The small clinic was rather modest.
Though it could not compare to a large hospital with every kind of facility, it was still small but fully equipped.
Inside, Huo Yuhao watched as Mrs.
Jiang slowly straightened up from the bed and asked, “Aunt Jiang, how are you feeling now?”
Mrs.
Jiang moved her arms around first, then smiled.
“Thank you for treating me, Divine Doctor Huo.
After these past few days of recovery, I feel almost completely better.
My whole body even feels much lighter than before.”
“From what I can tell, you were born with a minor underlying condition.
Years of overwork gradually made it worse.
Although I’ve helped repair the damage, you still need to take care of yourself and avoid anything too strenuous.”
“All right.
Then I’ll continue to trouble you, Doctor Huo.”
After saying that, Mrs.
Jiang carefully studied Huo Yuhao, who was standing nearby consulting a medical text while preparing medicine.
Then, for some reason, a faint smile suddenly appeared on her face.
No one knew what she was thinking.
…
A small clearing in the woods had now become Huo Yuhao and Jiang Nannan’s secret hideout.
At the moment, Jiang Nannan was teaching Huo Yuhao close-quarters combat techniques.
After several days of practice, Jiang Nannan felt there was nothing more she could teach Doctor Huo when it came to meditation and Cultivation, so she decided to focus on something else.
After all, her Martial Soul was suited for close combat, which made this much easier for her to teach.
Besides, Doctor Huo looked rather frail.
Learning some combat techniques would also help strengthen his body.
“So, this is what you want to learn?”
Jiang Nannan held an old, worn book in her hands.
Huo Yuhao had given it to her, saying he had picked it up from a street stall somewhere.
The book was badly aged, but its title was still barely legible.
“The Sunflower Manual?”
“Yeah.
The man who sold it to me said that if you master it completely, you’ll become unbeatable.
What do you think, Sister Nannan?”
Jiang Nannan opened the first page.
“To practice this art, one must first castrate oneself.”
Those words immediately entered her sight.
“…”
She had better not find out who had sold this thing to Doctor Huo.
“Let’s put this technique aside for now.
We should start with the basics instead.
Watch my movements first.”
With that, Jiang Nannan stepped lightly, lowered herself slightly to gather strength, then threw a straight punch, creating a faint rush of air.
“This is the Charge Punch.
If someone closes in on you, you can use it to counterattack.
Now try punching me.”
“Huh?
Oh.”
Huo Yuhao copied Jiang Nannan’s earlier demonstration.
He lowered his center of gravity, lunged forward, and threw a punch.
Jiang Nannan pivoted sideways and gave his arm a light push, redirecting Huo Yuhao’s attack.
Huo Yuhao immediately lost his balance.
Just as he stumbled and was about to fall, Jiang Nannan reacted quickly and pulled him back toward her.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine.
Um, Sister Nannan…
you’re a little too close.”
Ever since he was young, the only woman Huo Yuhao had truly spent much time around was his mother.
When dealing with other women, he barely even knew how to act.
Now Jiang Nannan was standing so close to him.
Her scent was different from his mother’s, carrying a faint milky sweetness unique to a young girl, mixed with the fragrance of grass, trees, and flowers from the surrounding forest.
Huo Yuhao immediately found himself at a loss.
Jiang Nannan seemed to realize it as well.
Her cheeks reddened slightly as she moved a little farther away.
“Ahem.
If someone gets close to you and you can’t match them in strength, you can use this move to redirect their force.”
“Of course, Doctor Huo, your Martial Soul doesn’t seem focused on offensive power.
So if someone gets close to you, the best response is to run.
Only by creating distance can you put yourself in an advantageous position…”
The two seemed to forget the little incident and continued training.
…
After training, Huo Yuhao sat down on the spot to meditate.
He had only completed a few cycles of Soul Power circulation when his stomach suddenly growled.
In the quiet forest, with only the two of them present, the sound was especially obvious.
“…”
Huo Yuhao first turned toward Jiang Nannan, who was smiling at him, then awkwardly looked away.
Jiang Nannan suppressed a laugh.
“Why don’t we head back for now?
We’ve done plenty today, and I didn’t bring any food.”
“Um…
Sister Nannan, would you like some grilled fish?”
“Doctor Huo, you know how to grill fish?”
“Of course.
My grilled fish should be pretty good.
There’s a stream over there, so let’s catch a few first.”
Before Jiang Nannan could answer, Huo Yuhao had already hurried off.
…
After awakening his “Spirit Eyes,” Huo Yuhao’s eyesight had far surpassed that of an ordinary person.
The fish beneath the water had no chance of escaping his notice.
After sharpening the end of a branch with his White Tiger Dagger, Huo Yuhao found his target and swiftly thrust the branch into the water.
With a twist and lift of his wrist, two fish about a foot long appeared skewered on it.
Hmm…
I’m improving!
Using the same method, Huo Yuhao soon speared several more fish of roughly the same size.
After gathering some branches for the fire, Jiang Nannan stood off to the side and watched Huo Yuhao.
His movements were so smooth and practiced that his familiarity with the task was almost painful to see.
Huo Yuhao skewered the fish on thin branches and slowly turned them over the fire.
His grilling technique was remarkably steady, and his control of the heat was just right.
Oil gradually seeped from the fish and dripped into the flames with a sizzle.
The golden skin slowly crisped, while a rich aroma spread through the air, carrying the fresh scent of the fish and making it irresistibly appetizing.
Then, from who knew where, Huo Yuhao suddenly produced a packet of seasoning.
As he sprinkled it over the fish, the two seemed to undergo some mysterious Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and the aroma instantly became far more enticing than before.
Jiang Nannan had originally only planned to eat enough to fill her stomach, but now she could not help swallowing.
She had eaten grilled fish from the cafeteria at Shrek Academy before, but compared to this, the difference was like heaven and earth.
“It’s ready.”
Huo Yuhao handed one of the fish to Jiang Nannan.
Jiang Nannan took it and carefully bit into it.
The fresh, savory flavor instantly burst across her tongue.
Her eyes immediately lit up.
She looked at Huo Yuhao in amazement.
“This is way too good!
It smells and tastes even better than the grilled fish made by the chefs in our academy cafeteria!”
“It’s nothing special.
My mom taught me, and I’ve practiced so much that I got pretty good at it.”
“I see.
Your mom must be amazing to have come up with such a delicious way to make it!”
“Mm…
Mom really is amazing…”
Huo Yuhao casually agreed, but his mood had clearly fallen.
Jiang Nannan noticed it too.
Doctor Huo was so young, yet he had no family by his side.
Could it be because…
“Doctor Huo, the other day, when you said my mother’s illness was partly caused by years of overwork, it reminded me of something.”
“My father passed away when I was little, so Mom has always been the one supporting both of us.
Whenever I think back to when I was younger, I feel so sad.
Back then, I wasn’t capable of helping her at all.”
“But now, I feel like we’ve finally made it through the worst of it.
Doctor Huo, you cured my mom, and I was accepted into Shrek Academy, so I can finally help support our family.”
“So, Doctor Huo, you have to keep looking forward.
With your abilities, I’m sure you’ll succeed!”
“Mm, don’t worry, Sister Nannan.
I won’t forget my mission!”
Duke’s Mansion, just you wait…
Seeing Huo Yuhao regain his fighting spirit, Jiang Nannan felt much more relieved.
Then she noticed a tiny speck of charcoal ash caught in the tips of his hair.
Jiang Nannan took a deep breath.
This time, she did not hesitate.
Meeting Huo Yuhao’s clear blue, slightly puzzled eyes, she slowly reached out.
“You’ve got some ash in your hair.
Let me get it off.”
Her fingertips gently brushed against his hair, and she took the opportunity to softly rub the top of his head.
It was exactly as she had imagined.
Soft and fluffy, with a trace of warmth from the sunlight.
Huo Yuhao froze.
The gentle touch against his scalp felt slightly ticklish, along with an unfamiliar warmth.
In all his life, aside from his mother, no one had ever patted his head before.
A faint blush quietly crept over the tips of Huo Yuhao’s ears.
He did not move away, merely lowering his head slightly as he spoke in a soft voice.
“…Thank you, Sister Nannan.”
Seeing that he did not dislike it, Jiang Nannan grew a little bolder.
She gently rubbed his head twice more before finally withdrawing her hand, unable to keep the corners of her lips from rising.
“This is your reward.
The grilled fish was delicious.”
The boy said nothing, but the blush on his ears had already spread to his cheeks.
Without either of them realizing it, the distance between them had faded considerably.