A New Home

And so, Lin Mo and Huo Yuyao followed Xiao Xiao and her family to Maple Leaf City.

Having recovered from her brush with death and gradually grown familiar with the two of them, Xiao Xiao began to show her lively, cheerful side.

Throughout the journey, she kept chatting with them about all sorts of things, from her Martial Soul to her experience obtaining her Soul Ring, and then to what had just happened.

She told them practically everything, holding nothing back.

Lin Mo kept responding to her and occasionally asked Xiao Sheng and Xiao Xia about the towns and cities. Neither found his questions strange, and they told him as much as they could about whatever he wanted to know.

In their eyes, these two were simply pitiful children who had lost their parents and had nowhere to live, forced to venture out to make a living.

Huo Yuyao, who had initially been rather shy around strangers, also gradually relaxed thanks to Xiao Xiao's cheerful smile and entertaining conversation.

The two little girls chatted with bright smiles, getting along wonderfully.

A week passed like this before the group of five finally arrived in Maple Leaf City.

As soon as they arrived, Xiao Sheng and his wife took the two children to a small house they owned in Maple Leaf City.

The house was not particularly large, but it was enough for a family of three.

"You can stay here. The house isn't very nice, so please forgive us."

Xiao Xia spoke.

"Not at all, Auntie Xiao. Please don't say that. We're incredibly grateful that you're giving us somewhere to stay."

Ah, there really are more good people than bad in this world. I thought I'd have to spend a huge sum on housing, but now I can save that money.

"Oh, it's only a humble little house."

"Thank you so much, truly. To be honest, this is so, so much better than where Little Yao and I used to live."

As Lin Mo recalled the storage shed they had once lived in, that sense of loss and resentment surged in his heart again, but he quickly suppressed it.

"Huh? Big Brother Lin Mo, what was your old home like?"

Still young, Xiao Xiao did not understand the meaning behind his words and asked with nothing but curiosity.

The moment Xiao Xiao said that, her parents stopped her.

"Sorry. Xiao Xiao is young and doesn't know any better."

"It's all right, Uncle, Auntie. Little Yao, her mother, and I used to live together in a very, very small storage shed. Those days really were difficult."

Hearing this, the couple exchanged a glance. Neither asked, "Then why are there only two of you now?"

"It's all right, Little Mo. This will be your home from now on. If you need anything, just tell us."

Lin Mo cupped his fist in his palm and bowed.

"Then, on behalf of my little sister and myself, thank you, Uncle and Auntie."

"All right, all right, it's nothing. You saved Xiao Xiao-you saved our very lifeblood. It's only a little house."

They chatted a little longer before the three family members left, leaving the keys on the table.

After seeing Xiao Xiao's family off, the two of them looked around the house.

"This is wonderful! It's completely different from where we used to live."

"Yeah. Starting today, we'll each have our own room. We won't have to squeeze together to sleep anymore."

With his hands on his hips, Lin Mo surveyed the furnishings in the room.

"Huh?"

Huo Yuyao froze for a moment at those words.

Noticing that something seemed off about her reaction, Lin Mo asked.

"What's wrong?"

"N-no, nothing."

Huo Yuyao hurriedly waved her little hands.

Seeing this, Lin Mo did not question her further. After inspecting the three rooms again, he gave Huo Yuyao the largest room with the best natural light and took the one beside it for himself.

Huo Yuyao kept insisting that she did not need such a large room, but Lin Mo remained firm.

"All right, it's only a room. We'll only cultivate here for a little over a month before heading to the academy. Once we're there, everyone will have their own room."

Only then did Huo Yuyao agree to take that room.

Although they had already become Soul Masters, their Soul Power Levels were still too low. After such a long, tiring journey, they were both exhausted.

"Haah~"

The girl sat down in a chair, unable to keep from yawning as she rubbed her eyes.

"Tired, aren't you? Let's just get some proper rest today."

"Mm~ Then I'll go rest."

"All right. Rest well. I'm going to rest for a bit too."