Xiao San, Your Mom Is Gone

"Xiao Baiyu, I swear the Star Dou Great Forest has it in for me. Last time, we ran into Tang Hao and I nearly got hammered to death. This time, we ran into two Douluo. If the people from Spirit Hall hadn't been reasonable, we wouldn't have gotten away." Back in their little courtyard, Su Wu still shuddered at the thought. "Still, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I found you a powerful backer."

He turned to Jiang Baiyu, who had been grinning to himself. "Xiao Baiyu, stop thinking about your little girlfriend!"

Ever since they had returned, Jiang Baiyu had worn a smile he couldn't suppress. His eyes curved with it, bright with a boy's excitement and pride. His fingers absently brushed over his chest. Deliberately drawing out his words, he looked at Su Wu and kept him guessing.

"Grandpa, it's not that. There's something else I need to tell you. You'll be shocked. I'm worried your heart won't take it."

Seeing how plainly happy the boy was, Su Wu laughed. "Bullshit. I've had a strong heart for years. You've been under my nose the whole time. What could possibly have happened?"

"Do you know what's most precious about Medicineheart Wood?"

"Of course I do. I taught you that. It's the Exquisite Medicine Heart, which lets you sense the nature of a hundred herbs. With it, your understanding and use of Spirit Herbs would reach another level. You might even communicate with them. That's the Medicine Heart's greatest strength. When you absorbed the Soul Ring, I hoped you'd get that Soul Skill. Of course, your domain-type Soul Skill is even better. It leaves you without such an obvious weakness, so you won't end up as a purely support-type soul master." Su Wu answered without hesitation, though a trace of regret entered his voice.

"But what if I told you I got something even better than the Medicine Heart's Soul Skill?" Jiang Baiyu could no longer hide his smile.

"What?" Su Wu was baffled. Could a thousand-year Soul Ring grant two Soul Skills?

"Look. What's this?" Jiang Baiyu stopped teasing him. He straightened his chest slightly, steadied his breathing, and willed it to appear.

The next instant, a warm, soft red light quietly shone through the clothes over his chest. At first, it was only a faint crimson glow. Then, as he stirred a thread of his Martial Soul Origin, an External Soul Bone slowly took shape beneath his skin, its natural form fitting the contours of his heart. Warm and smooth as jade, translucent as ancient red jade, it perfectly enclosed his heart. It had fused so completely with his flesh, meridians, and soul that it seemed to have grown inside him from birth.

On closer inspection, fine, deep-red medicinal patterns of coiling dragons flowed across its surface. The lines wound together like the veins of plants, dragon motifs carrying the essence of medicine while light gleamed within its grain. Threads of golden-red radiance traveled endlessly along the patterns. The entire Soul Bone glowed with gentle warmth beneath a faint, glassy sheen. Its light was neither glaring nor fierce, but suffused with the fresh vitality of growing plants and the mild presence of Medicine Flame.

In that soft light, the herbs in the garden swayed gently, as though enjoying its warmth. The Blue Silver Emperor quietly wound toward him too.

"Is that... an External Soul Bone?!"

Su Wu jolted. Utter shock swept across his usually composed face. His pupils contracted, and his voice rose despite himself. "Boy, what is that?"

"Hey, old man, maybe my Medicine Dao was compatible with Dragonblood Medicineheart Wood. At the very end, it gave me its Soul Ring in something close to a sacrifice. At the same time, its Medicine Heart Origin became an External Soul Bone and fused with my heart."

Jiang Baiyu's grin widened. Pride shone openly on his face as he looked at Su Wu.

"Besides its original abilities, this Medicine-Heart Soul Bone is part of my first Soul Skill. Otherwise, at rank ten, I couldn't possibly sustain a complete domain. The Soul Bone takes on most of the Soul Power cost for me.

"The Dragonblood Medicine Flame Origin within the bone also flows continuously into the domain, giving rise to the Heart-Scorching Medicine Flame. That means the domain can command herbs, nurture life, heal injuries, and repair damage, while also burning away violent energy, toxins, and dark, evil forces.

"It further boosts my Soul Power recovery and my body's self-healing, and strengthens the domain's suppression of combat-focused soul masters. It also guards my heart and soul directly. Any sneak attack aimed at my heart, or corrosion from sinister Soul Power, will be countered by the Medicine Heart Origin before it can harm me.

"But in exchange, I have to keep my vow. I can't kill indiscriminately."

By now, Jiang Baiyu was beaming. He leaned close to Su Wu. "Well, Mr. Su Wu, with all your worldly knowledge, what do you think?"

Su Wu stared at the red image over Jiang Baiyu's chest, his eyes burning with excitement. Then he burst out laughing and slapped the boy on the back. "Good! Good! Good!" After three emphatic praises, he added, "That's my grandson, all right." His smile was even brighter than Jiang Baiyu's.

The red-gold medicinal light circulating over Jiang Baiyu's heart and the naturally formed coiling-dragon patterns filled Su Wu with unmistakable pride. But the next moment, a thought struck him. All the relief and warmth vanished from his face. His expression darkened, his brows drew tight, and his whole bearing turned grave. Leaning forward, he fixed his gaze on the glow at Jiang Baiyu's chest and spoke in a low, heavy voice with unprecedented seriousness.

"That's enough, Xiao Baiyu. Put it away. Hide the Soul Bone's presence."

Jiang Baiyu saw his expression and lost all desire to show off. He obediently suppressed the Soul Bone's visible effects.

The red-gold glow of Medicine Flame and the elegant coiling-dragon patterns that had surrounded his heart disappeared beneath his skin as soon as he willed them away, leaving no trace.

Su Wu slowly let out a breath.

His back, relaxed a moment ago, went rigidly straight. His brows lowered, and the gentle, plantlike aura around him turned oppressively solemn. Wariness replaced the laughter in his eyes. He lowered his voice almost to a whisper, as though afraid someone might overhear.

"Baiyu, listen carefully. Carve every word I'm about to say into your bones. Never forget them."

Jiang Baiyu had never seen his grandfather so stern. His pride and excitement vanished. He sat up straight, wiped the playfulness from his face, and listened.

Su Wu kept his eyes on the boy's chest. When he spoke, every word carried weight.

"You have no idea how terrifying the thing you obtained today really is."

"Across the Douluo Continent, among countless soul masters, the ranking of the treasures they've dreamed of since ancient times has never changed."

"First is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. Second is an External Soul Bone."

He raised two fingers and explained with increasing gravity. "Tang Hao and Tang Xiao hunted me because I happened to discover that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's true identity. An External Soul Bone is no less coveted."

"Even ordinary Soul Bones make the great powers fight until blood runs and bodies pile up. They're called treasures bought with rivers of blood. Your External Soul Bone is a gift that defies every rule of this world, and it could unleash a bloodbath."

As Su Wu spoke, fear over what might have happened entered his voice.

"And you?"

"You're only a rank-ten soul master!"

"Yet you obtained a unique External Soul Bone that shares your life, has fused with your heart, contains an origin of the Great Dao, and can grow alongside you!"

"This isn't merely defying the heavens. It violates the natural order!"

Su Wu leaned closer, his eyes sharp and grave as he laid bare the continent's cruelest rule.

"Showing your domain in front of everyone in the Star Dou Great Forest today, revealing that monstrous talent of yours, was already enough to make Spirit Hall want to recruit you."

"But if outsiders learn that you, a soul master with only one ring, possess an External Soul Bone—"

"Every bit of goodwill will turn to murderous intent."

"No faction will let you grow safely while holding such a treasure."

"Not even with a Soul Douluo like me beside you."

"Recruitment will become a hunt. Admiration will become greed. From Spirit Hall's Title Douluo elders to black-market evil soul masters and desperate experts, they'll all stop at nothing to kill you and take it!"

"An External Soul Bone is almost impossible to find. Whoever takes it gains another Soul Skill. You can tell them it's bound to your life, but how many will believe you?"

"Before the temptation of a treasure like that, talent, potential, and personal ties are worth nothing!"

He set a firm hand on Jiang Baiyu's shoulder. His gaze held the fierce protectiveness of a grandfather determined to keep his grandson safe.

"So today, Grandpa is giving you an absolute rule."

"From now on, you will keep this Heart of Hundred Herbs External Soul Bone completely hidden."

"Apart from the two of us, not a third person in this world can know anything about it!"

"No matter whom you face, whether they're kind or hostile, close to you or a stranger, powerful or gifted, you must never show it, mention it, or let a trace of its presence escape!"

"Keep the Soul Bone's light concealed at all times. Never activate it without need, and never show it off in front of anyone!"

"You're too weak right now, and your foundations are too shallow. You can't protect a fortune this great!"

"The tallest tree catches the fiercest wind. You can't bear the weight of this treasure yet. If it's exposed, it will bring death down on you!"

"When you reach the pinnacle of cultivation one day—when you become a Soul Sage, a Soul Douluo, or a Title Douluo, and can truly protect yourself—then do as you please. By then, perhaps Grandpa can even bask in a little of your glory." Su Wu smiled and ruffled Jiang Baiyu's hair.

Jiang Baiyu touched his chest. "Grandpa, I know. That's why I only showed it to you."

He understood everything Su Wu had said. Soul Bones might have seemed common in the story he knew, but every member of the Shrek Seven Devils had powerful connections. As for Tang San's External Soul Bone, who knew how many people Tang Hao had killed for coveting it?

Plenty of Title Douluo didn't even have a single Soul Bone.

So caution was best. Su Wu might be a Soul Douluo, but he was still a support-type soul master. His Martial Soul Evolution had given him some offensive ability, yet protecting Jiang Baiyu against a Power Attack System soul master would still be difficult.

"All right. Grandpa knows you've got sense. Now get some rest."

"Okay!" Jiang Baiyu said at once.

Meanwhile, Tang San was alone in the dense forest, pushing Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to its limit. Only one thought filled his mind: Run faster. Don't let Spirit Hall find me.

Murderous intent surged within him. Spirit Hall killed my father and humiliated me like this. They've earned their deaths. Since that's how it is, Spirit Hall has no reason to exist.

Still lost in thought, he leaned against a large tree to rest. Then a thick scent of blood swept toward him, and a powerful presence locked onto him. Every hair on his body stood on end. He stared at the approaching figure, ready for a fight.

Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eyes. The newcomer was broad and powerfully built, with a formidable aura.

"Xiao San."

"Dad!" Overjoyed, Tang San rushed toward his father.

Tang Hao was covered in blood and looked utterly battered. He studied his pale-faced son, recalling the strange footwork he had just seen. His eyes darkened with thoughts he did not voice. With a sigh, he stroked Tang San's head. "It's time you knew. Come on. I'll take you to see your mother."

With that, he wrapped Tang San in a surge of Soul Power and carried him to a waterfall. He went straight through it and said, "We're here. Your mother is inside."

"I won't hide it from you anymore. I am Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao. And your mother was the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Spirit Hall hunted six years ago." Tang Hao's eyes reddened with pain. "But Spirit Hall was too powerful. Your mother had no choice but to sacrifice herself to me so that you and I could survive."

His aura surged out of control, his eyes full of anguish.

Bracing himself against the torrent of Soul Power, Tang San slowly embraced him. "Dad, you still have me. We'll take revenge together." As he spoke, blood trickled from his mouth.

Tang San's voice brought Tang Hao back to his senses. Seeing that his pressure had injured his son, he was overcome with guilt. He pulled Tang San into his arms, tears pouring down his face. "My little San..."

Moved by the warmth of the embrace, Tang San thought, So this is a father's love?

After a while, Tang Hao brought out a source of light and illuminated the cave.

"Talk to your mother." He gazed tenderly toward the spot where Ah Yin had been planted.

Tang San followed his gaze. Disbelief filled his eyes. "This..."

Hearing his surprise, Tang Hao said, "That's right, Xiao San. This is your mother."

"Ah Yin, I brought our son to see you..." His words died on his lips. Tang Hao stared in disbelief.

The Blue Silver Grass had lost the soft blue luster its leaves once held. They were now a dull, dried gray-green. Its stems had shriveled and turned brittle, drooping flat against the ground without a trace of their former vigor.

The leaves had curled, scorched, and crisped at the edges. All their moisture and resilience were gone. They rustled at the slightest breeze and broke off at a touch. Nothing about them looked alive anymore.

"This... No! Ah Yin! My Ah Yin!" Tang Hao lunged toward her in a frenzy. But the leaves were already parched, and his forceful touch reduced them to dust.

"No!" Tears streamed down Tang Hao's face. His Soul Power surged wildly, threatening to tear the cave apart.

"Dad!" Tang San called out urgently.

Remembering his son, Tang Hao regained a shred of control. His eyes were bloodshot. "Xiao San, your mom is gone." His Soul Power continued to rage beyond his control.

Tang San hurried to embrace him. "Dad, you still have me."

"Yes. I still have you, Xiao San." Tang Hao held him close.

Then another thought struck him. He rose and went to a nearby stone wall. After feeling around it, he let out a furious roar. Unable to control his Soul Power, he smashed it straight into the wall. "Spirit Hall! I'll never forgive you!"

This is bad. Seeing Tang Hao lose control and hammer the wall, Tang San drove Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track at full speed and rushed for the cave entrance.

He was still too slow. Tang Hao's Soul Power struck him with crushing force, sending him flying out past the waterfall and into the water.

Boom! A deafening crash rang out as Tang Hao brought the stone cave down. Breathing hard, he pulled the barely conscious Tang San from the water and knelt on the ground, sobbing. "Spirit Hall! You killed my wife and hurt my son. I won't rest until you're destroyed!"

As he spoke, another surge of Soul Power knocked Tang San unconscious.