Huo Yuhao's consciousness, like shattered glass, gradually pieced itself back together in the chaos. He slowly opened his eyes, a lingering dizziness from the turbulent currents of spacetime still clouding his purple gaze.
The winding cracks in the wooden bed frame overhead and the damp smell of rotting wood in the air were suffocatingly familiar-he really was lying in his dormitory bed at Shrek Academy, as though he had never left.
"How could this be..." he murmured, his voice sounding strangely hollow in the silent room. Could it all have been nothing more than an absurd "dream"?
After a moment's hesitation, he reached for the storage pouch at his waist. The fine scratches on its hidden clasp still carried the warmth left by battle. When his fingertips touched the few Gold Soul Coins remaining inside, the reality of how sharply their number had dwindled made his breath catch.
The gold coins he had thrown down at the tavern, the search for information, and the tuition he had paid once again-those images, so clear in his memory, had all become conclusive evidence.
The moment he circulated his profound art, vast Soul Power surged through his meridians like a raging tide. He discovered that his Soul Power really had broken through to level twenty-eight!
Perhaps the pressure of fighting for so long had forced him to grow stronger. After fighting several people of the same level in succession, his accumulated strength, which had already been approaching level thirty, had fully awakened in those intense battles.
"This isn't a dream..." Huo Yuhao sat bolt upright, excitement flashing in his eyes. He clenched the bedsheet tightly, his knuckles turning white with the effort.
The missing Gold Soul Coins in his storage pouch, his breakthrough in Soul Power Level, every vivid face in his memories, and every real scene all mercilessly shattered the illusion of a "dream."
"The Time Sea of Consciousness..." he murmured, his voice trembling with barely contained excitement. His fingertips tapped unconsciously on the edge of the bed, his thoughts galloping like wild horses freed from their reins. The giant clock that had appeared in the Time Sea of Consciousness could tear open rifts in spacetime and allow him to travel through time.
While only the time it took to doze off had passed in reality, he had spent several days ten thousand years in the past. The flow of time was completely different.
At the thought, Huo Yuhao threw back his head and laughed, unable to contain his excitement. This unexpected journey through spacetime had not only confirmed his suspicions about the Time Sea of Consciousness.
It had also shown him more possibilities. He had heard that ten thousand years ago, lands of inheritance left by gods were everywhere. Perhaps this was an opportunity. Who besides him could travel through time? Could anyone else do it?
"Now that really is interesting."
Huo Yuhao's laughter stopped abruptly, and his fingers froze in the middle of unconsciously rubbing his storage pouch. Reality dragged him roughly back from his earlier elation-the few Gold Soul Coins left in the pouch silently accused him of his "extravagant spending" ten thousand years ago.
"I paid the entrance assessment fee twice, spent money gathering information, and paid for food and lodging every day..." He pressed a hand to his forehead with a wry smile. The scenes of him throwing money around in Suotuo City now weighed heavily on him. "I'm afraid I've used up half a year's savings."
He let out a long sigh, determination flashing in his eyes. "Money flows like water to begin with. If it goes out, it has to come in." Memories flooded back to him: the days he had peddled his wares through the streets and alleys, drawing customers with the aroma of grilled fish. It felt like yesterday. In that case, what harm was there in taking up his old trade again?
He deftly negotiated his way around the cafeteria kitchens, using his silver tongue to secure a batch of fresh black carp. Although he knew catching them in the river himself would save him a good deal of money, he weighed the time and effort involved and ultimately chose this shortcut.
The cast-iron grill he had bought beforehand from a neighboring empire gleamed with a sheen of oil. Tucked inside it was a seasoning packet stuffed with all kinds of spices-these were the "belongings" he had prepared for survival in the wild, but now they had become valuable tools for earning a living.
His old spot at the academy gates was still vacant, and Huo Yuhao set up his stall with practiced ease. The cries of nearby vendors rose and fell, while the charred fragrance of grilled meat mingled with the sweetness of fruit, creating the lively atmosphere unique to a marketplace.
As a former "master grilled-fish seller," he had no trouble setting a price. He would sell them for the same price he had in his previous life; it was a small business, after all.
Grilling fish was a piece of cake for him, easy as could be. He immediately set about preparing the fish and getting the seasonings ready, then threaded them onto skewers and put them on the grill. Before long, he sprinkled on the seasonings, and the aroma drifted out with them.
Flames licked the fish, and fat sizzled as it dripped down. The scent of cumin and chili instantly spread through the air. Passing students stopped one after another, casting curious glances toward the source of the aroma.
A confident smile curved Huo Yuhao's lips, and his hands moved with ever greater skill-as long as he still had his craft, this little grilled-fish stall would have no trouble supporting him.
Wisps of fragrance rose from the grilled-fish stall, winding around the feet of passing students like invisible threads. The crackle of fat dripping onto the charcoal mingled with the spicy aroma of cumin and chili powder, spreading through the damp air and drawing students fresh from class to a halt.
"Junior, the smell of your grilled fish is enough to stop anyone in their tracks!" The gray-clad student who had been the first to come over sniffed the air hard, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily. "How much for one?"
Huo Yuhao gently waved the bamboo fan in his hand, fanning the charcoal into a stronger blaze, and revealed his signature warm smile. "Five copper coins each, senior. Give one a try!" Before he had finished speaking, another student with a schoolbag squeezed up to the stall, staring fixedly at the glistening fish on the iron grill. "One for me! Just smelling it is making my mouth water!"
The first grilled fish had barely reached the customer's hands when he bit through the crisp skin. Tender juices and the rich flavor of spices burst across his mouth. His eyes lit up at once, and he urged indistinctly, "Two, two more!" Seeing this, the earlier student stamped his feet in agitation. "Is it really that good? Wait! I was here first. How can you cut in line?"
Huo Yuhao looked at their flushed faces, a faint smile curling his lips. He deftly took two sizzling, oily fish off the grill and handed them to the two arguing students. "Please calm down, seniors. There's plenty of good food for everyone."
As he spoke, the Soul Power flowing around his fingertips quietly smoothed away the charred marks on the fish. This technique of controlling fire with Soul Power was a special skill he had acquired in his previous life.
After the two tasted the grilled fish, the embarrassment on their faces instantly turned to amazement. "Junior, your cooking is incredible! Three more!" "Same here! Extra chili!" Amid the cries rising one after another, a long line quickly formed in front of the stall.
Huo Yuhao turned the fish on the grill as he calculated inwardly. It seemed his old trade could still earn him a living here. That was word of mouth for you.
Still, he had no intention of selling all the way into the evening today. He had other things to do tonight, so he would sell forty or fifty fish at most.
Anyone else would have to place an order for tomorrow's grilled fish. It was only a small business, after all.
The shouting and the aroma also caught the attention of several female students in purple uniforms as they emerged from the gates. The arrival of the beautiful girl at their head caused quite a stir.
"Look! It's Jiang Nannan!" Someone cried out, and the noisy grilled-fish stall fell briefly silent. Then came a succession of sharp intakes of breath.
"My heavens, it really is the goddess!" A commotion broke out in the crowd.
It was no wonder everyone was staring at her. Jiang Nannan really was beautiful. Her skin was fairer than snow, and her features carried a gentleness like the misty rain of Jiangnan. Every gesture was marked by an elegant, noble bearing, and even the curve of her lips when she spoke held an irresistible charm.
One of the close friends accompanying her couldn't help saying, "Sister Nannan, that grilled fish smells wonderful." The crowd automatically parted to make a path. Quite a few boys stole glances at her, their faces and the tips of their ears red, their breathing unconsciously growing quieter.
"I never thought I'd run into the goddess here. I can die without regrets!" someone murmured, his eyes full of infatuation.
Huo Yuhao silently continued grilling fish, paying no attention to how beautiful the girl before him was. After all, he had seen far too many beautiful people. The Snow Empress, Qiu'er, and the others were far more beautiful than Jiang Nannan.
"Senior, grilled fish for five copper coins each. Don't miss it if you're passing by! Once you leave this village, you won't find another shop like it!" he called out, his voice carrying the crisp vigor of a market hawker.
Jiang Nannan said softly, "You're quite amusing, junior, but..." She frowned slightly, a hint of difficulty in her eyes. "Um, junior, the cost of grilled fish shouldn't be very high, should it? Um, could you make it three copper coins?"
Huo Yuhao understood that Jiang Nannan didn't have much money because of her family circumstances. But if he lowered the price just because she asked, in front of so many people, wouldn't that make it clear he was treating her differently because she was pretty? How could he carry on with his business then? He thought he would simply give her one in secret once there were fewer people around.
He said, "Sorry, senior, I can't do three copper coins, but..."
Before he could finish, a voice rang out. "Brat, you dare refuse to sell?"
With an angry shout, a figure swooped down like a vicious eagle and landed heavily on the stall, reaching out a large hand straight for the grill.
P.S. Jiang Nannan is definitely part of the harem, so this will be patched; that thing won't happen.