Creak—
"Mom, I'm back."
"You're back? Did that little girl Xiaoya successfully enroll?"
Huo Yuner, who was sitting on the sofa reading a book, instinctively turned her head, but her voice halted abruptly when she saw the young girl standing behind Huo Yuhao.
Another one!?
Huo Yuner was stunned. It was already surprising enough when her son brought back Tang Ya last time, but now, after just going out to help the girl enroll in school, he's returned with someone even more beautiful?
Is my son really this popular?
Shocked by how efficiently her son seemed to attract girls, Huo Yuner felt a mix of emotions in her heart.
Of course, she was happy.
But she couldn't shake a strange feeling—there was something unique about this girl's aura, something she couldn't quite describe. Even though the girl seemed calm, as if indifferent to the world, Yuner could keenly sense a hidden strength within her.
Although she didn't know much about the girl, she certainly knew her own son!
Can Xiaoyu handle this girl?
Whatever, why should I worry? Let fate take its course.
Seeing his mother's ever-changing expressions, Huo Yuhao knew she was probably thinking he had gotten himself into trouble again.
But this time, it wasn't his fault!
She wanted to come home with him—what was he supposed to do? With his current level of strength, he couldn't exactly refuse her!
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Yuhao cleared his throat and introduced her.
"Mom, this is Gu Yue Na. Uh… the situation is similar to Xiaoya's. She might be staying with us for a while."
After a brief explanation, Yuhao turned to Gu Yue Na. "This is my mother, Huo Yuner."
Gu Yue Na looked at Huo Yuner, a rare hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She hadn't expected that Huo Yuhao—once a deity—would have a mother who was just an ordinary person without even a trace of soul power.
"Hello, young lady. Welcome," Huo Yuner greeted warmly.
Gu Yue Na snapped back to her senses at Yuner's words. She flipped her hand, and to Yuhao's astonishment, a hexagonal pendant appeared in her hand. It shimmered like crystal, faintly glowing with a silver hue. She then handed it to Huo Yuner.
Yuner was a bit taken aback. "For me?"
Seeing Gu Yue Na nod, she instinctively waved her hands. "No need, no need. We don't accept gifts from guests."
"This is my payment for staying here."
Gu Yue Na's voice was calm, as if she were simply stating a fact, and she pushed the pendant forward again.
Before Huo Yuner could respond, Yuhao spoke up.
"Mom, it's fine. You can accept it."
Yuner shot him a glare but didn't argue further. Smiling, she thanked Gu Yue Na and took the pendant.
The pendant felt cool to the touch. Yuner had no idea what it was made of, but holding it gave her an inexplicable sense of peace. Startled, she looked at Gu Yue Na, but the girl remained as composed as ever.
"Wear it around your neck at all times. Don't take it off."
"Alright." Yuner nodded instinctively. "This must be very valuable. Thank you, dear."
Gu Yue Na shook her head slightly, while Yuhao took the opportunity to suggest that they head upstairs to tidy up the guest room.
As Yuhao glanced at the last available room, his expression turned a bit complicated. He never thought that this house would one day be completely full. Back when he rented it, he'd only done so because his mother liked it. Now, it was becoming quite lively...
Once inside, Yuhao didn't immediately start cleaning. Instead, he looked at Gu Yue Na and sincerely thanked her.
"Thank you."
". . . It seems your knowledge is broader than I thought," Gu Yue Na remarked, her tone teasing.
Yuhao chuckled. "I'll return it to you."
Because in his past life, Di Tian had also given him the same item, Yuhao immediately recognized what the pendant was.
It was a Silver Dragon's Reverse Scale.
With this item, Gu Yue Na had effectively placed his mother under her protection. As the only remaining god-level combatant in the Douluo dimension, the only threat to Yuner's safety would be gods descending from the Divine Realm itself.
As Yuhao busied himself laying out the bedding and organizing some daily essentials, Gu Yue Na's purple eyes blinked a couple of times.
"How will you return it?"
"I'll listen to you."
Hearing this, Gu Yue Na really started to think it over, then shook her head after a moment.
"I haven't decided yet. You can owe me for now."
"Alright."
After making the bed, Yuhao clapped his hands and then pulled out a storage ring, offering it to Gu Yue Na.
"Here, take this."
Since Yuhao had already shown her how it worked during their journey, Gu Yue Na wasn't particularly curious. She took the ring and put it on her slender wrist. Yuhao's voice then came again.
"You'll need a martial soul."
"A martial soul?"
"Mm."
Seeing Gu Yue Na's confusion, Yuhao released his martial soul. His pupils glowed faintly gold, and a purple soul ring slowly rose from beneath his feet as he explained softly.
"If you can use your powers without a martial soul, it might raise suspicions. Even though you might not fear anyone, unnecessary trouble can still arise."
"Is that so?"
Gu Yue Na glanced at the purple soul ring beneath Yuhao and asked, "For someone your age, how many rings would be impressive?"
"Uh..."
Yuhao hesitated. He had half-expected her to conjure up a nine-ring Titled Douluo persona. After thinking for a moment, he replied.
"Two rings, I suppose."
Even for someone with innate full soul power, reaching the rank of a Soul Master within two years was remarkably fast, a talent recognized by any major power. Without the modifications from his pride sin, Yuhao himself would only be at the two-ring level now.
As soon as Yuhao finished speaking, two soul rings, one purple and one black, silently appeared beneath Gu Yue Na's feet. Yuhao's eyelid twitched uncontrollably at the sight, an intense sense of competitiveness suddenly rising within him.
Opening and closing his mouth a few times, Yuhao finally managed to say softly, "I feel like… that might be a bit much."
Gu Yue Na blinked, and the rings changed again, this time into two deep purple rings. Yuhao decided not to comment further.
After tidying up the room, Yuhao made his way out, saying, "You should rest. I'll call you when dinner is ready."
"Alright."
As the door closed, the room returned to quiet. Gu Yue Na took a look around before walking to the window. Listening to the sounds of the street outside, she raised her hand to inspect the storage ring Yuhao had given her under the fading sunlight.
"Not bad."
(End of Chapter)
One year later.
In a desolate clearing outside Heaven Dou City, two figures stood facing each other. Beside Huo Yuhao were more than a dozen large pits still radiating intense heat.
Looking at Huo Yuhao, who could barely stand, Gu Yuena stretched out her pink tongue and licked the ice pop in her hand, which was exuding cold mist. She savored the sweet and icy sensation spreading from her tongue, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly as she asked softly, "Want to continue?"
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, his golden vertical eye on his forehead flickering uncertainly. He slowly raised the White Tiger Dagger in his hand and closed his eyes. "One last time."
Gu Yuena said nothing more. She waved her staff, glowing with silver light, and a massive fireball, half a meter in diameter, appeared out of thin air, hurtling towards Huo Yuhao at high speed.
Using his Spiritual Detection, Huo Yuhao could still observe the fireball with extreme precision even with his eyes closed. But in his mind, a different scene was unfolding. Both the orange fireball and the entire world seemed to fade into a gray haze as his spiritual power was rapidly consumed. Finally, bright cracks appeared on the fireball.
In an instant, Huo Yuhao moved. He stepped forward twice, without any form of defense, and thrust the White Tiger Dagger into the fireball, as if he didn't care about the damage the fireball could inflict.
A strange sight followed. The moment the dagger pierced the fireball, which had been emitting terrifying heat just seconds before, it instantly shattered as if it had never existed. Even the searing heat waves, strong enough to warp the air, vanished without a trace.
Seeing this, a smile broke across Huo Yuhao's face. After countless attempts, he had finally succeeded.
A wave of sharp pain made his vision go black, and he collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air as he stared up at the sky.
As footsteps approached, the hem of a white dress came into Huo Yuhao's view, carrying a faint orchid-like fragrance.
"Incredible ability," an ethereal voice spoke. Gu Yuena gently lifted her skirt and crouched beside him, revealing her long, smooth, pale legs.
Looking at the exhausted Huo Yuhao, she couldn't resist poking his cheek with her delicate finger.
Hearing her comment, Huo Yuhao grinned, unable to hide his joy. "After dying once, it's only right to gain something special. It wasn't easy, but I finally did it."
Thanks to Gu Yuena's help, his mastery of the "Fate's End" ability had improved rapidly over the past year. He had discovered months ago that this power could affect not only living beings but also different types of energy, meaning he could use it to counter attacks. However, because it took time to focus and see the cracks on energy attacks, it was difficult to use in fast-paced combat. He had been training hard to shorten that focus time.
Just now, he had barely managed to use it during high-speed combat.
Gu Yuena pursed her lips and glanced up at the setting sun. "It's almost time for dinner. Didn't you say you had to visit the clinic later?"
"Oh, right."
Huo Yuhao had nearly forgotten about the errand. But feeling the soreness in his limbs, he swallowed and gave an awkward smile. "Uh, I might need to rest a bit longer."
Gu Yuena didn't say anything. Instead, she handed the ice pop she was holding to Huo Yuhao. "Want some?"
"Hmm?"
Huo Yuhao was stunned for a moment, seeing the icy pop with a few sparkling crystals still on it. Before he could react, it was already in his mouth.
"You looked thirsty."
A cool sweetness spread through his mouth, and Huo Yuhao instinctively took a slurp. His body felt somewhat rejuvenated. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me. You bought it."
One hour later.
The two arrived at the clinic once again. It had been three years since Huo Yuhao first came to Heaven Dou City. With both Huo Yun'er's and his own health greatly improved, their visits to the clinic had become less frequent.
As they entered, the middle-aged man who had once served him stepped forward. He glanced at Gu Yuena, then looked at Huo Yuhao with a knowing smile and discreetly gave him a thumbs-up, hidden in his sleeve.
"You're doing well, kid. Always bringing different companions!"
"Good to see you again, young brother."
Huo Yuhao pretended not to notice the man's teasing gesture and handed over a note listing the herbs he needed. "These are the herbs I need this time."
Unlike the past treatments for his hidden ailment, these herbs were primarily for health maintenance. The middle-aged man scanned the list and then gave Huo Yuhao a meaningful look, impressed by the youth's knowledge of medicine.
He nodded. "We have everything in stock. I'll get them for you."
While Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena waited in silence, the clinic door suddenly opened, and a panicked young girl rushed inside. She looked around briefly before stopping one of the apprentices, her tone urgent.
"Excuse me, where is my mother?"
The girl was dressed simply, with delicate features, her eyebrows like distant mountains and eyes like clear spring water. Her long, dark purple hair cascaded down like waves. Though young, she was tall and well-proportioned, her slender legs standing out even through her pants.
The apprentice seemed taken aback at first but then recognized her. "You're Jiang Nannan, right? Please, follow me."
"You know her?" Gu Yuena's voice sounded beside Huo Yuhao. He nodded slightly. "Sort of, though she probably doesn't know me."
His gaze followed Jiang Nannan as she walked away, his voice tinged with curiosity. "But what's she doing here?"
"It's her mother. She's had heart problems for a while," came the middle-aged man's voice. He was approaching with several bags of herbs, but his eyes were on Jiang Nannan's departing figure, sighing softly.
"Her mother was brought here about a year ago. It's complicated. Many of our best doctors have examined her, but no one has found a cure. They can only try to alleviate the symptoms."
The man paused and glanced at Huo Yuhao. "I've noticed that you have some knowledge of medicine. Would you be interested in taking a look?"
(End of Chapter)
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