Sausage and Bread

"Le Bai, the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony is about to begin. Are you nervous? I feel like my heart is about to jump out of my throat, and I really need to use the bathroom..."

Oscar stood amid the group of children, nervously looking around.

"Of course I am. It's something that'll affect the rest of our lives. How could I not be nervous?"

Although Le Bai said that, he looked far calmer than Oscar. He neither fidgeted nor looked around. "But compared to Martial Souls, I'm more worried about Innate Soul Power. If we don't have any Innate Soul Power, or if our Innate Soul Power Level is too low, life will be hard from then on."

This was Meat Fragrance Village, a relatively remote little village on the border of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Because most of the villagers' Martial Souls were related to various meat foods, the village was filled with the scent of meat all year round, hence its name.

Today was the village's annual Martial Soul Awakening Day. All children who had turned six would gather on this day to undergo the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony.

However, the Soul Master responsible for awakening Martial Souls in Meat Fragrance Village had not been sent by Spirit Hall.

Generally speaking, the Martial Soul awakenings in most villages were handled by Soul Masters sent by Spirit Hall. However, some villages were too remote or too disliked by Spirit Hall to have a Spirit Hall branch.

Such villages would usually seek help from the empire they belonged to, or the whole village would pool their money to hire a Soul Master to preside over the ceremony each year.

In any case, presiding over a Martial Soul awakening did not require a high Soul Power Level, and the strength of the Soul Master conducting it would not affect the quality of a Martial Soul.

For a village like Meat Fragrance Village, which produced many Food System Soul Masters, hiring a low-level Soul Master did not cost much. With the entire village sharing the expense, doing it once a year was not much of a burden.

But in recent years, the villagers of Meat Fragrance Village had become increasingly unwilling to pay, because there were simply too few children with Soul Power among Food System Martial Souls!

Moreover, Food System Soul Masters all belonged to the Support System. Soul Power Cultivation was more difficult for them than for Combat System Soul Masters, and it was hard for them to become important figures. Indeed, most Soul Masters from Meat Fragrance Village had low Soul Power Levels and worked as cooks or in other professions that were easily looked down upon.

Even so, the annual Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony remained the village chief's top priority.

"Children, quiet down!"

The round-bodied village chief shouted loudly, the old fat on his body visibly rippling. "Today is the wonderful day when you awaken your Martial Souls! I hope you all work hard and awaken good Martial Souls, so that you can become honorable and great Soul Masters as soon as possible!"

After saying that, the Fat Village Chief stepped aside and introduced the Soul Master presiding over this year's ceremony. "This is Lord Soul Master Flender! Though he only happened to pass through our village, he was willing to help us. Everyone here should be grateful to him!"

The children immediately began offering praise.

Half a minute later, when the praise gradually died down, the Fat Village Chief continued, "Lord Soul Master's time is precious. Children, line up now. Once the person in front of you leaves, step forward immediately for the ceremony. Understand?"

"Understooood!" ×N

"Good, good, good!"

The Fat Village Chief smiled, his plump face looking very approachable. "Lord Flender, please begin!"

"Mhm." Flender stepped forward.

Flender's most distinctive feature was his glasses. "Hello, children. I'm the Soul Master conducting your Martial Soul awakenings. I hope you won't be afraid. Don't worry, it'll be quick and it won't hurt."

"Um, Lord Soul Master, will it really not hurt?"

A little boy at the front raised his hand and asked.

"Of course it won't."

Flender smiled at the boy. "Didn't your father and mother tell you about their own Martial Soul awakenings when they were young?"

"They did, they did. But they always lied and said medicine wasn't bitter at all, and every time I drank it, it was really bitter."

The little boy was a little nervous.

"Then would you like to go first?"

Flender smiled as he took out six stones and arranged them into a hexagon on the ground. "See whether I'm lying to you."

"W-what if you really are lying?"

The little boy did not quite believe him.

Flender took out a piece of candy. "As long as you tell the truth, this candy will be yours."

"Then... okay. I'll go first."

The little boy gave in to his desire for candy. Gathering his courage, he walked into the hexagon formed by the stones while the other children watched nervously.

Flender pointed through the air. The six stones activated instantly, releasing a golden dome of light. The little boy's uneasy expression quickly vanished, and a speck of light appeared in his right hand.

At that moment, Flender softly reminded him, "Slowly open your right hand."

The little boy instinctively opened his palm—then the light in his hand rapidly grew larger, and a square object appeared.

"It's Tofu. Your Martial Soul is Food System Tofu."

Flender spoke slowly. "See? Doesn't it feel fine?"

The little boy stared at the Tofu in his hand. After hearing Flender's words, he froze for a moment before hurriedly saying, "Y-yes! It doesn't hurt at all!"

"Then this candy is yours."

Flender placed the candy in the little boy's hand and took out a crystal. "Come on, let's test your Soul Power too. Then your Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony will be complete."

Holding the candy, the little boy happily grabbed the crystal—yet after a while, nothing happened.

"Alright, little one. Unfortunately, you don't have any Soul Power, so you won't be able to become a Soul Master in the future."

Flender briefly comforted him before saying to the children behind him, who had begun looking forward to their turns, "Next."

With someone taking the lead, things went quickly afterward. Seven or eight children passed through in no time.

Meat Fragrance Village truly lived up to its name. Aside from the first child, whose Martial Soul had been Tofu, the next seven or eight had Pork Chops, pork belly, steak, Chicken Legs, and other meat foods. For a while, the scent of meat filled the air.

"It's finally almost my turn!"

Oscar's nervousness had gradually turned into excitement. Grabbing Le Bai, he kept asking, "Le Bai, Le Bai, what kind of Martial Soul do you think I'll awaken? Will I have Soul Power?"

"You? Your Martial Soul should be a Sausage."

Le Bai casually spoiled the answer. "Your Soul Power will be Innate Full Soul Power. You'll be able to become a Soul Master with any Soul Ring at all."

"What does Innate Full Soul Power mean?"

Oscar blinked. His delicate little face paired with peach blossom eyes already made him quite lethal to women.

"Don't ask yet. It's your turn. Go on!"

Le Bai reminded him.

Oscar jumped in surprise, immediately giving up on his questions. He stepped forward and stood inside the hexagon formed by the six stones.

"Stand still. Don't be nervous."

Flender habitually added another reminder, his gaze swiftly sweeping over Le Bai—he had heard Le Bai's conversation with Oscar just now. In particular, hearing the relatively specialized term Innate Full Soul Power from Le Bai's mouth had surprised Flender somewhat.

Oscar opened his right hand, and a red Sausage appeared, releasing the scent of meat.

"It really is a Sausage?!" ×2

Oscar was surprised that Le Bai had guessed correctly.

Flender, meanwhile, recalled that Le Bai had also said Oscar would have Innate Full Soul Power. He hurriedly handed over the Soul Power crystal. "Come! Test your Innate Soul Power!"

Oscar instinctively clenched it—light!

The crystal emitted an intense glow, illuminating Flender's glasses until the lenses were completely bright. "He actually has Innate Full Soul Power as a Support System Soul Master!"

Flender was ecstatic inside, determined to recruit Oscar into his own academy. Who would have thought I could run into such talent while making some extra money on the side? Is my luck finally turning around?!

Then Flender shifted his attention to the child behind Oscar—Le Bai. How did he know this child's Martial Soul would be a Sausage? If it was a guess, how could he explain Innate Full Soul Power? That isn't a term just anyone would know.

With those doubts in mind, Flender kindly asked Oscar, "Child, can you tell me your name?"

"Oscar! My name is Oscar!"

After introducing himself simply, Oscar asked, "Lord Soul Master, is Innate Full Soul Power very impressive?"

"It's very impressive!"

Flender smiled and took out a piece of candy. "So, Uncle would like to invite you, Oscar, to attend Uncle's Soul Master Academy and become a Soul Master. Are you willing?"

"Ah?"

Oscar did not know what a Soul Master Academy was, but he understood that the Soul Master in front of him seemed to like him very much and wanted to take him away from the village. His gaze instinctively shifted toward the only elder he knew there—the Fat Village Chief.

Seeing Oscar look at him, the Fat Village Chief immediately understood what he meant. "Xiao Ao, becoming a Soul Master is a tremendous opportunity! Just agree! I'll talk to your father for you!"

The moment the Fat Village Chief finished speaking, a voice immediately rang out from among the watching villagers.

"Of course I agree! What is there to discuss?"

A few seconds later, a slender, heavily bearded man squeezed through a gap in the crowd. "Oscar, go become a Soul Master without worry! Your father has been waiting for you to bring honor to the family!"

"Okay, Dad! I definitely will!"

Oscar excitedly waved at his father, then turned to Flender. "Lord Soul Master, I'm willing to attend your academy!"

"Good!"

Flender smiled. "Come, Oscar. Stand over here for now. Once I finish awakening everyone else's Martial Souls, I'll take you away."

It was Le Bai's turn.

After Le Bai entered the hexagon, Flender asked, "Child, is your name Le Bai?"

"Yes. Le as in music, Bai as in white."

Le Bai showed a trace of nervousness.

"Heh, don't be nervous. In a moment, when your right hand begins to glow, open it."

Flender casually reminded him, paused, then asked, "Just now, I heard you tell Oscar that his Martial Soul would be a Sausage and that he would have Innate Full Soul Power. How did you know?"

"I was just talking nonsense."

Le Bai spouted nonsense with a serious face. "Oscar likes eating Sausages, so he would definitely be happy if he awakened a Sausage Martial Soul. Also, last year, when I watched other people awaken their Martial Souls, I heard another Lord Soul Master say that Innate Full Soul Power was the best."

It was perfectly reasonable. In fact, that was how it should have been.

"So that's how it was."

Flender was a little disappointed. Seeing Le Bai's right hand begin to glow, he reminded him, "Open your right hand."

Hearing that, Le Bai immediately opened his palm. The light slowly expanded, and a loaf of bread about the size of Le Bai's fist floated above his right palm.

"Bread. You also have a Food System Martial Soul. Come, test your Soul Power."

Flender spoke blandly, not expecting much. One Support System Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power was already astonishing enough. If there were truly two, wouldn't that be absurd?

With a trace of hesitation, Le Bai closed his eyes and grasped the crystal.

After a while, he heard Flender's voice. "Not bad. You have Level Two Soul Power. Cultivate well, and you can become a Food System Soul Master in the future."

His Innate Soul Power was not zero!

He could cultivate!

Le Bai was very satisfied. "Yes! Thank you!"

Noticing the change in Le Bai's expression, Flender smiled. "You really are a practical child!"

"Um, Lord Soul Master."

Oscar, standing behind Flender, carefully tugged on the hem of Flender's clothes. "Since Le Bai can also become a Soul Master, can he go to your academy with me?"

"Why do you ask?"

Flender looked at Oscar. "Does he have some special relationship with you?"

"Le Bai is my brother!"

Oscar introduced him proudly. "And Le Bai is amazing! Even though he's the same age as me, he's been helping his family with work for a long time. He can weave bamboo baskets and make furniture from wood—he can do everything! He can even weave better than many adults!"

"That really is impressive."

Flender gave Le Bai another look and said sincerely.

"Right? Right?"

Oscar was delighted that Le Bai had been praised. "So, Lord Soul Master, let Le Bai come with me..."

"But that isn't possible."

Flender shook his head, rejecting Oscar's request. "I'll explain our Soul Master Academy to you in detail later. For now, I still need to continue presiding over the Martial Soul awakenings."

Oscar grew anxious. "But..."

Le Bai quickly stepped forward and covered Oscar's mouth. "Lord Soul Master, please continue."

Flender looked at Le Bai again, nodded, and said to the children still waiting behind them, "Next."

There were not many children in the village to begin with. After Le Bai, only five or six remained.

Unfortunately, every child after Oscar and Le Bai had zero Innate Soul Power. They could not cultivate Soul Power and would not be able to become Soul Masters in the future.

The disappointed villagers left with their children, leaving Oscar's Father and the Fat Village Chief where they were. The two men looked at Flender and at Oscar, who wore an unhappy expression, unsure of what to say.

"Oscar."

Flender explained, "Our Soul Master Academy is called Shrek Academy. Shrek is the name of a Monster. Do you know what that means?"

Oscar shook his head.

"It means our academy does not welcome ordinary Soul Masters."

As Flender said this, pride radiated from his entire body. "We only accept Monsters!"

Oscar was very smart. Though he did not fully understand what Flender meant by "Monster," he understood that Flender would not agree to let Le Bai enroll. His spirits sank. "No matter what, you can't take Le Bai with you?"

Flender said nothing, merely looking at him.

"I understand."

Oscar clenched his fists, his resolute gaze meeting Flender's. "Since I can't be with Le Bai, then I'll—mmph!"

Le Bai covered Oscar's mouth again and apologized to Flender. "Sorry for putting you in a difficult position. I'll persuade him properly. Please give me some time."

Rather than becoming angry, Flender smiled at Oscar and Le Bai. "You two really have a good relationship!"

"Not that good." Le Bai said seriously. "Just a little better than ordinary blood brothers."

"Hahahaha!"

Flender laughed loudly. "Good! A little better than ordinary blood brothers!"

Oscar looked at Flender in confusion. "Um, Lord Soul Master? Does this mean you're willing to take Le Bai to the academy?"

"Of course not."

Flender still shook his head. "Since the academy's rules have been set, they cannot be changed."

Oscar's expression immediately fell.

"However—"

Flender changed the subject. "If it's only a matter of giving him a place to live near the academy, that won't be a problem."

Oscar immediately beamed. "Does that mean Le Bai and I won't have to separate?!"

"Well, I won't say for certain."

Flender stroked his beard. "Le Bai is still so young. Whether he can live well on his own outside will depend on his own abilities."

"If it's Le Bai, there definitely won't be a problem!"

Oscar put an arm around Le Bai's shoulders. "Le Bai helps with lots of things in our home!"

"Wait!"

Oscar's Father suddenly rushed over and said to Oscar with a serious expression, "Oscar, can you not take Le Bai away? If Le Bai leaves, no one will do the housework. Can you bear to let your father live in a garbage dump?"

"Couldn't bear to."

Oscar said bluntly, "Anyway, so many older sisters and young aunts like you. When the time comes, couldn't you just marry me a stepmother to take care of your daily life?"

"Y-you unfilial brat! How could you say something so terrifying?!"

Oscar's Father covered his heart and staggered back half a step. "Even if I stay single until I die, get smoked to death, or die in a garbage heap, I will never find you a stepmother!"

If he hadn't known his old man's situation, Oscar might actually have believed him. "Yes, yes, do your best. I'm taking Le Bai with me."

Oscar's father snapped, "Get lost already!"

Oscar shrugged and pulled Le Bai along, preparing to leave.

"Wait a moment."

Le Bai motioned for Oscar to wait, then jogged over to Oscar's Father and dropped to his knees in a deep bow. "Thank you for taking care of me all these years. If you hadn't picked me up back then, I would definitely have died on that snowy night."

"You brat, you really do remember what happened when you were a baby."

Oscar's Father was not surprised in the least. "You're more sensible than Oscar. I won't say much more—take good care of yourself. If you can, help me look after Oscar too."

"I will."

Le Bai got to his feet, then seemed to remember something. "Oh, right. If there comes a day when you really can't handle being alone anymore, marry Miss Eleven and bring her home. She's more suitable for you than any other woman, and she has the ability to deal with the other women for you."

After saying that, Le Bai and Oscar were each grabbed by one hand by Flender and carried into the sky.

A long while later:

"They're gone already. Still watching?"

"No more. Those two little brats..."

A word from the author: Since Douluo is airing and popular, I'm riding the wave a little.

The content itself had been in the works for quite some time.

The outline was over ten thousand words long, though it was better than nothing.

Unless something unexpected happened, there would be two updates a day, around noon and at night. The exact times were yet to be decided.

There were some chapters saved up, but not many. As for rewards and the like, I wouldn't overestimate myself by opening them.

It was positioned as a light novel, with the goal of a happy ending for everyone.

Some obvious bugs in the original work would be partially revised—for example, the exchange rates between gold, silver, and Copper currency.

I won't break up any of the original pairings.

That's all.