"Wait! Danger—" Ju Zi's exclamation came to an abrupt halt.
Huo Yuhao's figure blurred through the air, appearing in front of Silver Wolf in an instant. There were no flashing Soul Ring, no fluctuations in Soul Power; he simply threw a straight punch.
"Bang!"
The moment the fist made contact with the wolf's head, a visible shockwave spread outwards. The silver wolf's more than two-meter-long body flew backwards like a rag doll, crashing into three large trees before coming to a stop. It lay limp on the ground, its eyes still frozen in disbelief.
A deathly silence fell over the cabin. Ke Ke's mouth was agape, wide enough to fit an egg, while Ju Zi's fingers remained frozen on the control panel.
"It's... it's solved?" Ke Ke's voice trembled. "It's... it's that simple?"
Huo Yuhao easily flicked his wrist, turned back to the two of them with an innocent smile, "Luckily, you hit a vital point."
Ke Ke stared blankly at the tall, slender figure on the monitor screen, her voice barely audible, as if she were talking to herself. "This guy... he must be a monster at the Shrek Academy too..."
Ju Zi's gaze lingered on Huo Yuhao for Jiujiu. The boy was casually swinging his wrist.
"The most inconspicuous... is often the most dangerous," Ju Zi murmured softly, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the control panel. She recalled the stark contrast between Huo Yuhao's harmless appearance when they first met and his current demeanor.
"Is he... letting us know he's safe?" Ke Ke asked uncertainly.
Ju Zi didn't answer. Her gaze lingered on Huo Yuhao's slightly upturned lips, a smile that held too many things she couldn't decipher. Why was someone as powerful as him so gentle with them? How much sincerity was behind his words, "I like you very much"?
"Let's go." Ju Zi suddenly activated the recycling program, "Let's go pick up our 'weakest' student." Her tone carried a pride she herself didn't even realize.
Huo Yuhao, carrying the corpse of the Elemental Silver Wolf, suddenly revealed a sly smile, "What do you think of the quality of this Elemental Silver Wolf's meat?"
Ju Zi poked her head out of the Soul Tool, both amused and annoyed. "You're actually thinking about this? This Elemental Silver Wolf could fetch a good price!" Looking at Huo Yuhao's nonchalant expression, she couldn't help but add, "Are you sure you want to eat it?"
"I don't care." Huo Yuhao shrugged and casually tossed the silver wolf's corpse on the ground. "Since that's the case, you can dispose of it as you see fit."
Ju Zi quickly walked to his side and asked with concern, "Are you alright? You didn't seem to use any Soul Power at all?"
"I possess Twin Martial Souls." Huo Yuhao cracked his knuckles. "My Second Martial Soul grants me exceptional physical abilities. Even without using Soul Power, my physical strength alone is more than enough to deal with Soul Beast of this level."
Ke Ke's eyes widened. "You just gave it to us like that?"
"Otherwise what?" Huo Yuhao chuckled and spread his hands. "I have no use for it; it'll just be an extra dish tonight." He changed the subject, "Speaking of which, I still need to acquire Soul Ring. For your safety..."
"No!" Ju Zi suddenly interrupted him, "It's too dangerous for you to be alone! What if you encounter a ten- Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?" Her voice was firm and unwavering, "No matter how strong you are, accidents are always possible. If you die, aren't you afraid... you'll never see the person you love again?"
These words startled Huo Yuhao slightly, a sense of déjà vu washing over him. But he quickly recovered. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Ke Ke chimed in, "Sister Ju Zi is right! Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is no joke!"
Ju Zi reached out and tugged at Huo Yuhao's sleeve. "Let us go with you. With the Soul Tool, three people are safer than one."
"Exactly!" Ke Ke exclaimed, hands on her hips. "If you're going, we're all going together. Don't even think about leaving us behind!"
Huo Yuhao nodded "reluctantly," "Alright." But in his heart, a victorious smile had already appeared. "Plan succeeded, my goal has been achieved, and now gaining favor will be much easier."
The All-Terrain Detection Soul Tool traversed the dense forest, its six long metal legs nimbly avoiding the tangled tree roots. The low-level Soul Beast had long been terrified by this behemoth and scattered in all directions, making the journey uneventful.
At noon, Huo Yuhao chose a clearing by the stream to stop. He deftly set up the iron pot, his movements as practiced as a seasoned hunter.
"Let's try something different today." He patted the silver wolf meat he had prepared that morning. "This meat is perfect for soup." The sharp dagger twirled between his fingertips, cutting the meat into even pieces.
Ju Zi squatted to the side, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Huo Yuhao's busy figure. She remembered the boy who said last night that he would help her share her pain, and her heartbeat quickened involuntarily.
While stirring the soup pot, Huo Yuhao explained to the two women, "Although the silver wolf meat is very chewy, slow simmering brings out its most delicious flavor."
Huo Yuhao smiled but didn't answer, blanching the meat chunks in boiling water. As he added various spices, an enticing aroma gradually filled the air. Ju Zi's nose twitched involuntarily—the smell was strangely familiar, like... like that eternally warm little kitchen deep in her memory.
An hour later, the moment Huo Yuhao lifted the lid of the pot, Ke Ke's eyes widened in surprise. "My God!" The originally tough silver wolf meat had been stewed until tender, and the soup was an enticing milky white with golden oil floating on the surface.
His judgment proved to be entirely correct. The moment the first sip of the rich soup entered their mouths, Ju Zi and Ke Ke's eyes lit up. The delicious broth burst on their tongues, and the silver wolf meat was stewed to perfection, melting in their mouths yet retaining a unique chewiness.
"Oh my god!" Ke Ke exclaimed, holding the bowl with a look of pure delight. " Huo Yuhao, your cooking is absolutely amazing!" She glanced mischievously at Ju Zi, "If I didn't know that Sister Ju Zi was interested in you, I would have clung to you! Now I finally understand why she wanted to target the world's number one chef!"
Huo Yuhao scooped up some soup and chuckled, "That's unfortunate, you're a step too late."
Ke Ke suddenly leaned closer, her gossip-loving spirit burning brightly. "Speaking of which, with your charming appearance, do you have a bunch of girls chasing after you at Shrek?"
"Cough cough!" Huo Yuhao choked on the soup.
"Oh~" Ke Ke grinned mischievously, "I told you so, didn't I? What a sinful man!"
Huo Yuhao waved his hand helplessly. "Just focus on your food."
Just then, Ju Zi soft yet dangerous call came from behind, " Huo Yuhao..."
Huo Yuhao felt a chill run down his spine and quickly explained, "That... it's all a misunderstanding..." He looked at Ke Ke for help, only to find that the instigator was engrossed in drinking soup, pretending not to have heard anything.
Ju Zi wasn't really angry. She knew very well that a man as outstanding as Huo Yuhao was destined to have no shortage of admirers.
Ju Zi murmured to herself, a relieved smile curving her lips. But at this moment, he was willing to wash his hands and make soup for her, willing to show her his most authentic self—that was enough.
Looking at Huo Yuhao's slightly flustered appearance, she felt a sweet warmth in her heart. This man's charm never stemmed solely from his formidable strength.
Ju Zi understood better than anyone that the reason Huo Yuhao could attract so many people was because of his inherent dedication and gentleness in risking his life for others.
It is this very character that has made him who he is today—that strength has never come out of thin air, but has been earned through countless acts of selflessness.
"Sister Ju Zi ~" Ke Ke grinned mischievously as she leaned closer, "Looks like you have quite a few rivals in love~"
Ju Zi gently stirred the broth in her bowl, a composed smile playing on her lips. "Don't talk nonsense." She glanced at Huo Yuhao, who was still trying to explain, and lowered her voice, "As for you, stop stirring things up. I'll be grateful if you don't become my rival in love."
"Wow!" Ke Ke exaggeratedly clutched her chest, "Sister Ju Zi, what you said is so hurtful! Do I look like the kind of person who would steal my best friend's boyfriend?"
"Yes." Ju Zi nodded without hesitation, and the two smiled at each other.
Huo Yuhao shook his head helplessly as he watched them whispering.