A College Student Emerged from Holy Soul Village

Tang San exclaimed in pleasant surprise from the side, "That's wonderful! Teacher can go now!"

Su Mo took the certificate, his mood complex.

He looked at Su Yuntao, wanting to say something, but felt that whatever he said would be inappropriate once the words reached his lips.

In the end, he only said two words: "Many thanks."

Su Yuntao hurriedly waved his hands. "Sir, you flatter me. To receive a book from you is already a heaven-sent opportunity. This trivial matter is not worth mentioning."

Su Mo: "..."

"Gifted a book" again.

This man was truly convinced that he had given him that book on purpose.

Inside the room, Divine Doctor Zhang finished writing the prescription, gave a few more instructions, and then took his leave.

Su Yuntao walked him to the door, and the two spoke in low voices outside the courtyard for a moment.

Su Mo hadn't paid much attention at first, but his ears twitched, and he vaguely caught a few words:

"...ten years of savings... a debt of gratitude..."

His brows furrowed slightly.

He walked to the window and peeked outside.

Su Yuntao was talking to Divine Doctor Zhang, the smile on his face already gone, replaced by a faint weariness.

Divine Doctor Zhang patted his shoulder and sighed. "Little Su, you've really gone all out this time. The next few years will be difficult for you."

Su Yuntao shook his head with a smile. "The grace of your rebirth is hard to repay. This is not worth mentioning."

Divine Doctor Zhang sighed again and turned to leave.

Su Yuntao stood where he was, watching his back, and rubbed his temples.

Then, he took a deep breath, composed his expression, and turned to walk back.

Just as he reached the courtyard gate, he ran into Su Mo.

Su Yuntao was stunned, then smiled. "Sir, why have you come out? Your mother..."

Su Mo didn't speak, just looked at him.

Su Yuntao felt a bit uneasy under his gaze. "Sir?"

Su Mo suddenly asked, "How much money did you spend?"

Su Yuntao's smile stiffened.

"Divine Doctor Zhang's consultation fee, those tonics, and..." Su Mo paused, "what you just mentioned, ten years of savings, a debt of gratitude."

Su Yuntao opened his mouth, wanting to explain something.

Su Mo didn't give him the chance.

He turned and walked back into the room, picked up the Romance of the Three Kingdoms—the very book he had "dropped" at the entrance of the ancestral hall yesterday.

Then he walked back out and handed it to Su Yuntao with both hands.

"Take it."

Su Yuntao was dumbfounded.

Su Mo looked at him. "Didn't you say this was an opportunity I bestowed upon you? Since it is a gift, the book must be yours."

Su Yuntao took it with both hands, his lips trembling. "Sir, this..."

"Don't call me Sir anymore," Su Mo waved his hand. "My name is Su Mo; you can just call me by my name."

Su Yuntao shook his head, his expression solemn. "A teacher is a teacher. I will never forget the grace of this book in imparting knowledge and resolving my doubts."

Su Mo: "..."

Here we go again.

He sighed, too lazy to correct him anymore.

"Alright, you should go back." He turned and walked toward the room. "Thank you for today."

Su Yuntao stood there clutching the book, watching that small figure disappear through the door.

A long time passed.

He looked down at the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in his hands and opened the first page.

On the flyleaf, a line of small text had appeared at some point—

"Gifted to Su Yuntao, in gratitude for saving my life. Su Mo."

Su Yuntao's eyes suddenly grew warm.

He took a deep breath, closed the book, bowed deeply toward the door, and then turned to leave.

His steps were light.

He was in a very good mood.

Inside the house.

Su Mo sat by his mother's bedside, watching her sleeping face.

Su Zhaowan's complexion was much better than before, and her breathing had steadied.

Su Mo gently took her hand.

"Mother, I'm going to Notting City."

"To earn money."

"To become stronger."

"To find the best doctor for you."

Outside the window, the sunlight was perfect.

The Big Black Ox let out a "moo" in the yard.

(I'm going too.)

Su Mo smiled.

The news of Su Mo's departure spread throughout Holy Soul Village overnight.

Early the next morning, Su Mo pushed open the courtyard gate and froze in place.

A crowd of people stood at the entrance.

Old Jack stood at the very front, followed by the village elders, uncles, and aunts. Even the group of children who had been scared to tears during the awakening ceremony were there, hiding behind the adults' legs and peeking at him timidly.

"This..." Su Mo opened his mouth, "What's going on?"

Old Jack stepped forward with a chuckle: "Everyone is here to see you off! Our village has produced a child with innate full soul power who is going to study in Notting City. This is a momentous occasion; how could we not see you off?"

Su Mo wanted to say, "I haven't even left yet," but looking at those smiling faces, the words changed to: "Thank you, everyone."

Mother Wang squeezed to the front and shoved a cloth bundle into his hands: "Little Mo, this is some pickled vegetables I made myself. Take them to eat on the road. Things in the city are expensive; save where you can."

Su Mo looked down at the bulging cloth bundle; it weighed at least three pounds.

"Mother Wang, this is too much..."

"Too much? What do you mean?" Mother Wang glared. "Your mother isn't in good health, and you won't be home. Who will look after her? As neighbors, shouldn't we help out a bit more? What's a little bit of pickled vegetables?"

Su Mo felt a sting in his nose.

Uncle Li also stepped forward and handed over a coin purse: "Little Mo, this is what a few of us families pooled together. It's not much, just twenty silver soul coins. Take it for your journey."

Su Mo quickly declined: "Uncle Li, I can't take this, I really can't..."

"Take it!" Uncle Li shoved the purse into his arms. "You've been running your book rental stall for years; my little brats have been going there every day. Did you ever charge them? Just consider this back-rent!"

Su Mo opened his mouth, unable to find the words.

The old village chief walked over, leaning tremblingly on his cane, and patted his shoulder: "Little Mo, you are a good child. Once you get to the city, study hard and cultivate well. When you make something of yourself in the future, don't forget to come back and visit."

Su Mo nodded firmly: "I will definitely come back."

Just then, a shrill voice came from behind the crowd.

"Oh, isn't this the Su family boy? 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, her mouth curled into a sneer.

Auntie Liu.

She was the village's notorious gossip, always eager to spread rumors. Back when Su Zhaowan had arrived in the village while pregnant, she had been the most enthusiastic about spreading talk. Later, when Su Mo ran his book rental stall, her children wanted to read but had no money; Su Mo let them read several books for free, yet she turned around and accused Su Mo of "corrupting children with novels," never once considering that the problem lay in her own parenting.

Su Mo looked at her without speaking.

Auntie Liu eyed him up and down with a sour expression: "Tsk tsk, innate full soul power, how impressive. But so what? Your martial soul is an old man—a trash martial soul. Once you get to Notting City, won't you be expelled and sent back within a month?"

The expressions of the villagers nearby shifted.

Mother Wang retorted directly: "Auntie Liu, what do you mean by that? Did Little Mo ever provoke you?"

Auntie Liu rolled her eyes: "I'm just saying, what's the problem? Can't a person even speak anymore?"

Old Jack frowned: "Liu, today is a joyous day for Little Mo. Keep your comments to yourself."

Auntie Liu let out a "humph" and said sarcastically: "Fine, fine, I won't say anything. Anyway, these days, just about anyone can go to Notting City. I'd just like to see if certain people can still be so high and mighty a year from now."