Tang San Takes a Master

Time flew by. On this day, Old Jack came to Zhao Xuan's home once again.

"Zhao Shi! Zhao Shi! Is Xiao Xuan up yet?" The old man was full of energy, joy written across his face as he arrived at Zhao Xuan's home and asked Zhao Shi, who was busy in the small courtyard.

Zhao Shi set down his work and quickly replied, "He's up, he's been up for a while."

"Xiao Xuan! Hurry outside, the village chief is here." Mu Qin's anxious voice came from inside the house, followed by two figures walking out.

Zhao Xuan was in front. He looked rather impatient, dressed in a brand-new outfit, while Mu Qin followed behind him, still straightening his clothes as she walked.

"Mom, I'm tidy enough already," Zhao Xuan could not help saying. Ever since Mu Qin had dragged him out of bed early that morning, he had been treated like a puppet, left entirely at her mercy as she dressed him up.

When a son traveled far from home, his mother worried. Zhao Xuan was heading to Nuoding City to enroll today, and Mu Qin had spent the entire morning nagging him, reminding him of all the things he needed to watch out for.

Still, Zhao Xuan did look quite adorable after being dressed up. His little face was fair and clean, so tender it seemed one could squeeze water from it. His tousled black hair looked fresh and neat, while his bright black eyes made him seem like a porcelain doll.

Old Jack's eyes lit up at the sight, and he repeatedly said, "Not bad, not bad."

At that moment, Zhao Shi came over and stuffed several Gold Soul Coins into Zhao Xuan's hand.

"Son, spend them carefully. Your old man isn't some rich landowner."

Zhao Xuan froze for a moment, warmth flowing through his heart. He looked up and laughed brightly. "Once I make something of myself, I'll make you a rich landowner, Dad... and Mom too, of course."

Zhao Shi's eyes reddened slightly, and he nodded awkwardly. A warm smile bloomed on Mu Qin's face. "Son, you must be careful when you're out there all alone."

"Mm." Zhao Xuan nodded.

"Alright, enough. It's not like you're never coming back. You'll see each other again in a few months." Though he said that, Old Jack's eyes were also a little moist. Perhaps he could not bear such parting sorrow.

After bidding farewell to his parents, Old Jack took Zhao Xuan to Tang San's home. After picking up Tang San, they hurried toward Nuoding City.

By the time they reached Nuoding City, it was already noon. They did not delay. After asking a passerby for directions, Old Jack led the two boys straight to Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.

Nuoding Academy was located in the western part of Nuoding City. Though it was only a junior academy, it covered a considerable area and could be seen at a glance.

From afar, they could already see a tall arched gate. It was twenty meters wide and over ten meters high, built entirely from hard stone. Two black iron lattice gates stood beneath it. Tang San, who was skilled in forging, recognized at once that they were made of excellent refined iron.

Through the iron grating, they could see a winding path leading inward. A broad road ran straight ahead, with tall plane trees lining both sides. It was still summer, and the dense canopies remained lush and green. Every broad leaf was pleasingly verdant, but once autumn came, they would all turn golden-red, blazing like fire.

As Old Jack led Tang San to the gate, a young gatekeeper immediately stopped them. "What are you here for? Is this a place country bumpkins like you can come to?"

Old Jack's clothes were considered presentable in Sacred Soul Village, but in Nuoding City, he looked completely rustic. The gatekeeper's gaze held more than a little disdain.

Old Jack quickly smiled apologetically. "Little brother, we're from Sacred Soul Village. This child is the work-study student our village is sending this year. Could you tell us what procedures we need to complete?"

The gatekeeper frowned and said sarcastically, "Can a grass nest produce a golden phoenix? A tiny village has someone with Soul Power? The academy hasn't had a work-study student in years. You aren't frauds, are you?"

Zhao Xuan could not help getting angry at the gatekeeper's attitude. He had never been a particularly patient person, and seeing the man deliberately make things difficult made his temper flare.

Although the gatekeeper was much bigger than him, Zhao Xuan was not afraid. With his natural strength, a single punch could take down this insignificant extra.

Seeing Zhao Xuan move beside him, Tang San was startled. He quickly withdrew the Hidden Sleeve Dart he had prepared and grabbed Zhao Xuan, who had already stepped forward.

But the pull nearly made Tang San stumble. He was shocked and even more depressed. Xiao Xuan's strength really was getting greater and greater.

As for the gatekeeper, Zhao Xuan's sudden rush had startled him as well. When he saw Tang San restrain Zhao Xuan, he became embarrassed and enraged at the thought that he had been frightened by a child.

Pointing at Zhao Xuan, he cursed angrily, "You little brat, what are you trying to do?!"

Old Jack had not even recovered yet. How had they nearly started fighting?

As the gatekeeper became more and more outrageous, both Tang San and Zhao Xuan held back their anger. Even Tang San's grip on Zhao Xuan loosened slightly.

At that moment, a somewhat hoarse voice suddenly rang out. "Enough. Stop."

The gatekeeper froze for a moment. Then, the fury on his face instantly turned into fawning flattery, the change so swift it was unbelievable. He bowed and scraped to the newcomer. "Master, you're back."

Tang San and Zhao Xuan turned to look. A man of average height and slightly thin build had somehow appeared beside them. He looked to be around forty or fifty years old, with short black hair parted three to seven. His appearance was ordinary, and his hands were clasped behind his back, yet he possessed a peculiar temperament. His half-lidded eyes carried a hint of laziness and desolation.

Master merely glanced at the gatekeeper and ignored him. Turning to Old Jack, he said, "Sir, may I see the Spirit Hall certificate?"

"Ah? Oh, yes, yes." Old Jack, who had been disconnected for a while, finally came back online. He pulled the Spirit Hall certificate from his robes and handed it to Master, then wiped away sweat that did not exist.

Thinking back, what had just happened truly frightened him. It was not that he feared a conflict with the gatekeeper, since they were in the right. He was simply afraid Tang San and Zhao Xuan might be hurt. They were the village's future.

Master accepted Old Jack's Martial Soul certificate. The moment he clearly saw the two certificates, his previously indifferent expression changed sharply, becoming exceptionally serious, with a trace of confusion showing through.

"Blue Silver Grass... Innate Full Soul Power... a cellphone, also Innate Full Soul Power. What kind of Martial Soul is this?" Master had devoted his life to researching Martial Souls and could be called the foremost figure in the theoretical world. There were very few Martial Souls he had never seen, yet he had never heard of this "cellphone" at all.

"The certificates are genuine. Sir, on behalf of the academy, I apologize for what happened just now. Leave these children to me." After repeatedly examining both certificates, Master spoke to Old Jack.

Having someone who was at least a Soul Master apologize to him greatly satisfied Old Jack's vanity. He hurriedly waved both hands. "No need to apologize, no need. We weren't entirely blameless either. Master, then I'll leave the children to you. Xiao San, Xiao Xuan, go in with Master. You must behave yourselves."

Only after giving the two boys a few more reminders did Old Jack leave.

Master gave the gatekeeper an indifferent look. "This is the first and last time. If it happens again, you won't need to stay here." His voice was hoarse but calm, yet it carried an air that made him impossible to defy.

Cold sweat poured down the gatekeeper's back. He hurriedly agreed and retreated to the side. In truth, he had been badly frightened as well. He had not expected these two children to actually be this year's Work-Study Students.

They might only be Work-Study Students, but they were still not people he could afford to offend. No one knew what they might become in the future. If the academy learned of this, he would certainly be the one punished.

Master lowered his head to look at Tang San and Zhao Xuan. A faint smile appeared on his face, though his facial muscles seemed somewhat stiff, making the smile rather unpleasant to behold.

"Teacher, thank you." Once the three entered the academy, Tang San spoke to Master, unlike the carefree Zhao Xuan.

"Teacher? I'm not a teacher at the academy." Master glanced down at Tang San and spoke blandly.

"Not a teacher? Didn't you just say you represented the academy?"

Master shook his head. Though he had always lacked patience, he was unusually tolerant today and forced out another ugly smile. "Who says only academy teachers can represent the academy?"

Tang San suddenly understood. "I see. Then you must be the academy headmaster, or some sort of leader."

Master laughed. "You're only six years old, yet you're quite clever. Still, you guessed wrong."

Tang San asked doubtfully, "Then who are you?"

Master said, "I'm merely a lodger here, freeloading on food and drink. Like everyone else, you can call me Master. Everyone calls me that. I've even forgotten my own name. The Spirit Hall certificate says your name is Tang San, right? Tang San, you must understand that Master and teacher mean vastly different things. Don't confuse them in the future. Unless..."

At this point, he paused. His eyes flickered with blazing light. "Unless you are truly willing to have me as your teacher."

"Do you want to teach me how to cultivate my Martial Soul?" Tang San asked.

Master stopped walking and stood before Tang San. "Then are you willing?"

Tang San naturally stopped as well and looked up at Master before him. Observing him at close range from below, he noticed that Master's mouth was somewhat large and his lips quite thick. He did not speak, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Master looked at Tang San's blankly staring eyes, and that stiff smile appeared again. "Good. You truly are a clever child."

Not speaking carried two meanings. First, he was not hastily refusing, avoiding offending Master. Second, he was asking with his actions: why should I take you as my teacher?

Like Old Jack, Master raised a hand and rubbed Tang San's head. "Gifted beyond measure, and so intelligent as well. It seems I must be stubborn for once. After all, you are the third person in the past hundred years to possess Twin Martial Souls."

Tang San was greatly shocked by Master's words. The look in his eyes changed at once, and his left wrist quietly lifted as uncertainty filled his gaze.

Master looked at him calmly and smiled. "Are you wondering why I know you possess Twin Martial Souls?" As he spoke, he shook the certificate Old Jack had given him. "It is because of this certificate. Others may not be able to spot the flaw in it, but if even I could not see it, then I would not deserve the title of Master."

"I once investigated six hundred and forty-seven people whose Martial Souls were Blue Silver Grass. Of them, sixteen possessed Soul Power, a probability of less than three percent. Yet among those sixteen, not a single one had Soul Power exceeding Rank One, while you possess Rank Ten Innate Full Soul Power. According to one of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul that I have researched, Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the quality of one's Martial Soul. Blue Silver Grass clearly cannot meet that condition. Therefore, I can be certain that you have another Martial Soul, and an extremely powerful one at that."

Tang San's gaze gradually calmed, and he argued, "Everything has exceptions. Why can't I be one?"

Master nodded seriously. "That's right, everything has exceptions. But your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, so you are clearly not that exception. In the past hundred years, only two people with Twin Martial Souls have appeared in the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire, but nineteen people with Innate Full Soul Power have appeared. I carefully studied every one of their Martial Souls. Every single one was powerful. Even the youngest among them has now reached the Soul Grandmaster level. Aside from fourteen who inherited powerful Martial Souls through family bloodlines, there were five exceptions."

The two became more and more engrossed in their conversation. Somehow, in the end, Tang San actually knelt on both knees and took Master as his teacher.

Zhao Xuan watched with his eyes wide. Seeing the two hit it off so well that they completely forgot about him, he could not help feeling depressed. Why did he always feel like he was the unnecessary one?

However, when he saw Tang San reveal his Twin Martial Souls, Zhao Xuan inexplicably felt relieved. So he was not the only one with two Martial Souls. Xiao San had them too. At least he no longer needed to worry about being an anomaly and getting dissected for research after being discovered.

Though in one respect, he truly was an anomaly.

Seeing Tang San and Master chatter endlessly as though they regretted not meeting sooner, Zhao Xuan inexplicably felt a little jealous.

"I have two Martial Souls too," he muttered quietly.

Though his voice was soft, Master's sharp ears caught it instantly. He quickly turned toward Zhao Xuan and asked in surprise, "You have two Martial Souls as well?!"

Tang San also looked at Zhao Xuan in surprise. Hadn't Master said Twin Martial Souls were extremely rare? How did Xiao Xuan have them too?

Master, meanwhile, felt as though he had been knocked senseless by this enormous gift. Was one not enough? Was heaven giving him a second one too? Filled with delight, he asked Zhao Xuan in a slightly trembling voice, "Can you show me?"

After considering it briefly, Zhao Xuan nodded. For one thing, Master was already Xiao San's teacher. For another, Zhao Xuan could tell from their earlier conversation that Master was merely a fanatical researcher.

In fact, Master had been somewhat like Zhao Xuan in his previous life. When Zhao Xuan had studied hacking techniques, he had possessed that same zeal. But now, ahem...

Zhao Xuan summoned a cellphone in one hand and a computer in the other. Master's expression instantly changed, becoming exceptionally serious.

He studied the two Martial Souls, his heart filled with excitement. "Indeed, two brand-new Martial Souls that have never appeared before!"

He hurriedly pulled out a notebook from his robes and began recording. One moment, he looked up to observe them; the next, he wrote furiously.

Only after quite some time did he put down his notes. Fine beads of sweat had actually appeared on his forehead from excitement.

After setting down the notebook, Master suddenly seemed to remember something. He looked at Zhao Xuan with blazing eyes. "Zhao Xuan, right? Would you be willing to..."

Zhao Xuan froze, then quickly understood. He seemed to know what Master wanted to say.

"No!" he refused.

The words Master had yet to say were forcibly shoved back down his throat by Zhao Xuan. His gaze became somewhat resentful as he stared straight at Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan felt a little uncomfortable. If a beautiful woman had looked at him like that, he might have gladly accepted it, but Master was just an old man.

So he hurriedly said, "Master, I'm very lazy. I don't want to study theory. Having Xiao San is enough for you. He's very diligent. You can train him however you want. If you want to research my Martial Souls in the future, just call for me. I'll definitely come whenever you call."

Master opened his mouth, then closed it again. He pondered it. Indeed, having Tang San as a disciple was enough. From their earlier conversation, he could already see that Tang San was intelligent, quick to learn, and eager for knowledge. He was quite satisfied with this disciple.

Thus, Master nodded. "Alright."

Tang San's face was covered in black lines. No matter how innocent he was, hearing the phrase "train him however you want" made his thoughts go astray.