Tang San's Instinct: Kill Jiang Hao at Any Cost!

Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips and declared with complete confidence:

"I've tossed and turned in my sleep since I was little. I just rolled over to your side! Besides, your bed is so big. It's only natural I'd roll over, right?"

Jiang Hao's mouth twitched. "Natural, my ass."

"Oh, come on. You're a grown man. Why are you so stingy? I only slept on your chest for a while. It's not like I ate you!"

Xiao Wu pouted, hopped off the bed, and stretched as her bare feet touched the floor.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell over her, making her fair legs almost dazzling in the morning light.

Jiang Hao looked away and said irritably, "Climb into my bed again, and I'll throw you out."

"Yeah, yeah, I know!"

Xiao Wu answered with a grin, but silently added, I'll climb in again next time. You can't throw me out anyway.

She had tested it herself last night. Cultivating beside Jiang Hao was at least twice as fast as usual!

"Come on, let's get breakfast!"

Xiao Wu grabbed Jiang Hao's arm and dragged him toward the door. "I'm hungry. Buy me a meal!"

"Why am I paying?"

"Oh, I'll treat you next time."

"Are you sure?"

"Definitely next time!"

Meanwhile, in the Primary Class 1 classroom.

Tang San sat by the window with dark circles under his eyes, looking as though every last bit of energy had been drained from him.

He hadn't slept a wink last night.

He could put up with the poor conditions in the Working Student Dormitory.

But his roommates' snoring, teeth grinding, and sleep-talking had set his nerves on edge.

On top of that, the sight of Jiang Hao and Xiao Wu being so close yesterday kept replaying in his mind. He had a powerful feeling that he'd lost something terribly important.

For once, he, who normally slept well, had been unable to sleep.

His instincts told him Xiao Wu was important to him, and Jiang Hao would definitely become his opponent someday!

No. I have to separate Jiang Hao and Xiao Wu.

If necessary, I can even use a Hidden Weapon to assassinate him!

After all, who would imagine that a six-year-old child had a lethal Hidden Weapon?

The more Tang San thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. The corners of his mouth even lifted slightly.

Just you wait, Jiang Hao.

I, Tang San, am not someone to mess with.

Elsewhere, on the streets of Notting City.

Jiang Hao held a freshly baked beef pie, while Xiao Wu walked beside him with a Radish Cake in each hand.

"Mmm... This is so good!"

With her mouth stuffed full, Xiao Wu mumbled, "It's a thousand times better than those awful steamed buns at the academy cafeteria!"

Jiang Hao glanced at her and handed her a sheet of greaseproof paper. "Slow down. No one's going to steal them."

He'd expected Xiao Wu to run up the bill when he offered to treat her. Instead, she ate only vegetarian food and picked the cheapest options.

"Jiang Hao."

Xiao Wu looked up at him, uncertainty in her wide eyes. "Is it really okay for us to skip class like this?"

Jiang Hao chewed his pie, his expression unchanged. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"But... the first lesson today is theory."

Xiao Wu frowned. "Didn't that Grandmaster say theory lessons are important? That we'll regret it later if we don't listen?"

Jiang Hao said, "It's fine. If there's anything about cultivation you don't understand, just ask me."

He now possessed the Full Theoretical True Interpretation. When it came to theory, if he claimed second place, no one would dare claim first.

He was leagues ahead of that fame-hungry Grandmaster.

Attending class would only waste his time.

Xiao Wu blinked, stuffed the rest of her Radish Cakes into her mouth in a few bites, and mumbled, "Mm! I'll listen to you!"

She had already made up her mind.

Jiang Hao gave her a comfortable place to stay, cultivating beside him made her progress soar, and he even bought her food...

Only a fool would leave with so many benefits!

He could try to drive her away or even beat her to death, but she absolutely, positively would not leave Jiang Hao!

After swallowing her last bite, Xiao Wu brushed the crumbs from her hands and leaned closer. "So what are we doing next? We can't just wander around all day."

Jiang Hao smiled mysteriously and headed down another street. "I'm taking you somewhere interesting."

"Huh? Where?" Xiao Wu hurried after him, her face full of curiosity.

"You'll know when we get there."

They crossed several streets and finally stopped before an imposing building.

Three large characters swept across the signboard above the entrance: Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

It was a well-known trading house in Notting City, with a broad storefront and a lively stream of visitors. Some were dressed like soul masters, others like merchants.

"A trading house?"

Xiao Wu looked up at the sign, then back at Jiang Hao. "What are we doing here? Buying something? Or selling?"

"Let's go in and see."

Jiang Hao stepped inside. Though Xiao Wu had a bellyful of questions, she followed without hesitation.

They entered the hall of Treasure Gathering Pavilion. People bustled through it, and the shelves were packed with all kinds of goods.

There were soul beast materials, rare metals, common medicinal herbs, and low-grade Soul Tools—a dazzling assortment.

Xiao Wu looked around curiously and tugged at Jiang Hao's sleeve from time to time. "There's so much stuff here... But it all looks expensive. Can we afford anything?"

"Looking doesn't cost money."

Jiang Hao answered casually, took Xiao Wu by the hand, and led her through the noisy trading area straight to the shopkeeper's counter.

"Shopkeeper, do you sell Whale Rubber?" Jiang Hao asked bluntly.

The shopkeeper, who had been bent over his abacus, jolted at the question and looked up in surprise.

He adjusted his reading glasses, wondering if he'd misheard. "Y-young customer, what did you ask for?"

"Whale Rubber."

Jiang Hao repeated himself. "The older, the better."

This time the shopkeeper heard him clearly, and his expression turned peculiar.

He looked over their young faces and couldn't help asking, "Do you two... know what Whale Rubber is?"

Jiang Hao smiled faintly. "An adult in my family sent me to buy it."

The shopkeeper was skeptical, but he wasn't about to turn away a customer.

He went into the back room and returned with a wooden box. Inside was a palm-sized lump of dark-gold rubber.

"This Whale Rubber is thirty years old. Fifty Gold Soul Coins."

The shopkeeper made a point of adding, "It's potent stuff. Children mustn't try it on their own."

Jiang Hao leaned in for a sniff, then shook his head. "It isn't old enough. Do you have any that's older?"

The shopkeeper froze. Thirty-year-old Whale Rubber wasn't enough? Just how badly did the adult in this boy's family need it?

After a moment's thought, he lowered his voice. "I do... but it won't be cheap."

"Show me," Jiang Hao said.

The shopkeeper went into an inner room and came back a moment later carrying a sandalwood box.

He lifted the lid, releasing a warm, unusual fragrance.

Inside lay a fist-sized piece of rubber, reddish gold and almost translucent, with a faint glow playing across its surface.

"This Whale Rubber is five hundred years old. Three hundred Gold Soul Coins, firm."

Jiang Hao reached inside his clothes, pulled out a bulging money pouch, and poured its contents onto the counter with a clatter.

Gleaming Gold Soul Coins formed a small mound, at least four or five hundred of them.

The shopkeeper stared, wide-eyed.