"Teacher, are you all right?"
Tang San, still caught up in his excitement, suddenly noticed the dazed Grandmaster out of the corner of his eye. He quickly collected himself and asked with concern.
Only when he heard his disciple's voice did Grandmaster come back to himself. He raised a hand to show that he was fine, then looked at Xu Bai and said with a sigh:
"I've spent more than forty years immersed in the study of Martial Souls. I thought no one could surpass me in Martial Soul Theory, but now I see how naive I was. The world was right to mock me by calling me 'Grandmaster.'
"Learning has no end, and knowledge is as boundless as the sea. If Young Friend Xu hadn't told me today, I wouldn't have known that I'd nearly harmed Xiao San. This kindness is like giving me a new life. Please allow me to bow to you."
As he spoke, he began to clasp his hands and bow.
"It was only a small favor. There's no need."
Xu Bai raised a hand to help him up, barely managing to support Grandmaster.
Thankfully, people on the Douluo Continent matured quickly. If he'd had the height of a ten-year-old from his previous life, he probably would've had to stretch his arms just to catch Grandmaster's hands as he bowed.
"To Brother Xu, it was only a small favor. But to me, it changed my fate. I'll always remember this kindness, and if I ever get the chance, I'll repay you no matter what."
After hearing his teacher's words, Tang San understood as well. Gratitude filled his eyes as he looked at Xu Bai.
Xu Bai chuckled and patted Tang San on the shoulder, giving his carefully cultivated image one last touch:
"Sure. If you really want to repay me, then when you grow strong, remember to do good and never do evil. I don't want a child I helped to grow up into a thoroughly wicked person."
"Is that all?"
A flicker of bewilderment passed through Tang San's eyes. He thought again of the man from his previous life who had spoken to him of chivalry.
"Don't worry, Brother Xu. I will!"
His gaze firm, he nodded heavily.
Really? I hope you do what you say.
Xu Bai grumbled inwardly, then looked toward Grandmaster and said:
"I don't know much about the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul. I only know that the Blue Silver Emperor, as a spirit beast, has a strong affinity for life. When you help Xiao San obtain a Soul Ring, you could take that into consideration. Perhaps it might even awaken his Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline early."
"I will. Thank you for telling me, Young Friend." Grandmaster nodded. After a moment's thought, he took a token from inside his robes and hesitantly held it out.
"This is an Identity Token from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. If you run into trouble in the future, you can take it to the forces under the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's command.
"If they ask about me, just tell them the truth. That might help you out of a tight spot."
"Oh?"
Xu Bai looked surprised, and this time he wasn't pretending.
He naturally knew Grandmaster's identity, but he hadn't expected him to give the Identity Token to him.
After all, whether in the manga, the novel, or the anime, Grandmaster had always been proud—or, rather, he'd cared deeply about his reputation.
When he'd left home, he must have sworn something along the lines of not returning until he'd made something of himself. Yet now he'd chosen to repay Xu Bai this way.
It had to be the manga version of Grandmaster. If this had been the selfish Grandmaster from the novel,
then forget repaying Xu Bai by lowering himself before his clan. If he remembered this matter two or three days later, that alone would've counted as a display of benevolence.
"You needn't be surprised, Young Friend. I'm a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
Grandmaster spoke calmly, then gave a bitter smile. "Although I left the clan a long time ago, my identity as the clan leader's son still carries some weight."
"Teacher..." Tang San pressed his lips together slightly, remembering the first time he'd met his teacher. Grandmaster had seemed calm while they talked, but Tang San could still sense the faint despondency that radiated from him.
His teacher usually seemed calm, but he must have been suffering inside...
That was what Tang San thought.
Xu Bai had no idea what Tang San was imagining. He looked at the Identity Token Grandmaster had offered, considered it for a moment, then reached out and took it.
"Thanks. I might really need to ask for help someday."
Compared with the Grandmaster from the novel, the manga version had not only earned his title through genuine ability, but seemed to have no major flaws in his character—aside from being a bastard when it came to romance.
Since Grandmaster was willing to befriend him, Xu Bai had no reason to refuse.
Besides, the threat from his Second Uncle hadn't been completely dealt with yet. Having this token would give him another layer of protection.
Grandmaster nodded, then his thoughts began to stir. He remembered Xu Bai's Martial Soul: a space...
Such a Martial Soul might have existed in history, but this was the first time he'd ever seen one.
For a scholar, the unknown was often the most fascinating thing of all.
But Xu Bai clearly had no interest in discussing Martial Souls with him.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
As he spoke, he grabbed First's fur and swung himself onto the tiger in one smooth motion, leaving Grandmaster no chance to ask him to stay.
Seeing this, Grandmaster, though eager to study Xu Bai's Martial Soul, could only nod helplessly. "Safe travels, Young Friend. If you have some free time in the future, please come visit me at Notting Academy. I'll be sure to welcome you properly and repay you for saving my life."
"I'll come by if I get the chance."
Xu Bai replied, patting First.
First understood. He sprang into the air and, after a few leaps, disappeared from sight.
Watching Xu Bai leave, Tang San murmured to himself, "Will he really come? I hope so..."
At the spot in the Soul Hunting Forest where the four-hundred-year-old Datura Snake had first hidden.
First controlled the enormous Metal Flying Blade and sliced off a section of Vine Snake Flower, then looked at Xu Bai. 'Beast Tamer, why are we taking these plants? They can't be eaten, and they don't even taste good...'
Well, he'd just tried the thing he'd been thinking about so eagerly. It was bitter and astringent, completely different from the taste he'd imagined.
"You're still young. It's better if you don't know too much. There's a good reason I'm gathering Vine Snake Flowers, and it's an important one."
Xu Bai's eyes flickered as he thought to himself... He was gathering Vine Snake Flowers to throw others off the scent.
As he'd said before, Tang Hao was only down in the dumps, not actually useless. And he wasn't stupid, either.
If someone like him, who clearly wasn't there to obtain a Soul Ring, entered the Soul Hunting Forest, wouldn't that be as good as shoving the words "I'm suspicious" right in front of Tang Hao?
So he needed to come up with a reason for being there: gathering Vine Snake Flowers.
Vine Snake Flowers weren't as useless as ordinary Blue Silver Grass. Their pollen and sap were rare medicinal ingredients.
If he hadn't spent all this time studying so diligently, he wouldn't have thought the things had any medicinal value at all.
After spending the afternoon gathering Vine Snake Flowers, Xu Bai saw that the sky was growing dark and figured he'd played his part long enough. He decided it was time to head back.
First was overjoyed. He immediately took off at a gallop and soon vanished from the spot with Xu Bai on his back.
After the two had left, a burly, middle-aged man in a gray cloak appeared.
He looked in the direction Xu Bai had gone and murmured, "Looks like the kid's no threat. I was just overthinking it..."
With that, his figure flickered and vanished from the spot once more.