Chapter 26: Huo Yun'er
After resting peacefully on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest for the night, the morning sun cast dappled light through the dense foliage.
Guarded by the three members of the Salon Solitaire, Furina and Huo Yuhao spent the night undisturbed by any Spirit Beasts.
Furina woke up early, stretched, and couldn't help but smile slightly as she looked at the sleeping Huo Yuhao.
Ever since he obtained the spirit ring from the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, his entire temperament had undergone a subtle change—although his spirit power Rank was still low, his eyes already held the sharpness that a Spirit Master should possess.
"Time to wake up, little Yuhao," Furina called out softly.
Huo Yuhao opened his eyes immediately.
He hadn't slept very deeply that night; the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm in his spiritual sea had been chatting with him from time to time, giving him a deeper understanding of the world of Spirit Masters.
"Good morning, Sister Furina."
Huo Yuhao quickly got up and deftly packed his luggage.
Furina took out fresh water and dry rations from her storage ring, and after the two had a simple breakfast, they set off on the road to Huo Yun'er's residence.
"Where does your mother live now?" Furina asked while walking, toying with the storage ring in her hand.
The one she was using now was a level higher than the previous one, with more than double the storage space, filled with various daily necessities and Cultivation resources.
Huo Yuhao pointed to the southeast: "In a small village on the outskirts of Star Luo City. Ever since we left the Duke's Mansion, my mother has been recuperating there. It's very quiet, and the villagers are very kind; they often help take care of my mother."
Furina nodded and took an exquisite jade bottle out of her storage ring: "This is a Heart-Nourishing Medicinal Pill I specially prepared. Although it's not a divine medicine, it's very beneficial for recuperating. Once we pick up your mother, have her take it on time, and I believe she will recover faster."
Huo Yuhao took the jade bottle, his fingers trembling slightly.
Since meeting Furina, his and his mother's lives had undergone earth-shaking changes.
Not only had his mother's condition been effectively controlled, but his own spirit power had also increased from Rank 8 to Rank 14 in a short time—a speed he wouldn't have dared to imagine before.
"Thank you, Sister Furina." Huo Yuhao carefully put away the jade bottle. "If it weren't for you, my mother and I might still be worrying about our livelihood."
Furina waved her hand, a bright smile on her face: "Don't be so polite. You are now a key talent we are cultivating in our Water God Cult. Not only is your spirit power improving rapidly, but your cooking skills are praised by everyone in the cult. Taking good care of you is also cultivating talent for the Water God Cult!"
Huo Yuhao smiled embarrassedly.
Indeed, during his time in the Water God Cult, his culinary talent had been fully utilized, and he had even earned the title of "Little Chef God."
What surprised him even more was that Furina not only provided Cultivation resources but also often personally guided his techniques for circulating spirit power, making his Cultivate more effective.
"Let's go!" Furina clapped her hands. "Mademoiselle Crabaletta has already scouted the path, let's try to reach your mother before noon."
The two left the temporary camp and headed towards Star Luo City.
As he walked, Huo Yuhao skillfully used his Spiritual Detection ability.
His Rank 14 spirit power allowed his detection range to reach nearly one hundred meters, and every blade of grass and tree around him was clearly presented in his mind.
"Sister Furina, there is a ten-year Soft-boned Rabbit two hundred meters ahead, resting on the grass." Huo Yuhao said suddenly, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes.
Furina nodded approvingly: "Not bad, you are becoming more and more proficient in using Spiritual Detection. However, Spirit Beasts like the Soft-boned Rabbit have a gentle temperament; as long as you don't provoke them, they generally won't attack humans, and roasted rabbit meat is very delicious."
Huo Yuhao said seriously: "I still need to work harder."
"Don't belittle yourself," Furina comforted. "You are not who you used to be. You know, for an ordinary Spirit Master to go from Rank 8 to Rank 14, it takes at least half a year or more, and you have only used less than three months. This talent is quite outstanding throughout the entire continent."
A warm current surged in Huo Yuhao's heart.
Indeed, with Furina's help, his Cultivation speed far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Not to mention that he now had the million-year Spirit Beast, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, in his spiritual sea.
Besides giving him a bunch of benefits, it might also allow him to avoid many detours in the cultivation of his mental attributes.
However, regarding the Second Martial Soul, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm said it would tell him the specific information when the time was right; now was not the time.
Along the way, Huo Yuhao constantly practiced the two Soul Skills: Spiritual Detection and Spiritual Sharing.
He shared the scenes he detected with Furina, and the two worked together more and more tacitly.
Furina discovered that Huo Yuhao had a unique talent for controlling mental force; often, only a little guidance was needed for him to draw inferences about other cases.
"That's Star Luo City ahead." After walking for most of the day, Huo Yuhao pointed to the city wall visible in the distance, his voice filled with complex emotions.
Furina keenly noticed the change in his expression and gently patted his shoulder: "Don't worry, I'm here. We will leave as soon as we pick up your mother; we won't attract anyone's attention."
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and nodded.
He led Furina around the city gate and walked along a remote path towards the outskirts of the city.
He had walked this path countless times, always sneaking out to buy medicine for his mother.
"It's right behind that hillside ahead." Huo Yuhao pointed into the distance. "The village is very small, with only twenty or so households. We rented a small hut at the end of the village, and the environment is very quiet. My mother previously wanted to help people mend clothes to supplement the family income, but I told her to focus on recuperating, and she doesn't need to worry about money."
"Later, I went to the Water God Cult to find a job, and then I met you, Sister Furina." Huo Yuhao's tone was full of gratitude.
Furina took two sets of ordinary coarse cloth clothes from her storage ring: "Let's change our attire before going in, so as not to attract attention."
The two found a secluded spot to change into villagers' attire, and Furina also used a plain headscarf to wrap her signature blue-white long hair.
After confirming their disguises were correct, they continued walking towards the village.
When Huo Yuhao led Furina to the simple thatched cottage at the end of the village, his heartbeat involuntarily accelerated.
The small vegetable garden in front of the house was well-tended, a few pieces of washed clothing swayed gently on the clothesline in the breeze, and curling smoke still drifted from the chimney.
"Mother?" Huo Yuhao called out softly, pushing open the slightly ajar wooden door.
The house was clean and tidy, with sunlight streaming in from the window, illuminating the entire room.
A gentle woman was sitting on a chair by the window mending clothes; hearing the sound, she looked up, and a surprised smile immediately bloomed on her face.
"Yuhao! You're back!" Huo Yun'er put down her work and walked forward quickly.
Huo Yuhao lunged forward and held his mother's hand tightly: "Mother, I'm back! I brought a friend to see you."
Furina followed into the room, carefully sizing up Huo Yun'er.
This former concubine of the Duke of White Tiger, although she had experienced many hardships, looked quite good at the moment.
Her complexion was rosy, her eyes were clear, and her demeanor revealed a quiet temperament, though her figure was still slightly thin, obviously needing continued recuperation.
"Hello, Auntie, I am Furina, a friend of Yuhao's." Furina said with a smile, taking the prepared medicine bottle from her storage ring. "I brought some heart-nourishing Medicinal Pill, which will be good for your body."
Huo Yun'er's gaze moved back and forth between Furina and her son, a flash of realization in her eyes: "Yuhao, this young lady is..."
"Mother, Sister Furina is the Pope of the Water God Cult." Huo Yuhao explained. "She is very kind to me, teaches me to Cultivate, and lets me work in the cult. I came this time to take you to live at the Water God Cult; the conditions there are better, and there are people specifically to take care of you."
Hearing this, Huo Yun'er hurriedly wanted to salute: "Thank you, Your Holiness, for your kindness!"
Furina quickly supported her: "Auntie, there is no need for such formalities. In our Water God Cult, these worldly formalities can be skipped; you can just treat me as an ordinary Junior."
As she spoke, Furina took an exquisite food box out of her storage ring: "You should taste this first; this is what Yuhao specially prepared for you."
Huo Yun'er looked at the exquisite snacks and the steaming porridge in the food box, her eyes slightly moist.
She hadn't seen her son looking so spirited for a long time, and what comforted her even more was that her son seemed to have found a trustworthy partner.
"Thank you for taking care of Yuhao." Huo Yun'er said to Furina, her voice somewhat choked with emotion.
Furina shook her head: "Auntie, you are too polite. Yuhao is excellent. Not only is he hardworking in his Cultivation, but his cooking skills are praised by everyone in the cult. Having him in the Water God Cult is our good fortune."
Huo Yuhao was busy serving porridge for his mother on the side.
Hearing this praise, his earlobes turned slightly red.
His spirit power had already reached Rank 14, making him a leader among the younger generation in the Water God Cult, but Furina was always more willing to praise his cooking, which made him feel both embarrassed and warm.
"Mother, you eat something first, and then we'll pack up." Huo Yuhao carefully helped his mother sit down. "Sister Furina said that the Water God Cult has specialized healing Spirit Masters and can invite the best doctors in Star Luo City, which will definitely help you fully recuperate."
Huo Yun'er looked at her son's hopeful eyes, then at Furina standing by and smiling, and finally nodded.
She ate the food her son handed her slowly, savoring every bite, her face filled with a happy smile.
Furina walked outside, leaving space for the mother and son to be alone.
She took a detailed map out of her storage ring and began to carefully plan the return route.
Although Huo Yuhao's current strength was not bad, she still had to be extra careful while traveling with Huo Yun'er, who needed recuperation.
"Sister Furina." After a while, Huo Yuhao's voice came from behind. "Mother agreed to come with us. She said that as long as she is with me, she can go anywhere."
Furina turned around and saw Huo Yuhao standing at the door, tears of emotion flashing in his eyes.
She walked over and gently hugged the boy who was half a head shorter than her: "That's great! Let's help your mother pack her luggage now."
The three of them began to organize Huo Yun'er's belongings.
Actually, there wasn't much that needed to be brought, and Furina's storage ring had plenty of space.
Huo Yun'er's condition was much better than expected; at least she could move freely and could help with packing.
"There's no need to bring these quilts; the Water God Cult has everything prepared." Furina said, briskly putting some daily necessities into the storage ring. "Auntie, do you see anything else you particularly want to take with you?"
Huo Yun'er looked around the small house she had lived in for a long time, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by firmness: "The most important things are some of Yuhao's childhood items, and some medicinal herbs. Everything else doesn't need to be brought."
During the packing process, Huo Yun'er would cough a few times, but her overall condition was still stable.
Huo Yuhao stayed by his mother's side the whole time, taking care of her attentively.
"Auntie, take this." Furina handed an exquisite sachet to Huo Yun'er. "There are some calming medicinal herbs inside; it will be more comfortable to smell it on the road."
Huo Yun'er gratefully took the sachet, when suddenly a violent cough struck.
Huo Yuhao hurriedly supported his mother, his eyes full of heartache.
"I'm fine..." Huo Yun'er barely managed to steady her breathing, patting her son's hand. "I'm just a little tired. I'm very happy to be able to leave here and be with Yuhao."
Seeing this scene, Furina secretly made up her mind to help Huo Yun'er fully recuperate.
She turned and gave a wink to Surintendante Chevalmarin, who was floating in the air.
The latter immediately understood, floated to Huo Yun'er's side, and released gentle water element fluctuations to help her alleviate her discomfort.
That afternoon, everything was ready.
Huo Yun'er sat on a comfortable "sedan" made of bubbles by Mademoiselle Crabaletta, escorted in turns by Gentilhomme Usher and Surintendante Chevalmarin.
Huo Yuhao and Furina walked in front to scout the path, with Spiritual Detection fully activated to ensure that no danger would be encountered.
"Sister Furina," when passing through a small forest, Huo Yuhao suddenly stopped, his expression exceptionally serious, "Thank you for everything you have done for me and my mother. I... I will definitely use my lifelong loyalty to repay your kindness."
Furina was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and ruffled his hair: "What silly things are you saying? In the Water God Cult, we are all family. Isn't taking care of each other what we should do?"
Huo Yuhao nodded heavily, a firm light flashing in his eyes.
In his spiritual sea, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm lazily rolled over and said in a voice that only Huo Yuhao could hear: "This little girl is not bad; my judgment was indeed correct!"
And in another corner of the spiritual sea, that mysterious gray light ball was still floating quietly, waiting for the right moment to wake up.
As the sun set, the group steadily advanced towards the Water God Cult.
Huo Yuhao knew that their new life had just begun.
With Furina's help, his mother's condition would definitely improve, and he himself would go further and further on the path of a Spirit Master.
The night grew darker, but the road ahead was still clear under the moonlight.
Huo Yuhao supported his mother, Furina chatted and joked on the side to amuse Huo Yun'er, and the three members of the Salon Solitaire guarded the surroundings vigilantly.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao felt a long-lost warmth and peace of mind.
"When we arrive at the Water God Cult, I will make my mother her favorite steamed fish." Huo Yuhao thought silently in his heart, "And I must continue to work hard on my Cultivation, not failing Sister Furina's expectations."
The starlight dotted the sky, illuminating the road ahead for them, and also illuminating the infinite longing for the future in Huo Yuhao's heart.