Successfully patting his head

The humble little Medical Clinic could not offer everything a large hospital did, but it was still "a sparrow that, small as it was, had all five vital organs."

Inside, Huo Yuhao watched Madam Jiang slowly straighten up beside the bed and asked, "Auntie Jiang, how are you feeling now?"

Madam Jiang moved her arms first, then smiled. "Thank you for treating me, Doctor Huo. After these past few days of recuperation, I feel almost completely recovered. Even my body feels much lighter than before."

"From my analysis, you had a minor congenital problem to begin with. Later, accumulated overwork made you ill and aggravated your condition. Although I've remedied the deficiency, you still need to take care of yourself and avoid strenuous activity."

"All right. Sorry for all the trouble, Doctor Huo."

With that, Madam Jiang carefully studied Huo Yuhao as he prepared medicine nearby, consulting a medical book.

Then, a seemingly casual smile suddenly crossed her face. Who knew what she was thinking?

A small clearing in the woods had now become Huo Yuhao and Jiang Nannan's secret base.

At the moment, Jiang Nannan was teaching Huo Yuhao close-combat techniques.

After their practice over the past few days, Jiang Nannan felt she had nothing more to teach Doctor Huo when it came to seated cultivation, so she decided to try a different direction.

After all, her Martial Soul was a close-combat type, making it easier for her to teach him.

Besides, Doctor Huo looked so frail now. Learning some fighting techniques would help improve his constitution.

"So, you want to learn this?"

Jiang Nannan held a very old-looking book that Huo Yuhao had handed her. Apparently, he had found it at a little stall outside.

Although it was very old, the title was still just barely legible.

"Sunflower Manual?"

"Yes. The person said that once you mastered it, you could stand undefeated. What do you think, Sister Nan Nan?"

Jiang Nannan opened the first page, and eight large characters met her eyes: "To practice this art, you must first castrate yourself."

"..."

She had better not catch whoever had sold this to Doctor Huo.

"Let's put this sort of cultivation method aside for now and start with the basics. Watch my movements first."

With that, Jiang Nannan stepped lightly, dipped into a slight crouch to gather strength, then threw a straight punch, stirring a faint rush of wind.

"This is a thrust punch. If someone closes in on you, you can use the momentum to strike back. Now try punching me."

"Huh? Oh."

Following Jiang Nannan's demonstration, Huo Yuhao settled his center of gravity, then lunged forward and threw a punch.

Jiang Nannan pivoted sideways and redirected Huo Yuhao's attack with a push of her hand.

Huo Yuhao ended up leaning to one side, struggling to keep his footing. He stumbled and was about to fall when Jiang Nannan reacted swiftly, pulling him back in front of her with one hand.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Um, Sister Nan Nan... you're too close."

The only woman Huo Yuhao had ever truly been close to since childhood was his mother. Faced with anyone else, he did not even know how to speak.

Now Jiang Nannan was so close, and her scent was different from his mother's-a young girl's faint milky fragrance mingled with the scent of woodland plants and flowers. Huo Yuhao was instantly at a loss.

Jiang Nannan seemed to realize something too. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she moved a little farther away.

"Ahem. If someone gets close and you can't match their strength, you can use this move to deflect their force."

"Of course, Doctor Huo, your Martial Soul's abilities probably aren't focused on attack power. So when someone gets close, the clearest response is to run. Only putting some distance between you will work in your favor..."

As though they had forgotten that little interlude, the two resumed their training.

After training, Huo Yuhao sat down to cultivate on the spot. He had only circulated his energy a few times when his stomach let out an uncooperative growl, a sound all the clearer in the woods with only the two of them there.

"..."

Huo Yuhao first turned toward Jiang Nannan, who was looking at him with a smile, then awkwardly turned his face away again.

Holding back her laughter, Jiang Nannan said, "Why don't we head back? It's been a tiring day, and I didn't bring any food."

"Um... Sister Nan Nan, would you like some grilled fish?"

"So you know how to grill fish, Doctor Huo?"

"Of course. My grilled fish shouldn't taste bad. There's a stream over that way. Let's spear a few fish first."

Without waiting for Jiang Nannan's answer, Huo Yuhao ran off at a brisk pace.

After his Spirit Eyes awakened, Huo Yuhao's eyesight far surpassed that of ordinary people. The fish beneath the water could not escape his grasp at all.

After sharpening a branch with the White Tiger Dagger, Huo Yuhao picked his spot and swiftly thrust the branch in his hand. Then he twisted his wrist and lifted, revealing two foot-long fish on the branch.

Hmm... an improvement!

Then Huo Yuhao used the same technique to spear several more black carp, each about a foot long.

After gathering some branches for the fire, Jiang Nannan watched Huo Yuhao from the side. His movements flowed like clouds and water, so practiced that it made her heart ache.

Huo Yuhao skewered the fish on thin branches and slowly turned them over the fire.

His grilling technique was exceptionally steady, and he controlled the heat just right.

Fat slowly seeped out, sizzling as it dripped into the fire. The golden fish skin gradually crisped, and a rich aroma spread on the breeze, carrying a fresh, savory scent that was utterly tempting.

Then Huo Yuhao produced some seasoning from who knew where. As he added it, the two seemed to unleash some unknown Martial Soul Fusion Skill, making the aroma far richer than before.

Jiang Nannan had originally only intended to fill her stomach, but now she could not help swallowing.

She had eaten grilled fish in Shrek Academy's dining hall, but compared with what was before her, the difference was like heaven and earth.

"It's ready."

Huo Yuhao handed one of the fish to Jiang Nannan.

Jiang Nannan took it and carefully bit into it.

Fresh, savory flavor instantly burst across her tongue.

Her eyes lit up at once. She looked up at Huo Yuhao, her voice full of amazement. "Your grilled fish is so delicious! It's even more fragrant than what the chefs in our academy's dining hall make!"

"Not really. Mom taught me. I practiced a lot, so it started tasting good."

"I see. Your mother really is amazing, Huo Yuhao, coming up with such a delicious way to cook it!"

"Yes... Mom is amazing..."

Huo Yuhao casually agreed, but he was clearly not in the best of spirits.

Jiang Nannan noticed too. Doctor Huo was so young, yet he had no family by his side. Could it be because...

"Doctor Huo, when you said the other day that my mother's illness was partly caused by overwork, it made me think."

"My father passed away when I was little, so Mom was always responsible for supporting both of us. Whenever I think about my childhood, I feel so sad. Back then, I couldn't do anything to help her."

"Now I feel like we've made it through. You cured Mom, Doctor Huo, and I got into Shrek, so I can help support the family... So you have to keep looking forward, Doctor Huo. With your abilities, you'll definitely succeed!"

"Yes. Don't worry, Sister Nan Nan. I won't forget my mission!"

Duke's Mansion, just you wait...

Seeing Huo Yuhao's fighting spirit rekindled, Jiang Nannan felt much more at ease. Then she noticed a few tiny flecks of charcoal ash caught in his hair.

Jiang Nannan took a deep breath. This time, she did not hesitate. Facing Huo Yuhao's clear blue, slightly puzzled eyes, she slowly reached out.

"You've got charcoal ash in your hair. I'll get it off."

She brushed it lightly with her fingertips, then took the opportunity to rub the top of his head.

Just as she had imagined, it was soft, with a little warmth from the sun.

Huo Yuhao froze for a moment. The soft, warm touch against his scalp tickled a little and carried an unfamiliar warmth.

In all his years, no one but his mother had ever touched his head.

A faint blush quietly crept over the tips of Huo Yuhao's ears. He did not pull away, only lowered his head slightly and said in a somewhat quiet voice, "...Thank you, Sister Nan Nan."

Seeing that he did not dislike it, Jiang Nannan grew a little bolder. She gently rubbed his head twice more before withdrawing her hand, unable to keep the corners of her mouth from lifting. "That's your reward. The grilled fish was delicious."

The boy said nothing, but the redness at the tips of his ears had already spread to his cheeks.

Without either of them noticing, much of the distance between them had faded.