"Not bad."
"Kid, seeing as you're loyal and righteous, and fairly sensible, I, ahem, the senior sister of Immortal Mountain, will give you Immortal Mountain's token."
Tang San gritted his teeth and decided to honor the agreement, staying behind at Immortal Mountain to 'guard the house and courtyard.'
Yu Xiaogang was nearly angered into passing out.
Flender and Zhao Wuji could only help Yu Xiaogang back to Shrek Academy to recuperate.
Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and the others could only leave resentfully as well.
In the end, only Xiao Wu remained standing beneath Immortal Mountain with Tang San, looking somewhat dejected.
Only then did Ning Rongrong stroll down the mountain at an unhurried pace.
Half a Flute Bone hung from her finger. Standing at a high point, she tossed it to Tang San.
Then Ning Rongrong cleared her throat and solemnly said:
"By Teacher's order, Tang San, honor the agreement. From now on, you are Immortal Mountain's gate guard. You will be responsible for maintaining and guarding the Trait Entry Detection Platform every day, as well as patrolling the area below the mountain for anything unusual. If you perform well, you may also ask Teacher for cultivation guidance."
"Little Sanzi, understand?"
Tang San caught the half Flute Bone and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly:
"Tang San understands."
"You're Xiao Wu, right? You look pretty decent. Are you and Tang San a couple?"
Having completed the task her teacher had assigned her, Ning Rongrong could not help looking at the girl who had remained by Tang San's side.
Given how Tang San had risked his life chasing the Titan Giant Ape, the king of the forest, in Star Dou Forest to save someone, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had developed a somewhat favorable impression of Tang San and Xiao Wu. They did not dislike them as much anymore.
Both were at the age when love first began to bloom, so they were rather interested in romance.
Xiao Wu's face reddened slightly.
"Don't talk nonsense."
"You've misunderstood. Xiao Wu and I are siblings."
Tang San answered at that moment.
"Huh? Just siblings?"
Hearing that, Ning Rongrong was a little disappointed.
"I thought you were a couple. I was even thinking of having Xiao Wu test her Trait Entries too, to see whether she could pass the Apprenticeship Standard."
"Why does she have to be a couple? Can't I test my Trait Entries just because we're siblings?"
Xiao Wu put her hands on her hips, looking displeased.
"That's not it. It's just that if you aren't a couple, I wouldn't recommend becoming an apprentice. After all, my teacher is so handsome and has such an enchanting presence. What if—just what if—you pass the apprenticeship assessment and become my junior sister, but don't have willpower as firm as mine? What if Teacher charms you and gives you improper thoughts?"
"You should know that teacher-student romances are frowned upon!"
Ning Rongrong tried to brainwash Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu curled her lips and said:
"Is he really that charming? I've heard that Immortal is extraordinarily refined, but my Third Brother isn't bad either. He's pure and noble. Besides, I'm not like those shallow women who only care about looks. I won't compete with you for Teacher, so don't worry."
Although Xiao Wu was rather curious about this Immortal Su and somewhat admired Immortal's teaching, she thought about it. No matter how good-looking someone was, how good-looking could he really be?
Those gaudily dressed women in Suotuo City thought Dai Mubai, that philandering radish, was rather handsome too, but Xiao Wu thought he was just average.
She did not care about appearances!
"Oh, you really are different. No wonder Little Sanzi was willing to risk his life to find you."
"Let's hope you really are as pure and noble as you claim. Work hard, Little Sanzi. If you do well, even if Teacher doesn't reward you with anything, I'll give you something good."
After saying that, Ning Rongrong returned to Immortal Residence.
Zhu Zhuqing also leaped into the air and ran into Red Maple Forest, where she began practicing her third soul skill and the Eight Spider Lances.
At the foot of the mountain.
Looking at the arrogant senior sister and the cold-faced catgirl of Immortal Mountain, Xiao Wu felt rather irritated and muttered:
"Third Brother, is Immortal Mountain really that great? You've always respected Grandmaster, but this time you actually spoke to him like that. You even seemed to want to sever your master-disciple relationship with him. Where will you stay tonight? Can we still return to Shrek Academy?"
At the mention of that, Tang San could not help sighing.
In truth, even after learning that Grandmaster's theories were not entirely correct, he still respected him deeply.
After all, Grandmaster had once helped him out of a difficult situation. When he was still growing, Grandmaster had given him chicken legs to eat and offered him a rare bit of warmth.
But he had already told Grandmaster that Immortal Su was the benefactor of both him and Xiao Wu, and it was obvious that Immortal Su's teaching was better than his.
Yet Grandmaster insisted on competing with him and even believed he was doing it for Tang San's benefit. Tang San found that difficult to accept.
Grandmaster clearly knew he had a better choice, yet he would not consider it for Tang San's sake!
"Grandmaster guided us onto the path of Soul Masters, and I'm very grateful. However, he is no longer suited to guide our cultivation."
"We may not be able to return to Shrek Academy. If you go back alone, Xiao Wu, I'm afraid Mubai and Fatty will treat you with hostility as well."
"How about it... Xiao Wu, you test your Trait Entries too. If you can activate three Supreme-Grade Trait Entries, perhaps you can become Immortal Su's disciple. That should be better than staying at Shrek Academy."
Tang San offered Xiao Wu a suggestion.
"What about you, Third Brother? Will you test these Trait Entries too?"
Xiao Wu asked.
Tang San shook his head.
"I'm Immortal Mountain's gate guard now. Can I still become an apprentice?"
"I'll just put together a makeshift shelter beneath Immortal Mountain tonight and get some rest. I'm a blacksmith. Building a crude little house bit by bit tomorrow won't be a problem."
"Xiao Wu, go stay at an inn in Suotuo City first."
"No. If you won't test, Third Brother, then I won't either. I'll stay here and be a guard with you."
As she spoke, Xiao Wu leaped onto a nearby red maple tree and sat on a branch, swinging her slender legs in white stockings.
She was not stupid.
This Trait Entry Detection Platform was far too mysterious. It could easily test a Soul Master's character, the quality of their Martial Soul, and even some things they had done.
If she tested herself and it revealed a [Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Transformation] Trait Entry, what then?
Wouldn't her identity be completely exposed?
"I've actually been sick of those people at Shrek for a long time. That damn Fatty and Dai Mubai had their eyes on me from the beginning, staring at me lecherously. If our strength hadn't been on par with theirs, who knew how much mistreatment we would have suffered."
"Things are better now. Although you have to stay here and guard the gate, Third Brother, at least we're free."
Xiao Wu breathed in the air of Immortal Mountain and felt utterly refreshed. This place was blessed with spiritual beauty. Simply staying here was more comfortable than being at Shrek!
Seeing this, Tang San smiled faintly. Ever since his father had left, Xiao Wu had been his only family. Having someone by his side felt wonderful.
"Pfft~"
"Xiao San, Dad is useless. I couldn't get back your contract of sale."
"I can only let you suffer here as a gatekeeper."
"Ah Yin, I've failed our child~"
In the shadows, a man covered in sword wounds and grievously injured had crawled back from the gates of death in Star Dou Forest. He looked like a beggar as he watched Tang San guard Immortal Mountain's gate below the mountain, tears streaming down his face.