Huo Yuhao managed to extract the location where the Black Tortoise Divine Pill was sold from the heavily injured leader of the Soul Master.
Although he could easily seize it by force with his current strength, considering the difficulty in verifying the authenticity of the pills, he decided to use the safest method—buying them with money.
"Just a few pills..." Huo Yuhao weighed the storage ring in his hand, the mountain of Gold Soul Coin inside making a crisp clinking sound.
He is no longer the boy who worried about making a living. The accumulation of wealth at the Shrek Academy over the years, coupled with various fortuitous opportunities, has made him incredibly wealthy. He could even buy the Black Tortoise Divine Pill and eat it Sugar Bean without any problem.
Soon, the two arrived at Jiang Nannan's home. It was a simple little house with mottled walls and old furniture, but it was very tidy. Huo Yuhao stood at the door, and for a moment he seemed to see the small courtyard where he and his mother had lived together since he was a child.
"Here." Huo Yuhao handed Jiang Nannan an exquisite jade bottle. "Go save your mother."
Jiang Nannan took the medicine bottle with trembling hands, tears welling up in her eyes. "Thank... thank you..." she choked out, then turned and rushed to her mother's bedside.
Jiang Yurou, lying in bed, saw her daughter return with a man in black robes, and noticing her daughter's tear-streaked face, she hurriedly asked, " Nannan, what happened?"
"Mom, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Jiang Nannan sobbed uncontrollably.
Huo Yuhao stepped forward and said softly, "Your daughter almost met with death while trying to get medicine for you. I saved her."
Jiang Yurou looked at her savior, whose voice sounded very young, and said gratefully, "Thank you for saving my daughter."
"No need for thanks." Huo Yuhao shook his head. "Take your medicine first; don't let her good intentions go to waste."
Jiang Nannan wiped away her tears and carefully poured out the pill. "Mom, this is the Black Tortoise Divine Pill. Taking it will cure your illness."
Looking at her daughter's haggard face, Jiang Yurou felt heartbroken. " Nannan, did you do something foolish again?"
She took the pill, thinking that she couldn't let her daughter's efforts go to waste, and swallowed it. Jiang Nannan then handed water to Jiang Yurou.
Huo Yuhao suddenly spoke up, "However, relying solely on pills is probably not enough. Your body is too weak; you can't recover with just that."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nannan panicked and looked at Huo Yuhao pitifully, like a frightened little rabbit.
Huo Yuhao gently ruffled her blonde hair and said softly, "Don't worry, I promised to save your mother, and I always keep my promises." He turned to Jiang Yurou, "I'm a man of principle."
As he spoke, he walked to the bedside and gently placed his right hand on Jiang Yurou's forehead. Emerald green life force surged from his palm and flowed into Jiang Yurou's body through her meridians. This pure life energy complemented the medicinal power of the Black Tortoise Divine Pill, beginning to repair her damaged heart.
Jiang Nannan held her breath, watching as her mother's pale face gradually regained its rosy hue, and her tightly furrowed brows relaxed. When Huo Yuhao withdrew his hand, Jiang Yurou was already able to sit up on her own, and her complexion was even better than before she fell ill.
"Mom!" Jiang Nannan rushed into her mother's arms, finally revealing a relieved smile.
Huo Yuhao stood to the side, watching the mother and daughter embrace, a slight smile playing on his lips beneath his mask.
At that moment, he seemed to see another time and space, what it would be like if his mother could also be saved. But none of that mattered anymore. His mother was no longer his mother. He was no longer bound by parental love.
In his previous life, whether it was the trials of this life or the scene of the previous life, he was born and raised by nature, and he returned his parents' flesh and blood to them. Huo Yuhao is Huo Yuhao, and there is no Huo Yuhao.
Jiang Yurou slowly opened her eyes, a long-lost sense of health flowing through her body. She gazed tenderly at the man in black robes before her, a sincere smile playing on her lips, "Thank you, sir. You not only saved my daughter but also cured my chronic ailment. My daughter and I will never forget this kindness."
As she spoke, she was about to get out of bed to bow, but Huo Yuhao quickly stepped forward to help her. "No need for that. The medicine will take three more days to fully take effect, and I will stay and take care of her during this time." His voice was gentle but carried an undeniable firmness.
Jiang Nannan stood to the side, her small hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. She secretly sized up this mysterious savior, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity with his every move.
"Gurgle--"
A sudden noise shattered the brief silence. Jiang Nannan's face flushed instantly, and she hurriedly covered her stomach. Jiang Yurou couldn't help but chuckle, affectionately ruffling her daughter's hair. "Looks like our little Nannan is starving."
She turned to Huo Yuhao and said gently, "If my benefactor doesn't mind, please stay for the next three days. Nannan and I can share a room, and the other room, though simple..."
"No need to trouble yourself." Huo Yuhao glanced around, his gaze lingering for a moment on the empty rice bin. "I'll prepare dinner."
Jiang Nannan's eyes widened in surprise. "You... you can cook?"
Huo Yuhao chuckled and, as if by magic, produced various fresh ingredients from his storage ring. "Before becoming a 'hero,' I was quite a good cook." He skillfully tied on his apron, his movements fluid and effortless. " Nannan, can you help me start a fire?"
Jiang Yurou watched the two figures moving in perfect harmony from behind, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She vaguely sensed that there seemed to be some kind of wondrous connection between this mysterious young man and her daughter.
Meanwhile, as Huo Yuhao chopped vegetables, he secretly pondered: If the Xuanming Sect people know what's good for them, fine; but if they dare to attack... His blade made a crisp sound on the cutting board, and his eyes suddenly turned cold... Then he would show them what a true "annihilation of an entire clan" really meant.
The firelight from the stove illuminated the three people's faces, and a long-lost warm atmosphere filled the small kitchen.
Huo Yuhao skillfully tied on an apron and began his culinary performance in the simple kitchen. He took out several fresh fish, a piece of high-quality Soul Beast, a few eggs, and some vibrant green vegetables from his Soul Tool. (Here, the grill was brought out.)
"Sizzle--" The fish made an enticing sound as it sizzled on the grill. Huo Yuhao's fingers deftly flipped the fish, sprinkling it with special spices from time to time. On the other side, Soul Beast was being stir-fried in a pan, its flavor perfectly blending with the aroma of vegetables. Several golden fried eggs steamed in another small pot, emitting an irresistible fragrance.
(The fish was grilled, the meat and vegetables were stir-fried together, and a few fried eggs were also made. A simple and unpretentious dinner was ready.)
"It smells so good..." Jiang Nannan unconsciously swallowed, her face slightly flushed with anticipation.
Before long, a delicious and visually appealing dinner was ready. When Huo Yuhao brought the last dish to the table, he saw the mother and daughter sitting so formally and couldn't help but laugh, "Don't be so reserved. This is your own home, why do you act like guests?"
He deliberately placed the fattest and most succulent grilled fish in front of Jiang Nannan: "Come and try my signature grilled fish."
" Huo Yuhao's tone carried a hint of pride, "My grilled fish is unique; there's no other shop like it. Don't underestimate it. I started out selling grilled fish, and no one else in the world can make it like this. It's a secret recipe. Come and try it!"
Jiang Nannan lowered her head shyly, her chopsticks tapping lightly on the rim of her bowl. Jiang Yurou gently patted her daughter's hand. " Nannan, your benefactor made this especially for you, try it."
The moment Jiang Nannan took her first bite of the fish, her eyes lit up. The fish was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the flavor of the spices exploded on her tongue, making her unable to resist picking up another large piece. "It's really... delicious!" she mumbled, with a little sauce still on the corner of her mouth.
Huo Yuhao watched her wolf down her food, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. How long ago was it that he, too, sat around a small table with his mother, sharing a simple dinner? He gently wiped the sauce from Jiang Nannan's lips. "Eat slowly, there's plenty more."
By candlelight, the three of them enjoyed their simple dinner in a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Night was falling outside, but the little house felt especially cozy because of this rare moment of warmth.
Looking at the satisfied smiles on the mother and daughter's faces, Huo Yuhao suddenly felt that protecting moments like these might be the very meaning of a hero's existence.