"You..." Su Mo chose his words carefully. "You don't have to do this."
"Master took me in as a disciple, so naturally it's my duty to serve you," Tang San said matter-of-factly. "From now on, I'll take care of all your meals and daily needs."
Su Mo's mouth twitched.
He remembered the Tang San from the outline: sinister and cunning, always declaring that someone had "already earned a death sentence."
Then he looked at the Tang San standing before him, holding breakfast and wearing an expression that said, "I'm going to be a good disciple."
The difference was a little too great.
"Tang San." Su Mo took a deep breath. "I still prefer the unruly version of you. Go back to being like that."
Tang San froze.
He thought it over seriously, then replied solemnly, "Master, I believe that respecting one's teacher and being unruly aren't contradictory. I can be unruly toward my enemies, but I must show you respect."
Su Mo: "...Fine. Whatever makes you happy."
He took the breakfast and turned toward the courtyard.
Tang San followed naturally.
After a couple of steps, Su Mo suddenly remembered something and turned back. "By the way, have you eaten?"
Tang San paused.
Su Mo looked at him.
Tang San's stomach chose that moment to growl.
Su Mo sighed and shoved the lotus-leaf-wrapped food into his hands. "Here. We'll eat together."
Tang San's eyes reddened with emotion. "Master..."
"Quit talking. Get inside."
In the courtyard, Su Mo brought out two low stools.
He sat on one, and Tang San sat on the other.
Big Black Ox poked his head over from the side, curiously sizing up the new little fellow.
Su Mo broke a steamed bun in half and gave one piece to Tang San.
The two of them ate in silence for a while, washing down their pickled vegetables with porridge.
Su Mo suddenly remembered something and asked casually, "By the way, San, have you told your father about your Second Martial Soul?"
Tang San's hand stopped.
He looked up, his eyes flashing with astonishment.
How did Master know I have a Second Martial Soul?!
Even my father doesn't know!
Tang Hao only knew that his Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass and that he had Innate Full Soul Power. He had never noticed the Clear Sky Hammer inside him.
Tang San had been the one to tell him.
But Master!
Master had seen it at a glance!
"Reporting to Master." Tang San took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm. "I've already told my father."
Su Mo nodded, thinking: As expected, Tang San told Tang Hao about having two Martial Souls. Tang Hao should teach him Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer next, right?
It had just been a casual question.
But he had no idea what was going through Tang San's mind right then:
'Master really is amazing!'
'Even Father didn't realize I have two Martial Souls, but Master saw it at a glance!'
'He's even more amazing than Father!'
'No wonder he's such a great master, able to write Battle Through the Heavens!'
Tang San's gaze grew even more fervent as he looked at Su Mo.
Su Mo felt a little creeped out under his stare. "...Why are you looking at me?"
Tang San looked away and lowered his head to drink his porridge. "Nothing, Master."
Su Mo eyed him suspiciously, then continued eating.
Big Black Ox watched the scene silently from the side.
"Moo." (That kid's eyes are weird.)
Su Mo ignored him.
After breakfast, Su Mo packed up his bookstall and got ready to head out.
Tang San rushed ahead and picked up the sack of books, which was bigger than he was.
Su Mo reached out to take it. "I'll carry it."
"Master, there's no need." Tang San dodged to the side. "I'll do it."
Su Mo: "..."
Fine, then.
Big Black Ox watched with glee from the side, his tail swishing happily.
Su Mo glared at him. "What are you laughing at? Come on, pull the cart."
Big Black Ox's expression instantly fell.
"Moo." (I'm a six-hundred-year-old demon king!)
Su Mo: "So?"
Big Black Ox silently walked over to the cart and put on the harness.
"Moo." (I'll endure it.)
In town.
Su Mo set up his bookstall, and Tang San bustled around, helping out.
He arranged the books, set up the sign, greeted customers, collected money, and gave change. He was even more proficient than Su Mo himself.
Sitting beside him, Su Mo suddenly felt as if he'd hired a child laborer.
And the child laborer even brought his own food and didn't ask for wages.
He watched for a while, then said casually, "San, pick out a book to read. You don't have to keep working."
Tang San's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Yeah. Read whatever you like."
Tang San immediately put down what he was doing and carefully browsed the books at the stall.
After a while, he picked up a copy of Journey to the West.
He opened to the first page.
As he read, his expression gradually turned complicated.
Su Mo noticed the change and leaned over to take a look.
He had opened to the chapter where Patriarch Bodhi knocked Sun Wukong three times.
Tang San's eyes widened a little more with each moment.
He looked at the book, then at Su Mo.
He looked at the book again, then at Su Mo.
Then the corners of his mouth slowly lifted into a smile that said, "Just as I thought."
Su Mo felt creeped out by his grin. "...What's gotten into you now?"
Tang San closed the book and gave Su Mo a long, deep look.
"Master, I understand now."
Su Mo: "...Understand what?"
Tang San didn't answer. He simply lowered his head and continued reading, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.
Watching him from behind, Su Mo suddenly had a bad feeling.
The kid wasn't imagining things again, was he?
Big Black Ox let out a leisurely "moo" from the side.
(Is he... all right?)
"You'll get used to it..."
Business at the bookstall was good.
Tang San was engrossed in his book, but whenever a customer came by, he immediately put it down and stood up to greet them, as enthusiastic as if it were his own business.
Sitting beside him, Su Mo suddenly felt a little dazed.
This feeling...
Was he like a landowner watching his hired hand work?
No, more like a young master being served by his book boy.
Su Mo shook his head, dismissing the strange thought.
Whatever. He was willing to do it.
Just then, hurried footsteps suddenly came from the direction of the village entrance.
A villager ran over, panting. "Su Mo! Quick, get home! Something's happened to your mother!"
Su Mo sprang to his feet.
His heart skipped a beat.
Without another word, he bolted.
Behind him, Tang San immediately put down the book, shouldered the sack, and ran after him.
Big Black Ox pulled the cart, his four legs moving at a furious pace.
A crowd had gathered around the courtyard of Su Mo's home.
Su Mo rushed inside and saw his mother lying on the bed, her face pale.
Doctor Li, the village physician, was taking her pulse, his brow furrowed so deeply it could crush a fly.
"Doctor Li, how is my mother?" Su Mo asked urgently.
Doctor Li looked up at him, shook his head, and sighed.
"This illness... This old man can do nothing."
Su Mo's heart sank.
Just then, a commotion suddenly arose outside the courtyard.
"Make way! Make way!"
The crowd automatically parted, opening a path.
A figure strode inside.
Su Yuntao.
He wore a Spirit Hall executive's uniform, a long sword at his waist, and cut a dashing figure.
But what shocked everyone wasn't his identity.
It was the first thing he did after entering—
He walked up to Su Mo, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply and respectfully.
"Your student Su Yuntao pays his respects to Mr. Su Mo."
The courtyard fell utterly silent.