Watching in Secret

Late at night, the snoring in the Seventh Dormitory had long since swelled into a tide, yet Xiao Xiaoxiao lay awake without the slightest hint of sleepiness. The image of practicing with Tang San during the day kept replaying in her mind. Especially when he had said in that low voice, "Very useful." The words were like warmed honey, melting over and over in her heart—sweet and sticky enough to leave her dazed.

She quietly took the Blue Silver Grass Ring from beneath her pillow. The moonlight filtering through the window was thin as gauze, falling right across it. The grass blades were cool to the touch, and the tiny crystal set into it was clear and bright, glittering with fragmented light beneath the moon. She stared at it and could not help wondering: What expression had he worn while polishing this? As she thought about it, the corners of her lips lifted. She did not even notice how foolishly sweet her smile looked.

Just then, a muffled groan came from the bed beside hers. It was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet carried the strain of someone desperately holding something back.

Was that Tang San?

Xiao Xiaoxiao immediately held her breath and listened closely. But after that sound, everything went quiet again. Had she heard wrong?

Before she could figure it out, another soft gasp drifted over, as if he were enduring some unspeakable pain. Xiao Xiaoxiao's heart clenched at once—what was wrong with him? Was he sick, or injured? He had clearly been fine during the day, full of energy while they practiced!

She could not stay in bed any longer. Quietly getting up, she tiptoed over to Tang San's bed like a cat.

Under the moonlight, his brows were tightly furrowed. Fine sweat covered his forehead, his lips were pressed pale, and his body trembled faintly—so slightly that one would miss it without looking carefully. One hand was clenched tightly around the clothes over his chest, his knuckles stretched so taut they protruded.

"Tang San?" Xiao Xiaoxiao lowered her voice and gently pushed his shoulder in alarm. "What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

Tang San's eyes snapped open!

For that instant, Xiao Xiaoxiao seemed to see a terrifyingly intense pain flash through his eyes, mingled with a strange hint of purple. It frightened her so badly that she nearly cried out. But that frightening expression vanished in a blink, so quickly it seemed like an illusion. His usual clear calmness covered it again, leaving behind only exhaustion and weakness he could not conceal.

"...It's nothing." His voice was terribly hoarse. Releasing his grip on his clothes, he tried to prop himself up. "I had a nightmare."

When he moved, his entire body was stiff, as though he had pulled at some injury.

Xiao Xiaoxiao did not believe him at all! What kind of nightmare could leave someone drenched in sweat and shaking all over? With her sharp eyes, she noticed that after he released his clothes, a small patch over his chest had darkened in color. It looked like... blood?

"You're hurt?!" She was truly panicked now, forgetting to keep her voice down as she reached to pull open his clothes. "Did you get hurt during practice today? Why didn't you tell me earlier?!"

Tang San grabbed her wrist in one swift motion, stopping her. His palm was frighteningly hot.

"Just a minor injury. It's nothing." He turned his head away, avoiding her anxious gaze. His tone made it clear that he did not want to say more. "It really was a nightmare. Go back to sleep."

"Tang San!" Xiao Xiaoxiao was both angry and heartbroken, and her eyes reddened at once. "You're lying! What's really going on? Did something go wrong with your cultivation? Tell me! We can figure it out together!"

Seeing her reddened eyes and the concern she could not hide, Tang San's taut body quietly relaxed a little. He remained silent for a while before finally shaking his head, his voice sinking. "...It's really nothing. Just an... old problem. It acts up sometimes. It'll be fine after I rest a while."

An old problem? Xiao Xiaoxiao froze. She had never heard him mention it before. Had it been left behind from his time in Holy Spirit Village? Or was it... related to his mysterious father?

He still refused to open his heart to her. A trace of grievance and disappointment rose within her, only to be overwhelmed by even stronger heartache—he was always like this, bearing everything by himself.

She turned her hand over and gripped his still-burning hand, stubbornly refusing to let go. "Then I'll stay here with you. I won't leave until you're better."

Tang San looked at her stubborn little face. A complicated expression flickered in his eyes before he finally sighed. He did not refuse again. Closing his eyes, he tried to regulate his breathing and suppress the two surging forces within him that were crashing against each other and causing him unbearable pain—one as cold as ice, the other burning madly hot.

Xiao Xiaoxiao quietly crouched beside the bed, tightly holding his hand as she felt the abnormal heat in his palm and his occasional involuntary shudders. Time passed slowly. Tang San's breathing gradually steadied, the sweat on his forehead lessened, and though his face was still pale, the worst of the pain seemed to have passed.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw Xiao Xiaoxiao still crouching there, her little hand tightly clutching his, her unblinking eyes fixed on him and filled with worry.

"I'm fine now," he said softly, though his voice was still somewhat weak. "Go back to sleep."

"Are you really better?" Xiao Xiaoxiao asked uneasily.

"Mhm." He tried to pull his hand back.

But Xiao Xiaoxiao held on even tighter. After hesitating for a moment, she gathered her courage and raised her other hand, gently reaching for his forehead. His temperature seemed to have dropped a little.

Her movements were very light, carrying the softness and faint coolness unique to a young girl.

Tang San's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but he did not pull away.

"It seems... not as hot anymore," Xiao Xiaoxiao whispered. Her face warmed slightly, and she quickly withdrew her hand. "Then... get some proper rest. If you feel unwell again, you have to tell me! You're not allowed to endure it by yourself anymore!"

After saying that, afraid he might refuse, she quickly darted back to her bed and pulled the blanket over her head. Her heart pounded wildly.

Tang San gazed at the lump beneath the blanket, then lowered his head to look at the hand she had just held. He remained silent for a long time.

At the same time, in distant Spirit City, the Pope's Palace was brightly lit, yet so quiet that even a needle falling to the floor could be heard.

On the lofty throne sat a figure wrapped in magnificent, intricate papal robes, fingertips lightly tapping against the armrest again and again. A golden scepter leaned at one side, exuding an oppressive aura that made it hard to breathe.

Your Excellency, a Red Cardinal bowed as he delivered his report, his voice clear yet especially small within the empty hall.

"...The Nuoding City branch reports that the disturbance in Soul Hunting Forest has initially subsided. They believe that a soul beast over ten thousand years old, one skilled in spiritual manipulation, temporarily awakened and caused it while passing through the area. It has now gone into hiding. Traces of low-level students were found at the scene. There were no casualties. It is suspected that an expert intervened, but that person's identity is unknown."

The person on the throne seemed unconcerned with these details. Their voice was calm, yet carried invisible pressure as it interrupted him. "What about Holy Spirit Village?"

The Red Cardinal lowered his head even further. "Reporting to Your Excellency the Pope, there is nothing unusual in Holy Spirit Village. That blacksmith... Tang Hao, remains unaccounted for and has not returned. His son, Tang San, does indeed possess Innate Full Soul Power. His martial soul... is Blue Silver Grass. He is currently at Nuoding Academy with another Work-Study Student, Xiao Xiaoxiao. Their teacher is... Yu Xiaogang."

The instant the words "Yu Xiaogang" left his mouth, the air in the hall seemed to freeze solid.

The tapping on the throne's armrest stopped.

After a long while, a soft chuckle devoid of discernible emotion rang out. "Master? He certainly knows how to choose students. Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power... Heh, interesting."

The laughter quickly faded, and the voice turned cold. "Continue watching them. Tang Hao... will reveal himself sooner or later. As for that child... and his 'Master,' do not disturb them. Just watch for now."

"Yes, Your Excellency the Pope." The Red Cardinal answered respectfully, then carefully asked, "Then... what about that mysterious person who acted in Soul Hunting Forest?"

"To wipe out the Dark Demon Crow flock in one blow, they must be at least Titled Douluo level. Their methods are very strange. Investigate, but do it discreetly." A trace of barely perceptible gravity entered the voice on the throne. "Find out whether they are an enemy or an ally, or... simply someone passing by."

After a pause, the voice added, "The waters of this continent are getting murkier by the day."

"By your command!"

After the Red Cardinal withdrew, only that solitary, lofty figure remained in the vast Pope's Palace.

She slowly raised her hand, staring at her well-maintained fingers that concealed terrifying power, and muttered to herself in a voice as cold as ice:

"Blue Silver Grass... Clear Sky Hammer... Tang Hao... You hid for so many years and concealed that little brat, and you think you can live in peace?"

"And you... Xiao Gang. Taking in a disciple like that—was it a coincidence, or... have you noticed something too?"

"Heh... this game has only just begun."

The golden scepter flickered faintly, illuminating the unfathomable eyes of Your Excellency the Pope. Within them churned ambition, calculation, and a trace of icy hatred that had been buried for many years.

The night covered not only that small dormitory in Nuoding City, but also the grand hall at the center of this continent's power.

Unseen undercurrents had already begun to stir quietly in the depths of the abyss.