Time flew by, and soon it was time for Notting Academy's break.
Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, who was all alone, and asked in confusion:
"Xiao Wu, aren't you going home to visit your family during this break?"
At that, Xiao Wu's eyes dimmed for an instant. Then she quickly cheered up and said:
"Why don't I come visit your home with you, Third Brother?"
"That sounds good, but my home is small and shabby. I hope you won't mind when you see it."
Tang San gladly accepted Xiao Wu's offer.
Then he turned to his side and asked his little brother what he thought.
Tang Wu spread his hands.
"Why are you asking me? I don't mind..."
Notting City wasn't terribly far from Holy Soul Village, but it wasn't close, either. A normal round trip took half a day.
But all three of them were Soul Masters, with physiques far stronger than ordinary people.
They made it back to the house in Holy Soul Village in just an hour.
Looking at the smithy before him, Tang San's eyes filled with nostalgia. He pushed open the door, but the familiar figure was nowhere to be seen.
Later, Old Jack brought over a letter.
After reading its contents, Tang San couldn't hide how disappointed he felt.
"That old geezer could've just left. Why'd he have to make it so damn sentimental?" Tang Wu muttered.
After that,
the three of them spent half a day cleaning the smithy, so it wouldn't be covered in dust and unbearable to stay in.
That night, atop the mountain in Holy Soul Village, a heartbroken Tang San took Xiao Wu as his sworn younger sister.
And so began the tangled fate between the two of them.
Six years later.
Since Soul Power accelerated physical development, the three of them were now nearly as tall as adults.
Tang Wu had grown taller and more slender. His water-blue hair fell to his shoulders, and his every movement carried the air of a young nobleman.
Tang San still looked ordinary, but after absorbing a life-attribute Soul Ring, his features had gradually softened.
His black hair now also had blue highlights like Tang Wu's.
Of the three, Xiao Wu had changed the most.
After six years of growing up, she had become tall and slender, with a pair of long legs beneath her short skirt that looked like they could crush someone to death.
Her chest was no longer flat as a board; it had become like a lotus bud just beginning to peek out, now about the size of steamed buns.
"Third Brother, why aren't we going to one of all those good academies? Why come all the way here for this so-called Shrek?"
Xiao Wu just couldn't understand how Tang San's mind worked.
At their level, surely getting into an advanced Soul Master Academy would be a piece of cake.
Why go out of their way to come all the way to Suotuo City?
I don't get it!
Tang San opened his mouth at Xiao Wu's question, then stopped himself.
After all,
he couldn't very well tell her that Gangzi had clung to him relentlessly, acting in the most disgusting way imaginable.
Tang San had only agreed because he wanted to stop the man from pestering him.
Xiao Wu turned to Tang Wu as well. "Brother Wu, say something!"
"I don't mind..." Tang Wu shrugged and said indifferently.
"If it really doesn't suit us, we can leave and find another Soul Master Academy."
"Geniuses like us are welcome wherever we go, anyway."
Actually, there was a deeper reason behind it.
Tang Wu had his own motives, too.
Though Shrek was a no-name academy at this stage, it had to be said that it offered no shortage of political connections.
Dai Mubai, the third prince of the Star Luo Empire; Zhu Zhuqing, daughter of Duke Nether; Ning Rongrong, daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's leader in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun were also exceptionally talented, each among the best of the self-taught prodigies.
This tiny academy had somehow gathered talent from all corners of the land.
Once they reached Suotuo City, the first thing to do was naturally find somewhere to stay.
And so...
Xiao Wu led Tang San and his younger brother Tang Wu to the entrance of Rose Hotel, the biggest hotel in Suotuo City.
Xiao Wu strode up to the front desk, not noticing a thing amiss.
"Front desk, give us three rooms."
"Sorry, guests. We're short on rooms, and there's only one available."
"How about the three of you share?"
The receptionist looked up at the two men and one woman before him and couldn't help clicking his tongue inwardly.
Tsk, they were really into some wild stuff...
Xiao Wu frowned. Even she, slow as she could be, noticed the receptionist's strange look.
But before she could think it over, an arrogant voice came from behind her.
"Hold on. That last room belongs to me, Young Master Dai."
Here he comes!
This was one of the classic Douluo scenes, too.
Tang Wu arched a brow and turned to look at Dai Mubai, with his mismatched eyes and two girls in his arms.
"Hey, you new here? Don't you know that I, Young Master Dai, already reserved this room?"
"Do you even want to keep your job? Get your manager out here."
Dai Mubai entered Rose Hotel and immediately started berating the receptionist.
Before long,
a potbellied manager emerged from a corner, apologizing profusely to Dai Mubai.
There was no question about who got the room. It went to Dai Mubai.
As for Xiao Wu and the others, the manager suggested clearing out another section of rooms as compensation.
After all,
he couldn't afford to offend either side. He was just a nobody.
But Xiao Wu was very unhappy with this outcome.
"What do you want, then?"
"Nothing much. I just want you to get lost."
When Dai Mubai asked her that, Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips and gave him a brazen retort.
Her words were utterly rude, showing him not the slightest respect.
At thirteen or fourteen, people cared a lot about saving face.
Xiao Wu's provocation left Dai Mubai, the "face warrior," utterly humiliated.
The smile on his face finally vanished. He gave a cold snort and said:
"You're Soul Masters, too, I take it. In that case, let's follow the rules of the Soul Master World."
"Whoever has the harder fist gets the prize. No one can accuse me of picking on you if the three of you come at me together!"
"Fine, you said it."
At Dai Mubai's words, Xiao Wu immediately rubbed her hands together, grinning as if she had something nasty in mind.
What a lucky break!
In all her years as Sister Xiao Wu, she'd never heard anyone make such a request.
Forget Tang Wu, who was practically a cheat code; Tang San alone was enough to give Dai Mubai a rough time.
After living with Tang Wu for so many years, Xiao Wu knew exactly how underhanded he could be.
He could make his Martial Soul's abilities bloom into all sorts of tricks.
Just how devious was he?
Devious enough to reach three or four stories high!
Now you might ask: "Streamer, streamer, are there any more easy, powerful characters like this for climbing the ranks?"
There are, brothers, there are...
"No need for all three of you. I can handle you on my own."
Tang Wu stepped between them and spoke calmly.
Tang San furrowed his brow, an instinctive worry rising in his heart.
"Is Little Wu sure he can take him?"
"That guy's Soul Power is pretty strong. At least level 30."
"Yeah, yeah! Brother Wu, why don't we all jump him and beat that pervert tiger to a pulp?"
Xiao Wu chimed in from the side.
"Relax. Have you forgotten what my second Soul Skill is?"
At Tang Wu's words, Tang San and Xiao Wu seemed to remember something terrifying. They both shuddered.