Meeting Young Tang San

Inside a hotel in Nuoding City, Yang Xiu studied the system mission that had just appeared. A week had passed since Hong Tian obtained his Soul Ring, and Yang Xiu had spent every day sparring with Hua Xiong. Hua Xiong had not used his full strength, of course. Otherwise, no matter how powerful the protagonist was, he would have been finished in one move. Even so, Yang Xiu's progress had astonished Hua Xiong. His talent for battle was extraordinary. At the same level of strength, Yang Xiu could now have killed the man he had been a week ago in an instant. His mastery of the Nine Yin Manual and his Soul Ring abilities had improved by leaps and bounds.

"Meet Tang San for the first time and begin changing Tang San's strength." That was his current system mission. Yang Xiu was still puzzled: helping Hong Tian obtain a Soul Ring had triggered a mission, yet its reward was a Martial Strength Pill meant specifically for Tang San.

"System, you're such a dog."

The words "for Tang San only" had left Yang Xiu brooding for ages. He was still seven levels short of level fifty for the second mission. He admired Tang San, but he was not generous enough to give something so valuable to a stranger. The system was just too much of a dog.

"Host, don't be angry. Your reward for completing this mission isn't bad either." "That's true, but I'm still a little annoyed," Yang Xiu said.

The mission reward was indeed a Soul Power Pill and a Beginner Summoning Card. The pill could raise his level by one or two, and he could summon another person at Soul Emperor level or above. Thinking of that, Yang Xiu could only sigh.

Yang Xiu went to the room where Hong Tian and his father were staying and knocked. Hong Tian opened the door.

"Is something wrong, Sect Master?"

Yang Xiu said, "Take this money and these drawings to a tailor's shop and have our Sect's uniforms made. Oh, and have a blacksmith make the badges. Order enough for a hundred people first. Hua Xiong and I are going to visit Nuoding City Academy." With that, Yang Xiu tossed him a bag of gold coins. He had earned them by selling materials from the Soul Beasts they had killed. The system shop sold clothing, but it was too expensive, and purchases required Soul Coins. He did not have a single one. Even the clothes he wore had been a gift from the system: a set of antique-style Hanfu with a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon embroidered on the front and his Martial Soul, the Dragon Soul Spear, on the back. There was no badge. The drawings he had just given Hong Tian included Hanfu designs: a black five-clawed dragon for the men and a blooming peony for the women, though the women's version had no other pattern. There were also Suit designs. He was preparing for either possibility. If they could not be graceful scholars and beauties who looked ready to float into the heavens, they could become thugs in Suits. The Suits all had the same design, in black or white, with a small Dragon Soul Spear embroidered on the chest. Of course, no one would know it was his Martial Soul. As for the badge, it would feature a national treasure. That was right—the national treasure that had sold out Chiyou. It was also the Yanhuang people's national treasure: the Giant Panda.

At the gate of Nuoding City Academy, Hua Xiong explained why they had come. Nothing as absurd as what Tang San had experienced happened. Judging by Yang Xiu's and Hua Xiong's clothes, the guards knew these were people they could not afford to offend. After a few simple questions, they let them in, and one guard even led them to find Tang San. After half an hour of asking around, they finally found him training with Xiao Wu on Back Mountain. Tang San and Xiao Wu stopped when they saw visitors approaching.

Tang San really did look perfectly ordinary at this point. He had none of the beauty he would have after the Blue Silver Emperor awakened. Yes, I thought he was beautiful, not handsome.

"May I ask what you want?" Tang San said. In truth, he had been stunned by Yang Xiu's Hanfu and the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon on it. As someone who had crossed over to this world, he recognized the heritage and totem of his people from his previous life. But he did not show his shock.

"Sect Master, that girl is a Soul Beast Transformation. Should I kill her?" Hua Xiong suddenly asked through a voice transmission. Yang Xiu glanced at Xiao Wu and gave Hua Xiong a slight shake of his head. He had naturally known Xiao Wu was a Soul Beast. Even setting aside the fact that she would become Tang San's wife, she had taken human form, and Yang Xiu regarded her as a person. He bore her no grudge and had no reason to kill her. Yang Xiu was not like Bibi Dong, a woman so blinded by hatred that she would do anything for power.

Yang Xiu said, "We came to see you about two things. First, I have something to give you.

"Second, I'd like to invite you and the girl beside you to join my Sect." As he spoke, Yang Xiu tossed Tang San a bottle containing the Martial Strength Pill and smiled at Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu looked from Yang Xiu to Hua Xiong and grew frightened. She hid behind Tang San. She had the uneasy feeling that they had recognized her, and she peered at them with only half her head showing.

"What is this? And why should I join your Sect?" Tang San asked cautiously.

Yang Xiu said, "You wouldn't understand if I explained what it is. Think of it as an Elixir that increases Soul Power without any side effects. As for joining the Sect, I'm only asking, though I do hope you'll join. If you do, you can lead the Sect's Hidden Weapon Hall. I don't think that conflicts with your dream. You should know what Hidden Weapons are. As for why I know about them, look at my clothes and you should understand. But I can't tell you how I know you use Hidden Weapons."

"Oh, and this is Hua Xiong. He's from the Three Kingdoms. That should clear up any doubts you have."

Tang San was stunned and excited. Meeting someone from home in a foreign land—he was only a step away from the old saying about countrymen meeting with tears in both eyes. Apart from a handful of people, no one here had ever made him feel warm. He had always been lonely in this world. As he looked at Yang Xiu, the Yanhuang blood flowing through his veins told him that Yang Xiu was not lying.

He seriously considered joining Yang Xiu's Sect. Yang Xiu had said he could lead the Hidden Weapon Hall, which would let him spread the Tang Sect Hidden Weapons throughout this world. But that was only part of the reason. More important, he would be able to see people from home in the Sect. He did not know why Hua Xiong was still alive, but since he himself had crossed over, he did not dwell on it. He would not have found an answer anyway.

"All right, I'll join. What's our Sect called, and who's the Sect Master?"

Yang Xiu said, "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Yang Xiu, Sect Master of the Flame Emperor Sect. From now on, you'll lead the Hidden Weapon Hall. You'll have to recruit its members yourself, but I won't force you to teach anyone."

Yang Xiu looked at Xiao Wu behind Tang San. "And you?"

Xiao Wu's head was spinning. She had listened to them say a great deal she could not understand, but seeing Tang San so excited and sensing no immediate threat, she grew lively again. In the end, she said shyly, "Wherever Xiao San goes, I'll go." The moment she finished speaking, the system sounded in Yang Xiu's mind.

"Ding! Five Sect members with Innate Soul Power of level six or above have been gathered. Sect established. Rewards issued: five Innate Soul Power Pills, one character summoning card for Martial Strength above ninety-five, one Advanced Summoning Card, one Random Summoning Card, and ten thousand Soul Coins."

"I didn't expect to complete the Sect mission just like that." Yang Xiu was excited by the lavish rewards, but now was not the time to examine them.

"Tang San, you're almost level twenty. Train hard over the next few days. Once you reach level twenty, I'll have someone from the Sect take you to obtain a Soul Ring. Wait until you return to use the Martial Strength Pill. Then you'll understand what it does." The mission reward depended on it, so Yang Xiu made sure to tell him.

"Yes, Sect Master."

"Oh, there's something I'd like to say to Xiao Wu. Could you give us a moment?" Tang San looked at Yang Xiu, then at Xiao Wu. Finally, he nodded and walked some distance away.

"Little Rabbit, don't you know how dangerous the human world is?" Yang Xiu asked Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu tensed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Yang Xiu did not answer her directly. He pointed at Hua Xiong. "He's a Titled Douluo." Xiao Wu's face turned pale. She was terrified. "A-are you going to kill me?" Despair and regret filled her eyes. In front of a Titled Douluo, she did not even have the courage to run.

Seeing how badly he had frightened her, Yang Xiu said, "Why would I kill you? Your Soul Ring and Soul Bone may be tempting, but you've taken human form, you're Xiao San's friend, and most importantly, you've joined the Flame Emperor Sect. From today on, no one will take your Soul Ring or Soul Bone—not even Spirit Hall. Don't worry. I won't tell Xiao San about this either." Yang Xiu sounded commanding when he spoke of Spirit Hall. Then he added, "For now, I don't have anything that can conceal your aura. But this place is remote, so you probably won't be discovered. You'll have to leave eventually, though. Before you do, come back to the Sect. You'll learn where it is later. When you need to form a Soul Ring, you can use a visit to the Sect as your excuse."

Xiao Wu wiped at eyes that had nearly filled with tears. She gazed at Yang Xiu, her big eyes blinking, then broke into a happy smile. "Thank you, Sect Master." She changes her expression so quickly. Even a female Soul Beast is like that.

"Mm, no need to thank me. From now on, you and Xiao San can call me big brother. I know you're a Soul Beast Transformation, but you've only been human for eight years, so you're younger than me. Yes, that settles it. Your big brother will protect you both from now on."

"Hee-hee, thank you, Brother Xiu. I'll tell Xiao San."

"Go find your Xiao San. He must be getting anxious. Tell him to train hard. We'll be leaving now, but we'll be at the Good Dream Hotel for the next few days. Have him come find me when he reaches level twenty," Yang Xiu said with a smile. Xiao Wu blushed at his words, but she still bounded off to find Tang San.