Three Tomoe

Far away at Nuoding Academy, Xiao Wu had not gone to class because of what happened last night. She was still in Dormitory Seven, lying on Ye Qiu's bed and fiddling with a Bamboo Dragonfly in her hand.

In her other hand, she held the little note Ye Qiu had left for her, complaining nonstop.

"Xiao Qiu, honestly. You went hunting Spirit Beasts without even asking me. What if something dangerous happened?"

The Bamboo Dragonfly slowly spun in her hand.

Crack. With a sudden crisp snap, the little rod Ye Qiu had repaired broke again.

"Xiao Qiu..." As if she sensed something, Xiao Wu shot to her feet in panic, clutching her chest as tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

At Yu Xiaogang's residence, Tang San was already able to get out of bed and walk around, but he had no mind to cultivate now.

He sat where Master usually read, staring blankly at the distant scenery through the window in the direction of Dormitory Seven.

Crash! Yu Xiaogang entered from outside. He had already met Tang Hao.

"Little San, are you still thinking about what happened that night?"

Tang San seemed not to hear him and remained in a daze.

"Sigh!"

Yu Xiaogang sighed, set down the medicinal soup in his hand, and patted Tang San on the shoulder.

"Heh. Don't worry. That girl will like you sooner or later. I heard that fellow named Ye Qiu has already left Nuoding Academy."

"What?!" Tang San's eyes flew open. "Teacher! Is that true?"

"Of course it's true. Maybe he got scared." Yu Xiaogang knew it had to be true. Lord Haotian had personally made a move this time.

Dealing with a child should have been effortless. With him there, how could anything go wrong?

He had not gotten scared, though. He was dead, gone from this world forever! But lying? Yu Xiaogang was a professional at it. Back then, even the Saintess and his cousin had been deceived by him.

"What about Xiao Wu?" Tang San grabbed Yu Xiaogang's arm excitedly, desperate to know where Xiao Wu was.

"She's still at the academy."

"That's great! I'm going to find Xiao Wu!"

Tang San rose and immediately tried to rush out the door, but Yu Xiaogang stopped him. "All right, you should heal your injuries first. Don't leave yourself with any lingering problems that might affect your future cultivation."

"She can't leave." Looking at Tang San before him, Yu Xiaogang seemed to see his former self—just as devoted, only to have everything ruined by others!

His fists clenched. He swore he would make that woman Bibi Dong, as well as that shameless thing that had never dared show its face, regret it!

Tang San before him was his hope!

Under his soothing words, Tang San could only obediently focus on recovering first!

The sunset clouds dyed the horizon as the evening breeze swept in.

The trees swayed in the wind, and the leaves rustled.

In an open clearing lay the "corpse" of a young man in black. His face was deathly pale, several streaks of blood running across it. The Black Silk ribbon covering his eyes was also drenched in dried blood.

As though stirred by the breeze, the young man's fingers faintly twitched.

Whoosh. A strong gust blew past, sending the bloodstained Black Silk over the young man's eyes flying away with the wind.

It revealed a pair of blood-red eyes, three tomoe turning within them. Set against his pale face, those crimson eyes made him look like an evil ghost!

Lying on the ground expressionlessly, Ye Qiu slowly pulled back his cracked lips. After being scorched by the sun all day, even that slight smile made blood seep from the corners of his mouth.

Yet Ye Qiu could not feel the slightest pain as he laughed recklessly.

"Heh. Hahaha!"

His chuckle turned into a cold laugh, then into wild laughter. He laughed that fate had spared him, laughed at Tang Hao's arrogance, laughed at the Tang father and son for courting death!

"Tang Hao! Just you wait! I'll take your dog life!" He shouted toward the horizon, venting to his heart's content.

After roaring in rage, Ye Qiu dragged his exhausted body away, staggering as he went.

Ye Qiu had never expected that not only would he survive Tang Hao's attack, but at the final moment, he had successfully evolved his Sharingan once more into the Three Tomoe state!

A blessing in disguise. Ye Qiu decided to proceed according to his original plan and quietly headed toward Nuoding City. "Xiao Wu! Wait for me."

Night deepened, and the crescent moon slipped faintly behind the clouds.

Wrapped in a black robe, Ye Qiu arrived at the little workshop where he worked.

Knock, knock!

After two simple knocks on the door, a voice sounded from inside.

"Who is it? We're closed already!"

"Grandpa Jerry, it's me—Ye Qiu. I came to pick up a few things!"

The footsteps inside grew closer and closer. Click. The door opened from within, and an aged face appeared before Ye Qiu.

"Xiao Qiu? You child, why haven't you gone back to the academy at this hour? Hurry and come in!"

"Sorry to trouble you, Grandpa Jerry. I'd also like to stay here for the night." Ye Qiu apologized.

"It's nothing. You're skilled, and ever since you came here, my business has been much better than before. This is only a small matter. How could I refuse?"

Grandpa Jerry yawned, told Ye Qiu to make do for the night in his personal workshop, then walked away.

He trusted Ye Qiu's character and was not worried that he would steal anything.

When Ye Qiu entered the room where he worked, he found a table and a small bed inside. It was more than enough for him to spend the night.

He lit a candle and kept it some distance from the table. He did not want to blow himself up when he took out the gunpowder from the drawer. Having "died" once, he cherished his life even more.

He quickly prepared everything, placed it by the head of the bed, extinguished the candle, and nimbly lay down.

Before sleeping, he thought about how to take revenge on that bastard Tang Hao. He could not beat him now, but Ye Qiu could retaliate in other ways.

Since the father and son both wanted to take his Xiao Wu from him, then he...

"Hm?"

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul suddenly flashed through Ye Qiu's mind.

"That's right, the Blue Silver Emperor! Hehe, Tang Hao, don't blame me. You brought this upon yourself!"

After the Blue Silver Emperor sacrificed herself, she had left behind a seed that Tang Hao planted near Sacred Soul Village.

Ye Qiu believed that as long as he found Sacred Soul Village, locating that cave would be easy with his Sharingan's ability to see through things and perceive details!

Tang Hao wanted to tear him and Xiao Wu apart, wanted to kill him, and even had designs on Xiao Wu's Spirit Ring. Then Ye Qiu could only repay him in kind.

He would pull up that bastard Tang Hao's wife, Tang San's mother, roots and all, pack her up, and take her away!

Thinking of this, Ye Qiu's mood improved. Once he relaxed, he quickly drifted into dreamland.

Elsewhere, in Dormitory Seven at Nuoding Academy,

While Ye Qiu had already entered dreamland, Xiao Wu remained in Dormitory Seven, wrapped in Ye Qiu's blanket and unable to fall asleep for a long time.

Xiao Qiu, you have to come back safely!

Tang San was also unable to sleep.

To make it easier to care for him, he lay beside Yu Xiaogang, staring straight at the ceiling with longing in his eyes as he immersed himself in his fantasies.

Xiao Wu, Ye Qiu really is nothing but a coward and a piece of trash! I, Tang San, will definitely be able to make you happy.

Only the lower arc of the moon was visible in the sky, like a grinning mouth mocking Tang San's wishful delusions.