."
Xiao Wu's eyes widened.
That's my cousin for you!
He even managed to find something this good!
"Thank you, Cousin!"
Xiao Wu hugged the flower to her chest in delight.
"Try to stay out of trouble from now on."
Huo Yuhao waved a hand, then turned his gaze toward Tang Yuehua and pushed the second jade box over.
The jade box opened, revealing the Nine-Leaf Ganoderma inside.
"Aunt Yuehua, this is for you."
Huo Yuhao spoke.
Tang Yuehua froze, pointing at herself in surprise.
"For me? Yuhao, your aunt's martial soul is flawed. I'm not a Battle Soul Master. Wouldn't giving me such a miraculous treasure be squandering heaven's gifts...?"
"Not at all. It was prepared specifically for you."
Huo Yuhao said,
"This herb is called nine-grade purple ganoderma. It excels at strengthening one's foundation, transforming the meridians, and cleansing the marrow. Aunt Yuehua, your martial soul underwent an innate mutation. Although it produced the rare noble ring domain, the mutation was incomplete, which is why your soul power has remained stuck at level nine."
Watching Tang Yuehua's pupils tremble slightly, he smiled faintly.
"After taking this herb, you won't become a Titled Douluo immediately, but it will be more than enough to let you cultivate your soul power normally."
"Cultivate... normally?"
Tang Yuehua trembled all over, her eyes instantly reddening.
Born at level nine!
It was the greatest pain and humiliation of her life.
Although she had thrived in Heaven Dou City through her noble aura and her abilities, earning even the Imperial Family's respect,
the inferiority of being a direct descendant of the Clear Sky Sect who did not even qualify as a proper soul master had tormented her all her life!
Could a single ganoderma this young man had casually brought out truly break that curse?
"Yuhao... is what you said really true?"
Tang Yuehua's voice shook as tears slid down her cheeks.
"Aunt, Senior Brother never makes empty promises!"
Beside her, Tang Sanmei proudly lifted her little face. Holding a cup of hot tea in both hands, she offered it to Huo Yuhao and murmured softly,
"Senior Brother, are you thirsty after talking so much? Sanmei brewed you some warm tea. Drink slowly..."
Huo Yuhao took the cup and sipped. Just as he was about to speak, someone suddenly flung the room's window open from outside.
Two figures flew through the window, one after the other.
The burly man in front had a stern, resolute face, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Which one of you is Huo Yuhao!"
Tang Xiao's furious gaze swept around the room before settling on the only boy there.
"You really have the nerve to order my niece around!"
The moment he saw his niece, whose features bore some resemblance to Ah Yin's, serving the boy tea, Tang Xiao exploded and moved to summon his martial soul.
"How dare you! What barbarian dares shout at my senior brother!"
Tang Sanmei's delicate brows shot up. Without caring who stood before her, she darted in front of Huo Yuhao and aimed a pitch-black Zhuge Repeating Crossbow at the man.
Tang Xiao stared at his niece, who had turned a weapon on him, utterly dumbfounded.
"S-Sanmei? I'm your eldest-"
"Big Brother! Stop right there! Don't you dare be rude to Yuhao!"
Another voice rang out. Her eyes red, Tang Yuehua rushed over and shoved Tang Xiao aside, shielding Huo Yuhao and Tang Sanmei as she rebuked him.
"What madness has gotten into you! You come charging in, shouting about fighting and killing! Why are you taking it out on Yuhao!"
Tang Xiao: "???"
Behind him, Tang Hao nearly shattered on the spot at the sight.
Tang Yuehua was normally the most elegant and dignified Etiquette Instructor in the entire Heaven Dou Empire, never letting her emotions show. When had she ever behaved like this?
And... whom was she protecting?
Why was she protecting Huo Yuhao?
"Y-Yuehua, you pushed me?"
Tang Xiao stared at her in disbelief, utterly bewildered.
"This brat is treating Sanmei like a maid, and you're actually protecting him?"
"What do you mean, treating her like a maid! What did Second Brother tell you this time? Now you're being foolish along with him!"
So angry that she kept wiping away tears, Tang Yuehua held up the jade box for Tang Xiao to see, her voice trembling.
"Look at what this is! A miraculous treasure Yuhao risked his life to bring back from the Sunset Forest! He said this immortal herb can resolve the innate mutation inside me and let me cultivate normally."
Tang Yuehua wiped the tears from her face, both moved and frightened by what might have happened.
"Yuhao treats Sanmei wonderfully. He protected her the whole way and helped her obtain opportunities. And the moment he returned to Heaven Dou City, he still remembered an aunt like me!"
"He's such a good child, yet you tried to bully him the moment you arrived. Are you trying to anger me to death!"
Tang Xiao's mind simply could not keep up.
She could cultivate normally now?
Being able to cultivate was good.
Tang Xiao stood stiffly in place, staring at the two women shielding Huo Yuhao, his thoughts in complete disarray.
"Pfft... cough, cough, cough..."
Tang Hao's breath caught, and he nearly choked to death.
He looked at Huo Yuhao and his own younger sister, his voice trembling.
"Yuehua... you... how could you, too?"
I only went back to the Sunset Forest.
All told, I was gone for barely half a day.
It was bad enough that my daughter had been turned into a maid. How had even my shrewd, capable younger sister been won over?
"Yuehua! Come to your senses!"
Tang Hao looked at her in anguish.
"This brat is a little fox spirit who devours people without even spitting out their bones! Don't let that harmless face fool you. Who knows what wicked schemes he's brewing!"
"Second Brother, shut up!"
Tang Yuehua turned and glared at Tang Hao. Though tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, her tone was fierce.
"What exactly has such a good child as Yuhao done to offend you? If not for him, Sanmei would still be back in Holy Soul Village, hammering iron with you!"
"I think this child is wonderful. Neither of you is allowed to lay a hand on him!"
Tang Hao: "..."
"Eldest Uncle?"
Only then did Tang San, who had kept his Zhuge Repeating Crossbow aimed at the man the entire time, catch on.
He blinked, studying the burly man curiously.
"Are you the eldest uncle Aunt told me about? The Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect?"
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