A Man's Despair

Tang San didn't dodge her hand. With a serious expression, he said, "Sister Lingling, you have to believe in yourself. You'll definitely find a way. When I grow up, I'll help you look too."

Ye Lingling gazed into Tang San's earnest eyes, and something soft in her heart was gently touched. But she quickly told herself that this was only a child's kindness and didn't take it seriously.

Ye Lingling smiled faintly and decided to play along. "All right, little brother. If you find one, I'll marry you."

"It's a promise." Tang San held out his hand, his little finger raised.

Ye Lingling looked down at the raised little finger and froze for a moment. Then she couldn't help laughing, and a trace of genuine warmth finally appeared in her blue eyes.

Ye Lingling held out her hand too, hooking her little finger around Tang San's.

"All right! It's a promise," Ye Lingling said, as though humoring a child.

Tang San withdrew his hand, a faint smile on his face.

Beside them, Ye Renxin merely smiled, treating it as two children playing house.

Early the next morning.

The mist among the trees had yet to fully disperse, and the eastern sky had already taken on the pale white of a fish's belly. Morning light filtered through gaps in the canopy, washing the clearing in a faint layer of gold.

The Nine Heart Begonia was indeed worthy of being a top-tier healing-type Martial Soul.

With the aid of Ye Renxin's Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, some color had returned to Yu Xiaogang's face. The purplish-black tint had faded from his lips, and his breathing had steadied.

Looking at Yu Xiaogang lying on the oilcloth, Tang San marveled inwardly that Yu Xiaogang really was hard to kill. He had even managed to run into the top-tier healing Soul Master Ye Renxin here. Otherwise, he would have been a corpse by now.

Yu Xiaogang's eyelids twitched a few times before finally opening slowly.

"Teacher, you're awake," Tang San said at just the right moment.

Yu Xiaogang turned his head and saw Tang San. He braced himself against the ground and tried to sit up, but his arm gave way, and he fell back down.

Tang San reached out to steady Yu Xiaogang's shoulder and helped him sit up slowly.

Leaning against a nearby tree, Yu Xiaogang asked, "Little San, what happened to me?"

Hearing Yu Xiaogang stir, Ye Renxin came over as well.

Yu Xiaogang's gaze fell on Ye Renxin, his eyes filled with confusion.

Tang San saw Yu Xiaogang's confusion and introduced him without being asked. "Teacher, this is Senior Ye Renxin of the Ye Family in Heaven Dou City. You were poisoned by a Mandala Snake yesterday. Senior Ye and the others were passing through and saved you."

Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang struggled to sit upright and gave Ye Renxin a slight nod. "Thank you for saving my life."

Ye Renxin waved a hand and said evenly, "It was no trouble. There's no need to thank me. I've practiced medicine for decades. When I come across a patient, there's no reason not to save them."

Ye Renxin walked over and crouched in front of Yu Xiaogang. He placed his fingers on Yu Xiaogang's pulse, closed his eyes, and concentrated for a moment.

"The poison is gone," Ye Renxin said with certainty. "Your life is safe. Rest and recuperate for a few days, and you'll make a full recovery."

Yu Xiaogang let out a long breath, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly.

"But..." Ye Renxin changed tack, his voice dropping as he looked at Yu Xiaogang with a complicated expression.

Yu Xiaogang's heart rose into his throat again.

Ye Renxin was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing his words. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said it. "You were poisoned too deeply. The toxins remained in your body for too long and have already damaged your foundation. In that respect... I'm afraid it no longer works."

Yu Xiaogang froze. After taking a moment to feel for himself,

"No!!!"

Yu Xiaogang let out a roar, startling several birds from their perches in the treetops.

Standing to one side, Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang's twisted face and didn't know what to say for a moment. To his surprise, he felt a trace of pity as a fellow man.

Ye Renxin sighed, reached out, and patted Yu Xiaogang on the shoulder. "I've practiced medicine for decades. In your condition, getting your life back was already the best possible outcome. So many people can't even keep theirs..."

Ye Renxin's voice was gentle and calm, but there was clearly a trace of pity in his aged eyes.

Yu Xiaogang said nothing more. He leaned against the tree, head tilted back and eyes closed, his Adam's apple bobbing once.

No one knew what Yu Xiaogang was thinking. Perhaps he was thinking of Liu Erlong, or perhaps Bibi Dong. Having lost his dignity as a man from this day forward, was he wondering how he would face them in the future?

This was a man's despair.

Ye Renxin offered a few more words of comfort, then stood and walked over to Tang San. He patted Tang San on the shoulder. "Young friend Tang San, I'll leave your teacher in your care. He's weak right now, so take extra care on the road."

Tang San bowed. "Thank you, Senior Ye. I'll remember."

Ye Renxin nodded and turned toward Ye Lingling. The two middle-aged guards stood and followed behind him. The group packed their belongings and prepared to continue on their way.

Ye Lingling followed behind her grandfather. The morning light fell on her, lending a warm hue to her pale green dress. Her long blue hair fluttered gently in the breeze, and her deep blue eyes looked toward Tang San.

Tang San met Ye Lingling's gaze and smiled. Then he held out his hand and raised his little finger.

The corners of Ye Lingling's lips curved up slightly, and a trace of tenderness flashed in her eyes.

Tang San waved at her, his voice clear. "Sister Lingling, wait for me!"

Ye Lingling's eyelashes trembled slightly. Looking at Tang San's earnest little face, she felt something stir gently in her heart.

She said nothing more, merely nodding slightly before turning around. She hurried after her grandfather and disappeared into the depths of the forest.

Tang San watched her retreating figure go farther and farther away. Only when the last glimpse of her clothes vanished behind the bushes did he look away.

The morning light grew brighter, and the mist had almost completely dispersed.

Tang San turned and walked to Yu Xiaogang's side. "Teacher, let's go back," he said slowly.

Yu Xiaogang was silent for a moment. Finally, he opened his eyes and gave a quiet "Mm."

Tang San took Yu Xiaogang's arm and strained to support him as he stood.

Yu Xiaogang's body was heavy, and he swayed as though he might collapse at any moment. Although the snake venom had been cleared from his right leg, the damage to his muscles and nerves had yet to fully heal, and he limped as he walked.

The two headed back along the path they had come, moving forward step by step.

After they had walked for about a quarter of an hour, Yu Xiaogang suddenly spoke. "Little San."

"Hmm?" Tang San turned his head.

"That Mandala Snake... how did you get away?"

Tang San was silent for a second, then said casually, "I lured it into the territory of a four-hundred-year-old Evergreen Vine, and the vine strangled it to death."

Tang San concealed the Evergreen Vine's true age.

"Very good! You're clever." Some life returned to Yu Xiaogang's eyes, and his voice carried a note of approval.

Yu Xiaogang paused, then added, "In a few days, when I'm better, we'll come back and find you another suitable Soul Ring."

"Teacher, I've already acquired my First Soul Ring. It was from the Evergreen Vine that strangled the Mandala Snake." Tang San's tone remained even.

Yu Xiaogang stopped and turned to stare straight at Tang San, shock filling his eyes. "What? How did you do it?"

"I burned it to death, then absorbed its Soul Ring," Tang San said lightly.

Yu Xiaogang was silent for a moment before shaking his head, his voice full of regret. "Ah, what a pity. If only you could have obtained that Mandala Snake's Soul Ring. Then my theory would surely have been proven."

The corner of Tang San's mouth twitched. The trace of pity he had felt for Yu Xiaogang over losing his ability in that respect vanished completely at that moment.

But Tang San did not respond to Yu Xiaogang.

The two continued toward the exit of the Soul Hunting Forest.