Tang San said excitedly from beside him, "That's great! Teacher can go!"
Su Mo took the certificate, his feelings complicated.
He looked at Su Yuntao, wanting to say something, but when the words reached his lips, nothing seemed appropriate.
In the end, he said only two words: "Thank you."
Su Yuntao hurriedly waved his hands. "You honor me too much, sir. To have received a book from you is already an enormous blessing. This little matter is nothing worth mentioning."
Su Mo: "..."
"Given" another book.
This man was really convinced I'd deliberately given it to him.
Inside the house, Zhang Qianyi finished writing the prescription, gave a few more instructions, then took his leave.
Su Yuntao saw him to the door, and the two murmured something to each other outside the courtyard.
Su Mo hadn't been paying attention, but his ears twitched, and he faintly caught a few words:
"...ten years of savings...a debt of gratitude..."
His brow furrowed slightly.
He went to the window and secretly peered outside.
Su Yuntao was talking to Zhang Qianyi. The smile had vanished from his face, replaced by a faint weariness.
Zhang Qianyi patted him on the shoulder and sighed. "Xiao Su, you really went all in this time. The next few years are going to be rough."
Su Yuntao smiled and shook his head. "I can never repay the kindness of your saving my life. This is nothing worth mentioning."
Zhang Qianyi sighed again and turned to leave.
Su Yuntao stood where he was, watching Zhang Qianyi's back as he rubbed his brow.
Then he took a deep breath, composed his expression, and turned back.
He had just reached the courtyard gate when he nearly collided with Su Mo.
Su Yuntao froze, then smiled. "Why did you come out, sir? How is your mother...?"
Su Mo didn't speak. He only looked at him.
Under Su Mo's gaze, Su Yuntao began to feel uneasy. "Sir?"
Su Mo suddenly asked, "How much did you spend?"
Su Yuntao's smile stiffened.
"Divine Doctor Zhang's consultation fee, those tonics, and..." Su Mo paused. "What you said just now—ten years of savings, a debt of gratitude."
Su Yuntao opened his mouth, wanting to explain.
Su Mo didn't give him the chance.
He turned and went back into the house, picked up Romance of the Three Kingdoms—the book he had "dropped" at the ancestral hall entrance yesterday.
Then he came back and handed it to Su Yuntao with both hands.
"Take it."
Su Yuntao was stunned.
Su Mo looked at him. "Didn't you say this was a blessing I'd bestowed upon you? If it was a gift, then the book belongs to you."
Su Yuntao accepted it with both hands, his lips moving. "Sir, this..."
"Stop calling me sir." Su Mo waved a hand. "My name is Su Mo. Just call me by my name."
Su Yuntao shook his head, his expression solemn. "You are my teacher. This book has taught me, guided me, and answered my questions. I'll never forget your kindness."
Su Mo: "..."
Here we go again.
He sighed and couldn't be bothered to correct him anymore.
"Fine, go on back." He turned and walked into the house. "Thank you for what you did today."
Su Yuntao held the book, standing there as he watched the small figure disappear through the doorway.
After a long while,
he lowered his head and opened Romance of the Three Kingdoms to the first page.
At some point, a line of small writing had appeared on the title page—
"Presented to Su Yuntao, in thanks for saving my life. Su Mo."
Su Yuntao's eyes suddenly grew a little hot.
He took a deep breath, closed the book, and bowed deeply toward the door.
Then he turned and left.
His steps were light.
His mood was good.
Inside the house,
Su Mo sat beside his mother's bed, watching her sleeping face.
Su Zhaowan's complexion was much better than before, and her breathing had steadied.
Su Mo gently held her hand.
"Mother, I'm going to Notting City."
"To earn money."
"To grow stronger."
"To find you the best doctor."
Outside the window, the sunlight was bright.
Big Black Ox let out a "moo" in the courtyard.
(I'm going too.)
Su Mo smiled.
The news that Su Mo was leaving spread throughout Holy Soul Village overnight.
Early the next morning, Su Mo opened the courtyard gate and froze.
A crowd stood outside.
Old Jack was at the front, with the village's elderly men and women, uncles and aunties behind him. The children he'd frightened into tears during the awakening ceremony were there too, peeking timidly at him from behind the adults' legs.
"What..." Su Mo opened his mouth. "What's going on?"
Old Jack stepped forward with a beaming smile. "Everyone's here to see you off! Our village has produced someone with Innate Full Soul Power, and he's going to study in Notting City. That's a huge occasion. How could we not see you off?"
Su Mo wanted to say, "I haven't left yet," but looking at all those smiling faces, the words at the tip of his tongue became, "Thank you, everyone."
Mother Wang squeezed forward and pushed a cloth bundle into his hands. "Xiao Mo, these are pickles I made myself. Take them along for the road. Things are expensive in the city, so every little bit you can save helps."
Su Mo looked down at the bulging bundle. It weighed at least three jin.
"Mother Wang, this is way too much..."
"Too much? What do you mean, too much?" Mother Wang glared at him. "Your mother's unwell, and you won't be home. Who's going to look after her from now on? We're her neighbors. Of course we have to help out. What's a little pickle?"
Su Mo's nose stung.
Uncle Li stepped forward too, handing him a money pouch. "Xiao Mo, several families chipped in for this. It's not much, just twenty Silver Spirit Coins. Take it for the journey."
Su Mo hurriedly tried to refuse. "Uncle Li, I can't. I can't accept this..."
"Take it!" Uncle Li shoved the pouch into his arms. "Your book-rental stall was there all these years, and those little rascals of mine went to read every day. Did you ever charge them? Just think of this as back rent!"
Su Mo opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.
The old village chief hobbled over, leaning on his cane, and patted him on the shoulder. "Xiao Mo, you're a good boy. When you get to the city, study hard and cultivate hard. When you make something of yourself, don't forget to come back and visit."
Su Mo nodded firmly. "I'll definitely come back."
Just then, a shrill voice came from behind the crowd.
"Well, if it isn't that boy from the Su family. Are you really going to Notting City?"
The crowd parted to make way.
A woman in her forties stood there with her hands on her hips, the corners of her mouth turned down so far they could hold an oil flask.
Auntie Liu.
She was a notorious gossip in the village, always eager to spread rumors. Back when Su Zhaowan had arrived in the village with a baby in her belly, Auntie Liu had been the one who spread the gossip most enthusiastically. Later, when Su Mo had set up his book-rental stall, her children had wanted to read but had no money. Su Mo had let them read several books for free, yet she had turned around and said his "novels were corrupting the children," never once considering that the problem might lie with her own parenting.
Su Mo looked at her without saying a word.
Auntie Liu gave him a sour once-over. "Tsk, tsk. Innate Full Soul Power. How impressive. But so what? Your Martial Soul is an old man, a Trash Martial Soul. You'll probably be expelled and sent home after a month in Notting City, won't you?"
The faces of several villagers nearby changed.
Mother Wang immediately shot back, "Auntie Liu, what's that supposed to mean? What did Xiao Mo ever do to you?"
Auntie Liu rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying what I think. What's wrong with that? Am I not allowed to speak?"
Old Jack frowned. "Liu, today's a joyous occasion for Xiao Mo. Keep a few of those comments to yourself."
Auntie Liu snorted and said sarcastically, "Fine, fine, I'll stop. These days, anyone can go to Notting City, I suppose. I'll just wait and see whether certain people are still so glorious a year from now."