Chapter 419: Snatching Prey from the Tiger's Den
Time flowed differently in the Douluo Divine Realm compared to Douluo Continent, making it impossible even for Tang San to monitor Douluo Continent constantly.
How did Ye Wen know this? Because he could see Huo Yun'er's soul still lingering near her daughter, Huo Yu´er.
In the original story, Huo Yun'er's martial spirit was never explicitly stated, but based on Huo Yuhao's spirit, it was likely a body spirit. Unfortunately, due to her lowly status, she had received no formal training.
Yet, as a body spirit, she should have possessed at least a decent innate soul power. So why had Huo Yun'er not been trained? Was it only because of her low status? But as Duke Dai Hao's personal maid, her station wouldn't have been so low that she couldn't cultivate.
"Did Dai Hao keep Huo Yun'er hidden out of possessiveness, afraid the Body Sect might find and take her away? Just as I thought Dai Hao is a selfish, ambitious scoundrel," Ye Wen sneered inwardly.
Suddenly, he heard Huo Yu´er speak.
"Mother, I'm leaving now. Please watch over me from above. No matter how much effort it takes, one day I will return and trample all of this underfoot. From this moment, I take your name as my own, Huo Yu´er. I will avenge you; from now on, there is no Dai Yu´er in this world, only Huo Yu´er."
Though just a frail 12 year old girl, the determination in her words amazed Ye Wen.
"As expected from this era's chosen one. Her talent may be weak, but that strength of spirit I approve," Ye Wen murmured.
Ye Wen had originally wanted to make up for past regrets, and seeing that the boy Huo Yuhao had become a girl named Huo Yu´er, he felt an even greater sense of compassion. After all, Ye Wen was himself the father of many children.
Such a strong girl shouldn't have to endure a life of groveling.
With that in mind, Ye Wen stepped forward, deliberately snapping a twig underfoot.
Crack!
"Who's there?" Huo Yu´er whirled around like a frightened animal, terror and alarm flashing in her eyes.
Her gaze quickly shifted, brightening a bit, though a look of steely resolve soon took over. She drew the White Tiger dagger, her mother's keepsake, and pointed it at Ye Wen fiercely.
"Has that wretched woman still not given up on me?! Fine, if that's the case, I'll die fighting!"
With a determined step forward, she lunged as if aiming to perish together with him.
Ye Wen sighed inwardly. Poorly educated, Huo Yu´er talked too much before fighting and left herself wide open. Ye Wen didn't even bother to dodge; he simply raised his hand and flicked her forehead, sending her tumbling to the ground.
"Wha… ahh… ugh…"
Stunned by the overwhelming power difference, Huo Yu´er lay on the ground, her eyes filling with despair and tears.
Realizing that she was alone in the wilderness only played into the hands of the ruthless Duchess, she sobbed bitterly.
"Mother, I'm so useless… I'm coming to join you soon…"
Seeing Ye Wen approach, Huo Yu´er closed her eyes in resignation, guilt for her mother weighing heavily on her heart. She had just resolved to seek revenge, yet now…
But time passed, and the anticipated pain never arrived. Why hadn't this assassin killed her?
At that moment, she felt a warm hand gently touching the place where she'd been struck.
"Does it still hurt? Apologies, I struck instinctively. But you can't blame me after all, you were the one who attacked first, and anyone would naturally react."
The warm, gentle voice in her ear confused Huo Yu´er. Cautiously opening her eyes, she saw Ye Wen's kind face gazing at her.
Before she could respond, Ye Wen had already pulled her to her feet and adjusted her posture.
Sigh. As he expected from the Huo Yuhao of this universe, the girl weighed barely 100 pounds and was underdeveloped. If not for her long hair, he might not have recognized her as a girl.
"Uncle… who are you?" Huo Yu´er asked, embarrassed. She now realized her misunderstanding this stranger was likely a mere passerby.
But Ye Wen considered her question. He couldn't just say he was a god; she'd think him insane.
"Oh, me? Just a soul master passing through," Ye Wen replied, using an odd tone to ease the wary girl's nerves.
Upon hearing "soul master," Huo Yu´er's eyes lit up, though her expression quickly dimmed.
Though her time in the Duke's Mansion had deprived her of privilege, it had given her a clear view of humanity's dark side, teaching her there was no such thing as kindness without a price.
"I guess soul masters still have to rely on themselves…" Huo Yu´er murmured, biting her lip bitterly.
Though she still dreamed of avenging herself against the Duke's family, her innate soul power level of one forced her to confront reality. Right now, her priority was to obtain her first soul ring and survive.
Ye Wen noticed the resolve in her eyes and gently asked, "Is something wrong?"
Huo Yu´er shook her head. She then offered a slight bow of apology. "Nothing, Uncle. I'm sorry for the trouble. I thought you were my enemy and truly apologize."
Her respectful attitude, even without formal training, pleased Ye Wen.
He even saw Huo Yun'er's soul behind her visibly relax, as if a weight had been lifted.
"Dai Hao, you're truly despicable," Ye Wen thought to himself. Such a gentle beauty had been betrayed so tragically, dying with thoughts still clinging to that scoundrel. Truly a pity.
Just then, Ye Wen's eyes narrowed. He sensed a familiar divine presence.
"Though it's much more refined, that aura is unmistakably Tang San's. So, he's moving already?"
Having chosen to enter the game himself, Ye Wen had no intention of letting Tang San succeed.
Raising his hand, he summoned a force that pulled Huo Yun'er's spirit into his grasp, leaving her stunned.
In the Divine Realm, Tang San froze in shock.
Where was the soul of the Chosen One's mother?
Refusing to give up, Tang San searched further, but Huo Yun'er's soul remained out of reach.
"Curses! Has her spirit already returned to the Underworld? It seems I'll have to invest more effort in finding her." Tang San grumbled and withdrew his divine gaze.
Ye Wen's eyes glinted coldly. Tang San was still the same arrogant figure he had always been, abusing his power at will. With a person like him as the Enforcer God, no wonder the Divine Realm had fallen into chaos.
(Chapter Ends)
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