--- Chapter 6 ---
"Haa..."
"What a stubborn woman." Huo Yuhao commented with annoyance. He stared at his mother from afar, doing their laundry, and sighed because she was too determined in the wrong way.
Huo Yun'er isn't a well-known character in Douluo Dalu 2 series because she died before Huo Yuhao started his journey. All her life after having an affair with Duke White Tiger is worse than someone could imagine.
Since Huo Yun'er wasn't a legal wife and a mere personal maid of the duke, the duchess banished her to the forest. She raised Huo Yuhao for almost 12 years and passed away because of an illness. That's how it's supposed to be.
'There is no way I'll let that happen... I'm not dumb enough to let you suffer more than this, mom.' Huo Yuhao released his spiritual energy. However, no matter how much he tried to convince Huo Yun'er to get out of this damn place, she always refused and insisted on staying here.
"It's not wrong to trust someone, Mom. You're expecting too much from Duke White Tiger because he won't come here as long as the duchess was in charge of the Mansion."
"You're being too determined, so don't blame me for being manipulative. It's how my previous mother taught me how to survive in this world."
Huo Yuhao picked the goblin mask from his inventory and wore it to cover his cold expression. He took a step and disappeared into the forest.
"Evo, give me a quest."
[Ding!]
[Name: Hunting]
[Objective: Kill ten animals inside the forest (0/10)]
[Reward: 2 Iron Upgrading Tickets and 1x Random Herbs]
[Do you want to accept the quest?]
[Yes/No]
"Before that, is that objective set in stone?" He calmly questioned while calculating something.
[No]
"Then, I'll abuse it."
[...]
Huo Yuhao picked a kitchen knife from his inventory and walked into the deepest part of the forest. He eased his breathing and scanned the area with Kenbunshoku Haki, sensing three small rabbits.
"Survival of the fittest." He hardened his leg and kicked the ground.
Swoosh!
A blue-haired kid skipped through the bushes and slashed the rabbit's neck. He repeated the same process and killed three rabbits without any problem.
[3/10]
"Animals have the instinct to run away when sensing other's presence, so sneaking on them would be hard in this scenario. Kenbunshoku Haki was insanely useful because I can match their presence with my spiritual energy."
"Let's keep going."
[You have killed Wild Rabbit]
[You have killed Forest Pigeon]
[You have killed Piglet]
[You have...]
[...]
[...]
...
In the forest, a blue-haired kid breathed heavily and watched his bloody hand with a weird smile. Huo Yuhao has never killed any living beings until now, so he was overwhelmed though not that long.
Huo Yuhao took a few minutes to organize his thoughts and returned to normal immediately. He was Putra Indra Santoso before and was famous for being the Specter, an unknown mercenary hired by many countries.
"This is going well." Huo Yuhao wiped sweat with his sleeve and scanned the area with Kenbunshoku Haki again. "Hmm, I don't sense anything. Should I go to other areas? This forest is quite huge, after all."
"Anyway, show me the numbers, Evo."
[42/10]
"Only that much?" He tilted his head in confusion. "I've only killed small animals so far. It seems that I overestimated this body's ability."
"Well, My fitness isn't the best considering the previous Huo Yuhao never developed his muscle and ate any nutritious foods. Thank God I consumed the Sky Dragon Body Pill, or I'll be out of breath when killing ten animals..."
He waved the kitchen knife and added, "Let's kill a few more and check mom's condition in the mansion."
An hour later, Huo Yuhao breathed heavily with a mature boar below his feet. "Evo." He said while storing the corpse in inventory.
[You have killed 60 animals]
[Do you want to finish Hunting Quest?]
"Yes." Huo Yuhao nodded, watching the system panel change into a progression bar.
[Estimating the reward based on the exceeded objective...]
[...]
[You have obtained 12 Iron Upgrading Tickets and 5x Random Herb]
[You have received Black Pool Grass(F), Zoysia Grass(F), 100 hundred years old Ginseng(D), Holy Basil(F), and Fire Spirit Grass(E+)]
[Do you want to check out the herbs?]
"Okay." Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes at the random herbs and pondered for a moment about something.
[Name: Black Pool Grass]
[Type: Herb]
[Grade: F]
[Description: Basic alchemy ingredient with a weak paralysis effect]
[Name: Zoysia Grass]
[Type: Herb]
[Grade: F]
[Description: Basic alchemy ingredient to enhance other's herb effect]
[Name: 100 years old Ginseng]
[Type: Herb]
[Grade: D]
[Description: A rare tonic that could significantly enhance one's immunity and health]
[Name: Holy Basil]
[Type: Herb]
[Grade: F]
[Description: A basil with a pain-numbing effect and has mint-like smells]
[Name: Fire Spirit Grass]
[Type: Herb]
[Grade: E+]
[Description: A medicinal herb, consuming it would make one resistant to fire for a short amount of time]
"Heh." Huo Yuhao's alchemist skill is activated when seeing these herbs. It's not hard for Huo Yuhao to think about a few medicines he could make on top of his head. "They are great for random rewards, though my luck clearly affected some of it. Hmm, I could make a paralysis drug and fire-resistant tonic."
Iron Upgrading Ticket upgrades everything from F grade below to E-D Grade with a 50% chance and another 50% chance to become C Grade. It's the only Upgrading Ticket with the same odds, which is nice because Huo Yuhao's luck could affect it easily. The scale should tip-off to C Grade easily.
Huo Yuhao walked to the nearest pond and said, "Evo, upgrade these herbs with Iron Upgrading Tickets."
[Using Five Iron Upgrading Tickets on Black Pool Grass, Zoysia Grass, 100 years old Ginseng, Holy Basil, and Fire Spirit Grass]
[Upgrading...]
[...]
[You have acquired Black-Tined Grass(D+), Royal Zoysia Grass(C), 420 years old Ginseng(C), Sacred Basil(D+), Tiny Ifrit Grass(C)]
"Not bad." Huo Yuhao commented while washing himself with the pond's water. These herbs' potency increased significantly.
...
At the Star Luo Imperial City's outskirts, Huo Yuhao wandered through the small market and stopped at the butcher shop. He dropped some rabbit meat on the pretense of being told by his mother to do an errand, tricking the butcher smoothly.
Huo Yuhao got one silver coin and some bronze coins, which he used to buy bad-quality fabric from the street. When Huo Yuhao purchased sewing kits, a few people on the way talked about Duke White Tiger.
"Hey, have you heard that Duke White Tiger is catching people on the border near the Sun and Moon Empire?"
"Eh, I thought we didn't have bad blood with the Sun and Moon Empire?"
"Nope, You're right. We didn't have bad blood with the Sun and Moon Empire, but the Duke White Tiger caught some shady people on the border. They seemed to be testing something."
"The Duke won't return for at least a month, dealing with those shady people."
Huo Yuhao frowned and kept walking down the street, hearing the same news six times. He could assume this was true, but something was weird. A month is a long time for Duke White Tiger to stay on the border, which means he could use this chance to run away with his mother.
"Sun and Moon Empire... Spirit Guidance Devices, the start of technology in Douluo Dalu's series." He mumbled solemnly. No one besides him and people from Sun and Moon knew about the Mass-Killing Weapon.
He remembered a female character who became the antagonist in this awful story, "Ye Xishui. The Death God Douluo."
"Whatever, I have to return first." Huo Yuhao entered an alley and disappeared quickly.
--- White Tiger Mansion ---
Huo Yuhao arrived at the White Tiger Mansion and saw a blonde kid walking around arrogantly with some of his lackeys. "What's this cliche young master's encounter?" He sighed in defeat.
Dai Huabin is Huo Yuhao's half-brother, the son of White Tiger's Duchess. He's a prideful individual who values his pride and honor over everything else shown at a young age.
(An: I changed mistress to duchess from now on)
Huo Yuhao glanced at the block near Dai Huabin and noticed his mother walking with a heavy basket. What a perfect chance to make Huo Yun'er realize this place is not pleasant for them.
"Acting it is." He brushed some dirt on his clothes and changed his expression into a cheerful look. He waited for the perfect timing and walked in front of Dai Huabin and his lackeys.
...
~ Huo Yun'er Pov ~
I walked through the block with a heavy basket of rag-like clothes in my hands. With slow and steady steps, I approached the left-wing gate and saw Dai Huabin with his friends.
"Hao'er!" My eyes widened in horror.
"Hey, you there!" Dai Huabin's friend shouted at Hao'er.
My son was caught off guard and entered a stance, raising his hand at Dai Huabin and his friend. "This is not good." I dropped the basket, hoping to break this situation off.
However, it was too late.
Dai Huabin's friend grinned wickedly and launched a punch at Huo Yuhao's guts. I couldn't do anything and watched my son cough a mouthful of saliva, falling to the ground.
"Argghhh..." Huo Yuhao loudly groaned while clutching his stomach. His painful expression makes my heart sink into an abyss.
"Hehe, Weak as usual. You're going to become a good sandbag, servant boy. What do you think, Huabin?" The lackey stared at Dai Huabin cheekily.
"Sure. I could practice my boxing technique." Dai Huabin answered indifferently.
Huo Yuhao and Dai Huabin are supposed to be half-brothers, but those arrogant blue eyes aren't even close to Duke White Tiger's eyes. There is remorse or even slight pity for my Hao'er.
I walked in front of them and kneeled, "Young master Huabin, please spare my son. I-It's my fault for not forbidding him to go here!"
Dai Huabin gazed at me coldly because the duchess should have told him I was a dirty maid who slept with Duke White Tiger. It's not a secret inside the White Tiger's Mansion.
'Please, leave my son alone.' I gritted my teeth silently.
Dai Huabin crossed his arms and replied, "Sure. I'll spare your son if you lick my new shoe."
"Oh, how wicked~!"
"Go, lick his shoe, you dirty servant~!" The lackey heated the comment, making things worse for me. It's hard to believe a group of children could say such a thing, but something like this is normal.
I lowered my head and saw a blue blur move toward Dai Huabin at incredible speed. "Leave my mom alone!!" Hao'er shouted while punching the young master of White Tiger's clan.
BAM!
"Weak." Dai Huabin kicked my son on the head. He didn't stop and stomped him a few more times.
"HAO'ER!" I was held by the lackeys, watching my son gets tortured. They used spirit skills on me, which restricted my movement.
~ Normal Pov ~
'This is boring but effective.' Huo Yuhao thought while feeling worm-like stomps from Dai Huabin. He smiled inside and watched his mother's horror because this should make her realize they were nothing but ants in this place.
After a few minutes, Huo Yuhao is lying on the ground with a bloody nose as Dai Huabin leaves with a smirk on his face.
"Hao'er, t-this is my fault." Huo Yun'er hugged Huo Yuhao with tears running from her eyes.
Huo Yuhao closed his eyes and commented, 'This is far from over, mom. You should have felt more pressured and anxious from now on.'
'Well, I hope you forgive me in the future.'