Tang Hao's Instructions, Lin Xuan Takes Xiao Wu to the Village

"Sit down," Tang Hao said.

Yu Xiaogang sat down obediently.

Tang Hao got straight to the point.

"Tang San is my son."

Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth, but no words came out.

He had recognized Tang San's Martial Soul long ago. Blue Silver Grass was only what showed on the surface; hidden beneath it was a second Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer. He had worked that out the first time he met Tang San.

But he had never imagined that Tang San's father was Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao himself.

The disciple he had taken was Clear Sky Douluo's son.

Yu Xiaogang swallowed.

"Does Tang San... know who you are?"

"No," Tang Hao said evenly. "He doesn't need to know yet."

Yu Xiaogang nodded and asked no more.

Clear Sky Douluo had his reasons for living under an assumed name.

Tang Hao pointed at the Papal Decree on the table.

"Take this. It might be useful."

Yu Xiaogang accepted the Papal Decree with both hands and tucked it carefully into his clothes. His hands were still shaking.

"Two more things." Tang Hao raised two fingers.

"Please, go ahead."

"First, there's a girl named Xiao Wu who spends time with Tang San. Make sure he gets along with her. How you do that is up to you."

Yu Xiaogang paused. Though puzzled, he did not ask why. He only nodded.

"Second, have Tang San get on good terms with that boy Lin Xuan. It'll be useful later."

Yu Xiaogang was silent for a few seconds before choosing his words.

"Lin Xuan is rather independent. I once tried to take him as my disciple, but he refused."

"Then he refused." Tang Hao stood. "You don't need to take him as a disciple. Little San just needs to get along with him."

Yu Xiaogang hurried to his feet. "I understand."

Tang Hao took two steps toward the window, then stopped.

"Grandmaster, sorry for the trouble of looking after Little San."

With that, the window opened without a sound, then closed just as silently.

Yu Xiaogang was alone in the room.

He sat in the chair for a long time.

Clear Sky Douluo.

At dawn the next morning, the sky had barely begun to lighten.

When Lin Xuan stepped out of the dormitory with his bundle on his back, Xiao Wu was already waiting by the door.

She carried no luggage at all. Her long braid was tied back, and she stood there looking bright-eyed and full of energy.

"You're leaving like that?" Lin Xuan looked her up and down.

"What do I need to bring?" Xiao Wu replied, as if it were obvious.

Tang San came down the corridor from the other end. He had nothing with him either, but then, he had a Storage Soul Tool.

The three wasted no time and headed straight for the academy gate.

Holy Soul Village was not far from Notting City. Taking the main road and then a country lane, they could reach it in a few hours if they walked quickly.

Dawn came early in late June, and there was plenty of light on the road.

They walked south along the main road, Xiao Wu in the middle, Lin Xuan on her left and Tang San on her right.

After about an hour, Xiao Wu started getting restless.

"I'm so bored. Walking is so boring."

Lin Xuan did not answer.

Xiao Wu turned to Tang San. "Tang San, is your village big? Is there anything fun to do?"

"Not big. Just a few dozen households."

"Is there a river?"

"A stream."

"A mountain?"

"There's a low hill behind the village."

"Can we climb it?"

"Yes."

Xiao Wu nodded, satisfied, then turned to Lin Xuan. "Where in the village is your house?"

"On the east side."

"Is it far from Tang San's?"

"Three houses away."

"Then where will I stay?"

"There's an empty house next door to mine. A hunter used to live there, but he moved away. It'll be fine once we tidy it up."

Xiao Wu gave a little huff. "As long as it's not too run-down."

Chatting on and off, the three reached Holy Soul Village a little after ten that morning.

Under the big locust tree at the village entrance, several elders basking in the sun spotted Tang San and Lin Xuan and called out to them.

"Little San, you're back?"

"Lin Xuan's back too!"

"Eh? Whose daughter is that?"

Walking behind Lin Xuan, Xiao Wu grew uncomfortable under their stares and tugged at her braid.

Lin Xuan answered for her. "She's a classmate. She's staying in the village for a few days."

"Oh, a classmate from the city?"

"What a pretty girl."

At the compliment, Xiao Wu's discomfort vanished. She gave the elders a sweet smile.

At the village entrance, Tang San told Lin Xuan he was heading home first.

Lin Xuan led Xiao Wu toward the east side of the village. They passed a few more villagers along the way, all of whom looked at her curiously.

The village was only so big. When a new face arrived, everyone would know within half a day.

Old Jack's courtyard stood near the center of the village. As they passed, the old man was sitting outside weaving a bamboo basket.

At the sight of Lin Xuan, Old Jack set down the basket and rose from his stool.

"You're back!"

"Grandpa Jack." Lin Xuan walked over and put his bundle on the ground.

Old Jack looked him up and down. "You've grown taller and stronger. That term away did you good."

"I learned a lot."

Only then did Old Jack notice Xiao Wu behind Lin Xuan. He paused.

"And this is...?"

"My classmate, Xiao Wu. She had nowhere to go for the break, so I brought her back to stay for a few days."

Xiao Wu greeted him politely. "Hello, Grandpa Jack."

Old Jack beamed.

"Hello, hello! What a lovely girl. A few days? Stay as long as you like! We've plenty of empty houses in the village."

Old Jack invited them into the courtyard and poured them each a bowl of cooled boiled water.

Xiao Wu took a sip and looked around.

Old Jack's courtyard was small, with an old jujube tree and a few pots of flowers and plants she could not name. It was simple but tidy.

"How have you been, Grandpa Jack?" Lin Xuan asked.

"Fit as ever. The village got a lot quieter after you boys left, though. And Tang Hao..."

Old Jack lowered his voice and jerked his chin toward Tang San's house.

"Drinking again?"

"More than that. Last month, he disappeared altogether. Didn't lock the door or put out the stove. Just up and left, and he hasn't come back."

Lin Xuan had a fair idea why and showed no surprise.

"Uncle Tang must have had something to take care of."

Old Jack sighed.

"He could at least have said something first. Every time Little San comes home to an empty house, who knows how that boy feels?"

As they spoke, Tang San appeared at the courtyard gate.

He clutched a note in his hand, his expression stiff.

"Grandpa Jack."

One look at him told Old Jack what had happened. "Your father isn't home?"

Tang San came into the courtyard and sat beside Lin Xuan, closing his fist around the note.

"He left a letter. Said he'd gone out to take care of something and I shouldn't look for him."

Old Jack could not hold back.

"That Tang Hao! His son's away at school and finally gets a break to come home, and what does he do? Gets up and leaves! He didn't even leave the boy a hot meal!"

Tang San said nothing, though his chest felt tight.

Xiao Wu looked at Tang San, then at Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan spoke up.

"Uncle Tang left a letter, so Little San was on his mind. If he really didn't care, he wouldn't have left one. Something urgent must have come up."

Xiao Wu hurried to agree. "That's right, Tang San. Your father must have had something important to do. He'll come back when he's finished."

Tang San folded the note and tucked it into his clothes.

"Yeah, I know. Thank you both."

Old Jack shook his head and said no more. He got up and glanced into the kitchen.

"All right, all three of you are eating here at noon. I made a pot of soup this morning. There's enough for everyone."

"Thank you, Grandpa Jack," Xiao Wu answered first.

Lunch was Old Jack's wild greens soup with multigrain flatbreads. Xiao Wu ate three bowls of soup and four flatbreads and still looked as though she could eat more.

"Grandpa Jack, your soup is delicious!"

Old Jack grinned from ear to ear. "Stay a few more days, then. Grandpa will make you soup every day."

That afternoon, Lin Xuan took Xiao Wu to see the empty house next door.

It was rather shabby. Cobwebs hung from the window frames, and a layer of dust covered the floor. But the structure was sound, and the walls and roof were still sturdy.

"It'll do." Lin Xuan brushed dust from the doorframe.

Xiao Wu stood in the doorway and tilted her head as she looked around.

"Where's the bedding?"

"Grandpa Jack has some spare."

Xiao Wu was quiet for a moment.

"Lin Xuan, Lin Xuan, why don't I just share your bed?"

"No."

"Didn't we share one all term at the academy?"

"That was the academy. This is the village. If you stay in my room, the whole village will be talking by tomorrow."

Xiao Wu pouted and reluctantly stepped into the empty house.

Lin Xuan borrowed a broom and bedding from Old Jack and helped Xiao Wu give the place a quick clean.

With the cobwebs cleared, the floor swept, and the bed made, it finally looked fit to live in.

Xiao Wu flopped onto the bed and bounced a couple of times.

"It's all right. A bit hard, though."

"That's how beds are in the village."

"Fine, fine." Xiao Wu rolled onto her stomach and rested her chin on the back of her hand. "Lin Xuan."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for bringing me here."

Lin Xuan was propping the broom against the wall. He paused at her words.

"What's there to thank me for? Get some sleep. I'll take you up the hill tomorrow."

"Okay!"

Xiao Wu pulled the quilt over herself, curled up inside it, and soon went still.