At the Green Hotel's restaurant, at a table by the window.
Huo Yuhao sat with Gao Dalou, his opponent from the Soul Tool Combat Tournament just moments earlier.
Several delicious dishes covered the table. Gao Dalou kept picking up food and shoveling it into his mouth, but his miserable expression made it clear that it tasted like wax to him.
In a corner not far away, Huang Zheng and Mo Ke, the Nether Thunder Douluo's two disciples, secretly watched them.
Mo Ke whispered, "What is His Holiness doing? Why doesn't he just kill him and take the Ranked Engraving Knife?"
Huang Zheng said, "Be patient. His Holiness must have a reason for doing this."
Their whispers did not escape Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection.
With a woeful expression, Gao Dalou asked, "Brother, I still don't know your name."
"Let me keep my name a secret for now. Must we have known each other before to meet as friends?" Huo Yuhao smiled faintly.
Gao Dalou faltered, "Then... brother, could I make a tiny request...?"
"What request?"
"Doesn't eating all this food feel like something's missing?" Gao Dalou looked awkward. "Brother, do... do you feel a little thirsty?"
Huo Yuhao nodded.
"Hehe, then would you like some wine?" Gao Dalou finally voiced his wish, looking rather embarrassed.
Huo Yuhao chuckled. "I don't like drinking myself. You can drink on your own, Brother Gao. This meal is on me."
With that, he snapped his fingers toward the side. "Waiter, bring some wine."
"Oh, brother, you're far too kind."
Gao Dalou loved wine as much as life itself. Hearing Huo Yuhao's offer, he smiled apologetically. "Sorry to put you to the expense, brother. I must've been possessed, betting all my money on myself to win. Instead, I lost everything. I don't have a single Copper