"Ah, there are still plenty of shortcomings. My experience is nowhere near good enough."
Qin Qi shook his head. The Transparent World talent really was incredible—it had directly raised his Observation realm by a great deal.
But talent was talent. It only let him go farther and faster. He still had to walk the road himself.
If Tang Jiaren hadn't told him to kill a running pig just now, then even with the Transparent World, he wouldn't have been able to predict an enemy's movements by reading their muscles.
And if Tang Jiaren hadn't sparred with him and taught him the techniques of Observation of Heart, he never would have thought that a person's emotions could be observed, too.
These techniques might not be able to directly hurt an enemy, but Qin Qi had learned them—and in a fight, he would always be able to seize the initiative!
"It's all right. You're still young. You have plenty of time to learn."
Tang Jiaren patted Qin Qi on the shoulder with a look of satisfaction.
[ Ding! Private tutor 'Tang Jiaren's' approval has increased to 60%. ]
[ Ding! Learned Tang Sect · Observation. Reward: 2 achievement points and 200 credits. ]
[ Ding! Tang Sect · Observation proficiency has increased significantly. Reward: 100 credits. ]
[ Ding! Practical experience increased. Reward: 100 credits. ]
Listening to the notifications in his mind, Qin Qi smiled. This time, he'd spent a lot of credits and energy.
But he'd gained plenty, too. Learning really was a delightful thing.
"Granduncle, there's something I've been hiding from you. I think it's time to tell you."
Qin Qi's expression suddenly turned serious. He was going to tell Tang Jiaren a secret he'd kept hidden for a long time.
"No need to say more. I know already. You've probably arrived somewhere completely different from the world we live in, right?"
"I've already figured that much out."
Tang Jiaren waved a hand. He didn't know about transmigration or anything like that, but in ancient literature,
there were stories about dreaming of a life in the mortal world, ascending to heaven in broad daylight, or stumbling upon a hidden paradise.
"No, that's not what I meant."
Qin Qi froze. It seemed Tang Jiaren had misunderstood him.
"Come now, your granduncle isn't some old stick-in-the-mud. Back when the knowledge of foreign devils first came over here,"
"your granduncle was quick to learn about it. I even met some foreigners. I also know they have some sort of magic academy called Hogwarts over there."
Tang Jiaren waved his hand, then pointed at the old-fashioned suit he was wearing. He was an old man who kept up with the times.
"No, Granduncle. That's not what I mean. I mean this—Dan Shi."
Watching Tang Jiaren launch into stories of the past, Qin Qi sighed and lifted a hand, condensing a Dan Shi.
"Dan Shi?!"
Tang Jiaren stared at Qin Qi for a long time, then stared at his palm. At last, a deeply puzzled expression crossed his face.
"What a sin!"
After examining it for a long while, Tang Jiaren finally spotted the traces. His face filled with regret.
"You're so young, and you've already started learning this stuff. What a sin!"
Tang Jiaren pounded his leg in anguish. Listening to Qin Qi's explanation, he'd thought the Tang Sect was living well these days.
But now it seemed that wasn't the case. A child so young was already learning Dan Shi. It was a gamble with his life!
"No, Granduncle, just listen to me. Stop interrupting! Be quiet and hear me out!"
Qin Qi couldn't take it anymore. He cut Tang Jiaren off and began explaining what had happened.
He told him about Martial Souls and Douluo Continent, and how he'd awakened Dan Shi right away.
"W-That's all it takes?!"
"Ah, if only the other children in the Tang Sect could do it this way, too. Then no one would have to die!"
After hearing Qin Qi's story, Tang Jiaren's first thought was how wonderful it would be if the others in the Tang Sect could learn the same way.
Then no one would have to risk their lives to learn Dan Shi.
"Yeah. It's a pity I don't know if I can go back."
Qin Qi sat beside Tang Jiaren. He was starting to miss home. Unlike Tang San, an orphan hunted by the Tang Sect,
he had a family back in the Tang Sect: a dad, a mom, grandparents, uncles, and aunts.
There were problems within the sect, but everyone was still like family, and the atmosphere was warm.
"Don't worry. Your granduncle is here with you. If you run into trouble, tell me, and we'll figure something out together."
Tang Jiaren patted Qin Qi on the shoulder again. Now it was just the two of them, relying on each other for survival.
"Mm, relying on each other. Granduncle, you'll be the one to see me through to the end!"
Qin Qi said solemnly.
"Sure, I'll see you... What do you mean, I'll see you through to the end? You're supposed to see me through to the end!"
Tang Jiaren had been quite moved, but then realized something was wrong. He was a seventy-three-year-old man, and he was supposed to see Qin Qi through to the end?
This kid sure had some nerve!
"Granduncle, you're already dead. Dead people can't die again, so you're the only one who can see me through to the end."
Qin Qi folded his arms and gave him an honest, simple smile.
"Get out of here. And that smile of yours isn't the least bit attractive. You look like a bad guy."
Tang Jiaren kicked Qin Qi to the side, then scratched his head with an honest smile on his face.
"Right. You're much better at looking honest."
Qin Qi replied.
The next morning, Qin Qi got up as usual and went to class. After class, he went to the cafeteria to eat.
Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Wang Sheng were still sitting at the same table. Qin Qi bought his food upstairs and brought it down to eat, too.
"Qin Qi, is it good?"
Xiao Wu sat beside Qin Qi, watching his food with bright, watery eyes as she asked.
"It's good."
Qin Qi nodded.
"Is it really good?"
Xiao Wu leaned a little closer to Qin Qi, her eyes growing even wider as she asked again.
"Back away from my food. You're about to drool all over it."
Qin Qi lifted his tray and moved it farther away. He knew exactly what Xiao Wu was thinking.
But no way! He absolutely wasn't giving her any of his food!
"You! I'm Sister Xiao Wu! I'm the boss!"
Xiao Wu puffed out her cheeks in anger, stamped her foot, and retorted.
"Hmm... How about this? When I have money, I'll treat you to carrots upstairs!"
Looking at Xiao Wu, Qin Qi remembered how she'd treated him to a meal before. He fell silent for a moment, then made a solemn decision.
"Really? Great! When will you have money?"
Xiao Wu asked innocently.
"When I have money, I'll let you know. Just wait for now."
Qin Qi replied.
As the two of them talked, Grandmaster came over and put two chicken legs on Tang San's plate.
"You're still growing. Eat more."
After saying that, Grandmaster left.
"Uh..."
Wang Sheng opened his mouth, but then looked at Tang San and swallowed the words he'd been about to say.
"Fatty, if you've got something to say, just say it. Why are you hemming and hawing?"
Xiao Wu noticed that Wang Sheng was acting strangely. "Did someone bully you? Tell me, and I'll stand up for you!"
"N-No..."
As Wang Sheng spoke, his eyes kept darting toward Tang San. Even Xiao Wu could tell that Wang Sheng was holding back because of Tang San.
"Well, I'll go eat over there."
Tang San picked up his tray and went to a table farther away, deliberately turning his back to everyone.
"Phew. It's about Grandmaster. I heard another rumor recently."
Once Tang San had left, Wang Sheng leaned over to Qin Qi and Xiao Wu and lowered his voice to share the gossip.