Welcome, everyone! I appreciate your interest in my translated novels. I hope my translations enable you to fully enjoy these stories.
I want to clarify that I will not be posting this novel on Patreon or asking you to visit there for access to advanced chapters, as many other translators do. However, I am human, and like everyone else, I need motivation to continue my translation work.
What motivates me the most? Financial support. I would appreciate any help you can offer to support my translations. If you can spare some funds, it would go a long way in providing me with a bit of pocket money for my efforts.
Thank you for your support, and I sincerely hope you enjoy my translations! Please note that in my country, PayPal is not supported.
Here are some methods to support me:
PAYEER: P1134728698
Skrill : [email protected]
Webmoney (WMZ Purse): Z820148229030
-------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 17 — Then Work With Me
"Little Huo! I heard your grilled fish stall has been doing amazing lately, huh? Not bad, kid, not bad at all!"
Just as Huo Yuhao stepped out of the street market, he spotted Huang Yu walking toward him with a broad grin. As the man in charge of the entire food district, Huang Yu knew perfectly well what lines not to cross. When Huo Yuhao had first arrived, he'd discreetly handed him a Gold Soul Coin as a greeting gift — that alone spoke volumes. If the boy was making money, that was his skill and hard work.
After all, if he started tripping up every popular stall owner out of jealousy, who would still dare to rent space here?
As the two approached, Huang Yu noticed that Huo Yuhao's expression looked darker than usual. The smile on his face faded slightly.
"What's wrong? Someone bullying you?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head gently. "No, Uncle Huang. It's just that… a friend might be in trouble. I'm going to check on her."
"Want me to bring a few men to go with you?"
"Thank you, Uncle Huang, but it's nothing serious. I can handle it myself."
At that, Huang Yu nodded slowly. "Alright then. Just be careful, boy. If anything happens that you can't handle, don't act rashly. I still know a few people in Heaven Dou City."
He chuckled faintly, patting Huo Yuhao's shoulder with his broad hand. "I'd hate to see my stall space sitting empty. It's only been two days, and everyone's been talking about your grilled fish — even I've been tempted to come try it."
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. "If Uncle Huang comes, I won't take your money."
"Bah, brat. You think I can't afford a few fish? Go on now, don't waste time chatting with me."
After thanking him once more, Huo Yuhao turned and disappeared into the bustling streets. Watching his retreating figure, one of Huang Yu's underlings hesitated, then leaned closer.
"Brother Huang, why do you care so much about that kid?"
Huang Yu didn't answer immediately. He pulled out a cigarette roll from his pocket and placed it between his lips. The lackey quickly struck a match and lit it for him.
"Hiss—huu—"
He exhaled a cloud of smoke, eyes half-lidded, and murmured, "Just feels like that kid's carrying too much on his shoulders. I just… want to help a little."
Through the drifting haze, a hint of melancholy flickered in his gaze. "As someone who has a child myself, I can't stand seeing one that young shouldering that kind of weight."
A pause. Then his tone softened. "Though, looking at him now… he's far stronger than I gave him credit for."
——
Bang!
A thunderous crack split the air.
The heavy wooden plaque engraved with two characters — Tang Sect — crashed from the tall gatehouse to the ground, shattering into splinters.
In front of the fallen plaque stood a tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged man. A mocking smile crept across his face — but in the next instant, it twisted into ferocity.
At his feet, one white, two yellow, and three purple soul rings rose in sequence.
The might of a Soul Emperor erupted without restraint, his soul power sweeping through the air like a storm. The crowd of onlookers who had gathered at the noise immediately froze. Those who met his eyes quickly averted their gazes, trembling under the oppressive aura.
"What are you staring at? Never seen a demolition before!? Scram!"
His bellow carried soul power, sending ripples of sound through the air. The crowd scattered like frightened birds, leaving the area empty in moments.
Soon after, two young men hurried over and bowed respectfully.
"Sect Master."
Seeing their empty hands, the Soul Emperor's brows knitted together.
"Did you find her?"
A flicker of fear flashed in the two men's eyes. One swallowed hard before stammering out, "R-Reporting to Sect Master… The Tang Sect's secret passage is too well hidden. We couldn't find it."
"Useless trash!"
The middle-aged man roared, his voice like thunder. "You can't even catch a little girl!? Heaven Dou City isn't that big! Expand the search — I want her found!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The two young men hastily agreed and scurried off. Only when they were sure their Sect Master could no longer see them did they exhale shakily.
"'Heaven Dou City isn't that big,' he says. Then why doesn't he come help look for himself? We'll be searching like this for three days and still find nothing — the girl's probably long gone."
"Cut the whining. Orders are orders. Anyway…" The other man smirked slyly. "That Tang Sect girl's supposed to be pretty cute. If we do find her… heheh."
The first man's irritation faded as he caught his companion's tone. A crooked grin tugged at his lips. Their pace unconsciously quickened.
They turned into a narrow alleyway and searched around. Finding nothing, they were just about to leave when they froze — a small figure stood silently at the mouth of the alley.
Sunlight slanted down from behind him, casting his face entirely in shadow. Only those ice-blue eyes gleamed from the darkness, colder than winter frost.
The two men exchanged wary glances and immediately drew their blades.
"Kid, what do you want?"
"You two… aren't you from that sect master's people?"
Huo Yuhao's tone carried faint surprise as his gaze flicked toward their weapons.
Before they could respond, he shook his head lightly.
"Forget it. Doesn't matter. I only need to ask you a few questions."
He reached into his storage space and drew out the White Tiger Dagger. Under the sunlight, its edge shimmered with a lethal gleam.
"If I end up being too heavy-handed," he said softly, "I'll have to ask for your forgiveness."
——
Tang Ya sat huddled in an empty alleyway, arms wrapped around her knees, staring blankly at the dirt.
Her stomach had long been growling from hunger, but she didn't move.
Thanks to the Tang Sect's secret escape passage — built long ago as a safeguard — she had managed to escape the Ironblood Sect's sudden raid. But her parents… had stayed behind to protect her. They would never be coming back.
In her clenched hand was a storage ring — the final legacy of the Tang Sect, containing the last of their rare metals meant for hidden weapon crafting. Her parents had given it to her the night before, smiling as they handed it over.
Everything had happened too suddenly, like a nightmare. Her mind was still a haze; she'd sat there all day, unable to think what to do next.
Then — footsteps. Slow and steady, echoing from the alley entrance.
She didn't react, not until the steps paused… then came closer. Her heart stirred with a trace of panic.
They've found me…? The Ironblood Sect?
The footsteps stopped before her, and a gentle voice broke the silence.
"If you don't eat, your body will collapse."
Tang Ya flinched violently. She lifted her head — and saw two skewers of grilled fish held out before her. The aroma had faded with time, but it was still warm enough to make her empty stomach twist painfully.
"Eat," Huo Yuhao said quietly. "I promised I'd save some for you."
He didn't try to comfort her, didn't offer hollow words. He simply pushed the food closer.
Tang Ya stared at the skewers for a long while before slowly taking them. For a moment, she just looked down at them blankly — then suddenly, as if a switch had been flipped, she tore into the fish with trembling hands, devouring it like a starving beast.
Tears welled again in her already swollen eyes. She tried wiping them away with her arm, but they kept falling, unstoppable.
The sight would've been almost comical, yet the boy beside her didn't smile. He simply sat down next to her, silent, watching the sky beyond the alley.
Eventually, Tang Ya stopped trying to wipe her face. Her quiet sobs mingled with the sound of chewing as she forced herself to eat every bite.
When both skewers were gone, she finally exhaled shakily, as though a bit of life had returned to her. She looked toward Huo Yuhao, her voice hoarse.
"Why did you come?"
"I saved these two fish for you," he replied softly. "You didn't show up, and I couldn't bear to waste them. So I brought them to you."
Tang Ya froze, unable to speak for a long moment. When she finally found her voice, she asked, "Then… how did you find this place?"
If even the Ironblood Sect couldn't locate her, how had this boy managed to?
"Luck, I suppose. I've always been pretty lucky," he said with a faint smile. "I just searched around, and here you were."
"Liar."
Tang Ya's voice trembled, but her words were sharp. "It's almost night now."
If he had started searching at noon, he'd have been looking the entire afternoon.
"Alright, fine." Huo Yuhao raised his hands helplessly. "I heard you were from the Tang Sect, so I figured there must've been an escape tunnel — but it wouldn't be near the main compound. So I expanded the search circle little by little. Took me quite a while to find you, you know."
After all, anyone who put their secret exit right next to their own sect grounds would've died out generations ago.
Tang Ya fell silent. Then, slowly, she took off her storage ring and held it out to him. "Here — the rare metals I promised you."
"I can't afford something like this," Huo Yuhao said, startled.
But Tang Ya pushed it into his hand, voice firm. "Take it. Call it payment for the fish. If not for you, I wouldn't have even managed to bring these out."
He chuckled softly. "That's worth far more than a few fish."
Even so, he didn't refuse again. He took the ring, studying her expression. "What will you do next?"
"I… I don't know."
"Do you want revenge?"
His question was quiet — but it made her body tremble. Images of her parents' final smiles, the moment they pushed her into the tunnel, flashed before her eyes. Her fists clenched until her nails dug into her palms.
"I do," she whispered.
"Then," Huo Yuhao said, rising slowly, his gaze firm and calm, "Cooperate with me."
(End of Chapter)