Meeting the Grandmaster

[Ding!]

[Quest issued]

[Story event: Meeting the Grandmaster]

[Check-in requirement: Go to Notting City Junior Spirit Master Academy and witness the meeting between Tang San and Yu Xiaogang]

By the time Chu Heng followed Su Yuntao to the gates of Nott City, it was noon. A day and a half had passed since Tang San left Holy Soul Village.

Just as Chu Heng thought he had missed Tang San's meeting with the Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang, the system suddenly popped up a prompt telling him to go to Notting City Junior Spirit Master Academy for a story check-in.

Huh? Even if Jack's health meant they didn't reach Nott City until the afternoon, they should still have had plenty of time to enroll.

Had Jack and Tang San spent a night in the city before reporting to the academy? Or had the system changed their minds?

Chu Heng stopped walking, lost in thought.

Seeing him like that, Su Yuntao assumed it was Chu Heng's first time seeing a city like this. He smiled and spoke.

"Chu Heng, this is where you'll be living for the next few years."

He stepped back until he stood beside Chu Heng, then gave his shoulder a gentle pat of encouragement.

"Come in with me first. When I have time in a couple of days, I'll show you around Nott City."

Sensing Su Yuntao's concern, Chu Heng snapped out of his thoughts. He looked up at him with a smile and answered obediently.

"Thank you, Uncle Su Yuntao."

Su Yuntao smiled back and headed into the city, with Chu Heng following behind him.

Because Su Yuntao was a Spirit Hall deacon, the guards at the gate did not stop them. They did, however, linger on Chu Heng for a moment, as though trying to remember what the boy looked like.

Once inside Nott City, Chu Heng took in his surroundings. The road split three ways. At the far end of the road straight ahead, almost beyond clear sight, stood a towering building. Its spire-like roof made it look even grander.

That must be the Spirit Hall Branch in Nott City, Chu Heng guessed.

But where was Notting City Junior Spirit Master Academy?

Chu Heng saw no sign of an academy along either of the other roads, so he hurried to catch up with Su Yuntao and asked,

"Uncle Su Yuntao, where's the Soul Master Academy?"

"The Soul Master Academy?"

Su Yuntao paused, then smiled.

"You mean Notting City Junior Spirit Master Academy? It's the only soul master academy in Nott City. But you don't need to go there. You're coming with me to the Spirit Hall Branch. You'll have better living conditions and more resources there than at the academy. That's where you belong if you want to grow stronger."

Su Yuntao crouched and pointed down the road ahead.

Chu Heng knew he meant the Spirit Hall building at its end.

"See? That's Spirit Hall. Anywhere in Nott City, all you have to do is look up and you can see it."

Chu Heng nodded thoughtfully. Then he took Su Yuntao's hand in both of his and asked again,

"Can I visit the academy? I want to make some new friends..."

Chu Heng could only hope that would stir a little sympathy in Su Yuntao and persuade him to take him to the academy. Otherwise, he really would miss this story check-in.

Su Yuntao's heart sank at his words.

That's right. I don't know whether the others have found any promising recruits. If they haven't, Chu Heng will be the only newcomer at the branch this year. He's bound to feel lonely. He's only six, after all. I should take him to the academy to make friends when I can.

With that in mind, Su Yuntao decided to take Chu Heng to the academy first. He knew someone there, too. If he introduced them now, Chu Heng could visit on his own when Su Yuntao was away.

"All right. It's still early, so I'll take you to see the academy first."

Having made up his mind, Su Yuntao stood, smiled again, and took Chu Heng's hand. Together, they followed the western road.

To Chu Heng's surprise, Su Yuntao led him out through the western gate. Only after several more minutes of walking did he spot the academy's sign beside the road, along with the figures he had expected to see.

"Where did these country bumpkins come from?"

"..."

The academy's gatekeeper—the "guard"—had insulted Jack and Tang San for their plain clothes. Tang San could not stand his behavior and had taught him a lesson.

Just as the gatekeeper was about to get serious, a middle-aged man called out to him.

"That's enough. Stop."

Chu Heng narrowed his eyes at the man who had suddenly appeared.

That must be the Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang.

Sure enough, the moment the gatekeeper saw the man's face, he put on a fawning smile and addressed him.

"Grandmaster, you're back."

Su Yuntao's expression changed the moment Yu Xiaogang appeared. He immediately took Chu Heng forward.

By then, Yu Xiaogang had taken the certificate issued by Spirit Hall from Jack and was checking whether it was genuine.

"Tang San!"

Though he was still some distance away, Chu Heng called out to Tang San.

Everyone at the academy gate turned toward Su Yuntao and Chu Heng.

Only when Chu Heng called out did Su Yuntao realize that the old man and boy who had been given a hard time were from Chu Heng's village. He had even written Tang San's certificate himself.

"Grandmaster!"

Su Yuntao greeted Yu Xiaogang first. When Yu Xiaogang saw the Spirit Hall deacon's badge on his chest, he nodded.

Su Yuntao then glanced at Tang San and Jack in greeting.

"Chu Heng!"

Tang San, on the other hand, responded with clear excitement when he saw who had called him.

Chu Heng smiled back and stood quietly beside Su Yuntao. Tang San also knew this was no time for the two children to talk, so after greeting him, he stood to one side.

Su Yuntao's gaze finally settled on the fawning gatekeeper. His voice turned cold.

"I wrote Tang San's certificate myself. Are you questioning Spirit Hall's credibility?"

The gatekeeper's face changed at once, and he hurried to beg for mercy.

"I wouldn't dare, sir! It was my fault! All my fault!"

Yu Xiaogang, still holding the certificate, finished checking it and nodded.

"The certificate is genuine. Deacon, please don't be too hard on the gatekeeper. A genius with Innate Full Soul Power is exceedingly rare, after all. How about this? I'll apologize to you and the child on behalf of the academy. As compensation, I'll teach the child myself."

With Yu Xiaogang speaking up, Su Yuntao had no reason to pursue the matter. He looked at Tang San again and offered him some advice.

"Tang San, the Grandmaster is a remarkable man. Study hard under him, and one day you might be every bit as good as Chu Heng."

"Thank you for your concern, Deacon."

Tang San's composed reply drew another appraising look from Yu Xiaogang.

At Su Yuntao's words, Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly and asked with curiosity,

"What level is this child's Innate Soul Power?"

Su Yuntao cupped his hands and smiled.

"Chu Heng's Innate Soul Power is level seven. He's a rare talent."

When Yu Xiaogang heard that Chu Heng's Innate Soul Power was only level seven, his brief flicker of interest faded. His expression went flat.

In his eyes, a child with only level-seven Innate Soul Power was not qualified to become his student.

"Chu Heng, now that you know Tang San is here, you can come see him whenever you like. Come with me to Spirit Hall for today."

Su Yuntao felt it was no longer a good time to enter the academy, so he decided to take Chu Heng back to Spirit Hall first.

Chu Heng had already received the system's notification that the quest was complete. He no longer needed to insist on making new friends, so he nodded and agreed.

[Congratulations, host. Quest complete.]

[Issuing reward...]