One Year—Please Keep Reading

Noon.

After being blasted by Tang San's farts all morning, Yu Xiaogang confirmed that there really was nothing wrong with Tang San's body. He hastily found an excuse about it being time for lunch and sent him out the door.

It was exactly twelve noon.

The System's prompt sounded in Tang San's mind right on time.

Ding!

A new week has begun. The following are the System tasks the host must carry out this week.

White-Grade Weekly Task: Run naked around Notting Junior Soul Master Academy once.

Task Reward: Increase the age of a designated Soul Ring by one year.

Failure Penalty: Execution.

Yellow-Grade Weekly Task: Defeat one Soul Master of the same rank or one Soul Beast alone.

Task Reward: Increase the age of a designated Soul Ring by five years.

Failure Penalty: Randomly lose one limb.

Purple-Grade Weekly Task: Kill one Soul Master of the same rank or one Soul Beast alone.

Task Reward: Increase the age of a designated Soul Ring by ten years.

Failure Penalty: Permanent reduction of the fifth limb by 1 centimeter.

Black-Grade Weekly Task: Kill one Soul Master or Soul Beast a major rank above your own alone.

Task Reward: 1 portion of Physique Elementary Enhancement Fluid. (10 portions of Elementary Enhancement Fluid can be fused into one portion of Intermediate Enhancement Fluid. 10 portions of Intermediate Enhancement Fluid can be fused into one portion of Advanced Enhancement Fluid. 10 portions of Advanced Enhancement Fluid can be fused into one portion of Top-Grade Enhancement Fluid. Note: Physique Enhancement Fluid cannot be used above its grade. Otherwise, there is a certain chance of causing bodily damage.)

Failure Penalty: Gain a physique that makes you extremely prone to farting.

Red-Grade Weekly Task: Without relying on external assistance, kill one Titled Douluo or one hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast alone.

Reward: 1 drop of Martial Soul Evolution Fluid. (100 drops can be combined into one complete portion of Martial Soul Evolution Fluid.)

Failure Penalty: Every fart will come with shit for one week.

Tang San's face immediately darkened like the bottom of a pot, his eyes filled with violence.

He was not afraid of fighting. As long as the gap was not absurdly vast, he was confident he could complete the tasks.

He was confident in completing the Yellow-Grade, Purple-Grade, and even the Black-Grade task of killing someone across a major rank. At worst, he could use Hidden Weapons. If Hidden Weapons did not work, he could poison them.

The Red-Grade task was another matter. The reward was good, but if he could not complete it, that was simply a matter of his own strength. The penalty for failure did not cause him any real harm. It was disgusting, but he could barely accept it.

But what kind of bullshit was this White-Grade task?

Why was there such a disgusting task?

The reward being low was one thing, but failing it would cost him his life?

How the fuck could anyone tolerate this?

"A System created by some unknown great existence, is that it? You dare toy with me, Tang San, while I am weak? You already have the path of Courting Death! Just wait! I, Tang San, swear to the heavens that one day, I will take your dog life!"

Tang San viciously swore this oath in his heart.

Having just returned a book at the library, Xu Changqing went to the academy cafeteria for a simple lunch. As usual, he left Notting Academy and headed toward the Martial Soul Branch Hall.

His life was now very fulfilling and orderly every day. His only leisure time was probably after the academy's morning classes, when he would take the clingy Xiao Wu for a flight through the sky.

And so it went.

Time slipped quietly away like fine sand through one's fingers.

One year later.

The Seventh Dorm, once fairly spacious, now contained only two figures.

"Changqing Gege!"

Xiao Wu came hopping over, circling around Xu Changqing as he packed his things. She cheered happily, "Vacation at last! Not having to listen to those people at the academy nagging all day feels so amazing! Sister Xiao Wu can smell freedom!"

Xu Changqing smiled. "It's only a two-month break. Look how happy you are. Aren't you going to pack your things?"

"What is there for me to pack? I can buy new things next year anyway. You'll pay for them, right?"

"You really do take me for a sucker, huh?"

Xu Changqing slung his packed bundle over his back, then tapped her on the head as he scolded her with a smile.

"Who told you to be my brother?" Xiao Wu pouted and replied mischievously.

Compared to a year ago, both of them had grown quite a bit taller, and their bond had become even deeper.

"Let's go. Si Si Jie said we could spend the New Year at her place this break."

"Yay!!!"

One was an orphan, and the other was a Soul Beast in human form. Neither had a complete home in this world. In a way, they were kindred spirits.

Fortunately, Xu Changqing had gained a good older sister. Otherwise, once Notting Academy went on break, they would not even know where to go.

Elsewhere.

At Tang San's home in Holy Soul Village.

Tang San's brows furrowed slightly as he looked at the letter in his hand.

"Little San.

"By the time you read this letter, I will already be gone. Do not look for me. You will never be able to find me.

"Ever since you were young, you have been exceptionally intelligent. Father knows you have some secrets of your own, and Father does not wish to interfere with them. However, when you kill those Soul Masters in the future, remember to clean up properly and leave as little evidence as possible. Spirit Hall's Enforcement Team has already entered Notting City. You must act carefully and cautiously from now on.

"Also, that girl named Xiao Wu—if possible, remember to get closer to her. It will benefit you in the future.

"A fledgling eagle can only soar higher sooner by spreading its own wings. Choose your own path. Father believes you can handle your own affairs. I also need to reclaim some things that should have belonged to me. Do not worry about me.

"Destroy after reading.

"Do not miss me—Tang Hao."

This letter left by his father contained far too much information hidden behind a mist.

Tang San's brow furrowed deeply.

After burning the paper, he sat on a crude little stool and carefully pieced together the clues left in the letter.

Outside the house.

A burly figure clad in a tattered cloak stood silently for a while before turning and leaving without a sound.

Notting City.

Xu Changqing led Xiao Wu to Si Si Jie's home and skillfully unlocked the front door with his key. Before he even entered, his voice rang out, "Si Si Jie, I'm back!"

The sound of footsteps came from inside, and someone walked out. It was Su Yuntao.

"Oh, little Changqing, you're here. Your Si Si Jie went to the Soul Hunting Forest to carry out a task. Eh? Is this your little girlfriend?"

Su Yuntao looked at Xiao Wu behind Xu Changqing and immediately broke into a knowing smile.

"It's Tao Shu." Seeing Su Yuntao, Xu Changqing's eyes filled with disappointment. "Why isn't Si Si Jie home?"

"Heh, you brat, you dare dislike me?" Su Yuntao laughed as he grabbed Xu Changqing's head and gave it a vigorous rub, turning his originally flowing hair into a bird's nest.

"Aren't you going to introduce your little girlfriend to me?"

"Hello, Tao Shu!" Xiao Wu jumped forward as though she had known him forever, blinking her big eyes in greeting. Her obedient and adorable appearance immediately made Su Yuntao like her from the bottom of his heart. Perhaps he simply liked her because he liked Xu Changqing.

"Good, good, good!" Su Yuntao laughed heartily, patting Xu Changqing and Xiao Wu on their heads. "Young people these days are incredible. Dating at such a young age! Little Changqing, not bad. You're almost half as impressive as Tao Shu was back then."

"Keep bragging." Xu Changqing looked up at him with disdain. Everyone at the Notting City Martial Soul Branch Hall knew that Su Yuntao was henpecked.

Where was his shame?

"This is Xiao Wu, my classmate at Notting Academy and my Sworn Sister. Tao Shu, don't go pairing people up randomly."

"Sworn Sister? It's fine, it's fine. Your Tao Shu has been there before. I understand." Su Yuntao winked at Xu Changqing, then waved a hand grandly. "To celebrate your vacation, Tao Shu will cook for you two personally later!"

Xu Changqing's face nearly turned green at that. Su Yuntao's cooking was not fit for human consumption; even dogs would shake their heads at it. He immediately ran to the stove, lit the fire himself, and prepared three dishes and a soup. That was also the main reason he had looked so disappointed when he saw that Si Si Jie was not home.

"Tao Shu, food can wait. Where is Si Si Jie? When will she be back?"

"This..." Su Yuntao rubbed his chin and thought for a moment before estimating, "If things go smoothly, three or four days. It usually takes about that long every year. You know that the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall arrange for active Soul Masters from nearby towns to join forces each year and clear out the Soul Beasts over a thousand years old in the Soul Hunting Forest. Since it's almost the end of the year, the task came down from above. This year, the Soul Hunting Forest near Notting City is being handled by your Si Si Jie and another Branch Hall deacon."

Hearing that, Xu Changqing asked worriedly, "Will it be dangerous?"

"How could it be?" Su Yuntao waved his hand. "Every year, Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire each send a Soul Elder to lead the team. With two Soul Elders in charge, plus eight active Great Soul Masters from nearby towns providing support, the chance of anything happening in a Soul Hunting Forest where thousand-year Soul Beasts are already rare is basically zero."

"This task is highly sought after. Your Si Si Jie got lucky. Once she finishes it, she'll get many days off. I'm the unlucky one. Before long, I'll be busy again..."

Thinking of how he would have to travel from village to village and awaken Martial Souls for groups of children, Su Yuntao wore a bitter expression. His strength was lower than his girlfriend's—his situation was truly miserable.

"I see." After hearing Su Yuntao's explanation, Xu Changqing felt somewhat relieved. He pulled Xiao Wu along and said, "Tao Shu, I'll take Xiao Wu to pick a room first. You've worked hard too, so don't cook. We'll go out to eat later!"

After saying that, he did not even give Su Yuntao time to respond before dragging Xiao Wu away.

Watching the two of them vanish around the corner of the hallway, Su Yuntao shook his head with an ambiguous look in his eyes. "Tsk, tsk. Young people really are impatient."

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(End of Chapter)