Wang Donger turned back to look at Huo Yuhao, her eyes filled with an unconcealable worry; she was clearly anxious that her Second Dad might do something outrageous.
Er Ming met her gaze, which was filled with unease, and couldn't help but inwardly mutter, "A girl's heart always turns outward."
She hadn't even married yet, and she had already learned how to turn her elbows outward; he felt quite helpless watching this.
He waved his hand impatiently: "Rest assured, I won't do anything to him; it's just some talk between men."
Wang Donger glanced at Huo Yuhao once more, and only after Huo Yuhao gave her a slight nod did she withdraw her gaze, walking out of the reception hall with a hesitant step every few paces.
The door was gently closed, leaving only Huo Yuhao and Er Ming in the reception hall.
Er Ming leaned back into the sofa, looking at Huo Yuhao with a calm gaze.
After a moment of silence, he spoke, his tone more solemn than at any time before: "Kid, let me ask you, do you really like Donger?"
Huo Yuhao did not hesitate, replying almost as soon as the words fell: "Of course I do."
Er Ming's expression was noncommittal, and then he sighed softly and said: "Donger was born in the Clear Sky Sect. She was born with an Innate deficiency and a very weak Physique. Her parents tried everything, but they never saw any results."
Huo Yuhao's expression remained normal upon hearing this, but a wave of irrepressible confusion surged in his heart.
Wang Donger's father is the Sea God Tang San, one of the five great God Kings of the Divine Realm!
A god's child, actually born with an Innate deficiency? This was truly hard for him to believe.
However, he just sat there quietly, not interrupting Er Ming's words, waiting for him to continue.
Er Ming did not look at his expression, as if recalling long-distant past events: "When Donger was three years old, her Spirit awakened automatically, and what awakened were Twin Spirits."
"For her at that time, this was not a good thing."
"The power of the Twin Spirits far exceeded the limit that her frail body could withstand, placing a greater burden on her body and planting a massive hidden trauma within her."
"Her father used all his power to act, but could only suppress the hidden injury within her until she turned twenty."
Listening to these words from Er Ming, Huo Yuhao's brows gradually furrowed.
He rested his fingertips lightly on his knees, his mind racing as he judged the veracity of Er Ming's words.
Was Wang Donger really in mortal danger?
If it were true, what was the real purpose of the other party mentioning this to him?
He had no answer to the first question, but the second question found its answer in Er Ming's next supplementary sentence.
"After years of searching and investigation, Donger's parents finally found an Immortal Herb capable of curing the hidden injury within her."
"However, the conditions for picking this Immortal Herb are extremely harsh; one must have a unique, unreserved, and devoted heart of love for Donger in order to pick it."
He paused, his gaze falling on Huo Yuhao's face, his tone deepening: "Since you say you truly love Donger, then go and pick this Immortal Herb."
"This will not only prove your sincerity toward her but also save Donger's life."
Huo Yuhao had read the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record and was no stranger to the various Heaven And Earth Treasure recorded within it; now, based on Er Ming's description, he had roughly deduced what the Immortal Herb the other party was talking about was.
Yearning Heartbroken Red; he had seen that flower around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He loved Wang Donger, a fact he did not deny.
But that love was not "unique."
Complex emotions surged in Huo Yuhao's heart, but he did not reveal even a hint of it on his face.
He knew that right now, in front of Er Ming, he still had to play the part.
Almost as soon as Er Ming finished speaking, he asked with a perfectly timed sense of urgency: "Senior, what is this Immortal Herb? Where can it be picked?"
Er Ming seemed to have long anticipated that he would ask this; he unhurriedly took out a folded map, placed it on the coffee table beside him, and pointed with his finger: "This Immortal Herb is called Yearning Heartbroken Red, and as for its location... it is on this map."
This was a test Tang San had designed long ago; he had once told Da Ming and Er Ming that wanting to be his son-in-law was not such an easy matter.
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao immediately straightened his expression, took the map in his hand, and declared: "Rest assured, Senior, I will make a trip there."
His expression was sincere, his gaze firm, and even Er Ming, sitting to the side, couldn't help but nod slightly after seeing it, as if he finally had a shred of approval for this young man.
Huo Yuhao took in the other's reaction, not revealing any flaws.
However, he immediately changed the subject: "But Senior, the All-Continent Youth Spirit Master Tournament is about to be held, and Donger is also a participant. I'm afraid the matter of retrieving the Immortal Herb will have to wait until after this competition ends."
Er Ming's eyes flashed with a hint of dissatisfaction upon hearing this.
It was as if he was saying, could a mere competition be more important than Donger's life?
However, he ultimately did not say these words out loud, only remaining silent for a moment before finally replying indifferently: "As long as you know what you are doing. Donger is only two years away from her twentieth birthday."
Huo Yuhao nodded and replied earnestly: "Before Donger turns twenty, I will definitely resolve the hidden injury on her."
He said "resolve the hidden injury," but he did not say "retrieve the Yearning Heartbroken Red."
After all, he was not sure if he could pick this Immortal Herb; this subtle difference in wording was room he deliberately left for himself to buy time.
Although Er Ming had entered human society for many years, he had spent most of his time in the Clear Sky Sect and was not proficient in the convoluted way humans spoke.
Listening to Huo Yuhao's earnest promise, he only felt that this kid had a good attitude and didn't think too much of it.
Afterwards, there were no common topics left between the two, and this conversation came to an end in a mundane way.
Huo Yuhao escorted Er Ming to Wang Donger's side, and only after watching their figures walking side by side disappear at the end of the corridor did the smile on his face slowly fade away.
He stood in place, silent for a moment.
A single flower could test true love?
Even if the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record had it recorded, Huo Yuhao was somewhat skeptical.
Moreover, he did not believe that Tang San would watch helplessly as his daughter faced a life-threatening crisis, nor did he believe that a God King would be unable to do anything about his daughter's old injury and would have to rely on a flower to solve it.
Of course, the reason Huo Yuhao made such a promise was also because he believed in his teacher, Electrolux.
Although this teacher from another world only called himself a demigod, in Huo Yuhao's heart, he was an almost omnipotent existence; he believed that his teacher should have a way to resolve the hidden injury on Wang Donger.
Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao immersed himself into his own Spiritual Sea.
Before he could even speak, Electrolux's figure had already appeared.
Electrolux had seen everything outside just now, and naturally knew the purpose of Huo Yuhao appearing here at this moment.
He spoke directly: "I had previously sensed that something was amiss with that little girl Wang Donger, but whether it can be resolved will only be certain after a careful investigation."
Huo Yuhao's confidence in his teacher surged upon hearing this, and he immediately said: "I will have to trouble you again, Teacher."
Electrolux smiled: "There is no need for such politeness between us; if not for you, I would not have been able to recover to this state so quickly."
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.