The Paths They Walk

"Is this the letter your father entrusted to Grandmaster for you?"

In the courtyard, Xiao Wu put on a rare, serious expression as she looked at the letter in her hand and asked.

"Yes. I felt a sense of unease all day today, so I returned from the blacksmith shop early, only to find that Grandmaster had already arrived at our home and given me this letter."

Tang Sanmei's eyes grew gloomy as she spoke; she hadn't expected that her father, who had been missing for over two years, would reappear without coming to see her, and instead take her brother away.

According to Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, their father had urgent business and was in such a rush that he didn't even have time to say goodbye before taking Tang Yin and heading toward their grandmother's maternal home.

"Hmph, a father returns and doesn't think about reuniting with his children, but instead sneaks off with the brother behind the sister's back—there's definitely something wrong here." Xiao Wu rubbed her chin, a flash of wisdom crossing her eyes.

"There is only one truth: your brother and you aren't biological siblings, and now your father is taking your brother to acknowledge his ancestors and return to his clan."

"W-what?" Tang Sanmei's originally sorrowful expression froze, and her pupils constricted sharply.

"Sanmei, look, you always tell me your father looks rugged and sloppy, and you're quite plain yourself, but your brother is the only one who looks just a tiny bit worse than me."

Xiao Wu spoke as if she had discovered a new continent, holding her thumb and index finger together to show the "tiny bit" in front of Sanmei, before spreading her hands. "See? Isn't it obvious?"

"So you mean my brother found his biological parents and left temporarily?" Tang Sanmei was a bit suspicious, even ignoring the fact that Xiao Wu had called her plain.

"It's possible. Of course, this is all just my deduction." Xiao Wu waved her hand, then her eyes lit up as she raised a finger. "Hey! Why don't we go ask Grandmaster? He must know."

With that, Xiao Wu pulled Tang Sanmei toward the academy.

The rented courtyard was only a street away from the academy, so it didn't take them long. As soon as they reached the door of Yu Xiaogang's room, Xiao Wu kicked the door open and shouted loudly:

"Grandmaster, Grandmaster!"

Yu Xiaogang, who was sitting at his desk, was startled by the commotion, causing his fountain pen to leave a jagged scratch across his notes.

"Xiao Wu! How many times have I told you to knock before entering? Knock!" Veins bulged on Yu Xiaogang's forehead as he suppressed his anger and scolded her.

Xiao Wu, however, was long used to this; she crossed her arms and glared at Yu Xiaogang with an air of seniority.

"Hmph! I'm asking you, is there something you're hiding from me and Sanmei regarding my brother Tang Yin?"

Yu Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat at these words. He couldn't help but glance at Sanmei, and upon seeing the worry and inquiry in her expression, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"What could I possibly know?" Yu Xiaogang stood up righteously, hands behind his back, his face stern.

"I only saw the letter on the table when I returned this afternoon, and that was how I learned your father had been here."

As he said this, Yu Xiaogang's stern expression shifted to one of regret. "Sigh~ I held Tang Yin in high regard. Even though we had our occasional disagreements, I truly valued him. Now that he's gone, I don't feel good about it either."

"You really don't know?" Xiao Wu narrowed her eyes slightly, but since Yu Xiaogang didn't look like he was lying, she turned to look at the silent Sanmei behind her.

"It's okay, Sanmei. Even if Brother is gone, you still have me. Big Sister Xiao Wu will continue to look after you." Xiao Wu patted her slightly budding chest.

"Besides, Brother only left temporarily; it's not like he's abandoning us. At worst, we can just go find him later."

"Thank you, Big Sister Xiao Wu." Tang Sanmei felt a rare sense of gratitude toward Xiao Wu, but the seed of doubt regarding her and her brother not being biological siblings, planted by Xiao Wu in the courtyard, had already taken root in her heart.

In the past, she had dismissed the occasional gossip from classmates as mere teasing, but now that such an abnormal situation had occurred, she couldn't help but overthink it.

"Sanmei, you must pull yourself together. I know you are sentimental, but sometimes being too sentimental is your weakness." Seeing that Sanmei remained silent, Yu Xiaogang began to serve her some "chicken soup for the soul."

"You cannot always hide behind your brother. People must grow up, and furthermore..." Yu Xiaogang changed the subject, bringing up Tang Yin again.

"Tang Yin left this time to find a better cultivation environment for his Sharp-Tailed Swift martial soul. You shouldn't hinder your brother from pursuing a better version of himself just because of your own selfishness."

Tang Sanmei frowned slightly as she listened to Yu Xiaogang's words, falling into deep thought.

That's right! According to the letter her father left behind, whether he was truly taking her brother to their grandmother's maternal home or, as Big Sister Xiao Wu guessed, to acknowledge his ancestors, it wasn't a bad thing for her brother. How could she hinder him out of selfishness?

Seeing Tang Sanmei moved by his words, the corners of Yu Xiaogang's mouth curled up slightly.

"Sanmei, do you know about the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament?"

"Of course I do. Grandmaster, what does this have to do with my brother?" Tang Sanmei was puzzled. Every student at the academy knew about this grand event held every five years in the soul master world.

"Yes, this year's tournament has just concluded, and the next one is in five years." Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists behind his back as he spoke, his eyes flickering with an emotion called ambition.

"By then, you will be exactly fourteen. With your talent and my guidance, you will surely have broken through to become a thirty-level Soul Elder, perhaps even thirty-five."

Having said this, Yu Xiaogang calmed his inner excitement and looked at Tang Sanmei, guiding her step by step.

"Sanmei, this is a stage for all young soul masters on the continent to prove themselves. A genius like your brother will certainly not miss it; he might even participate. By then..."

"Does Grandmaster mean that as long as I participate in the tournament, I might be able to meet my brother!"

Tang Sanmei's eyes lit up. Her father had taken her brother away secretly without leaving an address, and given that he hadn't come to see her in the two years he was missing, heaven knows how long it would take for him to finish the "important business" he spoke of.

If participating in the Soul Master Elite Tournament gave her a chance to run into her brother, she had to try.

"Even if you don't run into him, as long as you make a name for yourself in the tournament or even take a top-three spot, the entire empire will broadcast your fame. Won't your brother know then?"

Yu Xiaogang smiled inwardly. Plan successful.

"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament? Interesting, I want to participate too." Xiao Wu, listening to the introduction of the tournament, felt a spark of curiosity in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Tang Hao and Tang Yin, having left Holy Soul Village, began their journey across the Bala Kingdom, eventually arriving, dusty and tired, at Sword City, located at the border between the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire.

Sword City was originally a small border town, but because it was near the Star Dou Great Forest, countless soul masters passed through or stayed there temporarily.

As soul masters were the group at the top of the pyramid on the Douluo Continent, even the weakest among them had a spending power far exceeding that of ordinary commoners.

This had led to the prosperity of this small border town, Sword City.

"You have no money? Don't think I don't know that the Gold Soul Coins I gave to your third sister are all in your hands." In a secluded alleyway, Tang Hao stared at Tang Yin, who stood before him with an indifferent expression, his face dark and gloomy.

"I spent them all!"

"Spent them all? There were tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coins on that card. It's only been three years, and you're telling me you spent them all?"

Tang Hao's veins bulged, his face flushed red, and he breathed as heavily as an ox.

"Spent is spent. Money is just a bastard; if you don't spend it, you won't earn more." Tang Yin spread his hands, wearing an expression that dared Tang Hao to do something about it.