Douluo Continent: Reborn as Yuhao, they all have ulterior motives.

Chapter 8 A Mother's Bottom Line

ducal mansion.

A thin figure walked through the servants' quarters, ignoring the strange, gloating stares of those around him.

As they got closer to the woodshed behind them, Huo Yuhao's heart began to pound uncontrollably, and he quickened his pace.

Soon, a figure sitting on a small stool washing clothes came into view behind the low wall. The person seemed to have heard the noise and subconsciously turned around to look.

Although she looked somewhat haggard, it couldn't hide her beautiful appearance. Her eyes and brows revealed a gentleness and tenderness that ran deep in her bones, but the next second, her eyes were filled with terror.

"Yuhao!"

Seeing Huo Yuhao covered in blood, the woman screamed in terror and, no longer caring about the unfinished clothes in her hands, stumbled and rushed towards him.

Looking at that familiar face, Huo Yuhao's throat bobbed, and he let out a choked murmur.

".mom."

"Mommy's here, Yuhao, don't be afraid, Mommy's here."

Huo Yun'er raised her hand, wanting to check on Huo Yuhao's condition, but stopped abruptly when she saw the horrifying bloodstains, afraid that her recklessness would hurt Huo Yuhao.

"Yuhao, don't be afraid. Where does it hurt? Let Mommy see."

For a moment, Huo Yun'er was at a loss and could only keep comforting Huo Yuhao, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Mom, I'm fine, you can see for yourself."

Huo Yuhao forced a smile, pulled up his sleeve to reveal his arm, which was completely uninjured, and then pulled up the hem of his shirt, turning around as if to show it off.

Huo Yun'er was momentarily stunned, then suddenly stepped forward and examined Huo Yuhao's body from head to toe. After a long while, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and her shoulders slumped. Just as Huo Yuhao was about to say something, Huo Yun'er hugged him tightly.

"That's great! That really scared Mommy to death!"

Hearing the choked sobs beside him, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but sniffle, his eyes softening as he gently comforted her.

"Mom, I told you I'm fine..."

After a while, Huo Yun'er's mood gradually calmed down. She wiped away her tears, her voice still a little hoarse, and looked at Huo Yuhao with a serious expression.

"Yuhao, tell Mom what happened."

"I don't understand it either."

Huo Yuhao shook his head and then began to recount his experiences.

"When I awakened my martial soul just now, I detected innate soul power. I wanted to come back quickly to tell my mother, but on the way I encountered a strange man in a black robe. After seeing me, he grabbed me and rushed through the side gate into the woods outside the Duke's mansion."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yun'er's expression tightened, and she pressed for an answer, "And then?"

Huo Yuhao pulled out the White Tiger Dagger, which still bore traces of blood, from his robes and spoke in a low voice.

"I was terrified at the time. Taking advantage of the other person's inattention, I panicked and stabbed the strange man with this dagger. Then a lot of blood flowed from his neck, and the hand that was holding me lost its strength. I managed to break free. He seemed to still want to grab me, but he quickly fell to the ground and stopped moving. I didn't dare to stay any longer, so I ran back."

After listening to Huo Yuhao's description, Huo Yun'er calmed down a little and couldn't help but feel glad that she had asked him to bring the White Tiger Dagger to the Martial Soul Awakening today. Then, as if she realized something, she asked again.

"Yuhao, that strange person you mentioned, besides wearing a black robe, is there anything particularly special about him?"

"have."

Huo Yuhao nodded immediately, as if recalling something, and at the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was originally going to bring it up himself, but it was better now that his mother had asked.

"When I saw that strange man running, I thought he was wearing white armor underneath. Later, when I swung my sword wildly, I tore his black robe and saw that there seemed to be a tiger head pattern on the shoulder of the white armor."

When Huo Yun'er heard that the assailant was wearing white armor, an ominous premonition rose in her heart. When Huo Yuhao mentioned that there was a tiger pattern on the shoulder, she was struck as if by lightning, and her heart stopped for a moment.

"White Tiger Guard."

She initially thought it was the Duchess's people who made the move, but she never expected it to be the White Tiger Duke's personal guards, who were loyal only to the White Tiger Duke!

Now that the facts are before her, she has no choice but to believe them.

The last time the White Tiger Guards appeared at the Duke's mansion was before Huo Yuhao was born, and Huo Yuhao's description was exactly the same as the White Tiger Guards' armor she had seen before. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, it would have been impossible for her to describe it so accurately.

"Mom, what are the White Tiger Guards?"

Huo Yun'er pursed her lips and sadly patted Huo Yuhao's head.

"It's nothing, Mom misspoke."

How could she possibly bring it up, saying that those were her father's bodyguards? How could she let a child know that the person who had kidnapped him and even tried to kill him was his father's subordinate?

She always thought that Dai Hao was being deceived by the Duchess, so she was unaware of the matter. And because of this, no matter how much she was suppressed or suffered, she still looked forward to the day when the other party would discover the truth.

She didn't leave because she was reluctant to give up her wealth and status, but because she hoped her son could have better opportunities. After all, the outside world wasn't much better than the Duke's mansion. She believed that as long as Dai Hao discovered that she had another son, Yuhao could at least live a life free from worries about food and clothing, which was much better than going out to struggle alone.

However, now, the White Tiger Guard's attack on her son has completely shattered her last hope. Dai Hao may have known about Yu Hao's existence from the beginning, but allowed the Duchess to suppress the mother and son. Even after the martial soul awakened, he found that Yu Hao's talent was not high and chose to kill him.

As for whether the Duchess sent someone to impersonate a White Tiger Guard in an attempt to deceive her into giving up, that is indeed a possibility. However, she cannot gamble with her son's life. Putting aside the fact that stealing or making White Tiger Guard armor is a serious crime, would the Duchess dare to risk Dai Hao's wrath by doing such a thing?

If this is Dai Hao's true intention, then Yu Hao will face utter destruction.

She could endure hardship, even death, for her son's future, but now the other party actually wanted to harm her son, which had crossed the line for a mother.

Huo Yun'er took a deep breath, her eyes gradually hardening. She looked at Huo Yuhao and forced a smile onto her face.

"Yuhao, shall we leave the Duke's mansion? Let's find a new place and start a new life before your father comes back."

"Wherever Mom goes, I'll go."

The boy's clear voice rang out. He raised his hand and gently grasped Huo Yun'er's thin hand. His youthful face seemed to mature several times over at that moment as he spoke earnestly.

"From now on, it's my turn to protect Mom."

(End of this chapter)