Liu Yun lost his ability to fight after being kicked in the back. He lay face-down on the ground, his Martial Soul already withdrawn.
Seeing this, Xiao Chenyu had the people behind him help Liu Yun up. Then he stepped forward and stood opposite Jiang Huai. "Kid, you've got guts. Why don't you join me?"
At this, Jiang Huai smiled. "I only respect the strong."
Xiao Chenyu chuckled and introduced himself. "Xiao Chenyu. Martial Soul: Wolf. Twelve-level Soul Master."
Jiang Huai reported his information with a blank expression. "Jiang Huai. Martial Soul: Hamburger. Fifteen-level Soul Master."
Xiao Chenyu stared at him in astonishment. "What did you just say?"
Jiang Huai repeated himself. "Martial Soul: Hamburger. Fifteen-level One-Ring Soul Master. Come on."
Jiang Huai tightened his grip on his sword and charged. Xiao Chenyu did his best to defend himself, but then he caught sight of Jiang Huai's belt and froze.
Such an exquisite belt could only belong to a noble, a sect member, or the child of a royal or noble family. Xiao Chenyu realized he'd picked a fight with someone he shouldn't have. He couldn't strike back, or he'd suffer terribly.
Xiao Chenyu's worries were justified, but it was already too late.
Jiang Yi was already on her way to the City Lord's Mansion. A seventy-eight-level Soul Saint was powerful enough to become a ruler of a nation. Xiao Chenyu's father, Xiao Zhan, was merely an ordinary Soul King, with just a few regular soldiers under his command.
The Xiao Mansion
Jiang Yi released her pressure. Her terrifying aura left the people in the Xiao Mansion gasping for breath.
Jiang Yi stood with one foot on a top-grade sword and held her Martial Soul, the Longyuan Sword, in her right hand. She shouted, "Who's the City Lord? Get out here!"
Just then, Xiao Zhan suddenly appeared behind Jiang Yi, hoping to strike first. But he'd overlooked one thing: he was about to face the fury of a seventy-eight-level Soul Saint.
Jiang Yi blocked the attack behind her with her sword, then punched Xiao Zhan hard enough to break his ribs. She grabbed his head and slammed him into the ground.
Seeing this, the Xiao Mansion's servants all dropped to the ground and pretended to be dead. Jiang Yi was simply too brutal.
Xiao Zhan struggled to lift his head from the ground. "Esteemed Soul Saint, may I ask how our Xiao Mansion has offended you?"
Jiang Yi replied coldly, "You're Xiao Zhan, aren't you? Is this how you raise your son?"
Jiang Yi disappeared in an instant, leaving Xiao Zhan and the servants bewildered. After thinking it over, Xiao Zhan cursed, "Xiao Chenyu! You little bastard!"
As Xiao Chenyu was getting beaten by Jiang Huai, his eyelid suddenly twitched. Jiang Huai seized the opening, thrust his sword in, then kicked him.
Just like that, Xiao Chenyu's defense was broken. He spat out a mouthful of blood and lost the ability to fight.
Jiang Huai held his sword to Xiao Chenyu's throat and said coldly, "Do you still want to fight?"
Xiao Chenyu was still just a child. He waved his hands in alarm. "I don't! I don't!"
Jiang Huai sheathed his sword and returned to the work-study students. Xiao Wu jumped up and down. "That was amazing, Huai! You're so awesome!"
Gu Yue remarked coolly from the side, "Not bad."
Just then, two people helped Xiao Chenyu over to Jiang Huai. Jiang Huai turned around and looked at them in confusion.
Suddenly, Xiao Chenyu and the others bowed ninety degrees. "Greetings, Boss Jiang."
"Greetings, Boss Jiang." x12
Just like that, a semester passed, and their vacation arrived. Jiang Huai and Tang San packed their things in their dormitory, while Xiao Wu and Gu Yue sat on the bed, doing who knew what.
Tang San had finished packing and come downstairs. Jiang Huai had finished packing too, but he was busy inviting Xiao Wu and Gu Yue to visit the village with him.
Gu Yue agreed before long. When Xiao Wu saw that Gu Yue had agreed, she joined them too.
The four of them returned to Holy Soul Village. Jiang Huai was showing Xiao Wu and Gu Yue all the plants and trees around the village.
Just then, an elderly man emerged from the village entrance. Seeing Jiang Huai and Tang San, Old Jack walked over and said he'd originally planned to pick them up from school.
Tang San looked around, but his father was nowhere to be seen. Disappointment clouded his face. Seeing this, Old Jack took out the letter.
Tang San opened it and read the words written inside.
[Little San,
By the time you read this letter, I'll already be gone.
Don't come looking for me. You'll never find me.
You're still young, but you can take care of yourself. An eagle has to spread its own wings to soar higher sooner.
Don't worry about me. You inherited much of your mother's gentle nature. Your father is a useless man. You're growing up, and I need to reclaim some things that should have been mine. One day, we'll see each other again.
I want you to grow strong, but I also don't want you to grow strong. The path you take is yours to choose.
Jiang Huai is a good kid. He's a fine big brother, and you won't suffer if you stay with him. Maybe he'll even teach you some of his sword techniques, but that doesn't matter now.
If one day you grow tired of being a Soul Master, then return to Holy Soul Village and become a blacksmith, like me.
Don't worry about me.
Tang Hao]
Jiang Huai leaned over to glance at the letter, then patted Tang San's shoulder. "Little San, don't be sad. Your father may have left, but we're still here. You have me, Xiao Wu, Gu Yue, Grandpa Jack, and everyone in Holy Soul Village."
Tang San nodded. "Thanks, Brother Huai."
Xiao Wu patted Tang San's shoulder. "What are you thanking him for? When has Brother Huai ever needed you to thank him?"
Jiang Huai smiled. "Exactly. We've all grown up together. Since when did we need to say thank you?"
The five of them laughed and headed home. Jiang Huai tidied up the house.
Tang San returned home and did a quick cleaning. Then he lit the furnace, took a piece of metal in his tongs, and put it into the fire.
Tang San said quietly, "Dad said a weapon forged by a divine craftsman isn't a divine weapon. Only a weapon forged with heart is a true divine weapon."
Jiang Huai started cooking at home, using the ingredients he'd bought in Nuoding City before they returned.
He tossed the marinated beef into a hot pan and stir-fried it, then set it aside. Next, he threw some chilies into the pan, added a handful of salt and other seasonings, and put the beef back in to fry.
Soon, a plate of shredded pork with chilies was ready. Its fragrance drew Gu Yue and Xiao Wu in from outside, where they'd been playing.
The whole village was filled with the aroma of meat. Jiang Huai put the shredded pork with chilies on a table, then started making stir-fried fish.
Before long, there were eight dishes on the table: braised pork ribs, shredded pork with chilies, spicy softshell turtle, shredded potatoes, steamed egg custard, corn and pork rib soup, greens, and cucumber salad.
Jiang Huai invited Tang San over. Once everyone had arrived, he brought out some homemade sweet fruit water.
He'd soaked various fruits in water, including watermelon and apples. After crushing the fruits and putting them in a jar, he'd poured in some water. He called it Fruit Tea.
Jiang Huai poured himself a little and took a sip. "That's the taste. You should try some too."
He filled their bowls to the brim. Xiao Wu gave hers a sniff, then took a sip. Her eyes lit up.
Before you continue