Chapter 49: Journey to the Far North
After laying out her development plans, Furina set down her ink-drenched quill and lifted her eyes toward Huo Yuhao. The corner of her lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. She had already guessed the reason for his visit—the plan to awaken his second martial soul in the Far North was finally ready to be set in motion.
"You didn't come looking for me just to hear about those plans, did you? Mm... your breakthrough went quite smoothly." She asked the question she already knew the answer to, her gaze tracing the faint flush of excitement coloring the young man's cheeks.
"Mm!" Huo Yuhao nodded firmly, his hands unconsciously clenching. "I've finally reached rank twenty. Brother Tianmeng says the place where I'll awaken my second martial soul is in the Far North—very, very far from here. So I wanted to ask Sister Furina to come with me."
His voice dropped a few notches as he spoke the latter half, his right hand unconsciously scratching the back of his head like a child begging for candy. "With Sister Furina at my side, I'd feel so much more at ease. If we run into evil soul masters on the road, alone I'm afraid..."
The reasoning was perfectly valid, but it couldn't quite mask the truest longing deep in his heart—on that distant, frozen, unfamiliar tundra, he yearned for a companion he could trust without reservation. Brother Tianmeng in his spiritual sea was well and good, but in the end, it was still the spirit of a soul beast. Old Electrolux had only just awoken yesterday, and had since sunk back into slumber to digest the spiritual power he'd absorbed. The loneliness of such a long road—he didn't dare face it alone.
Furina agreed almost without a second thought. "Of course I'll go."
Her mind was already racing through every scrap of information she possessed about the Ice Emperor. As a core pillar of Huo Yuhao's future combat system, the importance of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion as his second martial soul was self-evident. And if fortune truly smiled upon them, they might even encounter the Snow Empress—and bring both of the Far North's supreme overlords into the fold in a single stroke.
At this thought, she couldn't help a silent shiver of relief. If she missed this chance, the next opportunity to obtain the Snow Empress would be during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, at the Starlight Auction in Star Luo City—where she'd have to drop the astronomical sum of one hundred fifty million gold soul coins.
"One hundred fifty million..." Furina clicked her tongue soundlessly. That figure would probably require her to exchange every single point she had for top-grade heavenly treasures just to scrape it together.
Another thought surfaced in her mind—perhaps she could begin introducing the product of her fourth soul skill, the "Golden Doughnut Vanilla Cake," at major auctions ahead of schedule. This miraculous food, capable of regenerating flesh and bone, restoring severed limbs, and even promoting hair growth—even if its shelf life was only seven days—would be enough to make countless soul master clans scramble madly. Its value would at least rival that of a thousand-year soul bone, easily fetching several million gold soul coins at auction.
But she quickly shook her head. This was not the time to bare her fangs to the world. Drawing too much attention too quickly would only invite unnecessary trouble. While her power was still nascent, keeping a low profile was the wiser course. True trump cards, after all, were meant to be revealed only at the decisive moment.
"It's settled, then." Furina made the final call. "I'll go inform Neuvillette right now. Also—we'll have Protector Lei Bao accompany us. The journey is long, and it's always safer with a Soul Sage guarding the way."
She added with deliberate reassurance, "As for your concerns—I understand completely. Once we reach the outskirts of the Far North, I'll have Lei Bao rest and resupply in a nearby city. When we enter the core region, I'll accompany you through the awakening myself."
"That's wonderful!" Bright, luminous joy burst forth in Huo Yuhao's eyes. The suspended heart in his chest finally settled.
When Furina found Neuvillette, her ever-dutiful deputy was buried in mountains of paperwork. Upon hearing the purpose of her visit, he gently set down the document in his hands and let out a nearly imperceptible sigh.
"Lady Furina, if my memory serves me correctly—has it not always been I who handles the daily affairs of the Church of the Water God?"
"Ehe!" Furina blinked mischievously, attempting to cut her way out of trouble. "Don't say it like that! Don't you have the four city lords assisting you now? They've got plenty of capable people under them—more than enough to share your burdens."
"That much is true," Neuvillette inclined his head slightly, then his expression turned solemn. "The road ahead is fraught with peril. I ask that you exercise the utmost caution. Do not find yourself in a dangerous predicament as you did last time."
Furina straightened her back, a touch of Water-Godly pride surfacing on her face. "Rest assured—I am the Pope of the Church of the Water God, the Water God who wields divine authority. Unless that Tang Buddha himself descends to deliver a personal smiting, the number of people on this Douluo Continent who can truly threaten me can be counted on one hand."
"I certainly hope so," Neuvillette replied softly. In his memory, Furina would always be that delicate young woman who needed looking after. But the Furina of now could produce all manner of unimaginable, wondrous artifacts. Perhaps her words were not mere boasts.
"Then it's settled. Time is pressing. Yuhao and I will depart immediately."
"May the winds be at your back."
When Furina led Huo Yuhao to the main gate of the Church of the Water God, Lei Bao was already waiting with a fully prepared carriage. The moment he saw Furina, the newly-minted Soul Sage bowed deeply in salute.
"Your Holiness, this subordinate has been awaiting your arrival."
"Protector Lei Bao handles everything with such impeccable thoroughness," Furina nodded approvingly.
"It is this subordinate's duty," Lei Bao replied with deference. "Might I ask where Your Holiness intends to travel?"
"The Far North," Furina answered, her voice perfectly even. "So I'll need you to prepare the swiftest carriage and reach our destination in the shortest possible time."
"The Far North?!" Lei Bao's face went pale, his voice rising involuntarily. "Your Holiness, that place is far too dangerous! The environment is merciless, and the soul beasts that dwell there are no lesser than the overlords of the Great Star Dou Forest's deepest regions. Even more terrifying are the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North—all ranked among the Ten Great Savage Beasts! Even a Titled Douluo, blundering in carelessly, could easily find their grave beneath the ice!"
Seeing the deep worry etched across Lei Bao's face, a thread of warmth stirred in Furina's heart. She softened her tone to soothe him.
"There's no need for concern. You need only escort us to the outskirts of the Far North. After that, you may rest and resupply in a nearby city. You've been working tirelessly these days—think of it as a well-earned respite."
When Lei Bao looked ready to protest further, she raised a gentle hand to stop him, her voice now carrying an unshakable confidence. "Besides, don't forget who I am. As the Water God, I naturally have my own methods for traversing terrain of extreme cold. I've long since prepared all manner of insulating soul tools. Even if we must remain in the core region for ten days, it will be more than enough."
Lei Bao studied Furina's calm, untroubled expression, then glanced at the resolute, unwavering look in Huo Yuhao's eyes behind her. At last, he let out a long sigh and bowed in obedience.
"...This subordinate obeys."
With practiced efficiency, he lifted the carriage curtain and gestured for them to enter. The interior was exquisitely appointed—a thick, plush carpet spread across the floor, a small brazier in the corner radiating a comfortable warmth, and several fur-lined winter cloaks folded neatly upon the seats.
Furina boarded first, Huo Yuhao close behind. As the carriage curtain fell, he couldn't help glancing back one last time at the buildings of the Church of the Water God receding into the distance. The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's voice rang with excitement through his spiritual sea:
"Wonderful, Yuhao! It's finally beginning! Once we find your second martial soul, you'll possess twin martial souls unmatched across the continent! Let's see who dares look down on you then!"
Huo Yuhao silently clenched his fists. He knew this journey to the Far North would be a pivotal turning point in his fate. And Sister Furina, resting with her eyes closed at his side—she was his greatest source of courage.
The carriage wheels rolled over bluestone-paved roads with a steady, rhythmic clatter. They soon passed through the city gates, leaving the last human settlements behind. Outside the window, the pastoral scenery gradually gave way to vast, boundless plains, and the temperature began to drop perceptibly.
Furina opened her eyes at some point and retrieved a detailed continental map from her soul tool, spreading it across her lap. Her fingertip traced a winding route, finally coming to rest on an immense expanse of land marked in white.
"It'll take us about four or five days to reach the outskirts of the Far North," her voice pulled Huo Yuhao from his reverie. "Don't let yourself slack during this time. Keep circulating the Mysterious Heaven Technique and the Taiyi Spirit-Refining Art. Keep raising your soul power and spiritual power."
"I understand, Sister Furina," Huo Yuhao answered with grave seriousness. He closed his eyes and began circulating the Mysterious Heaven Technique. A faint white mist rose from the acupoints across his body, creating subtle currents of air within the carriage.
Furina nodded in satisfaction and returned her gaze to the map. Her fingertip tapped lightly against the core region of the Far North, a gleam of anticipation flickering in her eyes.
This journey to the Far North—besides securing Huo Yuhao's second martial soul, she would also see whether she could find the Snow Empress. If possible... she'd try to bring the Snow Empress into the fold as well.
The carriage raced along the imperial highway, kicking up clouds of dust in its wake. On the distant horizon, the faint white line of snow was already visible. A journey destined to alter the fates of many had officially begun.