Welcome, everyone! I appreciate your interest in my translated novels. I hope my translations enable you to fully enjoy these stories.
I want to clarify that I will not be posting this novel on Patreon or asking you to visit there for access to advanced chapters, as many other translators do. However, I am human, and like everyone else, I need motivation to continue my translation work.
What motivates me the most? Financial support. I would appreciate any help you can offer to support my translations. If you can spare some funds, it would go a long way in providing me with a bit of pocket money for my efforts.
Thank you for your support, and I sincerely hope you enjoy my translations! Please note that in my country, PayPal is not supported.
Here are some methods to support me:
PAYEER: P1134728698
Skrill : [email protected]
Webmoney (WMZ Purse): Z820148229030
----------------------------------------------------
Chapter 11: A New Home
Huo Yuhao thought for a moment, then began to list out the specifications for the furnace he wanted — its dimensions, the design, and all the supporting iron frames that would go with it. The middle-aged blacksmith listening to him could only blink in surprise with each new detail.
"That should be all," Huo Yuhao said finally, his tone calm but decisive. "Make sure the quality is good."
After explaining everything, he reached into his robe and took out a gold soul coin. "Will this be enough?"
The man's eyes brightened immediately. "More than enough, young master! Honestly, just a deposit would do. What you're asking for isn't difficult to forge — you can come pick it up tomorrow."
Grinning broadly, the man quickly scribbled down a receipt and handed it over before carefully accepting the coin, his joy barely contained.
Standing beside them, Huo Yun'er had originally planned to bargain a little, but seeing her son so straightforward and generous, she could only sigh inwardly and swallow her words.
Once the matter of the furnace was settled, the two began searching for a place to live. They visited several properties in succession, but every time the agent quoted a price, Huo Yun'er's hand would subtly tighten around Huo Yuhao's, tugging him back half a step. Her anxious restraint made Yuhao chuckle each time.
"Mom, what are you doing?" he asked, amused.
Huo Yun'er rolled her eyes at him. "What am I doing? I'm trying to stop you from wasting money! Those houses don't look any better than the others, yet the rent is outrageous. And you still keep looking at them like you're seriously considering it!"
Huo Yuhao paused, his expression growing serious as if deep in thought. Then, with a straight face, he nodded solemnly. "You're absolutely right, Mom. Let's go look at villas instead."
Her momentary relief froze on her face. The next instant, she flicked him sharply on the forehead.
"You little rascal! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
Huo Yuhao coughed lightly, feigning innocence. "Mom, don't worry. Your son actually has money now."
He hadn't told her much about the soul ring Zhu Lu had given him — only that someone had slipped it to him secretly after his Martial Soul Awakening and told him to leave the Duke's Mansion as soon as possible.
Although Huo Yun'er was puzzled, she hadn't pressed further. She simply assumed that someone who knew about Dai Hao's schemes had taken pity on them and secretly helped them escape. She had even told Yuhao that he must remember to repay such kindness one day.
"That may be," she said now, frowning slightly, "but that doesn't mean you can spend recklessly. We'll have many expenses ahead of us. As long as the place is livable, that's good enough."
"Mom," Yuhao said with a gentle smile, "did you forget about my grilled fish? Once I have that furnace, we'll never have to worry about money again. Shelter and safety are just as important as food — we can't cut corners there. And cheap neighborhoods usually mean poor security. We can't take risks."
The word safety struck a deep chord. Instantly, Huo Yun'er recalled the terrifying night in the Duke's Mansion when her son had nearly been abducted. Her lips parted as if to argue, but no words came. Finally, she sighed and nodded in reluctant agreement.
Seeing her concede, Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. He immediately grabbed her hand and cheerfully pulled her along to continue house-hunting.
Of course, a villa had only been a joke. Even with the gold soul coins he had, Yuhao couldn't afford one yet — and with just the two of them, a house that large would be far too troublesome to maintain.
"This one's a duplex," the new landlord explained enthusiastically as he led them through the property. "Two stories, plus a small attic you could use for storage. The first floor has a living room, kitchen, and dining room, as well as two empty rooms that could serve as workshops. Upstairs, there are four bedrooms — perfect for guests, relatives, or friends who might visit. The location's great, too, with a lovely view from the windows. The previous tenants moved out just last month, so it's ready to rent right away. The price is fifteen gold soul coins per year, with a two-year deposit. If you want to rent long-term — say, five years or more — the deposit can be waived."
Yuhao glanced at his mother. She was already gazing around the well-lit room, her eyes glimmering with appreciation. He smiled faintly, then turned back to the landlord and pulled out a small pouch of coins.
"We'll take it," he said. "A six-year lease."
The landlord's face broke into a wide grin. Long-term tenants were every owner's dream — no constant moving, no hassle finding replacements.
"Well then!" he said quickly. "Since it's a long lease, I can give you a discount — twelve gold soul coins per year."
When Huo Yun'er finally signed the contract and accepted the key, a wave of warmth spread through her chest. At last, they had a new home in Heaven Dou City.
Though her heart still ached a little for the money spent, the joy of finally settling down far outweighed it. Never in her dreams had she imagined that after fleeing the Duke's Mansion, their lives would not be filled with hardship but would instead begin moving steadily toward hope.
Her gaze softened as she watched Yuhao tidying their new home, arranging the bedding and cookware they'd bought along the way.
In silence, she thought back over everything her son had done in the past month — his calm composure, his quiet confidence, his unshakable determination.
By the time Yuhao finished setting up the last of their supplies, he let out a long breath and stretched, a bright smile playing on his lips. Though he had spent the entire day running about the city, he felt no fatigue — only satisfaction.
It wasn't just his own fate he was changing. His mother's, and perhaps the destinies of all those connected to him, he would alter them all, leading them toward a new future.
Maybe that's the true purpose of my rebirth, he thought.
"Yuhao."
The gentle voice called to him from behind. He turned instinctively. His mother was sitting on the edge of the bed, her soft eyes rippling with complex emotion as she looked at him quietly. The tenderness in her gaze made his chest tighten.
"What is it, Mom?"
She patted the spot beside her. "Come sit. It feels like we haven't really talked in a long time."
When he sat down, she turned slightly, studying his young, earnest face.
"Yuhao."
"Yes?"
She raised a hand, her movements slow and gentle, brushing her fingers over his brow and cheek, again and again. The room was quiet, serene, almost sacred. Yuhao's heart began to relax in that familiar warmth — until her next words made it clench again.
"You must've suffered a lot… in the future, haven't you?"
Outside, thunder rumbled, and a sudden downpour swept through the night.
The moonlight was swallowed by dark clouds, scattering faint silver fragments across the floor. Through the window, the neon glow of the streets shimmered in the rain, turning the world outside hazy and dreamlike. The city's bustle was muffled by the pattering storm, leaving only the soft rhythm of raindrops.
But inside, Huo Yuhao's heart was pounding violently.
So even she can tell.
He had been careful — too careful — but no matter how well he hid it, no mother could fail to notice such a change in her child.
Huo Yun'er smiled softly, eyes shining with a tender light that reflected his silhouette.
"I don't know what you've gone through," she said, voice warm and steady. "But I can tell… you're still my little Yuhao."
At that, he could no longer hold back the tears.
Memories of his previous life — of watching helplessly as her body grew frail, of her final breath slipping away — flooded his mind like waves. Now, having regained everything he'd once lost, his trembling hands reached forward, clutching her tightly as he broke down in sobs.
"Mom… I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry…"
Just like when he was small, Huo Yun'er gently stroked his hair, her voice soft as a lullaby.
"No matter what I've endured," she whispered, "none of it could ever compare to having you by my side again, Yuhao…"
She paused for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"…Thank you for being my son."
(End of Chapter)