The figure entering the room had smooth golden hair, the reflected luster giving off a warm feeling, and ruby-like eyes sparkling with excitement. Her skin was as white and translucent as fresh snow, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue from joy, making her delicate face even more captivating.
She held a finely woven small basket in her hands, the white silk skirt swaying with her brisk steps, making her look like a sprite leaping out of the forest.
"Na'er, look, I brought you..."
The cheerful voice suddenly stopped. Gu Ruiqiu suddenly halted in her tracks, her gaze falling on the blue-haired boy beside Gu Yuena, a trace of surprise flashing in her red pupils before she narrowed her eyes.
"We have a guest, my apologies."
She gently placed the small basket on the nearby tea table, folded her hands in front of her skirt, and bowed slightly, "I'm Na'er's sister, Gu Ruiqiu, nice to meet you."
Gu Ruiqiu straightened up gracefully, a smile on her lips, "Na'er is a bit naive, please forgive any lack of hospitality."
Huo Yuhao: "…"
He changed at Gu Yuena's indifferent expression and fell silent for a moment, not responding.
Na'er's family status in this household is quite precarious.
Gu Yuena took a deep breath and said with a cold expression, "Stop pretending, there are no outsiders here! Who are you putting on this act for? Trying to act like you don't know Yuhao to take advantage of me?"
If you don't discipline someone for a day, they'll climb onto the roof... What would happen if you didn't discipline them for three years?
The person before her had already given her the answer.
"Pretend? I'm not."
Gu Ruiqiu tilted her head in feigned confusion and asked, "And what do you mean by no outsiders?"
"…" A faint blush rose on Gu Yuena's face, a cold light flashed in her eyes, and the atmosphere in the room instantly became tense.
Seeing this, Gu Ruiqiu gradually wiped the smile off her face, picked up the basket, and sat down beside Gu Yuena, taking out some delicate pastries, "Master, it's been years since I last saw you, I got a bit excited, just joking."
From her understanding, as long as she knew when to stop and use delicious food as a pacifier, her younger sister... ah, no, the Master would quickly calm down.
Gu Yuena revised at the pastries but didn't linger her gaze on her; instead, she looked at Huo Yuhao on the other side.
"Master?" Gu Ruiqiu tentatively pushed the pastries forward.
Gu Yuena ignored her, her watery eyes fixed on Huo Yuhao.
The latter understood and took out a box of pastries. The moment the lid was opened, a rich milky aroma mixed with the sweetness of honey instantly filled the air.
Gu Yuena's purple eyes clearly brightened, and her slender fingers picked up a piece. The crispy crust crumbles at her fingertips, revealing the glistening sugar strands inside.
Gu Yuena took a small bite, the sweet but not cloying taste melting on her tongue, causing her to unconsciously narrow her eyes.
Gu Ruiqiu: "…"
The smile on her face gradually disappeared. Although there was no wind in the room, she felt an inexplicable chill and sadness washed over her.
So, her duty of feeding the Master had already been taken away?
Gu Ruiqiu seemed to hear a voice in her ear:
There's no place for you in this household anymore!
Huo Yuhao watched this scene from the side, speechless.
You have a unique way of winning, Na'er.
But isn't this just a mutual defeat?
Where's your dignity?
I feel like it's already gone.
After a round of commotion, Gu Yuena let out a sigh and was no longer angry. Miss Gu Ruiqiu, who had suffered emotional trauma, ate her own pastries, gradually calming down. After sizing up Huo Yuhao for a moment, she reintroduced herself.
"This should be our first meeting in a sense, right? My current name is Gu Ruiqiu."
"My real name is Huo Yuhao, nice to meet you."
Huo Yuhao revised at Gu Ruiqiu's appearance, instinctively comparing it to someone in his mind, checking for any similarities.
Gu Ruiqiu paused her scrutiny and said with interest, "So you really are human? I heard some rumors before that you were the Ice Empress transformed, and they were quite convincing. If it wasn't for Di Tian to confirm you're human, I might have believed it."
At this point, she paused, her red eyes flickering slightly, "Di Tian and the Master should have relied on you already, so I won't say much more... after all, I've already said those words at your grave, and saying them in front of you now feels a bit strange."
"..."
Is this grave thing never going to end?
Why does it feel like you all like to bring this up, like if you're only happy when I'm gone?
Huo Yuhao was a bit speechless, but seeing the smile in Gu Ruiqiu's red eyes, he couldn't help but shook his head and chuckled.
"I'm still here, and you're already thinking about my 'grave'?"
Gu Ruiqiu blinked and said with a smile, "What, the great Spirit Ice Douluo can't take a little joke? Besides, we were very serious, your 'grave' is one of the holy sites in the Star Dou Forest, with characters personally carved by Di Tian, and incense offered by the beasts. It's the highest level of treatment."
"By the way, even though you've returned, only we know about it, so your tombstone is still there. In recent years, there have even been spirit beasts paying their respects."
"...That's really unnecessary, please stop."
It feels a bit eerie, like you're cursing me.
As Gu Ruiqiu actively lightened the mood, Huo Yuhao's expression relaxed. Seeing the two girls looking at him with inexplicable gazes, he said, "It seems my expression was a bit impolite just now."
"I can vaguely sense your unease. We've only interacted a few times, and we weren't familiar ten thousand years ago. For you to show a reminiscing expression is a bit strange."
Gu Ruiqiu picked up a teacup from the side, poured tea for the three of them, and sat down on the other side of Gu Yuena, "I don't think those lecturing scenes from back then are worth reminiscing about."
Her few encounters with Huo Yuhao had all been spent in his teachings about the future of spirit beasts, which had also been the source of her ambition.
But honestly, those weren't fond memories. If she hadn't been no match for him ten thousand years ago, she would have punched Huo Yuhao in the face...
"Nothing, I was just thinking if you resemble someone I've met." Huo Yuhao said casually, showing no emotional fluctuation.
Well, the result is good, there's not a single similarity with that person's appearance... a good thing.
Gu Ruiqiu was stunned, "How could I resemble anyone else? I'm the Emperor's Beast. If I were to take human form, it would naturally be according to my own preferences. Did you think I would model my appearance after someone…"
She paused, looked at Gu Yuena, thought for a moment, and exclaimed, "You didn't think my appearance would resemble the Master's, did you?"
"I took human form neither to please others nor to become someone's shadow."
"I just... wanted to see the myriad sights of this world from a different perspective, to live my own life. As for appearance, of course, I chose what I thought looked good."
Huo Yuhao shook his head and smiled, "As it should be."
Gu Ruiqiu frowned slightly and argued, "Same as before... a riddle-speaker."
After that, she turned to Gu Yuena and began a long-overdue catch-up, no longer talking to Huo Yuhao.
Over the years, she had spent the most time with the Master, and even the subtle habits of the other carried her shadow. Their relationship had long transcended a simple master-subordinate bond.
After not seeing each other for so many years, she had a lot to say.
Watching Gu Ruiqiu and Gu Yuena chat, Huo Yuhao shifted his gaze, quietly stared at the tea leaves floating in his cup, and took a sip from the teacup.
For some people, passing by each other is the best ending.
...
"It's about time to make dinner."
After chatting for a while, Gu Ruiqiu realized it was getting late and was about to go cook when she noticed someone was already standing in the kitchen.
This guy had completely taken over her niche!
Gu Ruiqiu sat back down indignantly, sneaking a glance at Huo Yuhao busily working in the kitchen, then turned to Gu Yuena, her red eyes flickering.
"Master, he's a guest, I should be the one hosting."
Gu Yuena's anger had subsided by now. Hearing her words, she looked up from the teacup in her hand towards the kitchen, her lips unconsciously softening.
"Yuhao is different." she said softly, the tea in the cup reflects the swaying light, "He's family."
"..." Gu Ruiqiu looked at her expression, slightly stunned. The aroma wafting from the kitchen suddenly became exceptionally clear, mixed with an indescribable emotion, slowly spreading in the silent air.
Finally, Gu Ruiqiu replied in a low voice, "Hmm, I understand."
Not long after, the three had dinner. Huo Yuhao noticed that Gu Ruiqiu's tone when speaking to him seemed more intimate, lacking the previous sense of distance when facing a guest.
Did Na'er say something?
"At the Spirit Pagoda headquarters, you're quite famous now." Gu Ruiqiu's eyes held a hint of mischief: "Quite a few people are interested in you, some even waiting at the entrance, just for you to show up."
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow and smiled, "They'll be disappointed then, might have to wait a few days."
"Although I also think they won't fare well challenging you, don't be too confident, you might trip up in a ditch?" Gu Ruiqiu scraped, "Among the candidate Spirit Envoys, some have taken an interest in you too. They're all three-word battle armor masters above the Soul Sage level."
The status of the Four Great Spirit Envoys is indicated below the three Vice tower lords and the Spirit Pagoda tower lord, on par with the eighteen branch tower lords.
At the headquarters, the usual promotion process is core disciple, candidate Spirit Envoy, Spirit Envoy, running for tower lord in the council meeting!
The tower lord election was completed three years ago, when Huo Yuhao and the others were nine years old. The next re-election will be in seven years, which has nothing to do with them for now, but the candidate Spirit Envoys are different.
Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena came to Mingdu, sooner or later they will be promoted to the position of candidate Spirit Envoys, this is a necessary process.
Candidate Spirit Envoys need to consider age, strength, and other factors, but those who can hold this position are basically three-word battle armor masters above the Soul Sage level!
"Including you?" Huo Yuhao looked at the smiling Gu Ruiqiu.
She has also been in the Spirit Pagoda for a long time, also a candidate Spirit Envoy, and the strongest among them, likely to be promoted to Spirit Envoy at any time.
"Hmm... I am somewhat interested." Gu Ruiqiu blinked, "What, scared? I can do without the battle armor."
Ten thousand years ago she couldn't beat him, but now Huo Yuhao hasn't recovered, he's no match for her.
"Don't mess around."
Gu Yuena said from the side: "A Soul Sage challenging a Soul King, most people wouldn't do that. If Yuhao doesn't initiate the challenge, they won't make a move. Talk about the others."
This girl better not cause trouble. Once they fight, Yuhao won't hold back because of his goals.
And from Gu Ruiqiu's perspective, Huo Yuhao is definitely an opponent she needs to go all out against.
The scene might get a bit ugly, and she'd feel bad if either got hurt. Better to stop Gu Ruiqiu's thoughts.
"…" Gu Ruiqiu saw the look in Gu Yuena's eyes and asserted, "I got it, I won't make a move."
At this point, she turned her gaze to Huo Yuhao, "Among those eager to challenge you, some are related to you..."
...
At the Spirit Pagoda headquarters, many spirit masters waited for a long time but didn't see the person they were waiting for, feeling puzzled.
What happened? Why didn't he come?
Until Ling Zichen walked out of the research institute and saw the group blocking the entrance, she said indifferently:
"Stop waiting, he went to the Mecha Association headquarters today and even received an invitation from the Illustrious Virtue Hall, so he won't be coming for now."
"What?!"
This statement caused an uproar!
"An invitation from the Illustrious Virtue Hall? He's someone who has taken the Spirit Pagoda title, how could he get the favor of the Illustrious Virtue Hall?
"The Illustrious Virtue Hall's invitation hasn't been issued for about a hundred years, right? He actually managed to do this..."
A young spirit master said in shock: "To reach such a level in both spirit master and auxiliary professions, is he destined to top both fields?"
"Big sister Ling, is this true?"
Many looked towards Ling Zichen.
"If you think it's fake, then go verify it yourself." Seeing Ling Zichen snort and turn to leave, the spirit master who asked the question felt a chill, his scalp tingling.
Ling Zichen is not to be trifled with; among her peers, she can compete for the top spot, as she is already the most capable and promising researcher in the spirit device research institute.
But even such a Ling Zichen seemed to be overshadowed by Huo Yuhao? The latter could actually receive an invitation from the Illustrious Virtue Hall based on his research abilities?
"Since it's an invitation from the Illustrious Virtue Hall, but the news hasn't spread yet, it means he hasn't gone to the Illustrious Virtue Hall. Coming to Mingdu and not reporting to the headquarters, but going to the Mecha Association first... what does this mean?"
A spirit master murmured to himself, sobbed, and walked towards the training room, "I'm not waiting anymore, it seems he won't be coming today."
The group temporarily interrupted, planning to check again tomorrow.
Only one person remains in place, exuding a sharp aura that makes others shiver.
...
For several days in a row, Huo Yuhao did not go to the Spirit Pagoda headquarters, but traveled between home and the Mecha Association headquarters.
During this time, through Yi Hongchen's connections, he confirmed the time to report to the Illustrious Virtue Hall and also studied the Mecha Association headquarters' collections from recent years, enriching his own knowledge.
It wasn't until the tenth day that Gu Yuena and Gu Ruiqiu, seeing Huo Yuhao finish his morning training and not head towards the Mecha Association but instead look towards the center of Mingdu, felt a stir in their hearts.
It's coming.