The moment the hammer struck the red-hot iron billet, the Sub-spore inside its handle pressed against the wood grain, recording every shift in the force Tang San put through his wrist.
The burly man had been watching with his arms folded, but after Tang San brought the hammer down several times in a row, the dismissive look on his face slowly faded.
"Kid, who taught you that?"
Tang San kept working. "My dad."
The burly man stepped closer. "What's your dad's name?"
Tang San turned the billet over, his tone unchanged. "Tang Hao."
The man thought for a moment. He couldn't recall anyone by that name in Notting City, so he let the matter drop.
"All right. Work half a day first. If you can turn out a piece that meets the standard, I'll pay you."
Tang San nodded. "Thank you, boss."
Ji Yuan had no interest in any of that.
As Tang San's meridians pulsed with each exertion, he compressed the Soul Beast's blood vitality he had swallowed last night near the Heart Meridian.
He already had two stable points of infestation there: one led to the source of the Clear Sky Hammer in Tang San's left hand, and the other to a meridian beside his waist.
Now he intended to split off another Spore.
Tang San's hammering grew steadier. The Mysterious Heaven Skill circulated within him, sending inner energy from his dantian through his arm and into his palm.
As soon as that route opened, Ji Yuan siphoned off a large portion of the energy and poured it into the Spore's core.
Tang San's chest tightened. His hammer landed a little off target, denting the edge of the billet.
The burly man frowned at once. "What happened? I praise you twice, and it goes straight to your head?"
Tang San stopped and wiped away his sweat. "I lost my rhythm for a moment. I'll do it again."
The man snorted. "A restless mind is a blacksmith's worst enemy. Strength means nothing if you can't keep your hand steady."
Tang San nodded. "I know."
Ji Yuan paid no attention to his discomfort.
The first Sub-spore had taken shape. Lighter than dust, it hid deep in the hammer handle, neither feeding nor moving. It looked no different from a speck of wood.
Hammer technique, strength—Tang San would bring both to him every day.
From now on, this hammer would be his ears.
At dusk, Tang San collected his wages, bought a few simple provisions, and returned to the academy.
In Dorm Seven, Xiao Wu sat on the edge of her bed, swinging her legs. The moment she saw him, she jumped down.
"Tang San, where did you go? Wang Sheng said you went into the city to earn money. Is that true?"
Tang San set a few Copper Soul Coins beside his pillow. "It's true."
Xiao Wu leaned in. "You can earn money when you're this little?"
Wang Sheng poked his head over. "Our boss can forge iron, too. I heard he left the smithy owner staring in disbelief."
Xiao Wu's eyes darted. "Does that mean you'll have money to buy tasty food?"
Tang San sighed. "I need to save it for Soul Hunting."
Xiao Wu's face fell. "That's no fun."
She picked up her wooden comb, sat back on her bed, and began combing her scorpion braid.
Hidden beneath the bed frame, Ji Yuan immediately fixed his attention on the comb.
A Spore was already attached to Xiao Wu's braid, but he couldn't leave it only on her hair forever.
Hair could be washed, replaced, or torn off.
He needed a more reliable way to reach her.
The comb touched Xiao Wu's hair every day and came close to the back of her neck. It was the perfect place.
Tang San put the provisions into the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridge. Xiao Wu peered at his belt. "What's that? It's so pretty."
Tang San explained, "A Soul Tool my teacher gave me. It can store things."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. "Can it hold carrots?"
Wang Sheng laughed beside her. "Sister Xiao Wu, why are you always thinking about food?"
Xiao Wu snatched up a pillow and hurled it at him. "Mind your own business!"
Watching them fool around, Tang San relaxed a little.
Ji Yuan only waited for the two of them to come close.
Xiao Wu chased Wang Sheng past Tang San's bed. Her scorpion braid swung behind her, and she set the comb down beside Tang San's bedding without a thought.
Tang San reached for the comb before it fell. "Careful. Your things are about to fall."
Xiao Wu looked back. "Hold it for me until I'm done beating up Wang Sheng."
The instant Tang San's fingertips touched the gaps between the comb's teeth, Ji Yuan sent the second Sub-spore flying.
Carried by the sweat on Tang San's fingertips, the Spore lodged at the base of a comb tooth and stilled every trace of its presence.
Tang San set the comb down securely. "Don't keep this up too long. I have to get up early tomorrow."
Xiao Wu stopped chasing Wang Sheng and turned to him. "What for?"
"Teacher said we're getting ready to go to the Soul Hunting Forest and find my First Soul Ring."
Dorm Seven grew much quieter.
Wang Sheng asked enviously, "Boss, you're going to become a Soul Master?"
Tang San gave a small nod. "I haven't succeeded yet."
Clutching her comb, Xiao Wu sat back on her bed. "The Soul Hunting Forest? I'd like to see it, too."
Tang San shook his head. "I don't think Teacher would agree."
Xiao Wu pouted. "Fine, I won't go. I'll go myself someday."
Ji Yuan sensed the Spore in the comb touch Xiao Wu's palm, and the aura of her hundred-thousand-year essence reached him again.
He forced himself not to feed, keeping only the mark in place.
He couldn't startle this rabbit yet.
Once Tang San returned from Soul Hunting, he would have plenty of chances.
That night, Tang San sat cross-legged and cultivated.
Hidden beneath the bed frame, Ji Yuan pressed all the energy he had gained over the past two days into his roots.
As the third Sub-spore began to form, a faint stabbing pain spread through Tang San's meridians.
Tang San stopped cultivating and pressed a hand to his chest with a frown. "Again."
Half asleep, Wang Sheng asked, "Boss, are you all right?"
Tang San shook his head. "I'm fine."
Xiao Wu rolled over. "Don't push yourself so hard. You can practice tomorrow."
"I want to grow stronger sooner," Tang San said softly.
In the darkness, Ji Yuan answered him coldly.
Yes. Keep going.
The first step toward growing stronger is feeding me.
After the third Sub-spore took shape, Ji Yuan did not use it immediately.
This one was for Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang controlled their route through the Soul Hunting Forest, knew the Soul Beasts, and planned Tang San's next moves.
Ji Yuan had to keep watch on this useful tool of his.
Early the next morning, Tang San went to Yu Xiaogang's office.
Yu Xiaogang had already packed. Insect-repellent powder, antidotes, rope, a short blade, and several packets of provisions lay on the table.
"Good timing. Put these in your Soul Tool."
Tang San did as he was told. "Teacher, are we leaving today?"
"First, we'll go to Spirit Hall for a permit to enter the Soul Hunting Forest. Then we'll buy more supplies. If all goes well, we'll enter the forest tomorrow morning."
"Is the Soul Hunting Forest dangerous?" Tang San asked.
Yu Xiaogang glanced at him. "Even its outskirts can kill someone without a Soul Ring."
Tang San nodded. "I'll be careful."
Yu Xiaogang picked up an outer robe and put it on, leaving one side of the collar turned up.
Ji Yuan had been waiting for that very movement.
Tang San stepped forward to help pack, and the back of his hand brushed Yu Xiaogang's collar.
The third Sub-spore followed the fabric into a seam of the collar and settled there quietly.
Yu Xiaogang noticed nothing. He looked down to check the medicine bottles. "Tang San, remember this: once we enter the forest, you follow my instructions. Don't try to show off."
"Yes, Teacher," Tang San replied.
Yu Xiaogang continued, "When we encounter a suitable Soul Beast, I'll judge its age. Your job will be to act. You must not hesitate."
Tang San slipped the short blade into his belt. "Understood."
Through the three Sub-spores, Ji Yuan sensed three places at once.
The blacksmith's hammer, the wooden comb, and Yu Xiaogang's collar.
Together with his main point of infestation inside Tang San and his own body beneath the bed frame, they meant he was no longer a blade of grass that could only lie there and be trampled.
A rough net had spread out.
But it was not enough.
Tang San was leaving Notting Academy for the Soul Hunting Forest. The distance would grow too great; Ji Yuan could not leave his body beneath the bed frame.
This time, he had to go with Tang San.
At noon, Yu Xiaogang took Tang San to Spirit Hall to complete the formalities.
The Spirit Hall's entrance hall was bright, with Soul Masters coming and going.
Ji Yuan suppressed his presence as far as he could, even stopping the energy he drew from inside Tang San.
The people here might not be strong, but they had tools for detecting Soul Power.
He could not take the risk.
After they finished the paperwork, Yu Xiaogang breathed a little easier. "We leave tomorrow morning. Rest well tonight."
"Teacher, will it be just the two of us?" Tang San asked.
"There are Spirit Hall patrols along the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest. Before we venture farther in, I'll steer clear of the most dangerous areas."
Tang San asked no more questions.
On the way back to the academy, he stopped by the smithy to say he would not be coming to work.
When the burly man saw him, he tossed him a Copper Soul Coin. "That piece you made yesterday was good. You're not coming tomorrow?"
"I'm going to the Soul Hunting Forest," Tang San said.
The man looked him over. "Hunting Souls at your age? Don't get yourself killed."
Tang San took the money. "I won't."
Ji Yuan left the Spore in the hammer's wooden handle behind.
It would keep watch over that connection for him.
That night, the lights went out in Dorm Seven.
Tang San packed his Soul Hunting gear, set his shoes under the bed, and placed his belt beside his pillow.
Ji Yuan began to move.
His body shrank within the gap in the bed frame. One by one, he pulled his roots free of the wood. Pain drew his consciousness taut, but he did not stop.
His Blue Silver Grass leaves curled into the shape of a dry wooden splinter, their dark red markings pressed deep inside.
He slipped down the bed leg and crept through the shadows toward Tang San's shoes.
Xiao Wu slept nearby, her scorpion braid hanging over the edge of her bed, her comb beside her pillow.
As Ji Yuan passed her bed, the Sub-spore in the comb carried the rich aura of her essence to him.
He paused, but still did not feed.
Soul Hunting first.
Once I complete my first true evolution, this rabbit will make an even better long-term source of blood.
Ji Yuan burrowed into a layer of Tang San's sole. His roots sank into the old cloth and leather, disguising his body as a hard, dry piece of wood.
Tang San rolled over in the middle of the night. His toes touched the shoe, but he did not wake.
Deep inside the sole, Ji Yuan felt the flow of inner energy relayed by the Spore within Tang San and tightened his roots in satisfaction.
Early the next morning, Tang San put on his shoes and stamped on the floor.
"Why do these feel a little stiff?"
Wang Sheng rubbed his eyes. "Old shoes get like that, Boss. Once you get your Soul Master stipend, buy a new pair."
Tang San thought that made sense and paid it no more mind.
Xiao Wu sat up with a yawn. "Tang San, come back soon. Don't let a Soul Beast eat you."
Tang San smiled. "I won't."
Yu Xiaogang was already waiting outside the dormitory.
"Let's go."
Tang San shouldered his pack and followed Yu Xiaogang.
Hidden inside the sole, Ji Yuan let every footfall shake him as he reached out through all three Sub-spores.
The academy gates closed behind them, and the streets of Notting City gradually fell away.
At the Soul Hunting Forest, Yu Xiaogang showed their permit. The iron gate slowly opened, and the damp smells of earth and blood rushed out to meet them.
Deep within the sole, Ji Yuan's uncanny roots unfurled without a sound.
They had reached a place to feed.
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