PS: The author is currently revising the protagonist's name throughout the text, so you might notice some places say Huo Yu and others say Huo Yuhao. Don't worry about it! I'll finish the edits as soon as possible! Also, this is a harem (multi-heroine) story! If you don't like that, don't click! If you flame me because of this, don't blame me for muting you (the potential heroines are listed at the end of the first chapter; if you don't like it, don't read it, and don't post comments just to show off your presence).
--- Main Text ---
"Soul power level 1?"
On the platform, the butler responsible for awakening Martial Souls frowned slightly. Looking at the Soul Power crystal ball that emitted only a faint glimmer, he recorded the level nonetheless.
"Tch, as expected of a low-born, only level 1 Soul Power!"
"Ha, a maidservant gave birth to a child; it's already good enough that he could even awaken a Martial Soul!"
"..."
Harsh ridicules entered the young boy's ears, yet he seemed completely unaware. His eyes widened slightly as countless memories and thousands of words flooded his mind. In the end, only one sentence remained in his heart: I... have been reborn?
He lifted his head slightly, a flash of golden light flowing within his deep blue eyes. An imperceptible mental fluctuation spread out, instantly enveloping the entire Awakening Hall.
I've been reborn back to the moment of my Martial Soul awakening? Huo Yuhao fell silent. The somewhat oversized coarse cloth clothes draped over his thin frame made him look a bit ridiculous. However, despite the whispering of the people around him, a smile appeared on Huo Yuhao's lips.
His memory had stopped at the moment of his great battle with Tang San, where they perished together and fell into the turbulent flow of time and space.
He thought they had both died, yet here he was, reborn... Ha... truly interesting.
"He can actually smile with level 1 Soul Power? Is there something wrong with this kid's head?"
"It's better than nothing, isn't it?"
"A low-born born to a maidservant—being able to awaken a Martial Soul is already a blessing. Does he really dare to hope for more?"
Disdain, disgust, contempt... Fluctuations of emotion were instinctively captured by Huo Yuhao, gathering bit by bit in his Sea of Consciousness to form rings of various colors, guarding the golden vertical eye at the very center.
The Seed of Emotion and... the Eye of Destiny! The former was the power he inherited after succeeding to the Divine Position of the God of Emotion; it could even be seen as the embryonic form of that Divine Position.
The latter was the Eye of Destiny that had evolved through the help of Life Gold and Wang Qiu'er. And now, these two powers had actually been reborn along with him?
The golden light in the depths of his blue eyes grew more radiant. Driven by his mental intent, traces of emotional power began tentatively filling the deficiencies in his body.
In an instant, Huo Yuhao felt his body begin to fill out, his physical constitution strengthening bit by bit.
It was real.
"May I leave now?"
Huo Yuhao looked up at the butler in charge of the awakening.
The butler was silent for a moment. He could clearly perceive that the youth before him seemed different, especially his eyes, which seemed...
The butler's gaze suddenly froze as a thought surfaced in his mind.
After awakening a Martial Soul, a change in temperament is quite logical, right?
The thought took root in his mind, and his original hesitation vanished. He nodded and said, "You may leave."
Huo Yuhao nodded and turned to leave without hesitation.
Putting aside the joy of rebirth for a moment, what Huo Yuhao wanted most right now was to see his mother.
...
The outer perimeter of the Duke's Mansion was where the servants lived.
At this moment, a thin figure was rapidly weaving through one obstacle after another. Soon, this figure arrived outside a somewhat dilapidated house.
His footsteps faltered as reality overlapped with distant memories, causing his heart to beat uncontrollably and violently.
He was truly afraid that all of this was just a hallucination at the moment of his death. But in the next moment, the door of the dilapidated house suddenly opened.
It was a haggard woman. The paleness of her face and her thin frame showed that her current state of health was not good, but even so, it could not hide her beautiful features.
Seeing the figure suddenly appearing at the door, the woman was stunned for a moment, but in the next second, her dull eyes revealed a joy that came from the heart.
"Yuhao, you're back?!"
The familiar name, the familiar face, the familiar voice.
Huo Yuhao choked up slightly as an inexplicable sense of grievance welled up in his heart. He wanted to say something, but when it finally reached his lips, he could only utter a low murmur:
"...Mom."
"Yuhao?"
Huo Yun'er sensed that something was wrong with her son. She rushed to Huo Yuhao's side, reaching out to check him over and over for injuries.
Only when she truly found no wounds or bruises did Huo Yun'er sigh in relief.
"Mom... I'm fine..."
"Did they bully you again?"
Huo Yun'er asked, her voice filled with deep self-reproach.
The greatest helplessness for a mother is knowing her son is being bullied outside while she is powerless to do anything...
Huo Yuhao shook his head without a word, simply stepping forward to hug Huo Yun'er.
"I'm fine now, Mom. I just suddenly don't want to stay here anymore. Mom... can we... leave this place?"
This was something Huo Yuhao had already decided on his way here.
If they stayed in the Duke's Mansion, setting aside how that "vile woman" (Duchess) would target his mother, if he wanted to ensure his mother didn't die early like in his previous life—eventually becoming a bargaining chip for Tang San to threaten him—he had to take her away!
Even if he had to lie, or even knock her unconscious, he would definitely take her away!
A look of resolve flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes, but it quickly subsided.
"Leave here..."
Huo Yun'er pursed her lips, a bit of conflict arising in her heart.
The reason she stayed here was partly because she was a maidservant whose slave contract was still in the hands of the Grand Duchess.
The other reason was Yuhao.
She hoped Yuhao could gain the recognition of Dai Hao, obtain better resources, and have a better future.
Moreover, in the Duke's Mansion, no matter how bad things were, she could at least guarantee they wouldn't starve. Having become a maid from the common folk, she knew best how difficult life was for ordinary people. Because of this, she didn't want her child to suffer outside.
But now... So many years had passed, and it wasn't that Dai Hao had never returned to the mansion, but every time he came back, he never came to see her, not even once...
As for Dai Hao, the small hope in her heart had long been buried by disappointment, leaving only a trace of obsession.
And now, Huo Yuhao's words, along with the grievance he showed when they met, completely wiped away her remaining obsession.
Yuhao was right... she truly shouldn't continue to wait so foolishly...
The confusion in Huo Yun'er's eyes gradually faded, and maternal logic finally triumphed over everything. She took a deep breath, determination flashing in her eyes.
She loosened her grip slightly, forcing a smile onto her face: "Yuhao, where do you want to go? Mommy will go with you! We'll leave the Duke's Mansion, find a new place, and start a new life together, okay?"
"I'll listen to you, Mom!"
At this moment, a smile appeared on the boy's face. His youthful countenance showed a seriousness that transcended his age. A promise traveled through time and memory, manifesting once again: "From now on! I will protect Mom!"
—At any cost, by any means!
Author's Note: To clarify beforehand, since the author has only read the original novel once (I started skipping once Qiu'er and Dong'er were gone and the "Frankenstein" stuff appeared), this book will refer more to the Manhua for both the plot and character designs (since the Manhua characters are indeed better looking). Additionally, the confirmed heroines include Gu Yuena, Dong'er, Qiu'er, Ice Emperor, Snow Emperor, Ling Luochen (who looks amazing in the manhua), Meng Hongchen, Ju Zi, and more... there will be many, depending on the plot. Finally! Please keep reading!