The Butterfly Effect

Tang Hao thought of Ah Yin.

Six years ago, when the Spirit Hall was hunting them down, Ah Yin had handed Little San over to him and then, just like Su Yun, had stepped in front of him.

Even now, Tang Hao still remembered how Ah Yin had faced four Titled Douluo and resolutely chosen to sacrifice herself, protecting him that way.

After a long while, Tang Hao finally broke free of his memories.

Old Jack, who could no longer stand the silence, spoke again.

"Xiao Yun is right. Even if you're Little San's father, you can't decide for him!"

Then Old Jack affectionately ruffled Tang San's hair.

"Little San! I'll come get you when the Soul Master Academy opens. You'll enroll with Xiao Yun."

"Okay. Thank you, Grandpa Village Chief."

Tang San then looked at Su Yun.

"And thank you, too, Xiao Yun."

At that, Su Yun put his fear behind him, and his professional smile returned.

"You're welcome."

[Friendship Points from Tang San +11.]

Then Old Jack prepared to leave with Su Yun, and Tang San hurried to see them off.

At the doorway, Old Jack stopped once more and spoke to Tang Hao with heartfelt earnestness.

"Tang Hao.

You chose to let yourself go to ruin. That was your choice, and no one else has the right to interfere.

Likewise, Little San doesn't want to be like you. He wants to become a Soul Master, and you shouldn't interfere with that, either."

With that, Old Jack led Su Yun away.

Before leaving, Su Yun still waved at Tang San.

"Little San Gege, let's go study at the Soul Master Academy together in three months!"

"Okay!"

Tang San nodded firmly.

[Friendship Points from Tang San +10.]

Tang San had contributed another wave of Friendship Points.

When they returned home, Tang Hao, surprisingly, didn't go back to his room to sleep. Instead, he stared at Tang San until the boy began to feel guilty. After all, he had just defied his father, and he hurriedly tried to make up for it.

"Dad, why don't you go back to your room and sleep some more? I'll get lunch ready."

Tang Hao kept staring at him.

"Do you want to become a Soul Master so badly because of that little girl?"

Tang San froze, looking at a loss. He asked himself honestly:

Why did he want to become a Soul Master?

At first, he'd wanted to find out whether a Soul Master could help him overcome the bottleneck that had kept the Mysterious Heaven Skill from reaching the second level. Of course, he couldn't say that.

But Tang San had to admit that he really did want to become a Soul Master alongside Su Yun now. Without hesitation, he nodded.

"Yes, Father."

That way, it didn't count as lying to his father, right?

That was what Tang San thought.

At that, Tang Hao gazed at Tang San in silence, leaving him utterly at a loss.

Tang San actually wanted to say: Dad, I won't become a Soul Master. Being a blacksmith would be fine, too. I could still support us.

But the words died on his tongue when he thought of Su Yun. In the end, he braced himself and held firm.

After a long while, Tang Hao said hoarsely,

"You're luckier than I was.

If only she...

If only she were like that little girl, too."

After saying that, Tang Hao grew terribly agitated. His whole body trembled, and Tang San even saw tears in his father's eyes.

His father was crying!

Tang San didn't know what to do. He had no idea how to comfort Tang Hao.

Thinking of how Su Yun had stepped in front of him earlier, Tang San felt sure that the other boy cared about him.

Otherwise, why would he give up joining the Spirit Hall and go to the Soul Master Academy with him?

Was he afraid that his talent wasn't good enough, and that they'd be separated?

At that thought, Tang San's heart, which had begun to soften, hardened again.

I'm sorry, Father. I've listened to you for so long, but I can't keep letting you have your way.

Tang Hao's agitation came and went quickly. He took a deep breath and regained his composure before asking coolly,

"What's your Soul Power Level?

One, or two?"

"Neither,"

Tang San replied with a shake of his head.

"Like Yun, I have Innate Full Soul Power."

"Hmm?"

Tang Hao froze.

"Blue Silver Grass? Innate Full Soul Power?

Wait..."

Tang Hao suddenly understood.

"That little gi...

That Yun is also Innately Full of Soul Power?"

"Yes."

Tang San nodded honestly, and Tang Hao pressed him further.

"What's her Martial Soul?"

"An elegant, mysterious purple scythe. It looks extraordinary!"

As he said this, Tang San became animated, almost as if he were bragging.

"Even the Lord Soul Master who awakened her Martial Soul invited her to join the Spirit Hall."

"Oh?"

Tang Hao narrowed his eyes, and the air around him turned cold once more.

Tang San, who had been happy just a moment ago, immediately grew cautious.

"But Yun refused. She said she didn't want to join the Spirit Hall."

But after Tang San finished speaking, the coldness around Tang Hao dissipated, and a faint smile even appeared on his face.

"Good...

You want to become a Soul Master, don't you?

I agree.

In three months, you can go study at the Soul Master Academy with that girl named Yun."

His father agreed?

Tang San was delighted and nodded without thinking. By the time he came back to himself, Tang Hao had already stood up and was heading into the inner room without a backward glance.

When Tang San finally came to his senses, snores were already coming from inside. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he closed it again.

He'd originally wanted to tell Tang Hao that he had another Martial Soul, too.

Forget it. He'd go tell Yun the good news first: his father had agreed to let him attend the Soul Master Academy.

At that thought, Tang San even forgot to make lunch. He shot out the door and raced toward Old Jack's house.

One minute later.

Tang San caught up with Old Jack, but the old man was alone. Su Yun was nowhere to be seen.

Tang San politely greeted him before asking,

"Grandpa Village Chief, where's Xiao Yun?"

"Xiao Yun? He said he was going outside the village to test his Martial Soul, then left on his own."

"Oh, oh.

Then I'll go look for Xiao Yun outside the village.

Goodbye, Grandpa Village Chief."

Tang San bowed once more, then ran off like a gust of wind.

Watching Tang San dash off in such a hurry, Old Jack couldn't help chuckling.

"Now that's how a child should be!"

Outside the village.

On top of a large rock, Su Yun had forgotten all about testing his Martial Soul. He sighed in admiration.

"The Tang family really are good people!"

[Friendship Points: 276]

Staring at the system panel, Su Yun's eyes lit up. He couldn't help looking toward the Gacha Interface, rubbing his hands together.

Everything in the shop was far too expensive. Who knew how long it would take to save up enough? He might as well try the gacha first and improve his strength.

Thinking of the [Shadow Scythe] he'd just won, Su Yun's heart began pounding again. He'd seen it in the shop just moments ago: the thing was worth a whopping three million Friendship Points, and he'd gotten it for only... two hundred. What a steal!

With his luck so good today, should he try twice more?

As the thought crossed his mind, Su Yun opened the Gacha Interface.

Ignoring [Martial Soul Gacha], Su Yun looked over the other gacha machines.

[Beginner Soul Bone Gacha]

[Beginner Soul Tool Gacha]

[Beginner Soul Skill Gacha]

[Beginner Self-Created Soul Skill Gacha]

All four options could currently increase his combat strength. Su Yun began considering which one to draw from.