Meng Hongchen sobbed softly, her voice coming out in broken fragments as she spoke:
"My mom… when she had my brother and me, my father… he got involved in royal family disputes and was assassinated."
"After that, my mom gave birth to my brother and me… because of my father's death, she was always downhearted. But in front of my brother and me, she was still the same cheerful, radiant mom."
"But none of us knew how deeply she missed my father. Her constitution was already weak due to her martial soul. When I was eight, she couldn't hold on anymore… the illness took her away."
"I'm sorry, Yuhao. I didn't mean to burden you with these sad things. I just… I can't control my emotions right now."
At that, Meng Hongchen could no longer hold herself back. Her sorrow burst forth like a flood, and she cried in Huo Yuhao's arms, her voice choked with pain.
Huo Yuhao held her tightly, gently stroking her hair. Feeling the heartbreaking trembles of the girl sobbing in his arms, he didn't know what to say.
As someone who was no different from an orphan himself, he deeply understood that kind of loneliness that came from the absence of family. And for that very reason, he found himself unable to offer any shallow words of comfort.
After a while, Meng Hongchen's emotions began to settle slightly. Huo Yuhao leaned closer to her ear and whispered:
"Senior Meng… remember that evening? I promised to tell you about my past."
Meng Hongchen lifted her tear-stained face from his chest, her eyes red as she looked at him in surprise.
She didn't leave his embrace, only rested her head against his warm chest again, tightening her arms around him just a little more.
"Mm."
And so, at her ear, Huo Yuhao began softly telling the story of a little boy born in the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
Because he was a transmigrator, Huo Yuhao had remembered everything clearly from the moment he was born. Not a single memory was lost. That only made the tale all the more sorrowful and vivid. Every time he thought about the moment Huo Yun'er died, he felt as if his heart was being torn apart.
As Huo Yuhao continued, Meng Hongchen slowly calmed. She became immersed in the story, unconsciously imagining herself in that little boy's shoes.
When he described how Huo Yun'er had cared for him day by day, Meng Hongchen felt as though she could feel that strong and loving mother's warmth.
And so, when Huo Yuhao began describing the scorn, discrimination, humiliation, and even beatings the mother and child suffered together, Meng Hongchen's heart ached terribly. She held onto Huo Yuhao tightly.
She didn't want to hear how this story ended.
But Huo Yuhao, calmly and steadily, told it all the same:
"...In the end, that gentle, resilient mother of the little boy from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion—burdened with both physical and emotional torment—passed away from her illness."
"The boy, in the middle of a heavy downpour, used his own hands to claw at the hard, cold earth. He had no money to buy a coffin, so he buried her himself."
"He stared at her pale, lifeless face, then slowly used his bare hands to gather wet clumps of mud and cover her body."
"He erected a grave marker for her. From that moment on, he vowed to avenge her. He abandoned the surname 'Dai' that he hated to his core, and took his mother's surname—Huo."
"Then, he left the White Tiger Duke's Mansion… and began a brand new life."
"...That's my story, Senior Meng."
By now, there was no longer sadness in Meng Hongchen's heart. Instead, it was overflowing with bitter grief, helplessness, anger, and deep sympathy.
Now she fully understood why, during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, Huo Yuhao had so decisively and mercilessly killed Dai Huabin—the second son of the Dai family.
So that was it. He was the descendant of the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao.
And behind the image of the heroic Duke, so admired by soldiers and citizens alike, such a heartbreaking story had taken place.
Meng Hongchen pulled away from Huo Yuhao's embrace and wiped the tears from her eyes. She looked directly at his calm face and lowered her head, her voice full of heartache. "Yuhao… you're so strong. So much stronger than me."
She felt that Huo Yuhao's suffering far outweighed her own. At least she had her grandfather, a man of great prestige in the Sun Moon Empire, to love her. She belonged to the Hongchen family—one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the empire.
But Huo Yuhao… he had nothing but his mother.
Hearing her words, Huo Yuhao only smiled quietly. He reached out and patted her head.
Strong? The day his mother died, he'd probably cried out all the tears he'd ever shed in this lifetime.
Thankfully, whether it was training, soul tools, or even matters of the heart—there were always things to keep him going. Just like back when he was eighteen and got into a good university, full of hope for the future. Otherwise, at thirty-something years old mentally, he might have already resigned himself to life like a weary middle-aged man.
"Don't be too sad, Senior Meng. The past is the past. If things ever feel too much to bear, just talk to someone about it."
Meng Hongchen nodded. But then she puffed up her cheeks, placed her hands on her hips, and glared at Huo Yuhao. "Honestly, Yuhao, you're the one who shouldn't dwell on the past so much! I'm really afraid you'll become someone who'll do anything for revenge. If something happens, we'll face it together, okay?"
Huo Yuhao was stunned. If he hadn't mentally aged so much, maybe he really would have sunk deep into hatred long ago.
"...Okay. I promise, Senior Meng."
After cleaning up the dishes, the two of them sat together on the sofa, side by side, holding hands and chatting for a long time.
They talked about everything—from mundane household chores to matters of state and empire. Just like that, the conversation carried them all the way into the evening.
As for their relationship… neither of them said anything directly. But their way of interacting had clearly grown more intimate than before. Perhaps they were both waiting—for the right moment.
Huo Yuhao gave Meng Hongchen some reminders about her dangerous fire-and-ice cold poison condition. He also handed her three ice crystals condensed from his own Ultimate Ice soul power.
These cold crystals could help suppress the fire attribute energy inside her and delay the next backlash as much as possible. Though they weren't particularly strong, every bit helped.
Just as Huo Yuhao was about to leave, Meng Hongchen suddenly grabbed him by the sleeve. She gave him a sly smile. "Yuhao~ aren't you worried about me?"
Huo Yuhao froze for a moment… and then nodded.
"Then just stay here~"
Huo Yuhao blinked. That… actually made a lot of sense? The place was close to Mingde Hall, and it would be convenient for watching over Meng Hongchen.
"But…"
(End of Chapter)
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