The Second Simulation

A string of resounding slaps cracked across the little square before Spirit Hall in Holy Soul Village like rolling thunder.

Tang San's cheeks swelled visibly.

Blood seeped from the corners of his mouth, mingling with the blood left from when his teeth had been knocked out. He looked utterly wretched.

The children's laughter had died away. Everyone held their breath, watching the scene unfold.

After a while, Chu Chen shook out his tingling hand and looked down at Tang San.

"This is the last time."

Chu Chen's voice was perfectly calm.

"Next time, whether it's to my face or behind my back, if I hear you use that nickname again..."

Chu Chen bent closer and whispered in Tang San's ear, too softly for anyone else to hear.

"It won't end as easily as it did today!"

Tang San's pupils contracted. His body trembled involuntarily—not from fear, but from rage rising out of the depths of his soul.

He's courting death! Courting death! Courting death!

Tang San screamed inwardly, but forced a twisted smile onto his face.

"Chu Chen... no, Brother Chen. I-I'll remember."

Only then did Chu Chen straighten. Without another glance at Tang San, he turned to the other children with a gentle smile.

"Go on, everyone. Time to head home for lunch."

The children exchanged looks. Chu Chen's ferocity had frightened them, and for a moment, no one dared speak.

Only when Chu Chen waved them off again did they begin to drift away. As they left, they looked at him with newfound awe and at Tang San with contempt and glee.

Soon, only Tang San remained, still slumped on the ground.

Chu Chen did not go home. He walked to a nearby stream and carefully washed his hands and arms.

The cool water ran over his skin, gradually calming the emotions that had flared when he struck Tang San.

I lost my temper... but I don't regret it.

Chu Chen considered it in silence.

He had not meant to fall out with Tang San so soon. Tang Hao was still in the village, after all, and that man could not be reasoned with.

But there were lines he could not let anyone cross.

Was he supposed to swallow his anger while Little Scumbag called him "idiot" to his face, again and again?

Sorry, but Chu Chen could not do that.

He could tolerate the other children of Holy Soul Village calling him that out of gratitude, because the people of the village had saved his life.

But what gave Tang San the right?

Because his father was a Titled Douluo?

Who gave a damn if his father was a Titled Douluo?

Whatever comes, I'll deal with it.

Chu Chen shook the water from his hands and headed home.

As for Tang San...

He could do whatever he liked.

If he was so capable, he could get his father to come kill Chu Chen right now.

If he could not, then he could damn well keep his mouth shut!

Old Jack was home when Chu Chen returned. He sat on the threshold smoking his dry pipe tobacco, unable to hide his smile.

The moment he saw Chu Chen, Old Jack rose and hurried over.

"Little Chen! My dear grandson!"

Old Jack gripped Chu Chen's shoulders and looked him up and down, his cloudy eyes brimming with excitement and pride.

"Innate Full Soul Power! A mutated Martial Soul! My boy, you've brought such honor to Holy Soul Village!"

"Grandpa, don't get too excited."

Smiling, Chu Chen steadied Old Jack, took the pipe from his hand, and tapped its ashes against the threshold.

"My Martial Soul has only just awakened. I'm not even a Soul Master yet..."

"That's still incredible!"

Beaming, Old Jack led Chu Chen inside and carefully pulled an oil-paper parcel from his robe.

"Look what Grandpa brought you!"

He opened the parcel. Inside were a dozen or so pieces of malt candy.

"It's a happy day, so Grandpa bought these from Master Su. They're for you!"

Chu Chen looked at the cheap sweets, and his nose suddenly stung.

Holy Soul Village was so poor that even salt was a luxury. Candy was something they could not bear to buy even for holidays.

For Old Jack to buy this much, he must have spent a fortune by his standards.

"Thank you, Grandpa."

Chu Chen picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

The sweetness spread across his tongue. It was a little coarse, but it warmed him all the same.

"Oh, Grandpa, about that work-study place..."

Remembering Su Yuntao's reminder, Chu Chen brought it up.

"Don't worry! Grandpa saved it for you long ago!"

Old Jack thumped his chest.

"You'll enroll at Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy next spring! Our Martial Soul might be... well, less than ideal, but with Innate Full Soul Power, the academy is sure to take you!"

"And you'll be able to collect a Gold Soul Coin from Spirit Hall every month. That'll cover your expenses in the city. You might even save some up to help you find a wife someday..."

Old Jack was already dreaming of better days, chattering away as he planned the future.

Chu Chen listened quietly without interrupting.

He knew nothing made Old Jack happier right now.

When Old Jack finally ran out of things to say, Chu Chen helped him sit down and went to the kitchen to make lunch.

Calling it lunch was generous. It was a simple meal.

A small handful of wild greens, two handfuls of coarse rice, and a little crude salt.

Chu Chen carefully pinched a little salt into the pot and stirred.

Then he ladled out two bowls and placed the one with more rice and fewer greens in front of Old Jack.

"Grandpa, lunch is ready."

Old Jack looked at the extra grains of rice in his bowl and opened his mouth. In the end, he said nothing. He only lowered his head and drank his porridge in big gulps.

But as he drank, Chu Chen clearly saw a few cloudy drops fall into Old Jack's bowl.

After dinner, Chu Chen cleared the dishes and washed the pot and stove as usual.

Old Jack sat in the courtyard, mending an old hemp shirt by the last light of day.

At noon, Chu Chen returned to his usual spot by the river and sat cross-legged, but did not begin cultivating.

Instead, with a thought, he called up the simulator panel.

[Life Simulation System]

[Current simulation chances: 0 (cooling down)]

[Cooldown: 0 days, 0 hours, 2 minutes, 17 seconds]

Almost there...

Chu Chen took a deep breath, suppressing his anticipation and a trace of nerves.

His second simulation.

This time, he had clearer goals.

Foundation Building Spirit Liquid, a body-tempering technique, an Azure Nether Longevity Pill...

Even one or two of those would be enough to transform his strength.

The seconds ticked by.

Finally!

[Cooldown: 364 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds]

[Current simulation chances: 1]

Chu Chen perked up and chose to begin the simulation without hesitation.

The familiar interface appeared before his eyes.

[Please choose your identity for this simulation]

[Eastern Continent — Myriad Spirits Empire — son of a Border Scout]

[Southwestern Continent — Blazing Sun Empire — son of a Mercenary Commander]

[Central Plains, central region — Pill Region — Saint Pill City — son of a Trading Firm laborer]

Three options appeared before him.

Chu Chen's gaze fixed instantly on the last one.

The Central Plains!

The Pill Tower!