Tang San Gave Them Hidden Weapons-Could Talismans Enchant Them?

Early the next morning, the three left Notting Academy.

As they passed through the city gate, Lin Xuan glanced back. Six years ago, he and Tang San had ridden Old Jack's ox cart through this gate. They had been two six-year-old kids, and the gatekeeper had mocked them.

Six years later, he was a level thirty-five Soul Elder, Tang San was a level thirty-one Soul Elder, and Xiao Wu was a level thirty-three Soul Elder.

The three walked out through the same gate. The gatekeepers had changed several times over, and no one recognized them.

"Come on, quit dawdling," Xiao Wu called from ahead.

Lin Xuan looked away and caught up.

Suotuo City lay to the west, but they did not head straight for the main road. Tang San suggested a visit to Holy Soul Village first, which was exactly what Lin Xuan had in mind.

Holy Soul Village was not far from Notting City, and all three were Soul Masters. They arrived in less than half an hour.

The big tree at the village entrance had grown even thicker over the past six years. A few old people still sat beneath it, basking in the sun, though some faces had changed. Others were gone.

"Is Grandpa Jack home?" Xiao Wu ran ahead to ask.

"He is, he is. Old Jack's in his yard."

The three went to Old Jack's house.

He was squatting in the yard, chopping firewood. At the sound of footsteps, he looked up and stuck his hatchet into the chopping block.

"You three are back again?"

"Grandpa Jack!" Xiao Wu rushed over first.

"We came to say goodbye this time."

Lin Xuan set down his bundle, took a small cloth pouch from inside his clothes, and handed it over.

"Grandpa, here are ten Gold Soul Coins."

Old Jack drew back his hand. "That's so much money. Where did you get it?"

"I saved my work-study allowance from Notting Academy, along with the monthly Gold Soul Coin stipend from Spirit Hall. Please take it and buy whatever you need."

Xiao Wu chimed in, "That's right, Grandpa Jack, take it! Five of those Gold Soul Coins are from me!"

"You'll need money for school yourselves. An old man like me can't spend this much."

Old Jack was still refusing when Tang San came over and placed five Gold Soul Coins on the table.

"Grandpa Jack, I stayed and ate here every school break all these years, and you took good care of me even before that. Please accept these."

Old Jack looked at Tang San, then at Lin Xuan and Xiao Wu. He opened his mouth twice before finally sighing and accepting the money.

"You three... you're good kids."

His voice was a little hoarse. He turned to pour them water, wiping his face with his back to them.

Xiao Wu tugged Lin Xuan's sleeve and whispered,

"Is Grandpa Jack crying?"

"No. He got dust in his eyes," Lin Xuan said, covering for him.

Old Jack brought back three bowls of water. He sat on a stool and asked, "Where are you going this time?"

"Suotuo City. We're transferring to another academy."

"Suotuo City? That's a long way." Old Jack frowned. "Be careful on the road, you three. The world outside the village is full of all sorts."

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll protect them." Xiao Wu patted her chest.

Old Jack could not help laughing at her smug look. "You little girl. You're hardly grown yourself."

The three did not stay long.

After drinking the water, they said goodbye to Old Jack.

He walked them to the village entrance and stood beneath the big tree, one hand on its trunk, watching them disappear into the distance.

"Grandpa Jack's still watching," Xiao Wu said after glancing back.

"Then don't look back. Keep walking." Lin Xuan did not slow down.

Xiao Wu hurried a couple of steps to catch up.

"How can you be so cold? Grandpa Jack hates seeing you leave."

"That's why I won't look back. It'll only make it harder for him."

Xiao Wu thought about it. He had a point, so she said nothing more.

The three took the main road west.

After about half an hour, Tang San suddenly slowed.

Lin Xuan noticed but said nothing.

A little later, Tang San spoke.

"Lin Xuan, wait."

Lin Xuan stopped and turned.

Tang San stood by the roadside. The Storage Soul Tool at his waist, Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night, flashed faintly, and two objects appeared in his hands.

Two hand crossbows.

They were finely crafted, iron gray all over, with delicate patterns of springs and mechanisms across their surfaces. They looked less like ordinary weapons than precision devices.

The moment Lin Xuan saw them, his mind buzzed.

Godly Zhuge Crossbows.

Tang Sect mechanical hidden weapons.

He had read the original story. Of course he knew what they were worth.

Within fifty meters, each could fire sixteen poisoned bolts at once and pierce a level forty Soul Master's Soul Power defenses.

Tang San had used them to wipe out the entire Carnage Battle Team.

And Tang San was giving him one?

"Take them." Tang San handed over the crossbows, one to Lin Xuan and one to Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu took hers and turned it over twice.

"What is this? A bow? It's so small."

Tang San nodded and explained,

"It's called a Godly Zhuge Crossbow. I made it myself. It holds forty-eight bolts and fires sixteen with one pull of the trigger. The bolt tips are poisoned."

Xiao Wu hefted it casually. "How powerful is it?"

"Within fifty meters, a Soul Master below level forty who's caught off guard has almost no chance of stopping it. Even a Soul Elder who sees it coming would have trouble escaping unscathed."

Xiao Wu's hand froze. She stared at him in shock.

"What! This thing can kill a Soul Ancestor?"

"If they're caught off guard, yes. If they're prepared, it should still be able to kill a Soul Elder."

Xiao Wu looked down again at the unremarkable lump of iron in her hand, her expression shifting again and again.

Lin Xuan gripped his Godly Zhuge Crossbow. Far more was stirring inside him than Xiao Wu could imagine.

He knew exactly how valuable this hidden weapon was.

Given Tang San's nature, Tang Sect hidden weapons were precious to him. He would only give one to someone he truly trusted.

"Little San, this is too valuable," Lin Xuan said, unable to hide his surprise.

"Keep it."

Tang San's tone left no room for argument.

"You're a Support Soul Master. When a fight breaks out, Xiao Wu and I can't protect you every second. We don't know what we'll run into at the new academy. At least this gives you a way to defend yourself."

Lin Xuan held the Godly Zhuge Crossbow and stopped protesting.

Tang San meant every word. This was no handout, no attempt to curry favor. He was thinking of Lin Xuan as a teammate who needed protection.

So Tang San really does see me as a friend.

Looking at the Godly Zhuge Crossbow in his hand, Lin Xuan suddenly had an idea.

"Little San, do you think I could apply my Blazing Fire Talisman to this Godly Zhuge Crossbow?"

Tang San paused. "Enchant the crossbow?"

"Right. The Blazing Fire Talisman can attach to a Martial Soul and give it fire-attribute attack power. In theory, crossbow bolts are weapons too."

Tang San's expression turned thoughtful. "We can try."

Lin Xuan immediately crouched and turned his right hand over. His Talisman Paper Spirit appeared.

His three Soul Rings lit up in succession: two yellow, one purple.

In under ten seconds, he had drawn two Blazing Fire Talismans.

Lin Xuan first stuck one to himself, and its fiery glow sank into his body.

Then he picked up the second and slapped it onto the Godly Zhuge Crossbow in his hand.