Tracing the past

No one had any objections to Chen Feng's suggestion.

Ma Hongjun's hometown Perching Feather Village, is located near Suotuo City.

Since they're going back to Suotuo City anyway, they might as well stop by Perching Feather Village on the way.

Upon arriving outside the city, the group saw three carriages parked nearby. Xiao Wu then said, "Why don't we hire two carriages? We don't want to have to travel all the way like last time we went to Heaven Dou City."

Flender was tempted; the children had just won the competition, and it wouldn't be right to make them run all the way back.

He was just about to ask if the carriage could move when a coachman came over and asked, "Excuse me, are you from the Hydra Academy?"

"Yes, what's wrong?" Flender replied.

"Oh, here's a letter addressed to Mr. Chen Feng. Which one of you is Mr. Chen Feng?" the coachman asked, looking around.

"It's me," Chen Feng replied, but did not step forward.

This is Spirit City, and the person opposite is a stranger; it's best not to give them a chance to get close.

Flender noticed his hesitation, went over and took the letter, remaining vigilant throughout.

However, the coachman seemed to be just a coachman and did not make any unusual moves.

Chen Feng took the letter from Flender, opened it, glanced at it, and a strange expression appeared on his face.

"What's wrong?" Flender asked.

"Hu Liena's letter." Chen Feng handed the letter over.

The letter was simple: Hu Liena apologized for her team's actions during the Finals and hoped Chen Feng wouldn't take it to heart.

Therefore, she specially hired several carriages to facilitate the travel of Chen Feng and his group, as a small apology.

After reading the letter, Flender smiled. "Hey, this young lady is quite meticulous."

Ma Hongjun then leaned closer, realizing he'd discovered a blind spot. "How did she know we didn't hire a carriage? Could it be that your reputation for stinginess has spread to the Spirit Hall, Teacher?"

Flender smacked Ma Hongjun on the back of the head, annoyed. "You think you're all talk? One more word and you'll be running after the carriage. Good exercise to prevent you from getting fatter."

Ma Hongjun was instantly silenced and dared not utter another word.

Flender coughed lightly and began arranging for everyone to board the carriages. The three carriages at the city gate were all spacious large carriages, more than enough to seat six people, which showed that Hu Liena was quite sincere.

Therefore, the group was divided into three teams, led by Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Liu Erlong. This was for safety reasons, to ensure that each carriage was capable of handling emergencies.

However, the real insurance for this team is Tang Hao, who is hiding in the shadows. This is also why Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi feel at ease not following their juniors.

Since they were traveling in a carriage from Spirit City, everyone tacitly avoided discussing anything of practical use and instead engaged in casual conversation.

The journey was smooth, and upon arriving in Suotuo City, everyone disembarked.

After the coachmen left, Flender said, "Let's go back to Shrek Academy first, then go to Perching Feather Village."

"Yes, yes, let's go back to Shrek first. Besides, I don't think everyone needs to come to my place. Everyone can have some fun in Suotuo City," Ma Hongjun chimed in.

Dai Mubai hooked his arm around his shoulder. "What, you don't want us to go to your hometown?"

"Oh dear, it's just a small village, nothing much to see. But when a large group of Wu Juejue goes by, people who don't know any better might think it's a bandit raid," Ma Hongjun said.

He hadn't felt it before, but now that he was in Suotuo City and getting closer to his hometown, Ma Hongjun suddenly felt a sense of trepidation, and naturally didn't want everyone to come with him.

"Bandits invading the village? None of our handsome men and beautiful women look like bandits!" Xiao Wu poked Ma Hongjun in the back.

"I think Zhao Wuji looks a lot like him," Flender said with a smile.

"Fine, I won't go then?" Zhao Wuji waved his hand and said.

The purpose of going to Perching Feather Village was to find out the reason for Ma Hongjun's Spirit Mutation, but Zhao Wuji didn't have much of a research spirit. Wouldn't it be the same if he sent someone else and just heard the result in the end?

"I'd like to go and take a look," the Grandmaster said.

Some people wanted to go, while others felt it wasn't necessary for everyone to go. In the end, after discussion, they decided to split into two groups.

Chen Feng, Ma Hongjun, and the Golden Iron Triangle went to Perching Feather Village, while the others stayed in Suotuo City for a while.

Many of the students actually wanted to visit Perching Feather Village, but Ma Hongjun refused, and only allowed Chen Feng to go.

In his words, no one else besides Bro Feng has any comprehension, so they wouldn't be of any use and might as well not go.

"That fatso's words are really infuriating." Xiao Wu clenched her fists as she watched the five people leave.

Tang San chuckled and said, "Alright, Hongjun is actually right. Let Xiao Feng go and take a look. We'll just be there to join in the fun."

Xiao Wu grumbled a couple of times. Although she was very unhappy, she had no reason to refute it.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing also wanted to go with Chen Feng, but Ma Hongjun was unwilling, so they couldn't force their way in.

Besides, since the purpose of this investigation was to find out about Ma Hongjun's family situation, it was indeed inappropriate to send too many people.

Meanwhile, after two or three hours of trekking, Chen Feng and his group of five finally arrived at Perching Feather Village, nestled in a mountain valley, at dusk.

The villagers of Perching Feather Village were surprised to see them, and some of them even remembered Flender.

"Lord Soul Master, what brings you here...?" a Burly Man asked.

"Ah, I brought Hongjun back this time to visit. How is Village Chief Ma?" Flender asked with a smile.

"Village Chief Ma is doing well, but where is Hongjun, you mentioned?" The Burly Man glanced behind Flender.

Flender pushed Ma Hongjun forward. "Look, he's here. He's changed quite a bit."

The Burly Man sized up Ma Hongjun, his face showing disbelief. "You, you're Hongjun? That chubby little boy from back then?"

"It's me, Uncle Lin," Ma Hongjun replied somewhat awkwardly.

The reason he didn't let the other classmates come was because this situation is what happened; it's a bit embarrassing to have your childhood brought up in front of your classmates.

"How did you become such a handsome young man?" Uncle Lin scratched his head, feeling very puzzled.

"Ahem, this is a matter of Martial Soul, you wouldn't understand even if I explained it to you, Uncle. Let's go find the village chief first." Ma Hongjun didn't want to explain too much, so he chose to dodge the question.

Uncle Lin didn't press the matter further. "Alright, you guys go ahead. By the way, are you coming over for dinner tonight? I hunted two rabbits today and I'm planning to make roasted rabbit."

"Well, you never know, we might just end up eating at the village chief's house," Ma Hongjun said.

After Uncle Lin and his group said goodbye and left, Ma Hongjun breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's a good thing I didn't let Xiao Wu come over. If she heard we were eating rabbit, she would probably have gotten angry again."

Chen Feng chuckled, "She is indeed quite particular about this."

"Right? It feels pretty strange. She just has a rabbit Martial Soul, it's not like she's a rabbit herself. So why does she react so strongly to this topic?" Ma Hongjun pursed his lips.

"Maybe he just likes rabbits," Chen Feng replied casually.

The group walked and talked, and soon arrived at the village chief's house.

Ma Hongjun stepped forward and knocked on the door. After a short while, an old voice came from inside.

Who is it?

"Grandpa Ma, it's me, Hongjun. Dean Flanders and I have come back to see you," Ma Hongjun said.

Footsteps approached, the door opened, and an old man appeared before them.

"Lord Soul Master? You've brought Hongjun back? Where is he?"

After another round of explanations, Village Chief Ma finally understood Ma Hongjun's change.

As he brought out a few stools for them to sit down, he remarked with emotion, "I never imagined that back then..."

99

Ma Hongjun quickly interrupted Village Chief Ma's reminiscence, "Alright, alright, Grandpa Ma, there's no need to talk about the past. I came back this time to see how you're doing, and also to ask about my parents."

Village Chief Ma paused in his movement of picking up a stool, then chuckled and said, "Why did you suddenly ask about this? Didn't I tell you before? Your mother went away for several years, met your father there, and later heard that your father had died in an accident. Your mother then brought you back with her, who had just been born, and not long after, she also fell ill and passed away."

"Village Chief, are Hongjun's parents Soul Master?" Chen Feng asked.

"Yes." Village Chief Ma gestured for everyone to sit down, and then sat down himself.

"All of them?"

"Hongjun's mother was Work-Study Student in the village that year, but I don't know much about his father."

"What is Hongjun's mother's Martial Soul?" Flender asked curiously.

"I think it was Pheasant," Village Chief Ma said after thinking for a moment.

"Village Chief, do you know the general details of her Soul Skill? Does she have any Fire Attribute?" Chen Feng continued to ask.

"Fire Attribute? Oh, yes, it does exist. When that little girl came back after becoming Soul Master, she even showed it to me. How did you guess it?" Village Chief Ma asked curiously.

"It's because Hongjun's Martial Soul is Fire Attribute, so I was wondering if there's some genetic factor involved," Chen Feng said.

"But that girl's Martial Soul doesn't have the Fire Attribute, so how... did it pass it on to Hongjun?" Village Chief Ma asked in confusion.

"We've discovered that the attributes of Soul Skill also have a certain impact on inheritance, and Hongjun's case proves this point," Chen Feng said with a smile.

The matter seems to be clear now. Ma Hongjun's Spirit Mutation did not come out of nowhere, but because her mother was a Soul Master. Although her talent may not have been high, she was able to cultivate to the point of obtaining Soul Ring.

That Soul Ring was a Fire Attribute Soul Ring, so Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix originated from it...?

Chen Feng glanced at Ma Hongjun, who happened to be looking over at that moment. Ma Hongjun smiled and said, "Bro Feng, your theory was indeed correct. My parents do have Fire Attribute."

Chen Feng nodded without saying anything.

The Grandmaster then spoke up, "Now that things are clear, let's rest for a while and go back tomorrow morning."

Liu Erlong was a little puzzled, thinking that it wouldn't be too late to go back now, but then she looked at Ma Hongjun and thought that since the boy had gone back to his hometown, it wouldn't be good for him not to stay overnight before going back.

Flender adjusted his glasses, exchanged a glance with the Grandmaster, nodded, and said, "Then that's settled, village chief. Could you please arrange accommodation for us? We'll pay you."

"Oh, no need, no need, it's just one night, it's nothing," Village Chief Ma waved his hands repeatedly.

"Village Chief, you must pay the due reward. You have to pay for your hotel rooms when you're out, and this will also help improve your lives." Flender took out a small bag of Gold Soul Coin and handed it over.

"That's too much..."

"Not much. You raised Hongjun, an orphan, to the age of six. It's only right that you did so."

"This...

"Village chief, let's accept it, otherwise we might have to rush back tonight," the Grandmaster said.

Village Chief Ma, unable to refuse any longer, sighed, "Well, I'll talk to the villagers and see if we can free up a few rooms."

After Village Chief Ma left, Ma Hongjun sighed, "That was impressive! The Dean actually got a gold coin! I have to tell everyone about it when we get back."

Flender glared at him. "You're sleeping in the woods outside the village tonight!"

"No, no, no, I won't say anymore..."

Because of the Gold Soul Coin paving the way, Village Chief Ma arranged accommodations for the group without much effort.

Coincidentally, Chen Feng and Ma Hongjun were assigned to Uncle Lin's house, where there were twin boys and a double bedroom could be made available.

The twin boys temporarily slept on the floor in their parents' room.

Uncle Lin and his family were very hospitable. The reward they received was equivalent to a long period of their family's income, so they made sure Chen Feng and Ma Hongjun were well taken care of.

At night, Ma Hongjun ate and drank his fill and fell asleep, still savoring the aroma of the roasted rabbit in his mouth.

Chen Feng lay on the bed with his eyes closed. After a while, he heard Ma Hongjun's breathing gradually become calm, so he opened his eyes, sat up, and quietly left the room. Then he silently climbed out of Uncle Lin's house.

The village was quiet at this time, and most of the villagers were asleep. Chen Feng walked towards the Village Chief Ma's house. Halfway there, he saw Flender and the Grandmaster standing by the roadside waiting.

"I knew you'd come," Flender chuckled softly.

The Grandmaster nodded to Chen Feng, "Let's go, let's go ask the village chief again."

"Bring Erlong along too," Flender asked.

The Grandmaster hesitated slightly, "She's probably already asleep."

"No, I briefly mentioned it to her before."

"Okay."

Chen Feng asked curiously, "Dean, Grandmaster, how did you spot the problem?"

Flender smiled. "Actually, I didn't see anything wrong, but even if Village Chief Ma really knew about what happened back then, if there were any hidden details, he certainly wouldn't have said it in front of Hongjun."

Chen Feng nodded; that was also why he came over in the middle of the night to be a night owl.

Moreover, he felt that an ordinary Fire Attribute Soul Ring for an ordinary Soul Master would not be enough to support Ma Hongjun's Spirit Mutation.

Of course, anything is possible in this world. Oscar didn't have any special background, yet he still awakened a bug-level Food God Spirit, didn't he?

But there were still some doubts, which is why Chen Feng wanted to ask again.

The three arrived at the house where Liu Erlong was staying and saw Liu Erlong leaning against the wall, idly playing with her fingers.

Seeing the three approach, Liu Erlong asked in a low voice, puzzled, "Why are we doing this again? Is there something wrong with that village chief?"

"I just wanted to ask for more details. Without Hongjun present, it might be easier for the village chief to say things he couldn't say beforehand," the Grandmaster said.

"Alright, I'll go with you guys anyway." Liu Erlong nodded.

The four arrived at Village Chief Ma's house. Flender stepped forward and knocked twice on the door. "Village Chief Ma, it's us."

The door opened quickly, Village Chief Ma looked at the people at the door and sighed, "I knew I couldn't hide it from you Lord Soul Master. Please come in."