Clues to the Soul-Absorbing Rod, "Good Guy" Su Han

Su Han and Tian Ling'er walked along the winding path.

Along the way, Tian Ling'er was like a cheerful little bird, skipping along as she hummed a tune.

Su Han, meanwhile, kept watch on the surroundings as he pondered what to do if they truly encountered Little Gray.

Before long, they arrived before a dense bamboo forest.

A gentle breeze swept past, rustling the bamboo leaves.

Tian Ling'er stopped and turned back to Su Han with a smile. "This is the Back Mountain of our Great Bamboo Peak. Xiaofan comes here every day to chop Black Festival Bamboo."

As she spoke, Tian Ling'er curiously lifted her head and looked around. "Strange, where's Xiaofan?"

"Xiaofan, Xiaofan?"

"Where are you? Look who's here!"

Not seeing Zhang Xiaofan nearby, Tian Ling'er could not help shouting into the bamboo forest.

Calling out as she went, she headed deeper into the woods.

Su Han followed Tian Ling'er's footsteps, looking around with curiosity.

He unleashed the ability of the Form of No Sentient Beings, and soon discovered Zhang Xiaofan's figure deep within the bamboo forest.

Unfortunately, he did not sense the Three-Eyed Spirit Monkey, Little Gray, whom he had been thinking about.

Su Han felt a trace of disappointment, though he did not take it too much to heart.

After all, opportunities like these

were things others could only encounter by chance, never seek out.

But for someone like Su Han, who possessed the Child of Destiny trait, things were different.

Su Han believed in his trait.

This trip to Great Bamboo Peak would absolutely not end with him empty-handed.

But believing was one thing; Su Han would still actively strive for anything worth fighting for.

Thus, as he walked deeper into the bamboo forest, Su Han asked in an apparently casual manner, "Miss Ling'er, is there anything special about this Back Mountain?"

Hearing this, Tian Ling'er tilted her head, tapping her lips with a finger. "Something special, huh~"

"The Black Festival Bamboo here is very tough, and there are lots of cute little animals in the Bamboo Forest."

"As for anything else..."

Tian Ling'er thought for a while longer before seeming to suddenly remember something. "Oh, right!"

"There's also a very pretty little waterfall on the Back Mountain."

"A little waterfall?"

Su Han's heart stirred. The Soul-Absorbing Rod is currently submerged in a deep pool.

Since the deep pool has water, perhaps it connects to a waterway.

If I follow the waterway, then even without Little Gray leading the way, perhaps I can find that deep pool where the Soul-Absorbing Rod lies submerged?

At that thought, Su Han forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart and spoke calmly. "Oh?"

"Then, Miss Ling'er, if you have the time, could you take me to see that little waterfall?"

"Well... Mother said I couldn't take you too—"

Tian Ling'er seemed somewhat hesitant, wanting to refuse.

But before she could finish her refusal, Su Han hurriedly spoke again.

"I'm very curious what kind of waterfall could earn such special praise from a clever and beautiful young lady like Miss Ling'er."

"Surely Miss Ling'er wouldn't deny me this small wish?"

Tian Ling'er had been about to refuse, but when she suddenly heard Su Han praise her as clever and beautiful, her eyes lit up and she became immensely pleased with herself.

"Su Han, you really do have good taste."

As she spoke, she patted her chest and declared with utmost confidence, "As your host, I should have taken you to see that little waterfall right away since you wanted to see it."

"But the waterfall is rather far away."

"It'll be time to eat soon, and Mother will get angry if we return late."

"But don't be discouraged!"

At this point, Tian Ling'er seemed a little guilty as she glanced around.

Only after making sure no one was there did she whisper, "Wake up early tomorrow, and I'll take you to see it then."

"But you absolutely must not let Mother find out!"

"Otherwise, she'll blame me for taking you so far away."

"So far away?"

The moment Su Han heard Tian Ling'er mention the distance, he became even more expectant.

After all, in the original story, the deep pool where the Soul-Absorbing Rod lay was deep within the Back Mountain of Little Bamboo Peak, far from where they cut bamboo.

If Little Gray had not led the way, Tian Ling'er and Zhang Xiaofan would never have gone that far.

For a moment, Su Han became even more certain that the small waterfall might be connected to that deep pool.

"Not only are you clever and beautiful, Miss Ling'er, but you're also so kind-hearted."

"I'm sure that in the future, you'll become a powerful righteous immortal maiden like Martial Aunt Su Ru."

"Hehehe~"

Hearing Su Han praise her again, Tian Ling'er immediately let out a smug giggle.

Still, she was uncharacteristically a little embarrassed. "I... I'm not as good as you say."

Seeing Tian Ling'er's innocent and pure reaction, Su Han secretly laughed. Sure enough, children are easy to fool. They'd help count the money even after being sold.

Outwardly, however, he remained perfectly composed.

"Miss Ling'er, there's no need to be so modest. In my eyes, you really are that outstanding."

"Su Han, you really are a good person. I take back what I said about you being annoying. You're much more interesting than that blockhead Xiaofan."

Su Han smiled faintly. "Is that so?"

"Of course!"

Tian Ling'er nodded with utter conviction.

Just then, as she was about to say something else, a rustling sound suddenly came from the Bamboo Forest.

A somewhat bedraggled child, at least a head shorter than Su Han, then emerged with difficulty while carrying a stalk of Black Festival Bamboo.

"Senior Sister, were you calling for me just now?"

"Xiaofan, look who's here?"

The moment Tian Ling'er saw Zhang Xiaofan, she ran over and patted him on the shoulder, then pointed at Su Han.

"You are..."

Zhang Xiaofan looked at Su Han in confusion.

He felt that this elegant senior brother before him looked familiar, yet he seemed never to have met him before.

"Su... Su Han?"

Only after a long while did Zhang Xiaofan speak, his voice filled with uncertainty and surprise.

"That's right."

Su Han smiled and nodded, but inwardly said to the system, System, inspect Zhang Xiaofan's traits.

Su Han wanted to see what rank Zhang Xiaofan's Child of Destiny trait was at now.

Gray, or white?

As Su Han finished speaking—

The next moment—

A pale-blue virtual panel, visible only to Su Han, appeared before his eyes.

Name: Zhang Xiaofan

Identity: Disciple of Great Bamboo Peak, Qingyun Sect

Traits Possessed: Child of Destiny (Gray+), Late Bloomer (Gold), Exceptional Comprehension (Gold), Good at Cooking (Green)...

"As expected."

"After I seized the destiny of Great Brahma Prajna and the Blood Devouring Pearl, his Child of Destiny trait was still at the lowest gray rank."

Su Han gave an almost imperceptible nod of satisfaction.

Yet while Su Han was observing Zhang Xiaofan—

Zhang Xiaofan could not help staring at Su Han in astonishment. "Su Han... how did you suddenly grow so tall?"

"Maybe it has something to do with cultivation."

Su Han smiled lightly and did not explain further.

Then he turned to Tian Ling'er. "Junior Sister Ling'er, it's getting late. Shouldn't we head down the mountain?"

"Otherwise, Martial Aunt Su Ru will be waiting anxiously."

Hearing this, Tian Ling'er did not find it strange that Su Han had been the one who wanted to come up the mountain to see Zhang Xiaofan, yet after saying only one sentence upon meeting him, suddenly wanted to go back down.

After all, in her eyes, Su Han was now a "good person" who knew how to appreciate her strengths.

So she clapped excitedly. "Alright, alright..."

"Let's hurry and eat! After we eat, I still want to watch you fight Senior Brothers, Su Han!"

"Oh, right, Su Han..."

"I forgot to ask earlier—what cultivation realm are you at now?"