He's My Brother—What Do You Think?

Two days later, Old Jack set off with Tang San and Li Qing. Although Holy Soul Village only had one work-study student slot each year, it had never been used in previous years.

Some time ago, Old Jack had gone to several other villages and spent a long time negotiating, eventually securing an additional slot. They only needed to present a certificate from another village when the time came.

Along the way, Li Qing chatted with Tang San.

"Xiao San, what do you think your father's martial soul is? They say martial souls are inherited. Could your dad's martial soul be Blue Silver Grass too? I think it might be a hammer—clang, clang, clang, forging iron every day!"

A trace of surprise flashed through Tang San's eyes. "I don't know. Father never told me."

Li Qing looked completely at ease. "I think your mother's martial soul was Blue Silver Grass! And not an ordinary Blue Silver Grass, either."

"I... never met her..."

Li Qing wrapped an arm around Tang San's shoulders. "Don't worry. I have a feeling you'll definitely get to see her. You definitely will!"

Tang San looked at Li Qing. "Qingzi, you'll definitely get to see your parents too..."

Li Qing said nothing. If I can still see them, I'll livestream myself eating shit.

Nuoding City was not far from Holy Soul Village. They ate some dry rations on the way and arrived by midday.

Nuoding City was not very large, and Li Qing had already been here several times, so it held no novelty for him.

After answering the city guards' questions, the three of them entered Nuoding City.

Old Jack did not know the way. After asking for directions several times, they finally spotted the gates of Nuoding Academy.

Old Jack was about to lead Tang San and Li Qing straight over, but Li Qing did not want to go yet. He needed to wait for someone. Only after that person appeared could they enter; otherwise, they would have to endure another round of mockery, and he had no intention of putting up with that.

"Grandpa Jack, wait a moment." Li Qing tugged at Old Jack's clothes. "I think I lost something. Let me look for it first."

"What did you lose? Don't tell me it's the Spirit Hall certificate. Without that, you can't enter Nuoding Academy." Old Jack looked anxious. "I told you to leave the certificates with me, but you said you could handle it yourself. It wouldn't be worth it if you missed enrollment because of this."

"Let me check first." Li Qing took down the bundle slung over his back, opened it, and slowly rummaged through it, though his eyes were fixed on the road across from them.

After searching for a while, Li Qing's eyes lit up.

Short black hair, hands clasped behind his back, around forty or fifty years old—yes, that was him. Master, Yu Xiaogang!

But this guy doesn't look like much. What the hell were Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong seeing in him? Li Qing grumbled inwardly.

"Ah, everything's here after all. Let's go!"

Having confirmed his target, Li Qing quickly packed his things away and grabbed Tang San and Old Jack's hands, running toward the gates.

"Hey, hey, hey! Slow down!"

Old Jack shouted from behind.

They had run so fast that when they finally stopped, Old Jack bent over with his hands on his waist, panting heavily.

Li Qing had timed it perfectly. They arrived at the academy gates at the same time as Yu Xiaogang.

Thanks to Master, Li Qing and the others were not given any trouble.

"Master, you've returned."

The Nuoding Academy gatekeeper respectfully greeted Yu Xiaogang.

"Mhm."

Master nodded lightly, then looked toward Li Qing and the other two.

"Sir, have you brought these two children here for something?"

Old Jack was good at reading people. He knew that the middle-aged man before him must be someone of considerable status.

"Oh, hello. I'm the village chief of Holy Soul Village. The two behind me are work-study students from our village and the neighboring village. May I ask what enrollment procedures are required?"

Yu Xiaogang swept his gaze over Tang San and Li Qing, then said thoughtfully, "Then please show me your Spirit Hall certificates."

"Here."

Li Qing handed over the certificate he had prepared earlier.

"Here you are!" Tang San's certificate was in Old Jack's hands.

Yu Xiaogang looked over Li Qing's certificate first. After a quick glance, one of his eyebrows immediately rose.

It seemed he had seen something surprising.

Then Yu Xiaogang opened Tang San's certificate, and this time, his other eyebrow rose as well.

He carefully examined both certificates again before slowly speaking.

"There's nothing wrong with the certificates. How about this, sir? You can head back first. I'll take these two to handle their enrollment procedures."

Li Qing turned around and gave Old Jack a big hug, saying reluctantly, "Grandpa Jack, be careful on the way back!"

Tang San said, "Grandpa Jack, take care!"

"Mhm. Xiao San, Li Qing, you must behave yourselves. Grandpa will be leaving now."

"Mhm."

Li Qing watched Old Jack's figure disappear beyond the horizon before turning around and following Master into the academy.

As they walked, Yu Xiaogang's voice came from beside them, carrying a hint of anticipation and joy.

"Tang San, Li Qing, would you two be willing to take me as your master?"

"Why, Master?"

Tang San asked politely.

If not for what had happened earlier, Tang San would probably have refused outright instead of asking for a reason.

Master stopped walking and looked at the two of them with a broad smile.

"Because the two of you both possess Twin Martial Souls! This is truly astonishing. To encounter two people with Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power in a single day!

This is simply unbelievable!"

Tang San took a step back, his expression stiffening slightly as his voice turned colder.

"How did you know?"

Yu Xiaogang sensed the shift in Tang San's emotions and hurriedly explained.

His explanation was roughly the same as what Li Qing had learned before.

After hearing it, Tang San's face filled with shock. Then he stepped back three paces and solemnly kowtowed three times to Yu Xiaogang. "Teacher, I am willing to take you as my master!"

"Good, good, good! Get up quickly!" Master helped Tang San to his feet. Then...

The two of them looked together at the one who had not made any move at all.

Li Qing!

"Your name is Li Qing, right? Well, do you want to take me as your master?"

Li Qing fell silent for a moment, thinking it over in his mind.

Yu Xiaogang wanted to take Tang San and him as disciples for no other reason than that his cultivation had been stuck at level twenty-nine for so long, unable to break through.

Taking disciples would be the perfect way to prove his theories to the outside world. If he managed to teach a Titled Douluo, it would be an even greater honor.

There was no downside to taking him as a master. In the early stages, he could even borrow some of Master's influence. Refusing would bring neither benefits nor drawbacks.

Besides, Li Qing also wanted to see just how capable this theoretical "Master" really was.

After weighing it all, Li Qing made his decision. "I'll do it!"

Li Qing looked into Master's eyes and, very "sincerely"—at least, that was what he thought—bowed to him.

"Master, I am willing!"

Li Qing and Tang San's answers greatly pleased him, and a smile spread across his face.

"Mm, let's keep going."

After completing their registration, Li Qing and the others headed to the dormitory building.

Before entering the dormitory, Li Qing draped himself over Tang San's shoulder. "Xiao San, tell me, are we brothers?"

Tang San said, "Since we have both taken Master as our teacher, we are naturally brothers."

"Then if anything happens, you have to help me."

Tang San's tone was very serious. "Definitely!"

"Alright, then I'm going to tell you something now. You absolutely have to remember it." Li Qing spoke just as seriously.

"What is it?"

"He is my brother. What do you think?"

"Shouldn't it be that I'm your brother?" Tang San asked in confusion.

"Hey." Li Qing waved a hand. "It's 'he is my brother, what do you think?' You must remember that sentence."

"Mm, I'll remember it."

"Good. You go in first." Li Qing gently pushed Tang San inside.

As soon as he entered, Li Qing spotted the sturdiest child among the crowd. That should be Wang Sheng. Li Qing's cheat ability had only just awakened, and he had not learned any martial skills yet, so he definitely could not beat Wang Sheng. But there was no need for him to make a move. With his "good brother" Tang San here, what was there to worry about?

Wang Sheng slowly walked toward them. "Oh? Two newcomers. My name is Wang Sheng. My Martial Soul is the War Tiger. I'll become a Battle Soul Master in the future, and I'm the boss here."

Li Qing shrugged helplessly and quietly retreated to the side. He was going to watch the show in peace.

Then Li Qing witnessed an intense "martial arts blockbuster!" That was right—there were no flashy soul skills, only fists and feet.

"Bang~"

"Smack~"

"Ahhh~"

"Ow!"

The fight ended.

Tang San glanced at Li Qing, who had already picked out a bed, and walked over to him.

Wang Sheng stood up while rubbing his arm and pointed at Li Qing. "You..."

"He's my brother. What do you think?"

Tang San cut him off, then looked at Li Qing in surprise. Had he already anticipated this?

Wang Sheng backed away. "I... I only wanted to ask his name..."

"Oh." Li Qing patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder and looked up at him. "My name is Li Qing. My martial soul is the perfect combination of a plant-type martial soul and a tool-type martial soul. From now on, I..." Li Qing paused for a few seconds. "My brother Tang San will look after you!"

Tang San, who was making his bed, shuddered upon hearing that.

Wang Sheng asked curiously, "So what martial soul is it?"

"Heh heh." Li Qing's lips curled upward. "A sickle!"

Wang Sheng: "..."

Everyone else: "..."