Has Tang San Finally Caught On?

For some reason, the moment this person entered, Grandmaster's entire body tensed instinctively. Even his Soul Power unconsciously spread throughout his body.

"Who are you?" Grandmaster slowly rose to his feet, a hint of confusion appearing in his eyes.

The man in gray said calmly, "Come to think of it, we haven't seen each other for twenty years. Looking like this, it's no wonder you don't recognize me. My name is Tang Hao."

"Huh? It seems the rumors were rather inaccurate. Everyone thought Grandmaster was only skilled in martial soul theory, but I never expected you to have solved your own problem now," the gray-clothed man said in surprise as he looked at Grandmaster.

"Tang Hao?" Grandmaster's usually impassive expression changed abruptly. His pupils focused almost instantly as he stared fixedly at the man before him. Both hands gripped the table, his fingers already pale blue. "No wonder you saw through my changes at a glance. You... you are Clear Sky..."

Tang Hao waved a hand, stopping Grandmaster from continuing. "There's no need to mention that old title anymore. Back then, we had crossed paths a few times. Others might have thought you were merely a madman, but I knew you were a persistent man."

Grandmaster gradually calmed down. His stiff face twitched slightly. "It seems my guess was correct. You truly are Little San's father. He has already gone home. Why are you here?"

Tang Hao nodded and said calmly, "It is precisely because he went home that I am here. I know you accepted him as your disciple. As his father, I should have come to see you long ago. I am leaving, and he is my only concern. So, I hope to entrust Little San to you."

"You're leaving? Where are you going? He is your son." Grandmaster glared at Tang Hao, his gaze somewhat sharp.

"He has his own path to walk, and I have my own matters to handle. An eagle must spread its wings. Besides, even if I leave, doesn't he still have you?" Tang Hao said with a bitter laugh.

Grandmaster took a deep breath. "I understand. I don't know what happened to you, but I will treat both Little San and Little Liang as my own sons."

"You mean that boy Wu Liang? I thought he was no ordinary child from the start. After they left for school, I went to the neighboring village. From those old people, I learned that they had long since stopped living there," Tang Hao said.

Grandmaster nodded. "Little Liang does indeed have many secrets, but so what? He has never harmed me, Little San, or the others. Moreover, if not for Little Liang, my martial soul defect could not have been repaired, and I would never have broken through level twenty-nine in my lifetime."

"Oh? Then he does have some skill. To think he could even repair a martial soul defect. Not simple at all," Tang Hao said in amazement.

After saying that, Tang Hao raised his hand and waved it. With a clang, a pitch-black token landed on the table before Grandmaster. It was exactly like the one Grandmaster had shown when he brought Tang San into the Soul Hunting Forest, except this token bore a full six patterns.

Bang. The door shut, and Tang Hao's tall figure had already vanished. Grandmaster stood there for a long while, staring at the door without moving.

After a long time, he slowly lowered his head and looked at the token. A bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "I never expected my idol to have become like this."

Elsewhere, "How much farther is it?" Xiao Wu looked around and asked casually.

"We're almost there. See that mountain over there? Our Holy Soul Village is at its foot." About to return home, Tang San could not help feeling excited. It's been a year. Dad, have you been well?

"Don't be so happy. Too much joy can lead to sorrow, Little San," Wu Liang reminded him. He had wanted to tell Tang San directly that his father was probably chatting with Grandmaster about life right now, but he feared his arrival had changed the plot, so he could only give him a warning and let him prepare himself mentally.

Along the way, Xiao Wu and little Kanna had been hopping about happily. Wu Liang was glad to watch them play. As for Tang Hao, Wu Liang felt neither fondness nor dislike toward him, but Little San was someone worth befriending.

Perhaps because he had been an orphan in his previous life, Tang San cherished this familial bond especially deeply in this life. He did not pay much attention to Wu Liang's words.

He touched the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges at his waist. Inside were a forging hammer for his father, new clothes, and even several bottles of fine wine.

The small mountain village where he had lived for six years was already in sight. For some reason, an indescribable feeling gradually rose in Tang San's heart. If he had to describe it in one sentence, he would say that having a home felt wonderful. Even if that home contained only himself and his father.

Very soon, they entered Holy Soul Village. Wu Liang and the other two parted ways with Tang San and Xiao Wu at the village entrance.

After Tang San and Xiao Wu had gone far away, Wu Liang directly activated Sky City's teleportation array. After a wave of dizziness, the three of them were transported before the Lord's Manor.

"Oh, the little master is back." The person approaching them was Hua Mulan, an easygoing older sister.

"Mm. Sister Hua, don't you need to patrol?" Wu Liang greeted her and asked.

"The Baili brothers are patrolling today. I was bored too, so I was heading to the training grounds to practice swordsmanship. I had only just come out when I saw you. And this is?" Hua Mulan looked at Bai Qi.

"This is Bai Qi. Not the one from your Kings Continent, though their historical backgrounds are similar—the Lord Wu'an of Qin, Bai Qi. He is my battle servant," Wu Liang introduced.

"Greetings, General Hua." Bai Qi bowed respectfully. He could not help it; the oppressive aura emanating from Hua Mulan was too powerful for him to meet her eyes.

"Oh, Bai Qi. I'm so jealous of you. You can travel everywhere with the little master, while we can only guard the gates here." After saying that, Hua Mulan bade farewell to Wu Liang and the other two. She waved and headed straight for the training grounds.

"She is very strong," Bai Qi muttered after Hua Mulan left.

"Obviously. She's a level ninety-four Titled Douluo. How could she not be strong?" Wu Liang rolled his eyes at him and led little Kanna into the Lord's Manor.

Meanwhile, Tang San looked at the letter Village Chief Old Jack had left for him. There were only a few simple lines on the paper. The handwriting was somewhat messy, but it could not conceal its bold and rugged spirit.

"Little San: When you see this letter, I will already be gone. Do not look for me. You will never be able to find me. Though you are still young, you can take care of yourself. A young eagle can only fly high sooner by spreading its own wings. Do not worry about me. In your personality, you inherited much of your mother's tenderness. Dad is a useless man. You are gradually growing up, and Dad needs to reclaim some things that should have belonged to me. One day, father and son will meet again. I hope you become strong, yet I also hope you do not become strong. Choose your own path. If one day you feel that being a Spirit Master is not good, then return to Holy Soul Village and become a blacksmith like me. Do not miss me. Tang Hao."

Looking at the paper in his hand, Tang San froze completely. The joy filling his heart instantly turned into helpless disappointment.

Dad was gone. Dad, why did you leave? Wait, at the village entrance, A Liang seemed to have warned him not to be so happy. Had he sensed something, or did he know something? Tang San could not figure it out.

Old Jack left, and Tang San said nothing more. He simply began tidying the messy room, putting every item inside in order.

Surprisingly, the usually lively and restless Xiao Wu remained silent at this moment. She walked to Tang San's side and quietly helped him put things away one by one. She scooped clean water from the water jar outside and helped him wipe away the dust in the room.

As the sun slanted westward, two small figures sat side by side in front of the Blacksmith Shop. They wore identical clothes and simply sat there quietly.

The faintly red glow of the setting sun fell upon them, as though branding their bodies with a ring of golden-red light.

The girl on the left turned her head to look at the boy. She propped her chin on both hands, wanting to say something, but in the end, she held it back.

Instead, the boy spoke first. He held a brand-new forging hammer in his hand. "Xiao Wu, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?" Xiao Wu asked curiously.

"Thank you for always staying with me." Tang San lowered his head and looked at the ground beneath his feet. His gaze was somewhat unfocused and misty, but in the end, he did not let any tears fall.

Xiao Wu burst out laughing. "Don't be so depressed. Your father only left temporarily. One day, you will see each other again."

A bitter smile appeared on Tang San's face. "Perhaps. But why didn't he even let me see him one more time? Xiao Wu, do you know? Dad is my only family. Without Dad at home, it is no longer a home."

Xiao Wu shook her head, swinging her long scorpion braid to the front. "Without your dad, you still have me as a friend. You have Teacher, A Liang, little Kanna, Yu Yan, and that blockhead Bai Qi too."

Looking at Xiao Wu's lovely appearance and her rosy little face illuminated by the setting sun, Tang San could not help smiling. When a person was at their most vulnerable, having someone by their side was always a wonderful thing.

"Xiao Wu, how about becoming my little sister? Like A Liang and little Kanna."

"Dream on. I'll only be the older sister, not the younger sister." Xiao Wu's little face reddened as she raised her hand to knock Tang San on the head. "Besides, little Kanna said she wants to marry A Liang when she grows up. Do you have some ulterior motive toward me?"

Tang San was stunned. He had never known little Kanna was so bold. He hurriedly said, "No, no, that's not it. How could I have any improper thoughts about you? We're still young. Let's start by being family."

"Hmph, and you still say you don't have ulterior motives toward me!" Xiao Wu's face flushed bright red. Then she stomped her foot and ran toward the mountain, muttering as she ran, "Oh, how embarrassing! Could it be that this blockhead Tang San has finally caught on too?"

Tang San flashed forward, already appearing three meters in front of Xiao Wu. "Xiao Wu, come up the mountain with me. I'll show you something."

Tang San's expression was very serious, as though he had made some decision.

Xiao Wu stopped fooling around as well. A hint of obedience appeared on her little face as she nodded at him.