Tang San Knelt

"It was me who threw it. What are you going to do about it?" Tang San stepped forward, showing no weakness.

Tang San raised his eyes and stared straight at Cao Yan before him. They were both only six years old. He had no reason to fear someone like this.

Perhaps he had misjudged Cao Yan's strength earlier, allowing him to dodge what should have been a lethal sleeve arrow.

However, Tang San did not consider that a major issue. At worst, he could find another opportunity to use a Hidden Weapon to get rid of the man before him.

As a disciple of the Tang Sect, the idea of uprooting the grass by the roots had long been deeply ingrained in Tang San's heart. He had already developed killing intent toward Cao Yan. To avoid creating unnecessary trouble, he could only make sure the other party closed his eyes forever.

"Xiao San." Old Jack tugged Tang San lightly by the hand.

Old Jack looked at Tang San with a grave expression, his gaze sharp as a torch. He had just seen a trace of killing intent in Tang San's eyes, and it made his heart tremble as a chill ran through his body.

The reason he had wholeheartedly supported Tang San's enrollment at Nuoding Academy was because he had valued Tang San's maturity and obedience.

But what had happened today could not help but change Old Jack's view of him.

First, he had aimed a weapon at a child no more than six years old and struck with lethal intent. Then, he had stared directly at the other party with eyes full of murderous intent.

Was this still the Xiao San he knew?

"Grandpa Jack." Tang San looked at him with innocent eyes, unsure how to explain himself.

After all, he had only noticed what had happened through the Purple Demon Eye. It was a matter of great importance, and he truly found it difficult to speak of it.

Having lived two lives, Tang San had always been cautious. The fact that he possessed Hidden Weapons and numerous abilities could only be buried in his heart.

"You're here to study at Nuoding Academy too, aren't you? Why did you attack me just now?" Cao Yan knowingly asked, his tone calm.

He knew that the object Tang San had thrown at him just now had most likely been a sleeve arrow.

In the original story, Tang San had nearly used that thing to kill the gatekeeper. But now, because of Cao Yan's appearance, that outcome had changed.

Although the gatekeeper was somewhat snobbish, no matter how much Cao Yan disliked him, he would not truly kill him.

Cao Yan's earlier words had merely been meant to scare him. As a strong man, there was no need to bicker with someone like a gatekeeper.

"My name is Tang San. I'm a Work-Study Student from Holy Soul Village. As for why I attacked you just now, I think you should know why," Tang San said coldly, his tone unfriendly.

He glanced at Grandmaster and the gatekeeper lying on the ground, sympathy in his eyes.

In his view, someone like Cao Yan had to be a spoiled young master from some great family, using his status to bully others. Otherwise, he would never have caused trouble at Nuoding Academy.

Tang San hated people like that from the bottom of his heart.

In his previous life, when he had still been an Outer Sect disciple, he had been bullied by his fellow disciples every day.

Back then, he had secretly sworn that one day, he would make everyone who had humiliated him pay the price.

Now, he saw his former self in Grandmaster and the gatekeeper. Recalling his own past, he had attacked Cao Yan without mercy.

"What if I don't?" Cao Yan replied lightly.

"I've never needed a reason to do things," Tang San said. He had completely developed killing intent toward Cao Yan.

As long as he had the chance, he would take the life of the man before him.

"Well said."

Cao Yan clapped his hands and sneered. His palm suddenly rose, lashing directly toward Tang San's cheek with lightning speed.

Slap.

A crisp sound rang out. Tang San was sent flying, his body spinning three hundred and sixty degrees through the air in a wretched state before he crashed headfirst onto the ground, blood spilling from his nose and mouth.

"You!"

"You dare hit me?"

Tang San wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and struggled to his feet. He glared at Cao Yan, flames of fury burning in his eyes as he shouted angrily.

Old Jack walked over to Tang San's side. Seeing the clear red handprint on Tang San's face, pain flashed through his eyes. However, Cao Yan could not really be blamed. If Tang San had not deliberately provoked him, this would never have happened.

"Oh? Did I hurt you?"

"Sorry. I've never needed a reason to hit people either." Cao Yan looked at Tang San and smiled disdainfully.

"You!"

Tang San clutched his chest, his face livid. The pain coursing through his body made it impossible for him to stand properly. Towering fury burned in his dark eyes, and he wished he could kill Cao Yan on the spot.

However, he knew very well that he could not do that.

This man had actually sent him flying with a single slap. His strength could not possibly be weak.

Recalling the force of Cao Yan's palm striking his face, Tang San could not help but be shocked.

That solid, heavy sense of power was absolutely no weaker than his own. He had been carrying hammers in Holy Soul Village for several months, yet compared to the man before him, he was clearly inferior.

Could this guy also possess Innate Full Soul Power?

After thinking of that, Tang San could not help but restrain the killing intent in his gaze. Soon, only calm remained in his eyes, but beneath that calm lurked a faint, imperceptible killing intent, like a venomous snake lying in wait—sinister and vicious.

"I'm sorry. I apologize for what happened earlier. I didn't mean to attack you."

"I'm also here to study at Nuoding Academy. We'll be classmates from now on. Can you tell me your name?" Tang San clasped his fists, concealing the killing intent in his eyes completely. He looked at Cao Yan expectantly, a smile on his face.

Hmm?

Seeing Tang San's reaction, Cao Yan smiled inwardly.

So he knows when to bend and when to stretch? As expected of an old hand who has lived two lives. He really has some tricks.

Unfortunately, I'm not buying it.

"My name is Cao Yan. You're Tang San, right? Fine, I'll remember that." Cao Yan did not choose to leave just like that.

He had only slapped Tang San once. That was far from enough to vent the anger in his heart.

Next, he would make Tang San kneel before him.

"Young friend, we are from Holy Soul Village. Xiao San is still young and too immature. If he has offended you in any way, I hope you will not hold it against him." At that moment, Old Jack stepped forward and spoke humbly, even intending to kneel directly before Cao Yan to beg forgiveness.

He had already taken Cao Yan for a wealthy young master. He knew that such people often had deep backgrounds and were absolutely not someone a mere village chief like him could afford to offend.

Just as Old Jack was about to kneel, Cao Yan quickly caught him and helped him back up.

"May I ask, sir, are you from Holy Soul Village?" Cao Yan asked after steadying Old Jack.

"Yes." Old Jack hurriedly smiled ingratiatingly. He was somewhat flattered, and he could barely hold his cane steady. He had not expected Cao Yan to treat him this way.

He had met many noble young masters before. Those people had never regarded someone like him as worthy of notice. Cao Yan's actions brought a trace of warmth to Old Jack's heart.

"Hehe, I heard that Holy Soul Village once produced a Soul Saint-level expert. Though I am young, I have heard of it. I never expected that I would be fortunate enough to meet the village chief of Holy Soul Village today. It is truly my honor." Cao Yan bowed to Old Jack and smiled faintly.

"You flatter me, young master. That is all in the past and not worth mentioning." Old Jack waved his hand. Hearing Cao Yan's words greatly satisfied his vanity, and a smile appeared on his face.

"No!"

"In my view, the reason Holy Soul Village was able to produce such an expert must be because it had a wise village chief like you. That is why such an outcome was possible."

"Good child, you are right. It's just that our village has not produced such an expert in a very long time." Tears welled up in Old Jack's eyes as he sighed, his expression growing dim.

Holy Soul Village could be said to be the greatest pride in his heart. No matter how poor and weak the village he lived in was, it held extraordinary meaning to Old Jack because it was his only home.

"Sir, I have always admired Holy Soul Village. It's just that..."

At this point, Cao Yan paused and turned his gaze toward Tang San. Disappointment filled his eyes. "Tang San is from Holy Soul Village too?"

"Yes. Xiao San is the only person in our village this year with a Soul Power Level," Old Jack answered.

"Sir, I can let today's matter go. But Tang San must kneel before me." Cao Yan pointed at Tang San, his gaze firm.

What? Hearing Cao Yan's words, Tang San's pupils contracted, and his body trembled.

Old Jack nodded, tacitly agreeing. He did not feel any dissatisfaction. This matter had been Tang San's fault from the beginning. If Tang San had not attacked someone for no reason, how would things have ended this way?

Xiao San had brought this upon himself. He deserved it.

"Xiao San, hurry up and kneel before this young friend. What happened today was all your fault," Old Jack told Tang San, command in his eyes.

"Grandpa Jack, how can I kneel before him?"

Tang San's eyes widened as he looked at Old Jack in disbelief. He could not believe that Grandpa Jack would say such words to him.

"Shut up!"

"Xiao San, if you had not insisted on attacking this young friend today, how would you have ended up like this?"

"You represent the honor of our village, yet what have you done today? Are you trying to disgrace our village's reputation?"

"The children of Holy Soul Village are all good children who correct their mistakes when they recognize them. You made a mistake, so you should be punished. This young master is willing to overlook your offense. Shouldn't you be grateful?" Old Jack rebuked coldly, his icy gaze fixed on Tang San.

"No! Grandpa Jack, I can't kneel before him. I can't!" Tang San roared wildly. The pain in his body made him grimace, his expression somewhat twisted.

"Xiao San, Grandpa is very angry."

"All this time, Grandpa has treated you as a good child. But today, you did something like this. If you do not kneel, then from this day onward, you will no longer be a member of Holy Soul Village." Old Jack's face turned red as he looked at Tang San with deep disappointment.

"No, Grandpa Jack. I'll kneel." Tang San hurriedly said. He did not want to make Grandpa Jack angry.

Without Grandpa Jack, he would never have had the chance to come study at Nuoding Academy.

Dragging his body along, Tang San gritted his teeth and came before Cao Yan.

Thud.

After hesitating for a moment, Tang San finally knelt.

He did not want to be expelled from Holy Soul Village. That was also his only home. His father, who had always been by his side, was there. All of it was warmth he could never bear to part with.

However, although his body knelt before Cao Yan, the hatred in Tang San's heart toward him only grew stronger.