Fortunes Entwined, a Boy Drawn Away

Though Huo Yuhao spoke softly, everyone present was a Soul Master with hearing far beyond ordinary people. They all heard him call out, "Mom."

Tang Ya burst out laughing on the spot, without a shred of ladylike composure.

Realizing how awkward he looked, Huo Yuhao felt his old insecurity rise again and lowered his head in shame.

"Child, it couldn't have been easy for you to make it this far. You must have suffered so much!"

"But that's all right. From now on, your teacher is here. I won't let you suffer anymore."

Huang Jinxu did not laugh. Instead, he looked at Huo Yuhao with a face full of concern and gently straightened the boy's head as he spoke.

"Hold your head high and stand tall. Live with dignity."

"Today, I'll teach you one thing: a man would rather die standing than live on his knees."

Huang Jinxu's voice grew firmer, urging Huo Yuhao on.

"Teacher, I'll remember that."

"Whatever I face from now on, I'll stand tall."

Perhaps it was Huang Jinxu's encouragement, or perhaps it was this warmth he had never known before, but Huo Yuhao felt a little more confident.

He had been dazed through the whole thing. Before he could even think it over, he had somehow become the man's disciple.

Why was Heavenly Fiend Douluo so eager today? Was it because he'd met someone who shared his fate?

Seeing a Heavenly Fiend Douluo so unlike the one he knew, Bei Bei felt that something was off.

The contrast was so jarring that, for a moment, he felt as though he had never truly known the Heavenly Fiend Douluo before him.

Bei Bei had no idea that Huang Jinxu had waited a very, very long time for this day.

Dragon God Douluo Mu En's assessments of him had only described the earliest stage. As his cultivation grew, as he developed his Martial Soul, and as he formed a connection and resonance with the ominous star tied to his fate, his ability to bring misfortune upon those around him grew ever stronger. Even Shrek Academy was close to buckling under it.

If this continued, something terrible was bound to happen.

At this point in time, Shrek Academy's fortune was already at its thinnest and most unstable.

If its fortune ran dry, Shrek Academy might never recover. By the time the academy realized what was happening, everyone there might well be hunting him down.

With his current strength, he did not truly fear pursuit by Shrek Academy. But if the Divine Realm became involved, that was another matter.

Even without the Divine Realm's involvement, he could forget about living in peace afterward.

Fortunately, after waiting so long and stalling for so much time, the Child of Fortune had finally arrived.

How could he not be excited?

"Yuhao, did you come here to hunt for your First Soul Ring?"

Now that they had confirmed their bond as teacher and disciple, and Huang Jinxu could feel Huo Yuhao's fate becoming entwined with his own, he began asking about his disciple's cultivation.

"Y-yes."

Clearly, Huo Yuhao had not yet adjusted to suddenly having a teacher. He was still deeply uncomfortable.

"Come here and let me check your condition."

Though Huang Jinxu told Huo Yuhao to come forward, he stepped closer to his disciple himself.

He could not help it. Huo Yuhao was so sensitive and insecure right now that asking him to take the initiative would be difficult.

As his teacher, Huang Jinxu naturally had to take the first step.

Once close, he circulated his Soul Power into Huo Yuhao's body to examine his physical condition.

There was no denying it: Huo Yuhao was severely malnourished.

If he tried to absorb a Soul Ring in his current state, he might not even manage a Hundred-Year Soul Ring.

"Come back to Shrek City with me for a while. Once I've helped you build up your body, we'll return to hunt your First Soul Ring."

Huang Jinxu spoke after a moment's thought.

Taking Huo Yuhao away now would let him help the boy recover. But it would also serve another purpose: a further test.

He wanted to confirm something that mattered to his plans from here on.

"Teacher, I... I'll do as you say..."

Huo Yuhao could feel that his teacher was acting for his sake, with genuine concern.

He had not felt such warmth since his mother left. Of course he would not refuse.

"Would you like me to help with your Soul Hunting?"

As Huang Jinxu took Huo Yuhao's hand to leave, he seemed to remember only then that others were present. He turned to Bei Bei and Tang Ya.

"There's no need, Teacher Huang. I can take Xiao Ya Soul Hunting myself."

Bei Bei saw Tang Ya's reluctance. Since she was too embarrassed to say anything, he stepped forward and declined for her.

"Third Soul Skill: Starlight Protection."

Huang Jinxu's third Soul Ring lit up. Two rays of starlight shot from his fingertips and sank into Bei Bei and Tang Ya.

"Starlight Protection will last for three days and nights. If you encounter danger, it will activate on its own."

"Be careful."

Huang Jinxu spoke as though advising younger members of his own family.

"Thank you, Teacher Huang!"

Bei Bei hurriedly bowed in thanks.

Huang Jinxu then flew straight to Shrek City with Huo Yuhao.

They stopped at an upscale restaurant in the city.

"This restaurant belongs to me. If you ever want to earn some pocket money, come here. I'll have them set aside a spot just for you. All you'll have to do is grill fish."

As Huang Jinxu led Huo Yuhao inside, he explained the restaurant to him and introduced him to the person in charge.

Huo Yuhao remained dazed throughout. He could barely think; he simply tried his best to remember everything his teacher said.

Everything that had happened today felt like a dream.

A Titled Douluo had appeared out of nowhere and asked to take him as a disciple, and this teacher of his seemed rather wealthy, too.

Everything he had seen and experienced was beyond anything he had known before.

"This is an improved potion based on the Mystic Water Pill. It can improve your talent for cultivation. Take one bottle at a time, with two days between doses. After all three bottles, your talent should rise to roughly the equivalent of level-six Innate Soul Power."

"For the next seven days, I'll help you absorb the medicine more effectively and train you at the same time. It will be hard. Do you think you can see it through?"

As Huang Jinxu spoke, he took three bottles of Mysterious Water Potion from his Storage Soul Tool. He had researched and refined the formula himself, and its effects far surpassed even the finest Mystic Water Pill.

It was ideal for building Huo Yuhao's foundation.

"Teacher, I can do it!"

At the thought that enduring hardship would make him stronger, resolve immediately filled Huo Yuhao's eyes.

Huang Jinxu could see the hatred and anger hidden behind that resolve.

"Take the first bottle now. Once you've absorbed most of its effects, come find me."

Huang Jinxu looked at Huo Yuhao with satisfaction and nodded. Then he ruffled the boy's hair and explained what he needed to do next.

Huo Yuhao listened closely to everything Huang Jinxu said, not missing a single word.

Little one, fate puts a price on every gift. Where this road leads us in the end will depend on the fate we share as teacher and disciple.

Looking at the sensible Huo Yuhao before him, Huang Jinxu felt a flicker of guilt.

But he snuffed it out almost at once.