Chapter 3 El Cat Mountain Wind
In a space shrouded in mist, Dai Yuhao slowly opened his eyes, somewhat panicked.
Where am I?! Wasn't I just awakening my martial soul?
"Yo! Aibo, you're here too! I have some things I'd like to ask you about, meow!"
A clear voice rang out behind Dai Yuhao, playful yet composed.
Dai Yuhao turned around, pointing at himself with some confusion, "aibo? Are you calling me?"
Looking towards the source of the sound, a familiar figure appeared in Dai Yuhao's eyes. "Isn't that my newly awakened martial soul?"
"Meow~ It's just the two of us here. Aibo means partner, buddy, meow!"
The white kitten with tiger stripes puffed out its chest and answered Dai Yuhao's question, "I have a name, it's called Mountain Wind Meow~"
"Mountain Wind Cat, aren't you my martial soul? Also, where is this place?"
Shanfeng shook its head and corrected Dai Yuhao, "It's Shanfeng, not Shanfeng Miao!"
"Oh? I'm sorry."
Having accepted the apology, Shanfeng continued to answer Dai Yuhao's questions, "I don't know where this is either, but I was originally outside, and you dragged me here."
just?
Dai Yuhao thought back for a moment, could it be when the butler told him to retract his martial soul? Then this place must be where his martial soul is housed, so it should be considered part of him, right?
Thinking of this, Dai Yuhao's uneasy heart was greatly relieved.
"This seems to be a space for storing martial spirits. But it's amazing that you, as a martial spirit, have your own consciousness and even a name! However..."
Dai Yuhao sank down again, and didn't finish his sentence. He wished it wasn't so magical. He still hoped his martial soul was the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, not this quirky cat in front of him.
"What is a Martial Soul? I am not what you call a Martial Soul, I am the Hunting Felyne from the Hunter's Guild!"
Hunter's Guild? What's that? And what's Hunting Felynes? If it's not a Martial Soul, then what is it?
Dai Yuhao was completely bewildered by Shan Feng's explanation, but he still managed to answer Shan Feng's questions and explain the meaning of Martial Soul to him.
"Meow?"
Shan Feng stared wide-eyed as he slowly processed Dai Yuhao's information, gradually realizing just how extraordinary things had happened to him.
"Meow! I've arrived in another world, meow!"
In the world where Yama-kaze originally lived, there were also visitors from other worlds, and their stories were written into biographies and circulated among the Palico clan. He never imagined that one day something like this would happen to him, and that he would be transported to another world!
Having figured out the reason for what happened, the mountain wind began to explain its origins to the human cub with whom it was spiritually connected.
"Hello, meow~ I come from another world. My race is Palico, and I've already graduated from the Hunter's Guild. My goal is to become the strongest Palico hunter. On my way to the New World, I somehow ended up in this world and became your Martial Soul, meow!"
The mountain wind's heterochromatic eyes gleamed with excitement as it excitedly addressed Dai Yuhao, "This world is a new continent for me, meow! There are so many unknown things waiting for me to explore, meow! Aibo, are you willing to join me as the strongest duo in Douluo Continent, meow?"
Although Shanfeng was excited, Dai Yuhao was still disappointed. "I'm sorry, Shanfeng."
"My innate soul power is only level one, which means I'm destined not to become the strongest soul master you mentioned, but rather the weakest. I'm the one who's dragging you down. Also, just call me Yuhao."
Seeing this, Shanfeng shook his head, denying Huo Yuhao's statement, "Yuhao, I don't know what level one innate soul power means to you. But I do know that innate deficiencies can be made up for through hard work, meow!"
"I was very weak in my pack when I was born, and even my parents suggested that I become a chef Palico. But! Through hard training, I finally passed the test and became the hunting Palico I love!"
Shanfeng clenched his fists, and his cute cat face became resolute.
"No matter what the past was like, the most important thing is whether you have the courage to change! The future is not static. As long as you have the courage to fight, even if you lose in the end, it will be a result of your own efforts and you won't regret it!"
"Great strength doesn't come by waiting, meow! Only through hard work and diligent study can you improve. A temporary setback doesn't mean a lifetime of failure, meow!"
Shan Feng's enthusiastic speech made Dai Yuhao raise his head, and he thought of his mother who had been seriously ill for a long time.
He had once hoped to awaken the Evil-Eyed White Tiger martial soul to change his fate and help his mother escape the torment of illness. Was he to accept his fate and watch his mother die without medical treatment if he failed to awaken his martial soul?
He had overheard the servants' conversation that his mother's health was failing and she didn't have much time left.
"Shanfeng, you're right! I can't let this get me down. My mother is waiting for my help. Only with strength can I help her. I need to make a change!"
The mountain wind bounced up, making a celebratory gesture.
"Well said, meow! Wanting to change is the greatest courage, meow! I've also learned hunter training methods at the Hunter's Guild. With my guidance, you'll definitely become the best hunter, meow!"
Dai Yuhao raised his fist and bumped fists with Shan Feng, "Yeah! Let's become the strongest team together!"
Yuhao~ Yuhao~
Outside the misty space, a weak female voice called out Dai Yuhao's name.
"Mountain Breeze, I should go out now, my mother is worried about me."
Since this place is part of me, and the butler said that I can retract my martial soul with a thought, then I should rely on my will to leave.
The clever Dai Yuhao quickly came up with a solution. His figure transformed into clouds and dissipated in this space, and his consciousness returned to his body.
Outside, Dai Yuhao slowly opened his eyes. What came into view was his mother's weak face. She was staring at Dai Yuhao's face with worry. When she saw him open his eyes, she immediately felt relieved and smiled.
"Yuhao, you've worried your mother to death! She hasn't woken up for ages."
Huo Yun'er affectionately nuzzled Dai Yuhao's forehead. She knew that he must be very sad and in dire need of her comfort now that he had not awakened the Evil Eye White Tiger Martial Soul.
"Yuhao, even without the Evil Eye White Tiger Martial Soul, you are still Mom's most beloved baby. As long as you can grow up safely, Mom will be at peace."
Hearing his mother's words of comfort, Dai Yuhao felt a lump in his throat, and tears welled up in his eyes.
"Mom, I've thought it through. Let's leave the Duke's mansion!"
Dai Yuhao looked intently at his mother's pale face and continued, "Mother, your illness is already very serious. If it drags on any longer, I'm afraid it will be too late. In the Duke's mansion, the First Madam is oppressing you, and you can't get effective treatment. Only by leaving the Duke's mansion can you have any hope of recovery!"
Leaving the Duke's mansion?
Huo Yun'er was somewhat surprised that Dai Yuhao would say such a thing today. Actually, she could have left the Duke's mansion before, after all, the Duchess would have preferred her to do so.
But she still missed that man, so she was unwilling to leave this place.
Now that her beloved child had said those words, Huo Yun'er made up her mind.
"Okay, Mom will listen to you and leave the Duke's mansion."
[end of the chapter]