Douluo Dalu: Sun Gauntlet

To participate in the giveaway, join my p@treon as a free member and vote on the pinned post

---------

Quan Yi noticed that Huo Wu's palms were covered in blisters from doing pull-ups, and some of them had already burst.

Moreover, because burpees required supporting oneself on the ground, dust had adhered to her injured hands, making the pain all the more unbearable.

Without hesitation, Quan Yi took out a water bag and carefully washed Huo Wu's hands. Once they were clean, he retrieved a brand-new short-sleeved shirt from his soul guide and tore it into strips. He then wrapped the white cloth gently around her wounded palms.

After tending to her injuries, Quan Yi gazed at Huo Wu, who lay unconscious against his chest. Countless thoughts swirled in his mind.

He wasn't being arrogant, but he knew that among his peers, he was nearly unmatched—whether in talent, physical fitness, or sheer perseverance. No one could reach his level. He had already far surpassed his contemporaries.

Yet, Huo Wu, through sheer determination, had taken a step closer to him.

This realization made Quan Yi see something in her—potential.

Huo Wu's talent was undeniable, but the perseverance she had displayed today was what truly caught his attention. If he could refine this raw gem, it would one day shine with dazzling brilliance.

After pondering for a moment, Quan Yi made up his mind—he would give Huo Wu a chance.

He spread the torn short sleeves on the ground, carefully laying her on top of them. Then, he sat to the side, pulled out some dried meat, and ate while waiting for her to wake up.

A strong wind swept across the playground, rustling the trees with a whisper of "sand, sand." Leaves were torn from their branches, drifting through the air before settling in front of him. One stray leaf floated toward Huo Wu, and Quan Yi instinctively reached out to catch it.

Just then, a hoarse voice broke the silence.

"Mm… water."

Huo Wu had woken from her deep sleep.

Quan Yi quickly stowed his belongings into Heart of Fierce Sun, then retrieved the water bag. Supporting her carefully with one arm, he brought the water to her lips and spoke softly, "Here, drink slowly. Don't gulp too much at once."

Huo Wu wanted to push him away and drink by herself, but her body ached all over, and her arms were too weak to lift. She had no choice but to rely on him.

Quan Yi was naturally good at taking care of others. In his previous life, he had been the eldest at the orphanage, often helping the director look after the younger children.

Huo Wu, on the other hand, had never been treated so gently by a boy before. Her heartbeat quickened inexplicably, and warmth spread across her face.

After drinking, she lowered her head shyly and murmured, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Your body hasn't recovered yet, so just rest for now."

Huo Wu didn't try to act tough—nor did she have the strength to. She lay down obediently and rested quietly.

As she wriggled her fingers, she noticed her palms were wrapped in soft white cloth. There was also fabric beneath her, cushioning her body. Realization dawned—Quan Yi had used his own shirt.

A trace of admiration flickered in her heart as she turned to look at him, only to find that he was sitting off to the side, calmly chewing on jerky.

"When did you start training?" she asked curiously.

"I started when I was two. I trained three times a day without missing a single session. Before I turned six, I mainly practiced swimming. It was only after my Martial Soul awakened that I started focusing on these exercises."

"Two years old? That's so young! Did your family force you to train?"

"No, I wanted to."

Huo Wu was surprised.

"Why? What kept you going?"

Why?

The answer was simple.

Quan Yi didn't respond immediately. He slowly closed his eyes, recalling the reason that had driven him all these years.

When he opened them again, his gaze held nothing but unshakable determination.

"The strongest! From beginning to end, I have only one goal—to become the strongest."

Quan Yi's tone was calm, yet it carried an inexplicable momentum.

Huo Wu was momentarily stunned by his domineering confidence. The word "strongest" coming from Quan Yi's lips felt undeniably convincing to her. Somehow, she believed that he truly had the potential to reach that pinnacle.

But soon, a fire seemed to ignite within her. A surge of excitement coursed through her veins, and she felt her blood boil with passion. Trembling slightly, she raised her arm, clenched her fist, and stretched it toward Quan Yi.

"Then you'd better be careful… because my goal is also to be the strongest."

Her eyes blazed with determination as she met Quan Yi's gaze fearlessly.

Her "arrogant" declaration took Quan Yi by surprise, but it also reassured him that his decision had been right. Huo Wu's spirit had exceeded his expectations.

"Hahahaha! Very good, very good, very good!" Quan Yi burst into laughter. "The road to the strongest would be far too boring without a worthy rival!"

He clenched his fist and bumped it against Huo Wu's.

Huo Wu couldn't help but laugh as well.

"Hahaha!"

Their youthful laughter echoed through the empty training ground, intertwining in the air like a pair of young tiger cubs roaring in the valley. Though their voices were small, they carried the potential to shake even the mightiest of beasts.

Just then—

"Gururu~"

Huo Wu's stomach let out a loud, rumbling protest.

As expected of a "little tiger," even the sound of her hunger was extraordinary.

The moment she heard it, a deep blush spread across her cheeks. The heroic aura she had just displayed vanished instantly, replaced by the shy demeanor of a young girl.

Quan Yi was momentarily stunned by the contrast. It was hard to tell which side of her was the real one.

Still, the hunger pangs were a good sign—it meant that her body was recovering and demanding energy.

Without hesitation, Quan Yi reached into his storage tool and pulled out his treasured dried soul beast meat, handing it to Huo Wu.

"Here, try this."

Huo Wu was slightly surprised but didn't hesitate to take the jerky. She bit into it without ceremony.

"I've wanted to try this for a long time."

The meat was tough—this was her first impression. She struggled slightly to tear off a piece, then slowly chewed.

The jerky was simply seasoned with salt, allowing the meat's natural richness to shine through. Though it was chewy, the more she bit into it, the more its deep, meaty aroma unfolded, creating a unique and satisfying taste.

The more she ate, the more she felt its extraordinary flavor.

"This is delicious!" Huo Wu exclaimed. "I could eat a whole bowl of rice with just this jerky. What kind of meat is this? I've never tasted anything like it."

But instead of answering, Quan Yi smirked and said mysteriously, "Eat a few more bites first."

Huo Wu was confused but didn't press the issue. She simply focused on eating—especially since she was starving.

As she continued chewing, something unexpected happened.

Her initial calm expression gradually shifted to one of surprise.

A faint warmth began to rise in her stomach. At first, it was subtle, but it grew stronger, spreading through her body like ripples in water.

Before long, her entire body felt like it was immersed in a hot spring.

Tiny beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

Realizing the strange sensation, Huo Wu turned to Quan Yi in astonishment.

Quan Yi chuckled. "It seems you've noticed. This is my exclusive secret… you're getting quite the special treatment today."

His voice carried a hint of pride as he continued, "Listen carefully—what you just ate was century-old soul beast meat."

"What?!" Huo Wu nearly choked.

She coughed violently before managing to speak again. "Ahem… w-wait… did you say century-old soul beast meat?! How much does this cost?!"

Suddenly, the jerky in her hand felt unbearably heavy. Of course, this was purely psychological.

Quan Yi, however, remained unfazed. "It's nothing, really. Just the equivalent of a few months' living expenses for an ordinary family."

Huo Wu quickly did the mental calculations. The more she thought about it, the more shocked she became.

She had always been well-off—her family gave her more than enough pocket money to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle.

But compared to Quan Yi's daily consumption of high-grade dried meat, her wealth suddenly seemed insignificant.

At that moment, she looked at Quan Yi differently.

No longer did he appear to be just an ordinary person.

Instead, in her eyes—

He had completely transformed into a walking mountain of gold soul coins.