Douluo Continent, Huo Yuhao who returned from Sekiro

Chapter 187 An Unknown Soldier, or a World-Renowned Figure? (Daily Ten Thousand Words)

It seems he's quite lucky.

The so-called gathering area is actually a place where Soul Masters spontaneously gather to rest before hunting Soul Beasts. These gathering areas are usually located on the outer edge of the Soul Beast Forest. Many people buy and sell things here, and there are also places like inns.

The gathering area where Huo Yuhao is located can be said to be the largest gathering area outside of the Star Dou Forest, except for Shrek City. Because it is located at the border between the Heavenly Soul and the Douling Empire, Soul Masters from both countries usually choose to come here as a place to stay after a long journey, and it is quite lively every day.

Yes, Shrek City is also a gathering area in a strict sense. After all, the characteristics of a gathering area are actually only two: it can provide a safe environment for people to prepare for their business, and it is close enough to the Soul Beast Forest. Shrek City perfectly meets these two conditions.

Of course, this is also why prices in Shrek City are so much higher than elsewhere. You'll never see anything cheap in any settlement. A bag of roasted naan might only cost a few copper coins outside, but in the settlement, you can just buy it without a word.

Of course, the high prices in these settlements are justified. Besides those settlements that are officially run, there are also many privately contracted settlements. In these places, fighting is strictly prohibited; otherwise, you are going against the owner of the settlement.

The owners of these small settlements are often a powerful but bloodthirsty mercenary group of Soul Masters.

Most of the team members are between level 40 and 50, while the captains are mostly between level 50 and 60. In the gathering area where Huo Yuhao is located, the captains are even more impressive, reaching an astonishing level 70, making them true Soul Saint powerhouses.

The reason why things are so expensive in the settlement area is not only due to transportation costs, but also because taxes have to be paid to these people. However, this money is not paid for nothing. At least in terms of strictly prohibiting fighting and maintaining peace and stability in the settlement area, they have really done their part.

This is how low- to mid-level Soul Masters survive.

After graduating from school, apart from a small number of Soul Masters who can join the Empire, family, and sect and earn a government job, many Soul Masters with good strength who dislike being constrained choose to become mercenaries.

In the world of Soul Master mercenaries, being able to peacefully manage to contract a settlement area and live off protection money is considered a very satisfactory outcome.

After all, not all Soul Masters want to choose between being unknown and becoming famous, especially when choosing fame means that most of their mercenaries are dead.

"Give me a superior room and bring me some hot water."

Huo Yuhao walked straight to an inn and tossed out two gold coins.

"Yes, sir! Waiter, please escort this gentleman to his best room!"

The shopkeeper smiled and gestured to the waiter to quickly take this gentleman upstairs.

Huo Yuhao followed the waiter toward the side rooms in the backyard. Just as the two reached the main hall of the backyard guest rooms, Huo Yuhao's ears twitched slightly as he overheard something unusual.

"Are we really going to take action against Shrek's students?"

"A subject should die for his master's honor. How dare you say that your master has given a death order to cut off his head?"

"I think the young master is exaggerating a bit. To actually send out all eighteen of our manor's secret guards for some ridiculous 'One-Slash-to-Slay the Netherworld' theory."

"Don't forget about his roommate. And his mother—if she dares to leave the academy, take her out too."

"Fourth Brother, our good days are numbered. The eldest brother has taken the second and third masters to Shrek City to scout the area. Once they make their move, whether they succeed or fail, we won't be able to escape. Let's enjoy ourselves while we can."

"You idiot, all you know is how to enjoy yourself... I bet you'll get ruined by that thing down there sooner or later..."

Huo Yuhao remained calm, as if he hadn't heard anything at all. If his physical abilities hadn't been enhanced by the Life Gold, he would never have heard these people talking in their deliberately lowered voices.

As Huo Yuhao's footsteps echoed upstairs, the intermittent conversation inside the room abruptly ceased the moment his foot touched the stairs. This suggests that the other party's perception abilities were actually inferior to Huo Yuhao's.

Huo Yuhao did not rashly release his mental detection, because although his second martial soul would not possess him when releasing soul skills, the soul rings would still appear.

Huo Yuhao's vertical pupils opened, and he could clearly see the source of the sound. Several men were drinking silently, clearly worried that their conversation would be overheard.

"Fourth Brother... that girl is really young... I'll pay for it... it would be a great thing if all the brothers worked together..."

Inside the room, a thin man with a pointed face and monkey-like features was talking in a drunken manner with a lewd look on his face. The man called Fourth Brother also realized that it was not normal for the room to be filled with the sound of drinking but no talking, so he chimed in.

"I think what you mentioned... isn't as good as what I had last time..."

Huo Yuhao followed the waiter's directions to the top floor, and the voices of the group grew fainter and fainter until they were barely audible.

Only after confirming that Xiao Er had left did Huo Yuhao's previously expressionless face suddenly show a slight change.

The mental probe slowly seeped into Huo Yuhao's lower body like flowing water, bypassing the guys writhing on a lump of white flesh and the people who were taking a short rest at the inn, intending to conserve their energy before entering the Star Dou Forest to obtain their soul rings. Huo Yuhao's mental probe passed through several floors and landed in a guest room on the first floor.

Although Huo Yuhao couldn't hear what these people were saying, he could clearly see the movements of their lips.

"Remember to keep our mission a secret and don't let it happen again."

"We're still a long way from Shrek City, I'm worried. Alright, alright, Fourth Brother, it's your decision. I'll keep this to myself."

"You idiot. This place isn't safe; we can't afford to take even the slightest risk."

"Alright, alright. We're hundreds of miles away from Shrek City. I'm going to find that pretty girl and have some fun myself. You guys can keep it to yourselves. Promise you won't let it slip out again, okay?"

During Huo Yuhao's mental detection, the thin, weasel-faced man's eyes flashed with impatience, but he still obediently ran his hand across his mouth from left to right, indicating that he would never let anything slip again.

Immediately afterwards, the other person pushed open the door, spat out a mouthful of phlegm, and strode outside, whistling as he did so, while also loosening his belt.

(End of this chapter)