Su Mo lifted his eyelids and checked his pulse.
Martial Soul Mutation. Evil Fire out of control.
Just like the original story said.
He stood up and explained to everyone, "The flaw of a Martial Soul Mutation is an Evil Fire outbreak. Leaving QQ aside, he should be fine once he wakes up."
Xiao Wu nodded, seeming to understand.
Tang San finally came to his senses and continued absorbing the Soul Ring.
Big Black Ox silently moved a little farther away, keeping his distance from Xiao Wu, but still resolutely stood guard over Tang San.
Su Mo took a rope from his bundle and tied Ma Hongjun up.
Just in case.
Then he went over to Tang San and stood guard over him too.
Tang San's Soul Ring absorption was not going smoothly.
A seven-hundred-and-forty-six-year-old Soul Ring really was too much for a first Soul Ring.
His brows knitted tightly, veins bulging across his forehead as his body began to tremble.
His Soul Power surged wildly, growing strong and weak in turns. Several times, it nearly went out of control.
Su Mo kept his eyes fixed on him.
Seeing this, he immediately opened the medicines and poured them into Tang San's mouth, one bottle after another.
Soul-Stabilizing Paste, to steady his Soul Power and prevent the Soul Ring's strength from bursting through his meridians.
Pulse-Restoring Powder, to repair the damage to his meridians.
Heart-Protecting Pill, to shield his heart meridian as a safeguard.
One bottle after another, without the slightest stinginess.
Tang San's body trembled violently, pain etched across his face.
But he clenched his teeth and didn't make a sound.
Su Mo kept one hand pressed against the back of his heart, ready to intervene at any moment.
Time passed second by second.
At last, Tang San's trembling gradually subsided.
The Soul Ring had completely fused with his body.
He had succeeded.
Su Mo let out a breath of relief and withdrew his hand.
He still had a few things tucked away in his robes—a protective talisman, a life-saving pill, and a secret medicine capable of drawing out one's potential.
They were all part of his plan B.
If that still wasn't enough, he would step in himself. Even if he had to interrupt the absorption, he wouldn't let anything happen to Tang San.
Fortunately, none of it was needed.
This disciple might be chuunibyou, but once he'd taken him in, he had to take responsibility.
Unlike a certain Grandmaster, who didn't care if his disciples lived or died so long as he could pursue his research.
Tang San slowly opened his eyes and took a moment to feel things out.
His Blue Silver Grass had changed.
The leaves, once soft and fragile, now gleamed with a faint, cold light. Bamboo-like nodes had appeared along their surfaces, and their edges were as sharp as blades.
He focused his thoughts—
The Blue Silver Grass hardened, extended, and took shape in an instant.
It became a sword.
First Soul Skill: Blue Silver Sword Intent!
The Blue Silver Sword was green from hilt to tip, its blade long and slender, its edge shining with a cold light.
Tang San gripped it in his hand, feeling the fierce Sword Intent. His eyes grew a little hot.
He rose to his feet.
He took a deep breath.
Then raised his sword to the sky.
"I have a sword that can cleave—"
Thwack!
A sharp smack landed squarely on the back of his head.
Tang San clutched his head and turned around with tears in his eyes. "Master! Why did you hit me?!"
Su Mo lowered his hand, his face expressionless. "Quit showing off. Finish up and come eat."
Tang San protested, "Master, I finally had a breakthrough..."
Xiao Wu clapped from the side. "That was loud! Do it again!"
Tang San glared at her.
Su Mo turned and walked toward the campfire. "You've had your breakthrough. A sword is for cutting people, not showing off."
Tang San looked down at the sword in his hand and muttered, "Can't I show off a little before cutting someone...?"
Without looking back, Su Mo said, "Sure. Show off after you've cut them."
Tang San froze.
Show off after cutting them?
If the person was already dead, what was the point of showing off?
He hurried after Su Mo, trying to persuade him. "Master, don't you think reciting a line before you strike makes it much more impressive?"
Su Mo stopped and turned to look at him.
"While you're reciting your line, I'll rush over and stab you."
Tang San's neck shrank back.
Su Mo continued, "You won't get to recite the next line for the rest of your life."
Tang San fell silent.
He pictured it carefully—
There he was, sword raised, full of spirit, shouting, "I have a sword that can cleave—"
Then someone rushed out from the side and went shnk with a blade.
Before he could finish, he was gone.
Actually...
That would be pretty awkward.
Tang San suddenly understood and nodded vigorously. "Master is right! I'll remember!"
Su Mo nodded in satisfaction and continued walking.
Tang San followed behind, still muttering, "What if I set up a trap beforehand and make sure everything's safe before I recite it...?"
Su Mo: "..."
Xiao Wu skipped after them and asked curiously, "Junior Brother, what was that line you were saying? Say it again!"
Tang San perked up. "I have a sword that can cleave—"
Thwack!
This time, it wasn't Su Mo.
It was Xiao Wu.
Imitating Su Mo, she smacked Tang San on the back of the head, then ran off with a giggle.
Tang San clutched his head, close to tears.
Big Black Ox ambled past and glanced at him.
"Moo."
Tang San actually seemed to understand.
(That line you just said—wasn't that Su Mo's?)
Tang San: "..."
He suddenly felt that this group wasn't very friendly toward him.
Night had fallen.
The campfire crackled, sparks flying up into the night sky.
Su Mo leaned against a tree trunk with his eyes closed, resting. Tang San sat cross-legged a short distance away, still savoring the feeling of absorbing the Soul Ring that day. Xiao Wu was curled up in a ball, sleeping soundly, a little drool still hanging from the corner of her mouth.
Big Black Ox lay beside the fire, occasionally flicking its tail, half asleep.
In the corner, Ma Hongjun was tied up like a dumpling and tossed aside.
He was awake.
He had woken up an hour earlier.
But he didn't dare move.
His lower body still ached faintly, and that crack seemed to echo in his ears. Even the slightest movement made a certain part of him throb with pain.
He sucked in a sharp breath.
But he really couldn't hold it in any longer.
The ropes were too tight. His hands had gone numb.
Ma Hongjun struggled to twist his body, trying to shift into a more comfortable position.
"Creeeak—"
The rope rubbed together with a faint sound.
He froze and furtively glanced toward the campfire.
A pair of eyes stared right at him.
Su Mo.
In the moonlight, the six-year-old's face showed little expression, but his eyes held a warning: You'd better behave.
Ma Hongjun's hair stood on end.
"Um... I... I need to use the bathroom..."
Su Mo watched him for two seconds, then got up and walked over.
He untied him.
Then he said, "Move around again and I'll feed you to the cow."
Big Black Ox opened its eyes and gave Su Mo a reproachful look.
"Moo." (What do you take me for?)
Ma Hongjun nodded repeatedly and hurried toward the woods with his legs pressed together.
After taking care of business, Ma Hongjun didn't go back.
He walked to the riverbank and found a rock to sit on.
Moonlight spilled across the water, its surface shimmering.
He lowered his head and stared at his hands.
The events of the day flashed through his mind one after another.
The Sword Bamboo King chasing him around until he tumbled across the ground.
The two-meter-tall giant wielding a child like a sword.
The braided girl kicking him...
His lower body gave another dull twinge.
Ma Hongjun sniffed.
He didn't know why he was sitting here.
He just didn't want to go back.
He didn't want to face those people.
He didn't want them looking at him like that.
Even though they hadn't really looked at him in any particular way, he still didn't want to.
Footsteps sounded behind him.
Ma Hongjun turned around.
Su Mo came over and sat down beside him.