The figure that entered had softly flowing golden hair. The reflected light gave a warm feeling. Ruby-like eyes sparkled with excitement. Her skin was as fair and translucent as fresh snow. Her cheeks flushed with a rosy glow from joy, making her delicate face even more charming.
She held a delicately woven small basket in her hands. The white silk hem of her dress swayed with her light steps. Her entire being was like an elf dancing out of the forest.
"Na'er, look what I brought you..."
Her cheerful voice stopped abruptly. Gu Ruiqiu suddenly halted, her gaze falling on the blue-haired young man beside Gu Yuena. A flicker of surprise passed through her red eyes, then she narrowed them.
"We have a guest. My apologies."
She gently placed the small basket on the nearby tea table, folded her hands before her skirt, and bowed slightly. "I am Na'er's older sister, Gu Ruiqiu. First meeting."
Gu Ruiqiu gracefully straightened up, a smile lingering at the corners of her mouth. "Na'er's character is somewhat simple and simple. If there is any lack of hospitality, I hope you will understand."
Huo Yuhao: "..."
He glanced at Gu Yuena's cold and indifferent expression, momentarily silent.
Na'er's family status in this home was concerning.
Gu Yuena took a deep breath. Her face was cool as she said, "Stop pretending. There are no outsiders here. Who are you putting on this act for? Are you trying to pretend you don't know Yuhao and take advantage of me?"
If you don't discipline her for one day, she'll be on the roof.
What would happen after three years without discipline?
The person before she had already given her the answer.
"Pretending? I'm not."
Gu Ruiqiu tilted her head in feigned confusion. She looked at her and asked, "And what do you mean, no outsiders?"
"..."
A faint blush rose on Gu Yuena's face. A cold glint flashed in her eyes. The atmosphere in the room instantly became sinister and sinister.
Seeing this, Gu Ruiqiu wisely put away the smile on her face. She picked up the basket beside her, sat down next to Gu Yuena, and took out delicate desserts from it. "My Lord, I haven't seen you in a few years. I'm a bit excited. Just joking."
Based on her understanding, as long as she stopped in time and appeased her with delicious food, her little sister... ah, no, her Lord would soon calm down.
Gu Yuena glanced at the desserts, but her gaze did not linger on them. Instead, she looked toward Huo Yuhao on the other side.
"My Lord?" Gu Ruiqiu tentatively pushed the desserts forward.
Gu Yuena ignored her. She looked at Huo Yuhao with her clear, bright eyes.
Understanding, Huo Yuhao took out a box of pastries. The moment the lid opened, a rich milky fragrance mixed with the sweetness of honey instantly filled the air.
Gu Yuena's amethyst eyes were noticeably brightened. Her slender fingers picked up a piece. The flaky crust crumbled between her fingertips, revealing the crystal sugar threads within.
Gu Yuena took a small bite. The sweet, not-greasy taste melted on her tongue, making her unconsciously narrow her eyes.
Gu Ruiqiu: "..."
The smile on her face gradually faded. Although there was no wind inside the room, she felt an inexplicable chill and sadness wash over her.
So, her duty of feeding her Lord had been taken away.
It was as if a voice sounded in Gu Ruiqiu's ear.
There's no place for you in this home anymore!
Watching from the side, Huo Yuhao was speechless.
The way you get the upper hand is quite unique, Na'er.
But this can only be considered a mutual injury, can't it?
What about your dignity?
I feel like it's already gone.
After a bit of noise, Gu Yuena had let off some steam and stopped being angry. Gu Ruiqiu, whose heart had been wounded, ate her own desserts, gradually calmed down, looked Huo Yuhao up and down, and reintroduced herself.
"This is, in a sense, our first meeting. My current name is Gu Ruiqiu."
"My real name is Huo Yuhao. First meeting."
Huo Yuhao looked at Gu Ruiqiu's appearance. He inwardly compared her to someone, looking for similarities.
Gu Ruiqiu temporarily stopped her appraisal. She said with interest, "So you really are human? I used to hear rumors that you were a reincarnation of Ice Empress. They were quite convincing and hard to refute. If Emperor Tian hadn't been certain you were human, I might have believed them."
At this point, she paused. A flicker passed through her red eyes. "Emperor Tian and my Lord have probably already thanked you. I won't say much on that. After all, I've said those things over your tombstone. Saying them to your face now feels strange."
"..."
Was the tombstone joke never going to go away?
Why did it feel like everyone liked to harp on that point, as if they'd only be happy if he was gone?
Huo Yuhao was somewhat speechless. But looking at the hint of amusement in Gu Ruiqiu's red eyes, he couldn't help shaking his head with a wry smile.
"I'm still here, and you're already thinking about my tombstone?"
Gu Ruiqiu blinked, a beaming smile on her face. "What, the great Spirit-Ice Douluo can't take a little joke? Besides, we were quite serious. Your tombstone is one of the holy sites of the Star Dou Great Forest. Emperor Tian personally carved the inscription. Besides it are incense sticks lit by Savage Beasts. It is the highest level of treatment."
"By the way, even though you're back, only we know about it. So your tombstone is still there. In recent years, spirit beasts have still been going to pay respects."
"...That's really not necessary. Just stop it."
It felt a bit creepy, like cursing him.
With Gu Ruiqiu taking the initiative to lighten the atmosphere, Huo Yuhao's expression became natural. Seeing the two women look at him with strange expressions, he said, "It seems I was being a bit rude just now."
"I can vaguely sense your unease. We've only interacted a few times. We weren't familiar ten thousand years ago. It's a bit strange to see you with a reminiscent expression."
Gu Ruiqiu picked up a nearby teacup, poured tea for the three, and sat on Gu Yuena's other side. "I don't think there's anything worth remembering about those lecturing-type scenes."
Her few encounters with Huo Yuhao had been spent in his lectures about the future of spirit beasts. That had also been the source of her sense of responsibility.
But to be honest, they weren't good memories. If not for the fact that she couldn't beat him ten thousand years ago, she would have punched Huo Yuhao in the face.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about whether you look like someone I've met." Huo Yuhao's tone was casual, revealing no inner fluctuation.
Good. The result was very good. Not a single similarity. Good.
Gu Ruiqiu was taken aback. "How could I look like someone else? I am an Imperial Auspicious Beast. When I take human form, I do so according to my own preferences. What makes you think I would someone else's appearance?"
She paused, looked at Gu Yuena, and after a moment's thought, gave a wry smile. "You weren't thinking that my appearance looked very similar to my Lord's, were you?"
"My transformation is neither to please others nor to be someone's shadow."
"I wanted to use my own eyes, from another perspective, to see the scenery of this world. To live my own life. As for my appearance, of course, I just need to look good to myself."
Huo Yuhao shook his head and smiled. "That is as it should be."
Gu Ruiqiu furrowed her delicate brows and muttered, "Just like before... saying things that seem to have hidden meanings."
With that, she turned to Gu Yuena and began catching up after their long separation, no longer talking to Huo Yuhao.
Over the years, it was she who had spent the most time with her Lord. Even her subtle habits carried traces of her. Their relationship had long surpassed a simple superior-subordinate dynamic.
Having not seen each other in years, she had much to say.
Watching Gu Ruiqiu and Gu Yuena talk, Huo Yuhao looked away. He quietly watched the tea leaves floating in his cup, raised the cup, and took a sip.
Some people are best left as passing acquaintances.
"It's about time to make dinner."
After chatting for a while, Gu Ruiqiu realized it was getting late. She was about to go make dinner when she noticed that someone was already standing in the kitchen.
This guy had completely taken her ecological niche!
Gu Ruiqiu sat back down, disgruntled. She stole a glance at Huo Yuhao, busy in the kitchen, then turned to Gu Yuena, her red eyes flickering.
"My Lord, he is a guest. I should be the one to host him."
Gu Yuena had already calmed down. Hearing her words now, she looked up from the teacup in her hand toward the kitchen. The corner of her mouth unconsciously softened.
"Yuhao is different," she said softly. The tea in her cup reflected shifting light and shadow. "He is family."
"..."
Gu Ruiqiu looked at her expression, momentarily stunned. The aroma drifting from the kitchen suddenly became extraordinarily clear. It mixed with an indescribable emotion, slowly spreading through the silent air.
Finally, Gu Ruiqiu responded softly, "Yes. I understand."
Soon after, the three ate dinner. Huo Yuhao noticed that Gu Ruiqiu's tone when speaking to him seemed a bit closer, without the previous sense of distance one would have toward a guest.
What had Na'er said?
"At the Spirit Transmission Tower headquarters, you're quite famous now." A flicker of mischief was mixed with amusement in Gu Ruiqiu's eyes. "Quite a few people are very interested in you. Some are even waiting at the entrance for you to arrive."
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Then they'll be disappointed. They might have to wait a few days."
"Although I also think challenging you won't end well for them, don't be too overconfident. You might capsize in a puddle." Gu Ruiqiu shrugged. "Among the Alternate Spirit Transmission Envoys, there are also those who have taken an interest in you. And they are all Three-Word Battle Armor Masters at the Soul Sage level or above."
The status of the four Spirit Transmission Envoys was second only to the three Vice Tower
Masters and the Spirit Transmission Tower Tower Master, equal to the branch tower masters of the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars.
And at headquarters, the usual path of advancement was: core disciple, Alternate Spirit Transmission Envoy, Spirit Transmission Envoy, then campaign for Tower Master in the assembly of council members.
The Tower Master election had been held three years ago, when Huo Yuhao and the others were nine years old. The next reelection would be in seven years. That had nothing to do with them for now. But the Alternate Spirit Transmission Envoys were another matter.
Sooner or later, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena would be promoted to the position of Alternate Spirit Transmission Envoy. That was a necessary and necessary process.
The position of Alternate Spirit Transmission Envoy considered multiple factors such as age and strength. But those who could hold this position were basically all Three-Word Battle Armor Masters at the Soul Sage level or above.
"Does that include you?" Huo Yuhao looked at the beaming Gu Ruiqiu.
She had been a member of the Spirit Transmission Tower for quite some time. She was also an Alternate Spirit Transmission Envoy, and the strongest among them, and could be promoted to Spirit Transmission Envoy at any time.
"Yes... I'm somewhat interested." Gu Ruiqiu blinked. "Why, scared? I can fight without my Battle Armor."
Ten thousand years ago, she couldn't beat him. Now that he hadn't recovered, he was no match for her.
"Don't be silly."
Gu Yuena spoke from the side. "A Soul Sage challenging a Soul King is not something an ordinary person would do. Unless Yuhao takes the initiative to challenge them, they will not make a move. Tell us about the others."
This girl must not act recklessly. Once they fought, given his goals, Yuhao would not hold back.
And from Gu Ruiqiu's perspective, Yuhao would certainly be an opponent she would need to fight with all her strength.
The scene might become somewhat ugly. She would be distressed whether either got hurt. Better to stop Gu Ruiqiu's idea.
"..."
Gu Ruiqiu saw the look in Gu Yuena's eyes and muttered, "I know. I won't fight."
At this point, her gaze turned to Huo Yuhao. "Among those eager to challenge you, some have a connection to you..."
At the Spirit Transmission Tower headquarters, many spirit masters had waited half a day without seeing the person they were waiting for. They found it odd.
What had happened? Why hadn't he come?
It was only when Ling Zichen walked out of the Research Institute and saw the group blocking the entrance that she said flatly, "Don't bother waiting. Today, he went to the Mecha Designer Association headquarters and received an invitation from Mingde Hall because of it. He won't be coming for now."
"What?!"
At this, the entire hall erupted.
"An invitation from Mingde Hall? But he has taken the title 'Spirit Transmission.' How could he be favored by Mingde Hall?"
"Mingde Hall hasn't issued a single invitation in nearly a years hundred. He was able to accomplish such a thing..."
A young spirit master asked in shock, "Having reached such levels in both spirit master cultivation and his secondary profession, is he destined to reach the apex in both?"
"Sister Ling, is this true?"
Many looked toward Ling Zichen.
"If you think it's fake, go verify it yourself." Seeing Ling Zichen snort and turn to leave, the spirit master who had asked the question jumped in fear, his scalp tingling.
Ling Zichen was not to be trifled with. She could contend for first place among her peers because, in the Soul Tool Research Institute, she was already the most capable and promising researcher of the younger generation.
But even a person like Ling Zichen seemed to have been overshadowed when facing Huo Yuhao. The latter had actually received an invitation from Mingde Hall based on his research ability?
"Since it's an invitation from Mingde Hall, but the news hasn't spread yet, that means he hasn't gone to Mingde Hall. Arriving in Mingdu, instead of going to headquarters to report, he went to the Mecha Designer Association first. What does that mean?"
A spirit master murmured, sighed, and walked toward the training room. "I'm not waiting anymore. It doesn't look like he's coming today."
The group temporarily dispersed, planning to wait and see the next day.
Only one person remained standing there, a sharpness radiating from them, chilling those nearby.
For several days in a row, Huo Yuhao did not go to the Spirit Transmission Tower headquarters. Instead, he shuttled back and forth between his home and the Mecha Designer Association headquarters.
During this time, through his connection with Yi Hongchen, he had the time to report to Mingde Hall. He had also studied the Mecha Designer Association headquarters' collection over the years, increasing his own foundation.
Until the tenth day. Gu Yuena and Gu Ruiqiu saw that after his morning training, Huo Yuhao did not head toward the Mecha Designer Association. Instead, he looked toward the center of Mingdu. Their hearts stirred.
Here it comes.
***
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