Gu Yuena...
Huo Yuhao repeated the name to himself.
To be honest, it sounded quite beautiful. He just wondered what she looked like... Thinking this, Huo Yuhao placed the necklace Gu Yuena had given him around his neck.
Then there was the Auspicious Beast, the Three-eyed Golden Lion... At that thought, Huo Yuhao unconsciously touched his forehead.
Compared to Gu Yuena, Huo Yuhao felt that the Auspicious Beast actually tugged at his heartstrings more.
I wonder when we'll meet again?
No, no... Huo Yuhao shook his head. Now was not the time for that. He hurried over to where Zhang Lexuan lay and carefully helped her up.
He gently shook the woman in his arms. "Teacher Lexuan, Teacher Lexuan..."
It must have been the Three-eyed Golden Lion's mental attack that knocked her unconscious, but fortunately, it hadn't dealt a lethal blow.
Huo Yuhao was quite experienced in resolving mental attacks. He reached out and tapped Zhang Lexuan on the back, sending his own mental power into her body to soothe the dizziness in her Sea of Consciousness caused by the shock.
While Zhang Lexuan was strong and her mental power wasn't low, its quality couldn't compare.
If Huo Yuhao's judgment was correct, the Three-eyed Golden Lion's mental power had already reached the highest level of spiritual consciousness—the [Spirit Domain Realm], a full tier higher than his own.
Whether she possessed a mental domain, however, remained unknown.
After a short while, Zhang Lexuan finally managed to open her beautiful eyes. She blinked several times in a daze before her vision cleared.
She found herself being gently supported by Huo Yuhao at her waist and the back of her head, leaning somewhat intimately against the young man's chest.
Huo Yuhao gave her a smile of relief. "Teacher Lexuan, you're finally awake."
Zhang Lexuan quickly looked Huo Yuhao up and down, only sighing in relief after confirming he wasn't injured.
"Are you alright, Yuhao? Why did I faint? Did you save me?"
Should I tell her about the Auspicious Beast and the Silver Dragon King? Probably not...
"Um... not exactly. It's likely they saw we didn't harm any soul beasts on our way here, so they let us go."
Zhang Lexuan gave Huo Yuhao a strange look before scanning the surroundings. Indeed, there were no soul beasts left.
"Is that... really what happened? What about that golden soul beast?"
Huo Yuhao shrugged nonchalantly and joked, "Maybe it thought Teacher Lexuan was so pretty it didn't have the heart to attack us."
Zhang Lexuan laughed in spite of herself. "You little brat, always so cheeky."
Once Huo Yuhao helped her up, Zhang Lexuan looked toward the depths of the Star Constellation Great Forest with considerable wariness.
Without further hesitation or regard for her fatigue, she said decisively, "We shouldn't stay here long. Let's go."
Ignoring any potential protest from Huo Yuhao, she pulled him close and surged her soul power, flying at full speed toward Shrek City.
...
In Star Net City, on a small street near the imperial palace, an incredibly luxurious carriage escorted by a squad of fully armed soldiers emerged from the palace gates.
It was obvious the owner of this carriage was someone of high status. Not only was the carriage wide, but it was also quite tall—it was actually a Class 6 soul tool.
A slender, elegant hand gently pulled back the side curtain. Immediately, a middle-aged man in armor, seemingly an officer, dismounted and trotted over, bowing respectfully toward the carriage.
"Princess Highness."
A melodious voice rang out. "To [Huo's Roasted Fish]."
"Yes!"
As a loyal member of the Royal Knights, the captain naturally wouldn't question why the Princess frequently enjoyed dining at that particular restaurant.
Although [Huo's Roasted Fish] had opened many branches in Star Net City, the most authentic and delicious flavors were still found here, at the main shop in the north.
The main shop was also the largest. Besides roasted fish, it naturally sold other snacks and stir-fried dishes.
It was already noon, and the restaurant was bustling, every seat filled. The air was thick with the tempting aroma of roasted fish and the clatter of pots and pans—a busy, lived-in atmosphere that felt grounding.
Though the restaurant had hired many servers, Huo Yun'er was still accustomed to doing things herself. As the boss, she led by example, rarely putting on airs and sometimes cooking personally.
Just then, the noisy restaurant suddenly grew a bit quieter.
A young, pretty waitress hurried over to Huo Yun'er and whispered a few words in her ear.
Huo Yun'er was momentarily stunned. After giving a few instructions to those around her, she tied on her apron and entered the kitchen herself.
Third Floor VIP Area.
Compared to the noise of the first and second floors, the third floor was naturally quieter, though several private booths held wealthy guests chatting over their meals.
Tap, tap, tap...
The crisp, rhythmic sound of high heels clicking against the floor drew closer, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
Guests instinctively looked toward the door, catching only a glimpse of an elegant, dignified figure with purple hair passing by.
the girl naturally walked into the largest and most magnificent VIP suite. Ever since the main shop of [Huo's Roasted Fish] was built, this suite had practically become her exclusive dining spot.
Shortly after she sat down, the door opened. It was Huo Yun'er, personally carrying a tray with a roasted fish.
Huo Yun'er wore a warm smile. "Princess Jiujiu, you really come here rain or shine."
The person before her was essentially a benefactor to both her and Huo Yuhao. Without her, it wouldn't have been easy for the mother and son to take root and survive in Star Net City.
Xu Jiujiu returned a gentle smile and eagerly picked up a skewer of roasted fish. "Who told Aunt Huo's skills to be so incredible? Never mind me, even my Imperial Brother is full of praise for your cooking."
Huo Yun'er gave a polite smile. "Then I thank the Emperor and the Princess for their praise."
The two chatted idly. After finishing her meal, Xu Jiujiu elegantly wiped her mouth and asked as if in passing, "Has Yuhao not returned yet?"
"Not yet. Shrek Academy is different from here in Star Net; they say they only have holidays once a year."
Xu Jiujiu pursed her lips, murmuring as if to herself, "Is that so? It's only natural for him to get into Shrek Academy with his talent."
"However, Aunt Yun'er, I came this time to tell you some news."
As the Princess in control of the Star Net Empire's intelligence department, Xu Jiujiu's information-gathering abilities were top-tier. For instance, the true identities of Huo Yuhao and Huo Yun'er—with enough intent, traces could naturally be found. Furthermore, a border-guarding general like Dai Hao was already a primary target of imperial surveillance.
One thing led to another, and she had indeed discovered the true identities of Huo Yuhao and his mother.