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**Chapter 4: Grilled Fish and Tangled Threads**
The sun hung high over the stream, turning the water into a ribbon of molten silver. Huo Yuhao knelt by the bank, his sharpened stick flashing like a White Tiger Dagger's echo. One thrust—clean, precise. A fat mackerel wriggled on the end, silver scales catching light.[1]
He repeated the motion six times, efficient as a machine. No wasted energy. Each fish gutted with the dagger's cold edge, stuffed with purple basil leaves scavenged from the underbrush. Salt rubbed in deep. Skewered on green branches. Fire built low and hot from dry twigs—no smoke to betray him.[1]
*Plot point approaching,* he thought, rotating the skewers over flames that licked without roaring. *Bei Bei. Tang Ya. Tang Sect bait. Test the timeline.*
The aroma rose slow at first, then bloomed—rich, heavy, laced with wild herb bite. His stomach growled despite the marshal calculus running beneath: food as resource, strangers as variables, forest as board.
"Wow! So fragrant! What is this?"[1]
Two figures emerged from the treeline. Girl first: ponytail bouncing, blue warrior robes hugging a frame bursting with teenage energy. Eyes wide, nose twitching like a spirit beast scenting prey. Behind her, taller boy: dark blue hair, poised shoulders, polite smile masking assessment.[1]
*On schedule.* Huo Yuhao noted their clean boots—Shrek students, hunting rings. No hostility in their auras. Opportunity, not threat.
The girl—Tang Ya—practically vibrated. "Little brother, are you selling this? It smells better than anything in Shrek City!"
Huo Yuhao straightened, offering a skewer with practiced humility. His face softened into boyish warmth, but his eyes stayed sharp, mapping their reactions. "Please, have some. I caught plenty."[1]
Tang Ya snatched it without hesitation, biting deep. "Hiss—hot! Mmm!" Juice dribbled down her chin. Pure bliss cracked her composure. "This is heaven! Bei Bei, try it!"
Bei Bei accepted more reservedly, but one bite shattered the mask. "Incredible. Little brother, where'd you learn this?"
"Huo Yuhao." He kept it short, watching. *Tang Ya: impulsive, recruitment drive. Bei Bei: protector, strategist lite.* "Just... family tricks. Eat. There's more."
They sat. Tang Ya devoured three skewers, moaning dramatically. "Be my personal chef! Every day, grilled fish paradise!"
Bei Bei chuckled, but shot her a warning glance. "Teacher Tang, moderation." Off her glare: "I mean, Xiaoya. Don't scare him."
Huo Yuhao's lips twitched—a real smile this time. Their banter was genuine, uncomplicated. No hidden leashes here. Yet.[1]
- Tang Sect: declining, desperate for talent. Tang San's shadow, but not his hand.
- Shrek quota: entry ticket, but hooks into the plot web.
- Grilled fish: perfect neutral ground. Build rapport without commitment.
"You two hunting rings?" he asked casually, skewering more fish.
Bei Bei nodded. "Yes. I'm Bei Bei, this is Tang Ya—my teacher." Dry humor in his eyes.
Tang Ya elbowed him. "Outer Court disciple, actually. Little brother Yuhao, you alone out here? Brave."
Eleven ranks soul power. Innate low talent. No backing.* He let the half-truths hang, gauging.
Clouds gathered overhead, unnatural fast. Sky darkened. Huo Yuhao's skin prickled—mental scan passive, instinct from Spirit Eye. *Incoming.*
"Excuse me," he stood smooth, packing ash-fast. "Storm coming. Safe travels."
A whoosh split air. Wind Baboon lunged from bushes—ten-year beast, claws raking for Bei Bei's throat.[1]
Time slowed. Huo Yuhao twisted, dagger flashing. White Tiger light erupted—three-foot blade extension, high-heat slash. Baboon's arms sheared clean, cauterized stumps smoking. No blood. Mercy kill followed: precise thrust to skull. Ended in seconds.[1]
*Appropriateness.*
He straightened. Baboon twitched once, still.
Tang Ya gaped. Bei Bei tensed, soul power flaring instinctively.
Soil erupted nearby. Fat, translucent white worm burst free, golden eyes blinking. "Mental attribute! Finally! Uh... why are you glowing?"[1]
Tianmeng Iceworm wiggled closer, scanning. "Sacredness? Light? Fire? Your spirit attributes are a mess!"
Huo Yuhao's grip tightened on dagger. *Million-year offering. Canon cheat one. But now...*
"Who—what are you?" Voice steady, eyes golden-warm, assessing threat vectors.
Tianmeng puffed up. "The one-million-year Spirit Beast, Tianmeng Iceworm! Here to be your intelligent soul ring! Ready for power?"
Wary step back. "Intelligent? Prove it."
Tianmeng leered. "Heh, can't resist anyway. Accept me!"
Mental pressure slammed. Huo Yuhao braced—Black Book stirred faintly, shielding. Vision whited. Fusion began.[1]
Inside his expanding Sea of Consciousness, golden god-fragment pulsed. Gray elder silhouette materialized from storm clouds above.[1]
*Electrolux incoming. Perfect.*
Tianmeng yelped as probes hit divine wards. "God aura?!"
The Book watched silent, its stolen hoard orbiting tighter. Nine-element technique slumbered, waiting for first burn.[1]
Outside, Tang Ya shook Huo Yuhao. "Yuhao? Wake up!"
His eyes snapped open—golden light sharp. Wrist clamped hers gentle but iron. "Sister Xiaoya. Sorry. Tense."
She winced, rubbing. "Great Forest's dangerous. Good instincts."
Bei Bei eyed him. "Rank now?"
"Eleven. Just got ring." Truth layered with omission.[1]
Tang Ya squeaked. "One-ring stronger than me?!"
Huo Yuhao scratched head—perfect orphan act. "Low innate power. Five years to ten ranks. Heading Shrek. If not... elsewhere."
Eyes met. Tang Ya brightened. *Hook set.*[1]
Black Book approved. War's first scouts acquired. Tang Sect thread snagged—without leash.
Sun dipped. Forest whispered. Million-year fusion settled deeper.
*Step one: secured.*[1]
Citations:
[1] huo-yuhao-2-1.txt