Snowfall City, the city known to be the only city to be situated near the Extreme North so they experienced snowfall everyday.
Because of that, every person that walked the streets and enter and exit through the gates wore thick clothes.
"Huuu. Did little Yuhao actually went here to train?" A young girl with long brown hair and purple eyes, wearing a thick white coat, entered through the gate with uncertainty.
"Please tell me that clone of his didn't pull a prank on me, grrr. I even went to the point of not telling Bei Bei where I'm going!" Tang Ya gritted her teeth and almost screamed out in frustration but held it in.
'Haaa. All because he said he could help me with my hatred...' Tang Ya's expression turned dark, a dark-purple glint flashed across her eyes.
It wasn't much of a secret that the former Headquarters of Tang Sect in Heaven Dou City was taken over by another sect that had a part in the deaths of Tang Ya's parents. One only needed a few days of digging into it to know but that kind of information could only be gained if one came to Heaven Dou City or they went to the underground network information in Shrek City.
But Huo Yuhao had mostly stayed in the Academy and then went to train someplace for half a year! How could he have known about her revenge?
'... I'll just have to ask him,' Tang Ya sighed.
She walked around the streets for a few minutes before finding a building that had a sign that said: Snowflake Tavern.
"Are every establishment here snow themed or something?" Tang Ya muttered as she entered the building.
The interior of the Snowflake Tavern was warm and cozy, with low lighting and a crackling fireplace that emitted a soothing warmth. The sound of cheerful chatter and clinking glasses filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere.
Tang Ya scanned the room, her purple eyes narrowing as she searched for any sign of her friend. A friendly-looking barkeeper noticed her and approached with a warm smile.
"Welcome to the Snowflake Tavern, miss. What can I get you?" he asked, wiping a glass clean with a cloth.
Tang Ya leaned on the wooden counter, her gaze fixed on the barkeeper. "I'm looking for someone. Have you seen a guy named Huo Yuhao around here? He's got dark hair with silver tips and blue eyes."
The barkeeper's smile widened. "Ah, you're looking for Yuhao, huh? He's been a regular here lately. I believe he's in the second floor, drinking in silence like most of the people who go up there. Feel free to head on top."
'Drinking? Yuhao, you're around 13 years old! I mean, sure you're old enough to kill soul beasts but that doesn't give you the right to drink!' Tang Ya was stunned.
The barkeeper, seemingly realized what she was thinking, and softly chuckled and said. "No, no. He's not drinking any booze, no matter how mature he seems, if he doesn't show off some kind of license then I won't give him any kind of alcoholic beverage."
Tang Ya thanked the barkeeper and made her way towards the second floor, feeling relieved and nervous at the same time.
As she arrived at the second floor, she was surprised to find it completely barren and silent with a single person drinking... milk? By the corner.
That person looked about 5'8 feet tall, with short dark hair with silver and green tips, he showed a muscular lean physique as he wore only a black t-shirt and grey pants.
Though he seemed to have hit a growth spurt, Huo Yuhao's handsome face still retained familiar features that made Tang Ya recognized him.
She was about to greet him when she noticed something... off about him.
'...What is this feeling? He's younger than me but... he's giving off such an intense aura and bloodthirst that I've only felt from mercenaries before. Is this the power he gained from his training?' Tang Ya thought to herself, her eyes widening slightly.
Hesitant, Tang Ya approached Huo Yuhao, her footsteps almost soundless against the wooden floor. As she got closer, she noticed his intense gaze fixed on a glass of milk, his hands gripping the glass tightly.
"Yuhao?" Tang Ya's voice came out as a whisper, barely audible.
Huo Yuhao's gaze snapped towards her, and for a moment, Tang Ya saw a flash of killing intent in his eyes before it was replaced by a calm and composed expression.
"Teacher Ya, long time no see!"
Huo Yuhao greeted, his voice cool and distant.
Tang Ya furrowed her brows, taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor. "Yuhao, what happened? You seem... different."
'A lot is an understatement.' Huo Yuhao inwardly let out a sigh. The last part of his training of three months had been truly horrifying, gory and full of blood. Because most of his abilities had been sealed, it was understandable that he received large scars on his body and it was incredibly lucky for him to only get a little scar on the right corner of his lips.
It was better that than almost losing his right eye because a few hundred year soul beasts jumped him.
Huo Yuhao sighed, his grip on the glass loosening. "A lot has happened, Tang Ya. I've experienced things that changed me, made me stronger. But that's not important right now."
He took a swig of his milk and asked. "Since you came here, does that mean you'll accept my deal?"
Tang Ya frowned. "Just how did you know about my... hatred as your clone had put it. I haven't told anyone that except Bei Bei, which I'm sure would have said that I would be the one to tell you, and the other way is–"
"Of course I know, when someone has such intense hatred in their heart similar to mine..." Tang Ya's heart skipped a beat as Huo Yuhao's words trailed off. She could sense the bitterness in his voice, and it made her pause.
"I have my ways of gathering information," Huo Yuhao continued, his voice tinged with sadness. "You've known me for a while, Teacher Ya. So please trust me when I say I want to help you in your revenge."
"... I've only known you for three months." Tang Ya bitterly smiled.
Huo Yuhao shrugged. "Three months is long enough."
Tang Ya hesitated for a moment before reluctantly taking a seat before Huo Yuhao. "Alright, I'll play along. What do you want for helping me in my revenge?"
"Tang Sect."
"Pfft–!" Tang Ya had just taken a sip of her drink, causing her to spit it out in surprise. "Tang Sect? Are you serious?"
Huo Yuhao nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, I want Tang Sect."
Tang Ya stared at him, her purple eyes wide with shock. "Y-Yuhao, why would you even want Tang Sect? I mean, considering your talents and if you can help me take down those bastards, I wouldn't hesitate to give you the sect master title but, why would you want it? Tang Sect right now is a shell of its former glory, with just around five members within it."
Huo Yuhao grunted in agreement, he refilled his cup and said. "Even when it's at its lowest, the Tang Sect still has some connections and its former glorious reputation. These foundations would help me with my future plans; plans of my own vengeance."
Tang Ya looked down at her hands in thought.
"... How long did you plan on taking the sect from me?" She bitterly asked.
"From the beginning." Huo Yuhao didn't hide anything from her and expressed his honesty.
"Good... Good!" Tang Ya took a deep breath and looked up, a cold and determined look on her face. "That just shows how determined you are in your revenge!"
"Very well, Yuhao. If you can help me get stronger, I'll give you the sect."
Huo Yuhao smirked. "I see. Like me, you don't want the help of someone else to take your vengeance. You want to take revenge with your own hands."
Tang Ya nodded, determination burning in her eyes. "Exactly. I won't rely on anyone else to achieve my vengeance. I just need help to get stronger to bring justice to those who wronged me and my parents."
"..." Huo Yuhao looked to be in deep thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright. I'll make you become stronger."
"Wait, you can actually do it?!" Tang Ya's eyes widened, gripping the cup tightly.
Although it's quite good she managed to reach the Soul Elder realm at her age, especially with a trash martial soul like the Blue Silver Grass, it still wasn't enough to grant her vengeance, even in her whole lifetime she probably couldn't get justice for her parents.
Unless... she falls into the abyss... But she was having second thoughts on falling into the dark side because of her boyfriend, Bei Bei. If she falls, she'll never see him again.
But if Huo Yuhao could help her get stronger without falling into the dark path, then she would take the deal.
Huo Yuhao raised his glass of milk in a toast. "To our shared goals, then. Let's work together to make it happen."
Tang Ya clinked her glass against his, a small smile forming on her face. "To our shared goals."
As he began to sip on his cup of milk, Huo Yuhao paused for a moment. "And also, I'm planning on changing the name of the sect. Although I'll be relying on the sect's connection for some the things of my future plans, I want to change its name."
Tang Ya looked hesitant, reluctantly asking. "Why? What's the problem with the name?"
Huo Yuhao looked out of the window, seeing the ray of sunshine pierced through the dark clouds.
"Change is inevitable, Tang Ya. And sometimes, in order to move forward and create something new, we have to let go of the past. The name 'Tang Sect' carries a lot of weight and history, but it also carries with it the pain and loss that you have experienced. By changing the name, we are symbolically letting go of that pain and embracing a new beginning."
Tang Ya listened intently, her expression thoughtful. "What name do you have in mind, then?"
Huo Yuhao smiled, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "Akatsuki. It's an ancient word that I found in an old textbook, it means dawn or daybreak."
Tang Ya's eyes widened in surprise. "Akatsuki... I like it. It represents a new beginning, a fresh start. It's fitting for what we're trying to achieve."
Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement. "Indeed. The dawn of a new era for the sect, for both of us."
Tang Ya blinked. "Actually, why aren't we inviting Bei Bei, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao along?"
Huo Yuhao let out a sigh. "Because when we're doing this, they aren't going to like the actions we're about to do."
"That's true..." Tang Ya reluctantly said, knowing full well how Bei Bei had tried letting him, more like his grandfather, handle her vengeance.
He could never understand, none of them would.
As they continued their conversation, Tang Ya couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. With Huo Yuhao's help, she believed that she could finally seek justice for her parents and bring down those responsible. And in return, she would support him in his own pursuit of vengeance.
...
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