By the shore of Sea God Lake.
The images on the Sky Screen slowly shifted. Both versions of Huo Yuhao had reached the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest and were preparing to rest.
Meanwhile, the Shrek crowd by the lakeside took advantage of this gap to discuss in low voices.
"I wonder what little Yuhao's choice will be next."
Xu Sanshi leaned carelessly against a willow tree by the lake, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth as he glanced sideways at Bei Bei beside him.
"Bei Bei, weren't you the first to come into contact with Yuhao? How will the plot on the screen develop next? Give us the inside scoop."
He Caitou also leaned in, his honest face filled with curiosity. "That's right, Bei Bei, you were Yuhao's guide. What exactly happened when you two first met?"
Hearing this, Bei Bei's gaze grew slightly dazed, a look of reminiscence appearing on his face.
"The first time we met..."
He sighed softly and began to speak slowly.
"It was by a small stream on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. Xiao Ya and I were resting there when we suddenly smelled the aroma of roasted fish. Following the scent, we saw Yuhao sitting alone by the stream, roasting fish."
"At that time, he was only about ten years old, as thin as a bamboo pole, but his technique for roasting fish was very skilled. Xiao Ya was craving it, so she dragged me over to strike up a conversation."
Xu Sanshi raised an eyebrow. "And then?"
"And then..." Bei Bei smiled. "Then we ate fish together and started chatting. That kid was very wary, but he couldn't resist Xiao Ya's enthusiasm. Eventually, he told us he had run away from home and wanted to hunt a Spirit Beast to obtain his first spirit ring and become a Spirit Master."
He Caitou realized, "So you helped him hunt a Spirit Beast later?"
"Yes." Bei Bei nodded. "We saw that it was too dangerous for him alone, so we offered to help. But that kid was stubborn and insisted on doing it himself. We planned to watch over him from behind to prevent any accidents."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the figure encircled by golden light in the distance, and whispered:
"As for what happened after... you all know."
Xu Sanshi and He Caitou exchanged a glance, both lost in thought.
"I see..."
Xu Sanshi murmured, then became curious again.
"What about the Yuhao from the other World? Was it the same process?"
Bei Bei fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"I don't know. But... it should be about the same."
His gaze turned toward the Sky Screen. Deep in his eyes, there was an indescribable trace of complexity.
Because he vaguely felt that since the Huo Yuhao of that World was so powerful, there must be a significant difference from this World.
...
On the Sky Screen, the images continued to flow.
Just as Bei Bei had said, both Huo Yuhaos were by a small stream on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, intently roasting fish.
[In the left image—
The stream gurgled as a small, thin figure crouched on the bank, turning fish skewered on tree branches. The fish skin was roasted golden brown, and oil dripped onto the campfire with a sizzling sound, releasing a rich aroma.
A sound of footsteps approached.
Two young people appeared in view—a gentle and elegant man, and a charming, lovely woman.
The woman sniffed the air, her eyes fixed on the roasted fish.
"It smells so good! Bei Bei, smell this quickly, it's amazing!"
The two followed the scent and saw the youth roasting fish.
Tang Ya's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward quickly. "Little brother, did you roast this fish? It smells wonderful! Can you share one with us?"
The thin youth looked up, eyeing them warily.
In the left image, the youth's gaze held caution, but facing Tang Ya's enthusiasm and Bei Bei's gentle smile, that wariness was slowly melting away.
[In the right image—
The exact same scene.
The stream gurgled, the roasted fish sizzled, and the aroma filled the air.
Tang Ya and Bei Bei followed the scent, and Tang Ya spoke up with sparkling eyes to ask for fish.
The thin youth looked up, his gaze sweeping over the two.
His gaze was equally wary, but deep within those eyes, there was something... something Tang Ya and Bei Bei couldn't decipher.
It was scrutiny, evaluation, a calmness that a ten-year-old child shouldn't possess.
But in just an instant, that look vanished.
He nodded slightly, took two roasted fish from the fire, and handed them over.
"Thank you, thank you!"
Tang Ya took the fish and couldn't wait to take a bite. Her eyes immediately shone like stars. "Delicious! It's so good! Bei Bei, try it quickly!"
Bei Bei smiled as he took it and had a taste, surprise flashing in his eyes. "Little brother, your skill is really impressive. It can't be easy being in this forest alone, can it?"
The answers from both Huo Yuhaos were identical:
"It's alright. I'm used to it."
...
By the campfire, the three sat together.
Tang Ya chattered away, asking all sorts of questions while eating, and Bei Bei added gentle remarks from the side.
Both Huo Yuhaos answered one by one, but the manner of their responses showed subtle differences.
In the left image, Huo Yuhao's answers carried the awkwardness and restraint of a youth, and he would occasionally blush at Tang Ya's jokes.
In the right image, Huo Yuhao's answers were also concise, but every word was perfectly measured, neither revealing too much information nor appearing cold or distant.
He even handed over a water skin when Tang Ya choked on a fish bone—as if he had long anticipated it would happen.
Tang Ya took the water skin, gulped down a few mouthfuls, and let out a long breath. "Phew... I'm back to life! Thank you, little brother!"
Huo Yuhao shook his head slightly without speaking.
Looking at this youth, Bei Bei felt a strange sensation in his heart—
This child was too thorough, too... unlike a child.
But he didn't think much of it, assuming a child from a poor family simply matures early.
After the meal, both Huo Yuhaos bid farewell to Bei Bei and Tang Ya at the same time and headed deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest alone.
In the left image, Huo Yuhao's steps were firm, his eyes filled with the stubbornness and expectation unique to a youth.
In the right image, Huo Yuhao's steps were equally firm, but his eyes were as calm as a mirror without a single ripple—he even went out of his way to avoid ground where he might easily leave tracks before departing.
By the lakeside, someone discussed in a low voice:
"The Yuhao of that World... why does he look a bit... too calm?"
"You're overthinking it, right? Children from poor families all mature early."
"No... look at his eyes, that gaze..."
No one could answer that question.
Because on the screen, both Huo Yuhaos had simultaneously encountered a crisis—
A ten-year Wind Baboon lunged out from the bushes!
The gray shadow was as fast as lightning, its sharp claws aiming straight for Huo Yuhao's throat!
In the left image, Huo Yuhao's pupils constricted, and his body instinctively leaned back—but he was just an ordinary person without any spirit power.
That claw grazed his shoulder, tearing away a large chunk of flesh, and blood gushed out!
He let out a muffled groan but endured the pain, pulling out a short dagger from his waist—it was the white tiger dagger he had brought from the Duke's Mansion.
The Wind Baboon missed its strike and turned to pounce again!
Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth, and at the moment the gray shadow reached him, he fiercely stabbed the dagger into its eye!
Puchi—
Blood sprayed!
The Wind Baboon shrieked in pain, twitched a few times on the ground, and stopped moving.
The Huo Yuhao on the left slumped to the ground, panting heavily as he looked at the corpse, his eyes full of the relief of surviving a disaster.
In the right image—
The exact same scene.
The Wind Baboon lunged from the bushes, its sharp claws tearing through the air.
The Huo Yuhao on the right also rolled to dodge, and his shoulder was also torn, blood gushing out.
He pulled out the white tiger dagger from his waist, and at the moment the Wind Baboon pounced again, he also stabbed toward its eye—
But the difference was that his movements were more precise and decisive.
After that strike pierced the eye, his wrist twisted, and the dagger churned half a circle inside the baboon's skull, directly destroying its brain.
The Wind Baboon didn't even have time to shriek before it fell straight down.
The Huo Yuhao on the right slumped to the ground but didn't pant. Instead, he immediately covered his wound and quickly tore strips of cloth from his clothes to bandage himself.
His movements were skilled and calm, as if he had experienced this kind of life-and-death struggle countless times.
By the lake, everyone fell silent.
It was clearly the same battle and the same victory.
But the Huo Yuhao of that World made one's spine tingle for some reason.