Hearing the noise coming from outside the room, He Caitou sat up abruptly despite his injuries. However, this sudden movement brought him intense pain due to his still-healing broken ribs, causing large beads of sweat to form on his forehead.
The door to the hospital room was gently pushed open, and Huo Yuhao walked in with a smile. He carried several bulging bags in his hands, which seemed to be gifts for He Caitou.
"How are you doing? A whole day has passed. Your injuries should have recovered somewhat by now."
Huo Yuhao chuckled as he grabbed a chair and sat next to He Caitou's bed. He then started opening the bags one by one.
"Xu He, look what I brought you: fried chicken, cotton candy, and a big watermelon—all things that people with dark skin like you love the most."
He Caitou's face was filled with fear as he pretended to be confused and asked, "Huo Yuhao, what are you talking about? I don't understand what you mean."
Hearing He Caitou's words, Huo Yuhao smiled gently and shook his head. "Xu He, no matter how well you disguise yourself, you can't change the color of your skin. There were no people with such dark skin in the original Douluo Three Kingdoms. This skin color is unique to the Sun Moon Empire. And seeing how dark you are, only the royal family of the Sun Moon Empire has such a pure complexion."
Despite He Caitou's continued look of terror, resembling a frightened quail, Huo Yuhao shook his head helplessly. He stared intently into He Caitou's eyes, his lips curving into a mocking smile.
"Xu He, stop pretending. I know you're not as simple-minded as you appear. Someone who can escape unscathed from the royal bloodbath can't be an ordinary person, right?"
He Caitou was slightly taken aback. After a moment of staring back at Huo Yuhao, he suddenly smiled faintly.
"Huo Yuhao, your reputation does not do you justice. I've only heard about your extraordinary talent, but I didn't expect your insight and cunning to be so exceptional."
With that slight smile, the usual simplicity on He Caitou's face gradually transformed into a calm and composed demeanor. The usual simplicity in his eyes vanished, replaced by depth and gloom.
"You used a self-martial soul fusion skill earlier, didn't you? Such an incredible talent—twin martial souls, ultimate martial souls. If I had your talent, I would fight with all my might to reclaim everything I deserve."
"Your insight is impressive. I didn't expect you to be so familiar with the customs and people of the Sun Moon Empire. Yes, I am from the royal family of the Sun Moon Empire. I am Xu He."
Huo Yuhao sat quietly, listening to He Caitou's self-revelation.
"My father was the previous emperor of the Sun Moon Empire. He had me when he was forty-eight. When my father was still the crown prince, my uncle was always vying for the throne. But my grandfather knew my uncle's cruel nature and believed that handing the country over to him would be disastrous. Despite my uncle's superior talent, my grandfather insisted on passing the throne to my father."
"After my father ascended the throne, he governed the country diligently, devoting all his energy to state affairs. Under his rule, the Sun Moon Empire prospered, and he earned the loyalty of most of the ministers."
"However, six years ago, when my father was in his prime, he suddenly died overnight. My mother and my three unmarried sisters also died on the same night. The official explanation was absurd—food poisoning. My uncle suddenly marched into the capital with his army, and the Sun Moon Empire changed rulers! I still clearly remember a terrifying figure rampaging through the palace. My mother hid me in a secret passage, allowing me to survive."
"My uncle couldn't find my body, so he sent people to hunt me down, publicly announcing that our entire family had died from food poisoning. Using this as a pretext, he purged my father's loyalists in the palace, claiming they were being buried with my father. After a series of purges, he took the throne with an iron fist as the sole heir to the royal lineage."
By this point, He Caitou's eyes were red, his fists clenched tightly. His once simple face now twisted with rage, his heart consumed by hatred.
"Perhaps my father and mother's spirits protected me, and I managed to escape. But I have never forgotten this deep-seated blood feud. However, my talent is ultimately insufficient to complete this plan."
However, before he could finish, Huo Yuhao chuckled and said, "Do you think you're the only one who has figured out your identity?"
Hearing this, He Caitou's face changed, as if wanting to stop Huo Yuhao from speaking, but Huo Yuhao continued.
"Six years have passed, and you've been deceiving yourself, right? With your dark skin and the fact that you fled from the Sun Moon Empire, you must have had an accent when you spoke, right? The senior members of Shrek Academy are not ordinary people; they could see through your background."
"At Shrek Academy, you are merely a soul tool gun ready to be loaded at any time. When the time comes, they will fire you to cause chaos in the Sun Moon Empire. However, once a soul tool gun fires, there's no turning back. If you are placed in that position by Shrek Academy and start a rebellion, the only thing waiting for you is death."
"The Mingde Hall won't allow you to destabilize the Sun Moon Empire's rule, and Shrek Academy won't let you become an uncontrollable threat. Whether you win or lose, the only outcome is death."
He Caitou's face changed drastically. He was very meticulous, and he was well aware of the truth in Huo Yuhao's words. But over the years, Fan Yu had treated him like a son, and he didn't want to believe that his mentor, who had nurtured him, was just a butcher waiting to send him to his death.
"Was it Zhou Yi who suggested eliminating me?" Huo Yuhao said calmly. "You might not know this, but I am the current Young Master of the Body Sect, with a status equal to the heir of the Sea God Pavilion. If you really harmed me, the consequences would be severe. You should know the Body Sect's ways."
"And your most beloved mentor's wife merely sees you as a tool to be discarded at any time. To vent her anger, she might even sacrifice your future or life."
"Can such a person really help you avenge your parents and siblings? Can such a person truly restore you to your rightful position?"
Huo Yuhao had learned a trick from the Holy Spirit Douluo, entrusting his mental power to the spirit in his spiritual sea, Electrolux, creating a hypnotic effect on He Caitou.
"In fact, I, too, carry a deep-seated grudge. To seek revenge, we need to work even harder. Until the day we are capable of avenging ourselves, we will be more than brothers—we will be comrades. I will always be by your side."
"He Caitou, let's make a deal. I will help you completely eradicate your uncle's royal bloodline. In return, you will help me kill Duke White Tiger Dai Hao!"