Give Hall Master This Letter First

When Jiang Nannan's eyes, clear as a pool of water and carrying an indescribable tenderness, stared unblinkingly at Huo Yuhao's much more attractive face,

Huo Yuhao was likewise struck by the change in Jiang Nannan's bearing.

Back then, she had brought her mother into the city for treatment, worn out from travel and covered in dust.

Perhaps because of the dust, her hair had not looked like brilliant gold but a slightly darker orange, and her dress had been dusty as well.

But now, Jiang Nannan wore a light purple gown. Her face was flawless as white jade, her beauty naturally radiant, and her long golden hair fell in large waves beneath a rabbit-ear hair accessory.

It added an extra touch of charm to her gentle and graceful temperament.

Having witnessed the true worth of the Outer Court's number one beauty, Huo Yuhao actually felt too embarrassed to keep staring and shifted his gaze away.

"Um... Nan Nan Jie, after I absorbed a Soul Ring, I turned pale."

Jiang Nannan nodded. Seeing Huo Yuhao look at her for a while before turning his eyes away again, she assumed little Yuhao was shy and could not help curling her lips into a smile.

She noticed the pretty girl beside him with emerald-green eyes—Dugu Luo.

She walked slowly to Huo Yuhao's side, slightly bending her slender white legs beneath her skirt as she gently bumped his shoulder with her soft shoulder.

"Yuhao, you were gone for less than a month, and you already brought a pretty girl back with you? Aren't you going to introduce her?" Jiang Nannan said softly with a gentle smile.

Although Huo Yuhao had grown taller and sturdier after absorbing the Snow Empress Soul Spirit, girls generally developed much earlier than boys. The tall Jiang Nannan had to bend slightly to touch Huo Yuhao's shoulder with hers.

Hearing Jiang Nannan's teasing words, Huo Yuhao blinked and began the introduction.

"Nan Nan Jie, her name is Dugu Luo. The two of us fought Evil Soul Masters together and explored a place of opportunity together... We're friends who shared hardship and fortune."

"Evil Soul Masters?!"

Jiang Nannan's expression changed slightly, urgency and concern appearing in her eyes as she placed her hand on Huo Yuhao's wrist to check him.

Having cared for her mother for years, she had mastered the basics of taking a pulse. By sending in a thread of Soul Power to assist her examination, she could roughly determine someone's physical condition.

"Don't worry, Nan Nan Jie. I'm fine. That Evil Soul Master wasn't very professional when he attacked me."

After all, the strongest Soul King specifically targeted the team led by Xuan Zi.

Huo Yuhao smiled and truthfully explained what had happened. "He didn't hurt me. That Evil Soul Master couldn't even withstand a single move from me."

Jiang Nannan could also tell from his pulse that Huo Yuhao was perfectly healthy, and she finally let out a breath of relief.

Meanwhile, Dugu Luo blinked her emerald eyes, feeling that she had heard the name Jiang Nannan somewhere before.

She could tell that Jiang Nannan and Huo Yuhao seemed to share an unusual relationship. At the city gate, Jiang Nannan had stood with her hands folded before her abdomen, her expression cool and distant as she looked around. Yet the moment she saw Huo Yuhao, she had instantly turned joyful and tender.

Jiang Nannan patted the ample front of her dress as the tension gradually faded from her face.

"It's good that you're all right. Yuhao, let's go home. You can take a look at the house your sister rented."

"Sure."

The group entered the city gate. Xuan Ziwen gave Huo Yuhao one of the two Recommendation Letters he had written earlier and told him roughly how long he would be staying in Heaven Dou City to pay respects to his ancestors. Then they bid each other farewell.

Xuan Ziwen waved at Huo Yuhao and reminded him, "Yuhao, once you've made your decision, come find me at the place I told you about."

"Got it, Teacher Xuan." Huo Yuhao answered as he put away the Recommendation Letter.

Jiang Nannan asked curiously, "What does that teacher want with you?"

Huo Yuhao smiled. "Nothing much. He just thinks I might have some potential and hopes I can study at their academy."

"That's good too. Your talent is already quite impressive, Yuhao. I thought you were planning to apply to the Heaven Dou Empire's Royal Academy."

Jiang Nannan did not mention Shrek Academy because Huo Yuhao had previously told her that he had sold Grilled Fish in Shrek City.

He had even known several students from Shrek Academy. Yet he had not applied to Shrek Academy.

That meant there were only two possibilities: either he did not have a city lord-level Recommendation Letter, or he felt that Shrek Academy did not suit him.

She leaned more toward the latter. She knew Huo Yuhao's talent was more than outstanding enough. If he knew some upperclassmen, they could easily recommend him to the academy's teachers.

The only explanation was that Huo Yuhao felt his Spirit Eyes Martial Soul would not receive enough attention at Shrek Academy.

Of course, Jiang Nannan supported Huo Yuhao's choice and would not deliberately try to persuade him to enter Shrek Academy.

"Yuhao, which academy is Teacher Xuan from?"

"Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy."

"Ah??"

Jiang Nannan froze for a moment, clearly surprised by the answer. "Are you very interested in Soul Tools?"

"Somewhat. Mainly because my Spirit Eyes Martial Soul really has more advantages at that academy."

Huo Yuhao thought for a moment. This time, Xuan Zi had encountered him first, but his attitude toward him had been completely different from Xuan Ziwen's.

"Actually, I also ran into Elder Xuan from Shrek Academy on this trip. He was leading students to hunt Soul Rings. Nan Nan Jie, do you know Elder Xuan?"

Realization appeared in Jiang Nannan's eyes. "When I went to Shrek Academy to request leave a few days ago, Elder Xuan was giving a safety speech before departure."

"My best friend is missing her Third Soul Ring, so she went with the team too. I hope all the senior brothers and sisters can obtain their Soul Rings smoothly and return safely to the academy."

As they walked and chatted, Jiang Nannan and Dugu Luo spoke for a while and discovered that Dugu Luo had also been approached by people from the Xuan Ming Sect.

With a shared topic, the two chatted for a long time. In the end, both concluded that they were fortunate to have met Yuhao.

Jiang Nannan looked at Dugu Luo and began calculating carefully again. Smiling, she said, "Since you need some time to treat the toxins accumulated in your body, why don't you stay with us for now? I'll pay seventy percent of the rent, and you pay thirty. How does that sound?"

"Nan Nan Jie, you still have to take care of Auntie. Would I be causing trouble for you two?"

From their earlier conversation, Dugu Luo had learned that she was two months younger than Jiang Nannan, so like Huo Yuhao, she began calling her Nan Nan Jie.

In truth, Dugu Luo was tempted. She had wandered around alone before and had never had a place to settle down. Being able to live with friends she had just met felt rather wonderful.

Jiang Nannan shook her head. "It's fine. My mother mainly needs rest and recuperation now. She can slowly walk around on her own like a normal person, so it won't be inconvenient if you move in."

"Mhm, thank you for taking me in, Nan Nan Jie." Dugu Luo nodded eagerly.

Her impression of this seemingly aloof yet ladylike Nan Nan Jie instantly improved by a great deal. The future suddenly felt bright and beautiful.

And Huo Yuhao, whom she was deeply grateful to—once they entered the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, she absolutely had to let him choose first.

"Yuhao, when you met Elder Xuan and those senior brothers and sisters, didn't Elder Xuan invite you to join Shrek Academy?"

If possible, Jiang Nannan truly hoped they could all attend the same academy in the future. That way, they could see each other every day and would not have to worry about one another.

During the time Huo Yuhao had been away, the image that often surfaced in her mind was of that young boy who, despite his age, had worn a stern and serious expression while treating her mother. The contrast had left a deep impression on her.

Huo Yuhao fell silent for a moment. "Elder Xuan said my Soul Skills didn't have much offensive power at the time... It seems he didn't recognize my talent."

Jiang Nannan also fell silent. After a short while, she looked at Huo Yuhao and asked softly, "Yuhao, are you planning to go to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy afterward?"

"I'm still considering it."

"Could you stay a few more days before you leave?"

"If Sister Dugu moves in too, there won't be nowhere for me to stay if I go?"

"Don't worry, Yuhao. There are plenty of rooms."

This time, Jiang Nannan had not been stingy with Gold Soul Coins when renting the house. Besides, compared to what she had spent treating her mother, renting a house was not expensive. After all, it was merely a place to rest and had nothing to do with a Soul Master's cultivation.

Creak—

"Mom, I'm back. Yuhao is back too."

There came rustling sounds, presumably of someone putting on an outer robe and shoes. Then a bedroom door inside opened, and a mature, beautiful woman with almond-shaped eyes, delicate brows, a graceful figure, and an elegant demeanor slowly walked out.

When she saw Huo Yuhao's face, she froze. Even with her composed temperament, she could not help showing some surprise. How had Yuhao returned from one trip looking as pretty as a little girl?

But remembering that Nannan and Yuhao were both Soul Masters, she did not understand the details of such matters.

Moreover, Jiang Mu could see that Yuhao's features were still those of the kind-hearted Yuhao she knew. She did not dwell on it and said with immense concern, "It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back..."

Huo Yuhao hurried to Jiang Mu's side and helped her sit on the sofa. "Auntie, how have you been feeling lately?"

"Child, it's all thanks to you."

Jiang Mu gently held Huo Yuhao's hands in both of hers. "I'm much better now, and Nannan takes such good care of me every day. I can even take walks around the park by myself now."

Huo Yuhao asked about several possible abnormal symptoms. When she said none had occurred, he was finally at ease.

Dugu Luo also greeted Jiang Mu. "Hello, Auntie. My name is Dugu Luo. I'm Nan Nan Jie's friend."

Jiang Nannan briefly explained Dugu Luo's circumstances to her mother.

Jiang Mu did not mind at all. She told Nannan to build a good relationship with her and kept saying that Dugu Luo was also a poor girl who had suffered much, so they should help each other whenever they could.

Dugu Luo had worried about causing trouble for Jiang Nannan and her mother, but now that she saw how understanding Jiang Mu was, that concern disappeared.

Afterward, Jiang Nannan took Huo Yuhao around the house. "Yuhao, it's a large unit with five bedrooms and one living room."

"This is the living room. If you want to refine pills here, you can do it here. Just control the heat and don't burn anything, okay?"

Jiang Nannan led Huo Yuhao around the living room before showing him the kitchen and each bedroom. There were three bedrooms on the left side of the house, with Jiang Nannan's in the middle.

"I sleep in this bedroom, though sometimes I sleep with my mother. Yuhao, you can stay in the bedroom next to mine from now on."

Then Jiang Nannan looked at Dugu Luo. "There are two bedrooms across the hall. You can choose either one."

Dugu Luo nodded, having no objections to the room arrangements.

"Oh, right." Jiang Nannan suddenly remembered something. She looked at Huo Yuhao, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled gently.

"Yuhao, is there any meat dish you like? I had your Grilled Fish before. I'll make you soup tonight and let you try your sister's cooking."

Huo Yuhao said he was not picky. He could eat whatever meat dishes everyone else liked.

Jiang Nannan then took out a large pile of the meat and vegetables she and her mother usually ate and entered the kitchen. Before long, the sounds of chopping and the clang of a spatula against the wok drifted out.

"Nan Nan Jie, I'll help you." Seeing this, Dugu Luo naturally would not sit around waiting to eat. After calling out, she quickly ran into the kitchen.

Inside a room somewhere in Heaven Dou City, Xuan Ziwen took out a Recommendation Letter and looked at a Black-Clothed Man before him.

The man was the owner of a merchant association. Its roots were in Mingdu, but it had branches in every city, and it maintained a close partnership with Mingde Hall.

Whenever Soul Engineers from Mingde Hall produced Soul Tools they were dissatisfied with, they would sell them to this merchant association.

Of course, the Soul Tools sold to the merchant association were generally below Class Six. Anything above Class Six, even failed products made by Mingde Hall Soul Engineers, was not permitted to enter foreign markets.

This man himself could also be considered a Soul Engineer trained by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, though he had later failed the Mingde Hall examination.

Xuan Ziwen placed the Recommendation Letter on the table and pushed it toward the man.

"Isn't your caravan returning to Mingdu today to purchase a batch of goods from Mingde Hall? Bring this letter to the person I specify. They'll inform Old Kong to pay attention to this student when he has time."

A merchant caravan of Sun Moon's caliber did not transport goods in traditional horse-drawn carriages.

It consisted of more than a dozen high-ranking Soul Engineers carrying sufficiently large Storage Soul Guidance Devices, who simply deployed their Flight Soul Tools. A round trip would not take long at all.

The man was somewhat flattered. He had long heard of Xuan Ziwen's great reputation. This man was a prominent figure in Mingde Hall.

He solemnly put away the letter. "Rest assured. Even if the entire caravan gets lost today, this letter won't."

Xuan Ziwen nodded. He was not afraid the man would peek at it. The contents of the envelope were not any important secret anyway.

It was simply a recommendation for a student to study at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. If anything was valuable, Xuan Ziwen's own handwriting was probably the most valuable thing in it.

The man left the room and was about to return to his merchant caravan.

Xu Sheng silently appeared from the side and blocked his path.

"Is there anything else you need?" the man asked.

Xu Sheng leaned close. "When you go to Mingde Hall to purchase Soul Tools this time, show the Recommendation Letter Xuan Ziwen gave you to the Hall Master first."

The man considered it seriously for a moment. It was time to repay the Hall Master for his kindness in nurturing him. Besides, Xu Sheng had made the request, so he naturally had no reason to refuse. He slowly nodded.

Xu Sheng smiled in satisfaction and patted his shoulder. "You've got good sense, kid. You're talented."