The red-haired man's gaze abruptly changed, his expression turning colder still. "Shi Nian, you beast!"
The people behind the red-haired man were so frightened they hardly dared breathe.
"Let's go," the red-haired man barked coldly.
None of them understood what had happened, but they followed their dean away.
Cao De rubbed his chin, carefully thinking over the name Shi Nian.
Shi Nian had tried to assassinate that little cheat, Tang San, only for Tang San to kill him with a Yama's Invitation instead. He had even handed Tang San a Soul Bone in the process.
Huo Wu had been abducted by Shi Nian. After giving it some thought, Cao De decided to take a look.
System, hurry up and put a tracking mark on that red-haired old man.
[10 Emotion Points deducted. Tracking time remaining: 19 minutes, 58 seconds. Please take note, host.]
The red-haired man's location appeared in Cao De's mind.
"Waiter, bring me some food," Cao De said to Zhang Wangde, the waiter.
"Coming right up!"
Before long, all the dishes were served. Cao De ate while watching the red-haired man's location in his mind.
"Outside the city?" Cao De quickly shoveled down another couple of mouthfuls, left the hotel, and hurried out of the city.
Meanwhile, Huo Canghai had already reached the meeting place Shi Nian had specified.
As Huo Canghai's Martial Soul emerged, the surrounding scenery shattered.
Shi Nian walked out, clapping. "Sure enough, the Illusion Realm can't hold you."
Huo Canghai looked at the vacant-faced Huo Wu behind Shi Nian, his eyes practically spitting fire. "Shi Nian, you beast! Let my daughter go!"
"Brother Canghai, why such a temper?" Shi Nian asked with a chuckle.
Then he added, "Did you bring the Soul Bone?"
"Release my daughter first," Huo Canghai said coldly.
"Let me see the Soul Bone first." Shi Nian twirled his finger.
Huo Wu, standing beside him, turned around as well.
If looks could kill, Huo Canghai's glare would have killed Shi Nian countless times over.
But at the sight of the dazed Huo Wu, Huo Canghai could only take a rectangular box out of his Storage Soul Tool. He opened it, and multicolored light instantly spilled out.
Shi Nian's eyes brimmed with greed, and he kept swallowing.
Clack! The box slammed shut again. Huo Canghai said coldly, "Release Huo Wu now, or you can forget about getting this Soul Bone."
"Huo Canghai, I think you've misunderstood. You hand over the Soul Bone first, and then I release your daughter," Shi Nian said with a sneer.
"You beast. Who knows what you're plotting?" Huo Canghai said.
"Hand over the Soul Bone, and I'll release your daughter. If you don't, this darling daughter of yours will become a vegetable.
"Then I'll spread the news that you have a Soul Bone. How many Titled Douluos do you think will kill for it? By then, your Blazing Fire Academy will be gone too."
Shi Nian spoke with a chuckle, twirling his finger again. Huo Wu turned along with it.
"Look how adorable your daughter is!" Shi Nian said, laughing loudly.
The pitiful sight of Huo Wu stabbed at Huo Canghai's heart. Slowly, he said, "I'll give it to you. Just let my daughter go."
"That's more like it."
Just then!
Cao De came running over in a panic. "Help! Help!"
Shi Nian frowned, and his Martial Soul appeared in his hand.
Cao De stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly as though his mind had gone.
Huo Canghai looked at the newly arrived Cao De in confusion. Why was he here?
Before Huo Canghai could figure it out, Cao De had already fallen under Shi Nian's illusion and was slowly walking toward him.
A smile spread across Shi Nian's face. Perfect timing. This brat can fetch the Soul Bone for me.
"Huo Canghai, let's contin-"
Before he could finish, a purple blade had pierced his heart, and blood came bubbling out.
Shi Nian knew he was going to die, but he would take someone down with him first. He poured his remaining Soul Power into his Martial Soul and sent it toward Huo Wu's Spiritual Sea.
At the same moment he stabbed through Shi Nian's heart, Cao De activated his Fourth Soul Skill: Piercing.
The Thousand-Blade Demon Sword split into countless fragments, radiating from Shi Nian's heart to every part of his body.
It all happened in an instant.
Bleeding from head to toe, Shi Nian lay on the ground, no longer breathing.
Freed from Shi Nian's control, Huo Wu collapsed limply to the ground. Huo Canghai tossed aside the box in his hand and rushed forward, gently gathering her into his arms.
Cao De sheathed the demon sword.
"Thank you. Thank you," Huo Canghai said over and over.
"I, Huo Canghai, am truly grateful to you. Take the Soul Bone," Huo Canghai said, looking at Huo Wu in his arms.
After what had just happened, Huo Canghai had come to understand that keeping the Soul Bone would bring endless disasters down on him. He did not want Huo Wu dragged into such a calamity again.
Cao De opened the box and looked at the glowing Soul Bone. On his way here, he had considered obtaining the Soul Bone and absorbing it.
But when he picked it up, he felt an inexplicable sense of rejection.
Cao De closed the lid and set the box beside Huo Canghai, delivering a thoroughly pretentious line. "Soul Bones don't interest me."
Huo Canghai was dumbfounded. Is this kid an idiot? He actually said Soul Bones don't interest him!
Huo Canghai did not know how to describe what he felt at that moment. It just felt...
As Huo Canghai grumbled inwardly, he felt movement in his arms and immediately asked in excitement, "Wu'er, how do you feel?"
Huo Wu stared vacantly at the red-haired man before her, her gaze slightly dull.
"Wu'er, don't scare me. Say something!" Huo Canghai cried anxiously. He wanted to reach out and shake her, but he did not dare, afraid that too much force would hurt her.
Huo Wu rubbed her head and wriggled out of Huo Canghai's arms. "Who are you?" she asked warily.
Huo Canghai felt as though lightning had struck him. Two trails of tears rolled down his face. "Wu'er, I'm your father!"
"I don't know you. Don't try to claim that relationship with me." Huo Wu watched Huo Canghai warily.
She looked around helplessly, then spotted Cao De. A smile instantly lit up her face. "Master!"
Then she dashed toward Cao De and hugged him tightly. Cao De immediately raised his hands in surrender.
Huo Wu's old father was still right there. If he actually dared hug her back, wouldn't the man beat him to death on the spot?
"Master, you finally came for me. I thought you didn't want me anymore." Huo Wu nuzzled one side of Cao De's chest, then rubbed against the other.
She paid no attention whatsoever to her old father behind her, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
Huo Canghai fought back the urge to cry and tried to pull Huo Wu away.
"Old man, what are you doing? Stop tugging at me!" Huo Wu turned and snapped at him.
Then she turned back and kept nuzzling Cao De's chest, calling in a sweet voice, "Master, Master."
Huo Canghai's face alternated between black and red. He did not know whether to feel heartbroken or furious.
"Huo Wu, let go of me first." Cao De felt that if this went on, Huo Canghai would surely fall ill from anger.
"Okay, Master." Huo Wu gently released Cao De.
Looking at the bloodstains on Cao De's clothes, Huo Wu frowned. "Master, why are your clothes covered in blood? I'll wash them for you when we get back to the hotel."
"Young man, how about you come back to the Blazing Fire Academy with me first? We can see what's happened to Huo Wu." Huo Canghai forced out a smile.
"Old man, who are you taking a jab at? Do you think I can't tell you're insulting me?" Huo Wu planted her hands on her hips, bristling with aggression.
"Huo Wu, be polite. He's your father." Cao De spoke up to stop Huo Wu's barrage of verbal fire.
"Master, I've really never met this nasty old man. Why are you asking me to accept him as my father too?" Xiao Wu grew more aggrieved as she spoke, her voice drooping.
Huo Canghai's heart ached terribly. "Young man, don't bully Huo Wu!" he said sternly.
"Nasty old man, don't shout at Master!" Xiao Wu snapped.
Cao De wanted to laugh, but held it in.
Unable to maintain his composure, Huo Canghai gave two dry coughs. "Let's return to the Blazing Fire Academy first."
"I'll change my clothes first," Cao De said, walking off to one side.
Huo Wu followed right behind him. "Old man, no peeking!"
Then she hurried over to help Cao De.
Huo Canghai opened his mouth but could not get a word out.
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