Not Yet the Time—Swearing Brotherhood for the Fun of It

Very soon, Xiao Wu forgot all about being angry.

She started hopping around, picking flowers and snapping blades of grass.

"Senior Brother, we're almost there! Do you see that hill?!" Tang San happily pointed at a small mountain in the distance. "Our village is at its foot. It's called Sacred Soul Village. Grandpa Jack said our village once produced a Spirit Saint."

With home so close, Tang San felt excited, expectant, and nervous.

He had been an orphan in his previous life, so he craved familial affection more than most.

Following Senior Brother's suggestion, he had bought his father some fine wine, brand-new clothes, and some tasty food in Nuoding City. They were all stored in Senior Brother's Storage Spirit Tool.

Storage Spirit Tools really were convenient.

Unfortunately, Master did not have any extras for the time being.

Besides that, he had also bought a large hammer from the Blacksmith Shop.

He believed his father would definitely like it.

Xiao Xian smiled. "Sacred Soul Village. That's a nice name. Grandpa Jack—is he the old man who brought you to the academy last time?"

"Yeah!"

"..."

The three of them quickly arrived at the foot of the mountain.

"This is my home!" Tang San happily pointed at a small, shabby house at the village entrance.

The front door was not closed. After all, there was nothing in the house worth stealing.

Tang San quickened his pace and rushed inside, shouting excitedly, "Dad! I'm back!"

Xiao Xian knew Tang San was destined to be disappointed. At this time, Tang Hao had probably gone to find Master.

He stood at the doorway, staring at a small river not far from the village entrance. His gaze followed its source into the distance, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Mountains and water. This really is a wonderful place," Xiao Xian murmured softly.

Xiao Wu followed him inside and looked at Tang San in surprise.

She had never seen Tang San like this before.

In her eyes, Tang San and Xiao Xian were so alike. Both were geniuses, both were busy, yet both remained calm and composed. Gentle smiles were always on their faces. They were never nervous or excited, not at all like children.

Yet today, he was unexpectedly so agitated.

Before long.

Xiao Xian withdrew his gaze and silently murmured, Not yet the time...

Inside the house, Tang San's voice and that of an old man could be heard.

But their conversation quickly ended, and Old Jack walked out with a helpless sigh.

Xiao Xian politely greeted him before entering the house.

He saw Tang San standing there in a daze, clutching a piece of paper in his hand.

Xiao Wu had also fallen silent.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Xian asked, though he already knew.

Tang San came back to himself and turned toward Xiao Xian, his eyes slightly misty.

Dejected and helpless, he said, "Senior Brother... my father is gone..."

"..."

Xiao Xian froze for a moment, then slowly walked over and patted his shoulder.

He said nothing, yet he had said everything.

There were only the three of them in the house, and Tang San did not speak again. He merely lowered his head and silently began sorting through every item in the room and on the floor.

Xiao Wu quietly helped as well, even fetching water to try wiping away the dust.

Xiao Xian was far more carefree.

Bored out of his mind, he casually struck out with his palm.

Whoosh—!

A gale howled!

Dust filled the room and blasted straight out through the door!

It was clean, all right.

"Cough... cough cough... blegh! Blegh!"

Xiao Wu had just entered the room carrying a basin of water when the dust slammed into her face, filling her eyes, nose, and mouth.

The sympathy and sorrow she had felt for Tang San instantly vanished, replaced by burning fury!

"XIAO XIAN!!!" Xiao Wu roared furiously. She threw down the basin and immediately charged at him.

"..."

Watching Xiao Xian and Xiao Wu fool around.

Tang San's lonely mood eased somewhat, and even his hands paused as he tidied up.

He silently wondered why his usually steady Senior Brother had suddenly become so lively.

Maybe Senior Brother was worried about him.

Tang San's low spirits improved a little, but the corners of his eyes quietly grew wetter.

"..."

Xiao Xian glanced at Tang San, having no idea what nonsense that kid was thinking.

While evading Xiao Wu's pursuit.

He casually gave Tang San a palm strike too.

Whoosh—!

Dust flew everywhere once again.

Tang San got a mouthful of dust, and the gratitude that had just risen in his heart instantly vanished.

"Senior... Senior Brother!!!"

"..."

After fooling around for a while, they finally started cleaning up the house.

They had spent half the day coming to Sacred Soul Village. They could not possibly hurry back to Nuoding City overnight.

No matter what, they had to stay for the night.

By the time the sun dipped westward, the three of them had barely finished tidying up.

Tang San and Xiao Wu sat outside the Blacksmith Shop.

The setting sun's afterglow fell across them, casting a faint red sheen and drawing out their long shadows.

Xiao Xian stood a short distance in front of them, facing the sunset with his hands behind his back. A relaxed, faint smile rested on his face, and half his shadow happened to fall over Xiao Wu and Tang San.

With nothing left to do, Tang San's expression became somewhat downcast again.

His father was gone. He was alone again.

Still, at least he had Senior Brother and Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu patted the dust from herself and occasionally turned to look at Tang San. She seemed to want to say something, but in the end said nothing, as though she was still worried about him.

But more often than not, she simply glared fiercely at Xiao Xian's back...

Tang San could not help smiling to himself at the sight.

His mood eased considerably.

He took the initiative to chat idly with Xiao Wu.

But as they talked, Xiao Wu said that even if he had lost his father, he still had her as a friend. If he truly wanted another family member, she would not mind being his older sister.

Tang San naturally did not like that, but he could not help laughing.

Before long.

Tang San's gaze became resolute. His figure flashed forward, and he silently stood beside Xiao Xian.

"Senior Brother, Xiao Wu, come up the mountain with me. I want to show you something," Tang San said seriously.

Xiao Xian turned and glanced at him, the faint smile still on his face.

"Sure. That hill?" Xiao Xian pointed toward the distant slope.

"Right!" Tang San nodded.

Xiao Wu quietly rose as well, standing obediently where she was.

"Then... let's go...!" The corner of Xiao Xian's mouth lifted into an inexplicable smile.

The next moment.

Xiao Xian suddenly stomped down.

A gale erupted beneath his feet, bringing powerful thrust and propelling his body forward at high speed!

The Blowing Fire Palm could push enemies.

Naturally, it could push himself as well.

He had created this by combining the force of the Blowing Fire Palm with the speed of Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. It could be considered an attempt to legitimize Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.

He called the move Violent Step, using the gale to advance and taking its name from the gale's violent force.

Violent Step generated a gale beneath his feet. Naturally, the spot where he vanished... suddenly erupted with an even thicker cloud of dust.

"Cough... cough cough...!"

"Xiao... Xiao Xian!!! Just you wait!!!"

Caught off guard, Xiao Wu was once again covered in dust and coughed violently. After recovering a little, she shot forward as well. Red light flashed around her body, and she even released her Martial Soul.

Tang San watched their backs. Though he too was covered in dust, he could only smile helplessly, stepping into Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track as he followed after them.

The three of them fooled around on the mountaintop for a while longer.

Then they gradually fell silent.

Xiao Xian stood on the summit, silently looking down at the winding river at the foot of the mountain, seemingly lost in thought.

Tang San suddenly spoke. He sounded serious, yet he rambled on at length.

"Senior Brother, Xiao Wu, this is where I used to train..."

"...I know you two..."

"..."

"...Senior Brother, would you be willing to be my older brother? I truly hope to have another family member."

Xiao Xian glanced at Tang San and patted his shoulder again.

"Since you call me Senior Brother, then naturally I'm your older brother."

"And you, Xiao Wu? Would you be willing to be my younger sister?"

Seeing the tears glimmering in Tang San's eyes, Xiao Wu's already-red eyes became even redder.

But she seemed to think of something and shot Xiao Xian a fierce glare.

"I refuse to be that annoying guy's little sister!"