Chapter 4: Bei Bei, Tang Ya
"It's just that I underestimated the power of your Spirit, as well as that profound divinity as vast as the firmament. That is simply not an existence I can control. I'm sorry; from the very beginning, I had the intention of using you."
"I was devoured by the super Spirit Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest for ten thousand years. If I hadn't achieved a Breakthrough to a million-year cultivation, I wouldn't have been able to escape at all. But your appearance gave me hope; by becoming your Wisdom Spirit Ring, I would have a chance to escape this death trap."
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's voice didn't fluctuate much; it simply stated the schemes in its heart calmly.
Huo Yuhao could hear the hidden fear and unease beneath its words. He didn't express any opinion on this, merely listening quietly.
"Now everything of mine has been given to you—my mental force, my molted skin, my consciousness—and I have also become your spirit ring; there is no way to strip us apart anymore. If you want to annihilate my consciousness, the worst outcome is that both of us will suffer. I don't want to do that; I haven't seen Bingbing yet... If you are willing, you can also add another Spirit, and it will be an Ultimate Ice Spirit."
After Tianmeng Ice Silkworm finished speaking, the Sea of Consciousness fell into silence.
It had fully revealed its own value; the choice between the pros and cons could only be left to this human.
The Heavenly Eye hanging high above Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's head took in its lonely and apprehensive expression entirely.
Huo Yuhao was snickering inwardly. This little silkworm wasn't bad, it was just too 'lovestruck.' He had to tease it a bit, so he quipped, "Then when do you want to go find your partner? After all, you haven't seen her for so long, you must really miss her, right?"
"Ah? Oh, so that means you've agreed! She's not exactly my partner yet. Of course, the sooner the better, but with your current strength, going to the Extreme North is too dangerous. I have to look out for your safety too, right? Hehe."
Hearing the word 'partner,' Tianmeng Ice Silkworm immediately became elated and spoke with silly joy.
It seemed not all humans were villains; it really hadn't misjudged this person!
"Fine, I promise you. I'll definitely help you get Bingbing and make her your wife. Since we have already become one and are loyal partners for the future, this is the promise I make to you to show my sincerity," Huo Yuhao said in a firm and powerful tone.
One can never have too many Spirits. If not for the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, he would have considered whether he could withstand three Spirits.
Once he had practiced the divine art and tempered his Physical Body, three Spirits should not be a problem.
"It's a deal! Someone is coming, two people, a man and a woman. I'm going to sleep for a while; sealing my mental force was too exhausting, I can't hold on anymore." Tianmeng Ice Silkworm fell into a deep sleep.
Huo Yuhao looked around but didn't find anyone. Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's detection ability was stronger than his; the newcomers should still be some distance away.
It must be Bei Bei and Tang Ya.
Aside from those two, he couldn't guess who else it would be.
Before long, two young figures moved swiftly, flitting through the woods and entering Huo Yuhao's detection range.
"What a delicious smell! Bei Bei, I'm hungry from all this traveling. Let's stop and rest for a bit."
Tang Ya called out to the young man half a step ahead of her.
"Xiao Ya, we just started traveling. Didn't we just leave the city not long ago? How are you hungry again?" Bei Bei shook his head helplessly, stopped his pace, and turned back to tap Tang Ya's head.
"You should call me Teacher, or Sect Leader. Don't be so disrespectful." Tang Ya wrinkled her nose, putting on the air of a strict teacher, but her appearance was so lovely that it didn't carry much intimidation; it looked more like she was acting spoiled.
Huo Yuhao looked at the man and woman before him.
The man was handsome and refined, while the woman was lively and beautiful. Both were dressed in martial attire and seemed to have a very close relationship.
They sure play well... Is this roleplay? Student-teacher romance...?
Huo Yuhao remained expressionless, but he was actually filling in the blanks in his mind. In that era of information explosion, what hadn't he seen?
"I can't take it, it really smells so good. Little brother, why are you alone here in the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest roasting fish? It's very dangerous. Where is your family? But your grilled fish smells wonderful, sell me one."
Tang Ya quickly walked up to Huo Yuhao and crouched down, her large eyes staring straight at the shirtless little boy.
Being close, the light fragrance from Tang Ya's body wafted over; it was a scent of greenery and woods, mixed with the milky fragrance of a young woman.
"Teacher Tang, may I ask if you have any money? From what I see, this little brother's clothes are simple and patched; he doesn't look like he has family looking after him. You're probably an orphan, right?"
Bei Bei stroked his chin, taking in Huo Yuhao's situation at a glance and reaching an accurate conclusion.
"Was I talking to you? Don't interrupt. Little brother, ignore him. Tell big sister, I'm not a bad person. We are students from Shrek, we won't hurt you."
Tang Ya's face turned red after being exposed for having no money. She glared at Bei Bei, then spoke gently to Huo Yuhao.
"This big brother is right, I am indeed an orphan. I came to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Spirit Beasts. The grilled fish doesn't cost money; I caught them in the river myself. Please, have some."
Huo Yuhao pulled a branch from the ground and handed a perfectly roasted fish to Tang Ya.
That cheap father of his, the Duke of White Tiger, was no different alive than dead. Calling himself an orphan wasn't wrong.
Tang Ya was also a pitiful person. With an ordinary Blue Silver Grass Spirit, being able to Cultivate to the twentieth or thirtieth rank was already the limit of her strength, yet she actively shouldered the great responsibility of reviving the Tang Sect.
That man, as a God King, claimed he wouldn't interfere with the Douluo Continent, yet he wanted to manipulate me, the child of destiny. If he had that much energy, why didn't he support his own Tang Sect descendants?
How many people has this invisibly harmed!
Huo Yuhao pondered, looking up at the clear blue sky. That feeling of being watched seemed to have disappeared for a while. Did he go play with his rabbit? Is he busy?
"Ah? You're a Spirit Master? Are you interested in joining my Sect? Including that man behind me, you would be the third person to join the Tang Sect. I'll give you the position of Grand Elder, first come first served!"
Tang Ya said hurriedly while eating the hot grilled fish.
Bei Bei looked dotingly from behind at this guileless, boisterous, and somewhat scatterbrained girl; it was exactly this silly streak that he liked.
"Little brother, let me introduce us. This is the Tang Sect Leader, Tang Ya. I am her subordinate, Bei Bei, consider me the vice sect leader. If you are interested, you can join the Tang Sect. We have benefits for new recruits; we can give you the Tang Sect Secret Arts."
"It's the Tang Sect that was famous across the continent ten thousand years ago and destroyed the Spirit Hall! The founder of the Tang Sect back then is rumored to have achieved Ascension to the God Realm and become a Heavenly God," Tang Ya added proudly from the side.
She was truly out of options. Those who could study at Shrek were all exceptionally talented and looked down on the declined Tang Sect. The adult Spirit Masters she found outside were all shrewd and wouldn't be fooled.
She could only try to trick a naive child like this.