"Kid, don't you think I'm right?"
Damn your mother, Huo Yuhao cursed silently, letting out a helpless sigh. "Senior, you're a Title Douluo. Why bother teasing a nobody like me?"
The blue-robed beauty beside him glanced at Huo Yuhao but said nothing, as if she didn't exist at all.
"Hehe, a mere three-ringed soul master can easily kill five Soul Elders and chase a Soul King into exile. If that's what you call a 'nobody,' then the rest of our sect's disciples really don't amount to much." the old man chuckled.
Hearing this, the blue-robed beauty looked at Huo Yuhao with a hint of surprise. According to the sect master, this young man had killed five Soul Elders? Was that really within the capabilities of a three-ringed soul master? She even began to suspect that Huo Yuhao might be concealing his true cultivation with some special method.
Huo Yuhao's heart turned cold. This old bastard had been watching his every move in the forest? That meant his soul rings and external soul bone were all known to him. That thought unsettled Huo Yuhao.
Sensing Huo Yuhao's discomfort, the old man tore off a roasted lamb leg and handed it over.
After a brief moment of panic, Huo Yuhao calmed down. He figured it out—this old guy was absurdly powerful. Killing him would be as easy as squashing an ant. Since he was already here, he might as well make peace with it.
He accepted the lamb leg and, after a moment of hesitation, pulled off his hood and started devouring the food. He hadn't had a hot meal in days.
Hmm, tasted great.
The blue-robed woman froze upon seeing Huo Yuhao's face. The boy looked about thirteen years old, his dirty face still showing traces of childishness—hard to reconcile with someone who had sent a Soul King running for his life.
At the old man's signal, someone brought over several bottles of wine. Huo Yuhao took a sip, found it slightly sweet and not spicy at all, then drank freely.
The other two were surprised to see this kid so relaxed. Then they both laughed.
"Kid, who were those people, and why were they trying to kill you?" the old man asked casually while gnawing on a lamb leg.
The blue-robed woman looked at her sect master in surprise. Since when did he become so chatty?
"I'm not sure, Senior,"Huo Yuhao said, putting down the half-eaten leg. "I was going to interrogate them, but..."
But you guys interrupted, Huo Yuhao muttered internally.
The old man said nothing. Soon, someone brought over the young man with a broken arm.
"Junior Cui Lian greets the Seniors. Thank you for saving me—my family, the Dai Clan of the Star Luo Empire, will surely reward you handsomely." The young man, seeing everyone drinking and chatting, felt a jolt of anxiety. His words were courteous, but he was subtly trying to throw around his background.
"So, the First Madam sent you," muttered Huo Yuhao, instantly grasping who they were. The Dai Clan of the Star Luo Empire—the Duke White Tiger's household. Of course. If anyone would want him dead, it would be them.
Damn bitch, still haunting me. Murderous intent flared in Huo Yuhao's eyes.
He hadn't expected the Dai Clan to find him so soon. In the original story, they barely remembered this "useless" son until much later when he slowly uncovered his identity.
Cui Lian shivered under Huo Yuhao's icy gaze.
"Heh, the Dai Clan? A family that can't even hold onto the throne dares to threaten me?" the old man sneered.
Cui Lian's face flushed with anger. "That was the incompetence of a former generation. The clan leader shouldn't be blamed." His voice grew louder in agitation.
Huo Yuhao:"..."
What the hell? Why are we suddenly debating historical responsibility?
The Dai Clan's retainers were mostly retired soldiers loyal to Dai Hao, hence this kind of reflexive outrage.
"Insolence!" the blue-robed woman slammed her hand down, releasing terrifying pressure toward Cui Lian. A mere Soul King, daring to threaten Title Douluo?
Cui Lian immediately regretted his words. Already gravely injured, he couldn't resist the pressure. Blood gushed from his mouth as his face went ghostly pale.
"Enough, Hong Yue. Let them settle their own grievances," the old man said.
The blue-robed woman, Hong Yue, sat down again, her cold eyes still slicing through Cui Lian.
The old man didn't bother defending Cui Lian—in fact, he seemed slightly disgusted. Huo Yuhao secretly exhaled in relief, inwardly mocking the fool for not thinking before he spoke.
"Who told you where I was?"Huo Yuhao asked coldly, staring at Cui Lian. He had to know.
"If I tell you, will you let me live?"Cui Lian smirked mockingly.
"Answer me, and I'll give you a quick death,"Huo Yuhao replied. "Trust me—given your current state, you can't even commit suicide without my permission."
Cui Lian said nothing. He just flipped Huo Yuhao the middle finger, expression practically begging, "Come at me, bro."
Huo Yuhao smiled. He flicked his hand, and a Blood Flame Thorn shot out, piercing cleanly beneath Cui Lian's fingernail.
He had carefully controlled the strength—just enough to avoid popping the nail off. That halfway-loose state was the most excruciating.
"Keep being stubborn. You've got nine more fingers... and ten toes."
Cui Lian was tough. His body convulsed, but he didn't make a sound.
The old man and blue-robed woman watched with interest.
Keeping his word, Huo Yuhao methodically jabbed all ten fingers and toes with Blood Flame Thorns.
Then, he pulled out a cup, added a little water, placed it over the fire, and began seasoning it with salt, chili, cumin...
The others blinked in confusion. Cooking? What happened to the interrogation?
They understood soon enough.
Huo Yuhao brought the special "sauce" over to Cui Lian, grabbed his hair, and forced his face upward.
In an instant, Cui Lian's eyes bulged wide, his body thrashing violently.
Huo Yuhao didn't even bother asking him to talk anymore. If he refused to talk, he'd just keep "serving dishes."
The blue-robed woman turned her head away—what came next was too eye-searing.
Suddenly, the once-tough Cui Lian started howling like a slaughtered pig.
Even the old man twitched at the corners of his mouth. Physical pain plus psychological trauma—brutal.
(End of Chapter)