"Cooperation?"
"Right, cooperation."
Huo Yuhao took out the gloves he made last night and demonstrated their effectiveness to Tang Ya while speaking.
"I can create soul tools, but I need Tang Sect's channels to obtain more rare metals and sell the soul tools. I also need you to help me with some other things, and during this process, I'll give you a share of the profits from selling the soul tools."
Before he could finish speaking, Tang Ya interrupted him.
"I'll help you."
Huo Yuhao was stunned. "Aren't you going to ask about the share?"
"No need. Whatever you give is fine; anyway—"
Tang Ya paused and then looked at him seriously, speaking softly, "Anyway, I have nothing left now."
"Alright, we can talk about it later."
Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement, but he felt a bit confused inside.
He couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Sister Ya's gaze had changed, becoming somewhat indescribably strange. However, he didn't dwell on it too much and stood up to look around.
"Do you have another place to stay now?"
"No."
Hearing Tang Ya's despondent tone, Huo Yuhao hesitated for a moment and asked, "Would you like to come to my house?"
Creak—
"Mom, I'm back."
Upon hearing Huo Yuhao's voice, Huo Yun'er, who was anxiously pacing in the living room, finally sighed in relief and instinctively looked up towards the door.
"Why are you so late today?"
However, before she could finish her worried question, it was already stuck in her throat as she stared at the charming girl following her son, who was looking down and didn't dare to meet her gaze. Huo Yun'er was momentarily stunned.
"..."
Heavens, my son is only six years old. Is he starting to date so early? Isn't that a bit too soon? But soon, this thought was replaced by another.
No, wait! We've only been in Heaven Dou City for two days. How could a girl follow my son home so late? Did he get kidnapped?
Huo Yuhao was unaware of how much wild speculation his mother had concocted in such a short time. He turned sideways to reveal Tang Ya's figure and introduced her to Huo Yun'er.
"Mom, this is Tang Ya. We just met two days ago, and she might be living with us from now on."
Click—
"She might be living with us from now on…"
Huo Yuhao's words were like a bolt from the blue, further confirming Huo Yun'er's suspicions. Just when she didn't know what to do, her good son had already started introducing the girl to her.
"Sister Ya, this is my mom. She also has the last name Huo."
Tang Ya seemed to gather all her courage and looked up at Huo Yun'er, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness.
"Hello, Auntie."
"Hello, hello... You must be Xiao Ya, right? Come in and have a seat. You haven't eaten yet, right? I'll go make you something."
Huo Yun'er's condition wasn't much better than Tang Ya's; she hurriedly invited her to sit down, poured a glass of water, and shot an ambiguous look at Huo Yuhao, then turned and headed toward the kitchen.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao smiled at the obviously awkward Tang Ya and followed her in.
As soon as he entered the kitchen, he met Huo Yun'er's strange gaze. He had a rough idea of what she wanted to ask, but before he could explain, Huo Yun'er spoke first.
"Yuhao."
Huo Yun'er took a deep breath and advised earnestly, "Tell your mom what that girl's situation is. It doesn't matter if you make money or not, but I don't want you to go down a wrong path."
"...?"
Huo Yuhao's mind blanked for a second before he realized what Huo Yun'er meant. His eyelids couldn't help but twitch. "Mom, what do you think of your good son?"
Soon, Huo Yuhao briefly explained the situation, omitting the part about his cooperation with Tang Ya. Upon hearing that both of Tang Ya's parents had been murdered, concern immediately appeared in Huo Yun'er's eyes.
"I see. Then let her stay with us. It's just right; she can chat with me, too. Alright, you can go out now; I need to cook."
"I can help, too."
Huo Yun'er was momentarily taken aback, then looked at him with a somewhat strange expression. As the person involved, Huo Yuhao was confused by his mother's gaze and hesitantly asked, "...Mom?"
After a long while, Huo Yun'er sighed and her tone was clearly filled with exasperation.
"You go outside and chat with that girl. Make her less reserved."
Finally, under his mother's urging, Huo Yuhao stepped out of the kitchen.
He didn't know what he said, but by the time Huo Yun'er brought the food to the table, Tang Ya's mood had obviously improved a lot.
At the dinner table, watching Tang Ya's hesitant and reserved demeanor, Huo Yun'er spoke gently while serving her food.
"Xiao Ya, Yuhao told me a bit about your situation just now. You can stay here from now on, and treat it as your own home."
Looking at the bowl piled high with food, Tang Ya bit her lip, holding back tears that threatened to spill. She choked out a soft "Mm."
After finishing dinner, Huo Yuhao brought a bowl of steaming medicinal soup to Tang Ya.
"I've prepared a room for you upstairs, right next to mine. The bedding is all new. Drink this and try to sleep early tonight."
"What is this?"
Seeing the brownish medicinal soup, Tang Ya instinctively recalled the package of medicinal materials he had bought on the way back from the pharmacy.
"It's to calm your nerves."
Huo Yuhao patiently explained, "Since your mind was disturbed, drinking this should help."
"...Thank you."
Tang Ya pursed her lips, reached out to take it, and slowly sipped from the spoon.
The medicinal soup was bitter at first, but soon a sweet taste followed that would wash away the bitterness.
"I added a little sugar, so it shouldn't be too bitter, right?"
Huo Yuhao's voice echoed in her ears. Tang Ya trembled and gently shook her head.
"It's not bitter, it's sweet."
She kept repeating, scooping the soup into her mouth, keeping her head down the whole time, letting tears fall into the bowl, mixing with the medicinal soup.
One Year Later.
"Uncle Huang."
At the entrance of the snack street, Huang Yu, who was smoking, turned his head instinctively upon hearing the voice. Seeing the boy and girl, a smile appeared on his face.
"You two are early today."
Over the course of a year, he had grown quite familiar with these two mature children. Ever since that day when Huo Yuhao said his friend had an accident, the Tang Sect girl who frequently visited the snack stall had disappeared, and a girl who looked not much older than Huo Yuhao had started following him around, selling grilled fish together every day.
Naturally, he had heard about the Tang Sect's situation and had already guessed the girl's identity. Although he didn't know why her appearance had changed so much, it didn't matter to him. Since Huo Yuhao hadn't asked for his help, he wouldn't do anything extra, preferring to act as if he didn't know anything.
The girl named Xiao Ya looked at him with surprise. "Uncle Huang, you're such a busy person. How come you have time to come here today?"
"You little girl, you're teasing me now," Huang Yu smiled, shook his head, and sighed, explaining the reason.
"In a few days, the Soul Master Competition will start, and there have been many tourists in Heaven Dou City lately. To prevent accidents due to the crowds, I have to come here every day to keep an eye on things. Speaking of which, this is a great opportunity for you two. Yuhao, supply more grilled fish during this time. It's a great time to make money."
"Uh…"
Huo Yuhao's expression turned awkward upon hearing this. He hesitated for a moment before speaking softly.
"Uncle Huang, I came today to tell you that I won't be selling grilled fish anymore after today."
"Not selling anymore?"
Huang Yu was slightly taken aback. This Soul Master Competition was held every five years and rotated among four countries. Now was the peak tourist season that only happened once every twenty years. Everyone was preparing to make a fortune, yet this kid was quitting?
"Why not? I remember you just paid the stall fee a few days ago, right? You should at least finish this month."
(End of Chapter)