Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
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The result of this exhibition match was exactly as Xuan Zi had expected.
Huo Yuhao displayed strength far exceeding that of an ordinary Spirit King, crushing these Inner Court Genius Students single-handedly.
Those Inner Court Disciples, who had always been arrogant and dismissive, were now all "meek and submissive." The initial contempt and skepticism in their eyes when looking at Huo Yuhao were gone, replaced by awe and complex emotions.
Afterward, under Xuan Zi's arrangement, the second exhibition match began.
Only this time, it wasn't Inner Court versus Outer Court; instead, the personnel were all mixed together. Regrouping and re-pairing allowed both sides to further familiarize themselves with each other's Spirits and combat styles through actual combat.
In this process, Huo Yuhao played a supportive role at most and did not display much more of his strength. After all, he had already proven himself.
Throughout the morning, both sides became acquainted through continuous sparring and communication.
In the evening, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the streets and alleys of Shrek City, plating the entire city in a layer of warm gold.
At this time, Huo Yuhao left Shrek Academy and walked along the broad streets of Shrek City toward his home in the west of the city. His pace was unhurried, and his face showed no expression.
Before the last glimmer of the sunset disappeared, he stepped through the front door of his home.
The door hinges turned, causing the bell on the door to ring softly with a crisp "ding-dong" sound.
"Yuhao?" Huo Yun'er walked out of the room, looking at her son in surprise. "Why did you come back so suddenly?"
Her face was full of pleasant surprise, but then she remembered something and hurriedly asked, "Have you eaten? I'll go make something for you."
As she spoke, she was about to run toward the kitchen.
Huo Yuhao quickly pulled her back. "Mom, I've already eaten. You don't need to bother. I have something to tell you."
Huo Yun'er was slightly taken aback by his serious expression. Huo Yuhao led his mother to sit down on the sofa in the living room. He looked at his mother's currently rosy complexion, pondering how to broach the subject in his heart.
After all, what he was about to say would inevitably stir up his mother's painful memories.
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, looked at his mother's gentle expression, and spoke slowly.
"Mom, in a few days, I will be representing the academy in the Continental Advanced Academy Soul Master Duel Tournament."
Upon hearing this, Huo Yun'er's eyes instantly lit up. That gentle face was full of pleasant surprise.
"Then that's a good thing!" She couldn't help but grasp Huo Yuhao's hand. "You're only in your second year and you've already earned this qualification. You must cherish it."
Huo Yuhao smiled but didn't respond.
He continued, "The location for the competition this time is Star Luo City."
His voice was calm, but his gaze was fixed intently on his mother's reaction.
"Mom, come with me."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a flicker of something unusual in Huo Yun'er's eyes.
Then, Huo Yun'er gave a laugh and waved her hand. "You're going for a competition, what would I do there? No, I'm not going!"
That smile was a bit forced, and her tone was slightly panicked. Huo Yuhao's heart sank slightly.
He knew his mother was trying to escape. Huo Yuhao stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Mom, it's not just for the competition this time."
He paused and looked directly into his mother's eyes. "For a tournament held once every five years like this, the Duke of White Tiger will definitely return from the front lines."
After saying this, Huo Yuhao clearly felt his mother's body give a violent shudder. The hands holding his also began to tremble slightly. Huo Yuhao's heart sank; he knew his mother still hadn't forgotten that man.
He continued, "Mom, the suffering we endured before cannot be in vain."
His voice was low but carried an unquestionable firmness.
"I want to personally ask that man if he has us in his heart at all."
Huo Yun'er didn't dare look into her son's eyes, only keeping her head down, her eyes turning slightly red.
Huo Yuhao added, "Mom, I'm capable now. We don't have to be afraid of the Duchess anymore. Some debts must be collected!"
Hearing these words, Huo Yun'er's body became somewhat stiff. Those past events, those pains, those memories she desperately wanted to forget... Now being brought up one by one by her son, it was like uncovering a scar that had not yet healed. This was the last thing she wanted to recall right now!
After a moment, Huo Yun'er raised her head and looked at her son. In those eyes, there was a hint of pleading.
"Yuhao," her voice trembled slightly, "I ask for nothing else, only that you can grow up safely and peacefully."
She squeezed Huo Yuhao's hand. "Let the past be the past. Let's not worry about it anymore, okay?"
But hearing such a tone, Huo Yuhao did not compromise in his heart. What he felt more of at this moment was heartache for his mother and hatred for the Duchess!
Right now, the mother and son were living well, their days stable and life peaceful. But that was because he had obtained the Opportunity to transmigrate Ten Thousand Years into the future.
It was because he had learned about the past history and made changes.
Otherwise...otherwise, his mother would have already been killed in the White Tiger Dukes Mansion by now. In this world, he would have been the only one left.
Therefore, Huo Yuhao's resentment toward the Duchess Zhu Yunqing and Dai Huabin was not just about his experience of being bullied as a youth. It was the "enmity of a murdered mother"!
He knew his mother would say this. She was always like this, preferring to suffer grievances herself just to keep the peace. She would rather swallow all the bitterness into her stomach just to trade for her son's safety. She was just an ordinary person without Spirit Power; her knowledge and vision were limited, and this was all she could do.
However, Huo Yuhao was well-prepared. He looked at his mother, his expression becoming serious.
"Mom," his voice was low and earnest, "do you think that if we don't bother them, we can live a normal life?"
Huo Yun'er was slightly startled.
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "It's impossible. The better we live, the more uncomfortable they become."
He paused and took a deep breath.
"Not long ago... the Star Luo Zhu Family sent people to assassinate me. Fortunately, the teachers from the academy arrived in time, otherwise... I might not have seen you again."
Hearing this, Huo Yun'er's pupils shrank violently! The pleading in those eyes was instantly replaced by terror. Her gaze scanned Huo Yuhao meticulously, from top to bottom, front to back, not missing a single corner.
Even though she saw Huo Yuhao standing in front of her intact, she still couldn't rest easy.
"Yuhao," her voice trembled, "you weren't hurt, were you?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "The teacher arrived in time. I only suffered some minor injuries, and they've already healed."
He told his mother a small lie. However, it was a white lie.
Huo Yun'er's eyes were full of heartache, with tears shimmering in them.
But her tone became reproachful. "You child, how could you not tell me when something like this happened?!"
Huo Yuhao patted the back of his mother's hand and said softly, "Wasn't it because I was afraid you'd worry? Anyway, it wasn't a big deal."
Huo Yun'er's voice choked. "How is that not a big deal?!"
She raised her hand to wipe the corners of her eyes, trying hard not to let the tears fall.
"She... why is she targeting you again?" Her voice was full of pain and confusion. "Is she just unwilling to let us go?!"
The "she" in Huo Yun'er's mouth was obviously that Duchess of White Tiger.
Huo Yun'er looked at her son, her face full of self-reproach.
"It's all because Mom is useless," her voice grew lower and lower, "not even a Spirit Master, unable to protect you..."
Huo Yuhao spoke at this point, interrupting her.
"Mom, don't say such things." He squeezed his mother's hand. "It was you who gave me life. I will protect myself, and I will protect you even more."
Feeling his mother Huo Yun'er's trembling gradually subside and her breathing slowly steady, Huo Yuhao continued.
"Mom, this time, I'm going to have a final reckoning with them."
"Otherwise, if this matter isn't resolved, we will always be in danger."
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
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.