Chapter 422: The Bond of Grilled Fish, Part 1
Once the fish was perfectly grilled, Huo Yu´er hurried over to Ye Wen, presenting it as if it were a treasure.
"Master, quick, it's ready now! Smells amazing!"
Ye Wen didn't refuse. While his body didn't require food, all his human functions remained intact. Besides, how could he turn down grilled fish served by his lively, adorable disciple?
"Smells delicious," he praised.
Even though Ye Wen had praised her cooking several times already, each compliment lit up Huo Yu´er's eyes with joy, filling her worn down heart with a newfound sense of worth.
"You should eat too; it won't taste as good if it gets cold," Ye Wen encouraged warmly.
With his strength having reached unparalleled heights, it had been years since Ye Wen experienced the arrival of a new child. Huo Yu´er's presence rekindled his feelings of fatherly care.
Obediently, Huo Yu´er picked up one of the grilled fish by the fire, about to dig in, when an energetic voice suddenly broke the peaceful silence.
"That smells amazing!"
Turning toward the sound, they saw two young figures approaching. One was a lively girl, around fifteen or sixteen, with long black hair tied into a ponytail that flowed down her back. She wore light blue, tight fitting clothes that highlighted her youthful figure. Her almond shaped eyes were big and bright, and her perfectly shaped face held an expression of delight as she gazed at the grilled fish in Huo Yu´er's hands.
Beside her was a handsome young man with short, dark blue hair. He exuded a refined air, contrasting the girl's playful spirit, and he stayed silent beside her.
Ye Wen instantly recognized the two.
The young girl was Tang Ya, the current leader of the declining Tang Sect and the future Blue Silver Saintess, while the young man was Bei Bei, the future inheritor of the Radiant Holy Dragon Spirit.
At this point, Tang Ya hadn't yet experienced the dark twist of fate awaiting her. Full of confidence, she approached Ye Wen and Huo Yu´er with familiarity, her eyes fixed on Huo Yu´er's grilled fish.
"Little girl, are you selling that grilled fish? It smells so good! How did you make it?"
Thanks to Ye Wen's teaching or rather, his training Huo Yu´er now understood the importance of vigilance when traveling. Especially near a spirit beast forest, where humans often posed a greater threat than the beasts.
Casting a cool glance at the pair, Huo Yu´er replied curtly, "Not for sale. If you don't have any business, please keep your distance."
Tang Ya froze, caught off guard by her frosty reception.
Bei Bei quickly stepped forward and, with a slight nod, said apologetically, "Forgive us. We'll be on our way."
Before Tang Ya could protest, he gently pulled her back, and despite her grumbling, she didn't resist.
Ye Wen's sharp hearing caught Bei Bei advising Tang Ya on the importance of not disturbing strangers while on the road.
Watching their retreating figures, Ye Wen thoughtfully stroked his chin. Tang Ya's eventual encounter with Huo Yu´er was a key moment that had led Huo Yuhao to join the Tang Sect, marking a major turning point for the sect.
"I wonder what Tang San, up there in the God Realm, will think about this deviation," Ye Wen mused with a light chuckle.
The night passed without further incident, and the next morning, Ye Wen and Huo Yu´er resumed their journey toward the Star Dou Forest.
Despite being only a rank 10 soul master, Huo Yu´er displayed remarkable courage, venturing into the largest spirit beast forest on the continent. Under any other circumstances, such an untrained girl would likely be doomed, but her fate seemed determined to keep her alive.
At the forest's edge, Huo Yu´er hesitated, glancing at the towering trees and dense undergrowth with anxiety before looking at Ye Wen.
"Master… you really want me to hunt a spirit beast on my own?"
Ye Wen placed a reassuring hand on her head. "I've taught you the Six Forms, haven't I? Although you haven't fully mastered them, remember: practical experience is a soul master's best teacher."
He added gently, "I'll be watching. If things get dangerous, I'll step in. Think of this as a training exercise."
After hearing these words, a look of resolve filled Huo Yu´er's eyes. She knew her future path to revenge would ultimately rely on her own strength. If combat could help her grow faster, then she was ready for it.
Huo Yu´er cast one last look at Ye Wen, memorizing his face before she ventured into the Star Dou Forest alone.
The influx of powerful human soul masters over the years had forced the Star Dou Forest to shrink compared to ancient times, but its inner regions had only grown stronger due to the presence of the Emerald Emperor Beast.
In the outer areas, however, spirit beasts over a hundred years old were rare. This depletion was due in part to even the esteemed Shrek Academy's relentless hunt for soul bones, which had drastically impacted the soul beast population.
Following Ye Wen's instructions, Huo Yu´er advanced cautiously.
A sudden sense of danger surged through her. She felt a slight sting in her eyes, and instinctively activated her Spirit Eyes.
Though her Spirit Eyes were not yet at their full potential, their heightened perception allowed her to detect a threat a critical skill for spirit masters.
Before long, she spotted the source of her unease: a one meter tall monkey like creature with tawny fur, sharp claws, and a fierce gaze.
"A spirit beast!"
Lacking formal soul master education, Huo Yu´er didn't know the creature's official name but reacted instinctively as it leapt toward her.
"Master taught me not to match my weaknesses against an enemy's strengths, but to play to my own," she reminded herself.
With her Spirit Eyes, Huo Yu´er possessed a heightened awareness, granting her an advantage in observation.
The creature, a Brown Furred Gale Monkey, grew more enraged with every failed attempt to strike her, swiping at her repeatedly in frustration.
Ye Wen's teachings came to mind, guiding her in assessing the situation. If even a novice like herself could evade this beast, then it was likely a low level creature.
"I can win this!" she thought, adrenaline flooding her system, sharpening her senses.
Ye Wen hadn't had time to teach her complex tactics, but he'd impressed upon her the importance of endurance when facing any lifeform.
After a series of missed attacks, the monkey began panting, clearly exhausted from the exertion.
"Now's my chance!"
Using her Flash Step technique, Huo Yu´er blurred forward, leaving an afterimage in her wake as she closed in.
The monkey sensed her approach but was too fatigued to react. Moments later, blood spurted from its neck, splattering onto the forest floor.
"Though creatures differ greatly in their anatomy, a major artery in the neck remains a weakness for most," she reminded herself, repeating Ye Wen's lessons.
"I did it, Master," she thought, a sense of triumph surging through her before she collapsed to the ground, drained of energy.
After all, Huo Yu´er was still a malnourished twelve year old girl.
(Chapter Ends)
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