"But I can't use laxatives again this time. I'll use Itch Powder instead! Just like this morning, I'll split it up and add it separately!"
Whenever people set about doing something bad, inspiration surged like a spring. Tang San immediately put his astounding intelligence to work and began preparing the poison.
In his previous life, the person in the Tang Sect who had grasped the Tang Sect Secret Arts most deeply wasn't the sect leader, but Tang San, an outer disciple.
So preparing this poison came as naturally to him as dipping his hand into his pocket.
"This fragrant medicinal herb can be used to wash clothes, this other one to burn as incense, and another one to cook with wild vegetables!"
"With the poison spread out like this, Tang Hao definitely won't notice!"
Several days later, a guest arrived at Li Ping'an's home. It was none other than the village chief, Old Jack.
"Fugui, tomorrow an official from Spirit Hall will come to Holy Soul Village to help the children in our village awaken their Martial Souls!"
"Your Ping'an is six years old now, so don't let him miss it. He's such a sensible boy—maybe he'll be able to cultivate!"
Li Fugui gave a simple-minded smile. "Village chief, how could we miss it? I'll be there on time tomorrow!"
"Good. I'll go notify the other children!"
With that, Old Jack left the Li family's home. He trusted them, so he didn't repeat his instructions over and over.
"Ah, that Tang Hao is the one who gives me a headache. What a pity about that child Tang San. I'll go to his house last."
Only after Old Jack had left did Li Fugui discuss it with Li Ping'an's mother.
"Alan, both of us have Blue Silver Grass Martial Souls and no Innate Soul Power. Ping'an will probably be just like us."
"So I plan to send him to the village school. Even if he can't become a Soul Master, he'll still have better prospects than we did!"
"Dear, I don't understand these things. I'll leave it all to you!"
They didn't know that Li Ping'an had heard every word of their whispered conversation.
Although Li Ping'an couldn't cultivate Soul Power, studying the meditation method over the past few days had made his five senses just a little sharper.
Besides, their home was small, and the house was made of wood. The soundproofing wasn't very good.
Ah, parents everywhere worry for their children. I'll soon be able to become a Soul Master. I'll make sure you live well! Li Ping'an thought.
Because he had brought memories of his previous life with him, there was a bit of distance between him and his parents in this life. They were only a little closer to him than strangers.
But his parents in this life were genuinely thinking of his future, so of course he had to repay them.
"Dear, don't dwell on it. Being a Soul Master has its hardships too."
"Have you forgotten what happened outside Holy Soul Village six years ago? How many Soul Masters died?"
"If Ping'an hadn't been about to be born, and you hadn't needed to look after me, you would've gone with Father to gather herbs. You probably would've died there too!"
"What?" A bolt of lightning seemed to strike through Li Ping'an's mind.
That battle outside Holy Soul Village, six years ago? Wasn't that when Spirit Hall besieged Tang Hao?
What did that have to do with my family? Did my grandfather in this life die in that battle?
Li Ping'an's blood roiled. He had thought he was an outsider, but he hadn't expected that he and Tang Hao were actually enemies.
"Don't talk about it. Father gathered herbs because he wanted to help you and Ping'an recover your strength."
"Dear, what kind of Soul Master could've left such a huge hammer mark that Father couldn't even escape?"
"You think I'm a Soul Master too? How would I know? Didn't I name our son Ping'an because I hoped he'd live a peaceful, safe life?"
"This fucked-up world!" Li Ping'an cursed under his breath.
Ordinary people who couldn't cultivate were like ants. Soul Masters could casually crush a whole crowd of them with a single strike.
Grandfather, even though I never met you, I'll avenge you! Li Ping'an swore silently.
He had a system. Was there any reason he wouldn't be able to take Tang Hao down someday?
At Tang San's home, Old Jack was beside himself with anger.
"Tang Hao, what do you mean by this?"
"Even if you don't want Tang San to awaken his Martial Soul, you didn't have to do something so disgusting right in front of me!"
Old Jack simply couldn't stand it. Tang Hao was scratching himself right in front of him.
Scratching himself would've been bad enough, but he was also picking his feet, scratching his butt, and rubbing his groin.
Tang Hao couldn't explain his predicament. He had no idea why his body was so itchy today, especially in those particular spots.
"Get the hell out of here, you old bastard!"
"My son is mine. I'll do whatever I want with him!" Tang Hao was mortified and furious, and he shouted the words at Old Jack.
He endured the pain from the hidden injuries in his meridians and circulated Soul Power to resist the itching.
At his level, his body's meridians had all been opened, so his Soul Power circulated naturally.
But because Soul Masters on Douluo Continent knew so little about meridians, they still didn't know how to cultivate through them or create cultivation techniques.
"You... you..." Old Jack pointed at Tang Hao, unable to speak.
Just now, he'd felt a suffocating pressure, as if he were about to die.
Old Jack was so frightened that he didn't dare linger at Tang San's home. He ran a long way before calling out, "Tang San, I'll come get you tomorrow!"
Tang San hid off to the side, not daring to say a word, because he was the one who'd caused Tang Hao to make such indecent movements.
A Titled Douluo really is powerful. Has he already suppressed the poison? Tang San watched quietly.
If an ordinary person got hit with this kind of Itch Powder, they could scratch their own skin raw.
But Tang Hao had only scratched himself twice before controlling the poison. That gave Tang San a better understanding of a Titled Douluo's resistance to poison.
Tang Hao hadn't suspected that he'd been poisoned, because this wasn't the first time he'd worn these clothes.
The food he'd eaten, the wine he'd drunk, and the scents he'd smelled weren't new to him either.
So he assumed his hidden injuries had flared up, making his whole body itch.
"What are you still standing there for? Go get me some wine!"
Tang Hao gulped down the wine in his gourd, then tossed it to Tang San.
His body was unbearably itchy. He planned to drink himself into a stupor and sleep it off.
"Yes, Dad. I'll go right now!"
Tang San let out a breath of relief, grabbed the gourd, and hurried out to get wine from the village brewery.
The next day, a crowd gathered outside the "Spirit Hall" in the center of Holy Soul Village.
Some were parents who had brought their children, some were hoping to ask the Spirit Hall official for absolution, and others had come to watch the excitement.
The doors of the "Spirit Hall" were shut tight. Inside, the children were awakening their Martial Souls under the official's guidance.
Before long, the wooden door opened, and a young man wearing the long robe of a Spirit Hall official walked out.
Old Jack hurried over as soon as he saw him.
"Sir, were there any children in our village this year who can cultivate?" Old Jack asked.
Su Yuntao nodded. "Two children have Innate Soul Power, but both of them have the useless Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass. What a pity!"
"As long as they can cultivate, that's enough. May I ask, sir, which two children are able to cultivate?"
Old Jack peered through the doorway and saw the other children looking toward Tang San and Li Ping'an.
Those two children? They're so sensible. I knew they'd make it! Old Jack thought.
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