You Have Courted Death!

The next day, Old Jack returned to the blacksmith's shop, his face clouded with worry.

He had run through several nearby villages and worn his tongue raw, but the result was disappointing.

Work-study student slots were already scarce, and no village was willing to give up one so easily.

After all, a work-study student slot could save several hundred Gold Soul Coins. Even if no one in the village had awakened Soul Power, they would rather sell the slot.

Old Jack looked at the blacksmith's shop, still permeated with the smell of alcohol, and the two well-behaved children standing quietly to one side with clear eyes.

Dissatisfaction rose in his heart. Gritting his teeth, he said to Tang Hao, "Tang Hao, look, there really isn't a second work-study student slot to spare. How about... how about you find work in the city? A blacksmith's trade can always put food on the table. Earn some money and prioritize the children's schooling. Otherwise, let one child attend first. Xian Di's Martial Soul isn't a useless one, after all, so let her go first? Let Tang San wait a year and use next year's work-study student slot."

Before Old Jack could finish, Tang Hao cut him off with an impatient snort.

Tang Hao glanced sideways at Old Jack, his face carrying an inexplicable arrogance.

"Enough, Old Jack. You don't need to worry about my children. I have my own plans for their schooling, and the money is none of your concern either."

Old Jack choked on his words. Seeing Tang Hao acting like some rich old master, he was so angry that his beard nearly stood on end. He cursed inwardly, You poor drunkard, what can you do besides forge iron and drink? Who are you trying to impress?

But Old Jack could not say anything more. He could only sigh, shake his head, and leave.

He made up his mind that when school began, he would personally take the two children to the academy and see exactly what Tang Hao's "own plans" were!

After Old Jack left, Cinderella blinked her sapphire-blue eyes and spoke at just the right moment, her voice carrying a fitting measure of innocence and concern. "Dad, Tang San and I both have Innate Full Soul Power. I heard the village elders say that we can directly obtain Soul Rings and become Soul Masters, then receive Spirit Hall subsidies. So how do we obtain Soul Rings? I heard we need to hunt Soul Beasts."

Cinderella's question had clearly struck Tang Hao's blind spot. Born into the Clear Sky Sect, the greatest sect under heaven, he had been a favored genius from childhood. His Soul Ring combinations had all been the best plans thoroughly researched by the sect, and elders had simply taken him to hunt the needed Soul Beasts. When had he ever needed to worry about theory or knowledge himself?

Academic classes? What were those? Could they make a hammer heavier?

Caught off guard by Cinderella's question, Tang Hao could not keep up appearances. He could only wave his hand vaguely and say impatiently, "What's the rush? Go to school first, and the teachers will naturally teach you! All right, stop bothering me!"

After saying that, as though trying to hide his embarrassment, he grabbed the wine flask from the table and hurried back into his room, leaving the siblings staring at each other.

Seeing Tang Hao's impatience toward Cinderella, Tang San immediately felt a surge of dissatisfaction. Old bastard, how dare you treat Sister like that!

Cinderella watched Tang Hao's disappearing back and sighed soundlessly.

She knew she could not count on Tang Hao. She would still have to rely on herself and her future useful pawns for knowledge about Soul Rings and Soul Beasts.

Some time later, the day Notting Junior Soul Master Academy began its term arrived.

Old Jack came to the blacksmith's shop early. He wanted to see how Tang Hao would solve the tuition problem.

To his utter astonishment, Tang Hao actually pulled out... two money pouches filled with Gold Soul Coins from beneath that filthy bed.

They looked substantial enough to cover Tang San and Cinderella's six years of tuition at Notting Academy, with plenty left over.

Old Jack's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Pointing at the money pouches, his lips trembled. "Tang Hao... this money...?"

His first thought was whether Tang Hao had done something illegal.

Tang Hao snorted, his face carrying a haughty disdain for explaining himself. "Family savings passed down from my ancestors. Is that not allowed?"

Naturally, he would not tell Old Jack that as one of the Clear Sky Sect's most outstanding former disciples, and the youngest Title Douluo, the Gold Soul Coins in his spatial Soul tool were enough to buy an entire street in any major city.

Previously, he had simply been drowning in grief and could not be bothered with such worldly things.

Now that the children needed them, he naturally could provide them.

However, at the last moment, Tang Hao hesitated. In the end, he only stuffed one money pouch into Old Jack's hands and pointed at Tang San.

"The work-study student slot should still go to Tang San."

Tang Hao could not help but remain cautious. If a destitute blacksmith suddenly produced a huge sum of money to send two children to school, it would attract too much attention.

It was slightly more reasonable for Tang San, who appeared less gifted, to become a work-study student. It would also better conceal the secret of the Clear Sky Hammer.

As for Cinderella, attending on full tuition would also draw attention. But a beautiful girl possessing a decent-quality Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power could barely be explained by saying that some important figure had taken a liking to her and secretly sponsored her.

Old Jack looked at the money pouch in his hand, then at the other pouch Tang Hao had taken back, as well as Tang Hao's unquestionable expression. In the end, he swallowed all his doubts.

As long as there was money, it was fine!

Now that both children could attend school, Old Jack did not care about anything else. Happily, he took Tang San and Cinderella by the hand and set off for Notting City.

Tang Hao stood at the entrance of the blacksmith's shop, watching the children's retreating backs. A trace of complicated emotion flashed through his clouded eyes, only to be covered by the heavy grief and alcohol haze in his heart moments later.

The gates of Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy looked grand and imposing compared with the rundown Holy Soul Village.

But before Old Jack and the others could admire them for long, a discordant voice shattered the moment.

"Stop! What are you doing here? Is this a place country bumpkins like you can come?"

A slightly plump gatekeeper in the academy's uniform, his eyes arrogant, blocked the travel-worn Old Jack, Cinderella, and the others.

The gatekeeper's gaze swept over Old Jack's faded old clothes and the obvious patches on Tang San's clothing. Disgust and contempt were written openly across his face.

But when his gaze fell upon Cinderella at the side, that disgust instantly turned into amazement and a faint, barely perceptible lewdness.

Golden hair, blue eyes, skin fair as snow—though she was plainly dressed, her exquisite features and unique bearing made her look like a little figure stepping out of a painting!

How could such a lovely girl grow up in this poor backwater?

Tang San's senses were extremely sharp. He noticed the gatekeeper's gaze toward Cinderella almost instantly.

A cold rage surged into Tang San's mind, and the Mysterious Heaven Skill within him began to circulate.

This damned thing actually dared look at Sister with those eyes. You have courted death!