Breakfast at Nuoding Academy was never a quiet affair, and today was no exception.
What gossip could possibly trigger more discussion than the exploits of a Titled Douluo?
In the canteen, the students gathered in small clusters, all talking about the events that had unfolded outside Spirit City.
Someone stood on a stool, gesturing with an imaginary hammer.
"Just like that! That elder from the Worship Hall went flying shield and all, and smashed straight through the South Gate of Spirit City!"
"If the South Gate was smashed through, how did those merchant caravans leave the city?" someone nearby asked.
"They repaired it afterward, didn't they?"
"Are you listening or not? If you're not going to listen, get lost!"
Tang San carried his bowl of porridge and sat down in an empty corner.
Xiao Wu followed him, placing her plate down opposite him: "Aren't you going to listen? They're talking about the Clear Sky Douluo, you know."
"I know."
Tang San scooped up a mouthful of porridge.
His father had left Nuoding City some days ago, and there had been no news since.
Now news had arrived, yet he was hearing it from the mouths of a bunch of classmates.
"Aren't you curious?"
Xiao Wu rested her chin on her hands as she looked at Tang San. "By the way, since your dad is so awesome, why did he send you to the academy?"
Tang Hao had not hidden anything when he first met Tang San, and Xiao Wu had happened to bump into them, so she knew Tang San's identity.
"He said he had his own business to attend to, and I have my own path to walk."
"That sounds really reasonable, truly worthy of a Titled Douluo!"
Tang San paused in his eating and looked at Xiao Wu. "You think what he said is right?"
"Of course it is."
Xiao Wu's tone was breezy. "Even though you're father and son, neither of you is an appendage to the other."
"If he kept you by his side all the time, what kind of person would you turn into?"
"Become the shadow of the Clear Sky Douluo? Or turn into some spoiled young master?"
Xiao Wu's innocent and breezy tone made Tang San feel instantly enlightened!
In truth, he had harbored a bit of resentment in his heart all along.
Clearly his dad was so strong, yet he had insisted on pretending to be an ordinary person, making him suffer for so many years.
He could clearly have been like those second-generation heirs in the Tang Sect from his past life, able to obtain anything without the slightest effort.
Yet if things turned out that way, would he himself end up becoming just like those people?
"Xiao Wu, thank you."
"Don't mention it, we're good friends." Xiao Wu narrowed her eyes as she looked at him.
The noise from the table by the window grew louder and louder.
"What's a little fight? I heard the Clear Sky Douluo went to Spirit City this time to propose marriage to the Pope!"
"Isn't the Pope a member of Spirit Hall? Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect are enemies, how could he dare to go?"
"He's the Clear Sky Douluo, what is there that he wouldn't dare do?"
"Did the Pope agree?"
"Who knows that? But Lord Pope hasn't offered any explanation all this time, so maybe she's already agreed!"
"Third Brother, your dad seems to have found you a new mom."
Xiao Wu ticked things off on her fingers. "Your new mom is the Pope of Spirit Hall, so will you not be able to collect the working-student subsidy from now on?"
Tang San was stunned. Is that how it works?
Yet what she said didn't seem wrong either.
Tang San thought about it seriously and said, "I'm a working student, and the subsidy is distributed according to rank, so I should still be able to collect it."
"Should? You're not even sure?"
"I've never seen this kind of situation, so there's really no way to be sure."
"Hasn't Spirit Hall ever had a Pope's son collect the subsidy before?"
"I don't know either."
The two stared at each other for a moment, and Xiao Wu burst out laughing.
Only then did Tang San react, realizing he had actually been seriously considering this matter.
"Were you teasing me on purpose?"
Xiao Wu stuck out her tongue.
Tang San feigned anger, picking up his spoon as if to tap her with it.
On the other side of the canteen, someone banged on a table and stood up.
"I'm telling you, if they really make a match of it, won't Tang Hao have to live in Spirit City?"
"What makes you say that? Can't the Pope live in the Clear Sky Sect?"
"She's the Pope! If the Pope doesn't live in Spirit City, is she supposed to commute back to work every day?"
"It shouldn't be a big problem, Titled Douluos fly fast anyway."
"This isn't a question of whether flying is fast or slow, it's a question of who's marrying whom!"
"If the Pope marries Tang Hao, will Spirit Hall listen to the Clear Sky Sect from now on?"
The students argued more and more spiritedly, to the point that no one even brought up the topic of the South Gate being smashed through.
Xiao Wu listened with relish, turning to ask Tang San, "Third Brother, where is your home?"
"Holy Soul Village."
"Do you think Lord Pope will come back to the village to live with your dad?"
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Even with the memories of two lifetimes, Tang San had no idea how to answer this question.
If the Pope really went to live in the village, would Grandfather Jack be scared to death?
And yet if his Dad married into Spirit Hall as the wife's family, would he end up having to change his very surname in the future?
He shook his head, deciding not to dwell on the question anymore.
"She hasn't agreed yet."
Xiao Wu said with absolute conviction, "She'll definitely agree."
"How do you know?"
"I've seen your dad, he has qualities that are very attractive."
Very attractive qualities?
Tang San pondered. Could acting decadent and occasionally running his mouth be the ultimate secret weapon for attracting the opposite sex?
Someone at the table by the window suddenly asked, "Doesn't the Clear Sky Douluo have a son?"
Tang San's hand gave a jerk, and his spoon struck the rim of the bowl with a soft clink.
"He does," another person replied. "I heard he's about our age."
"Then won't he be the Pope's son from now on?"
"The Pope hasn't even agreed yet, what are you rushing for?"
"What's wrong with me worrying on his behalf?"
"It seems the Pope also has a daughter."
"Then won't they become non-blood-related siblings? I'm so envious!"
The whole table burst into laughter.
Tang San kept his head down, drinking his porridge mouthful by mouthful.
Until he finished the remaining porridge, he picked up his empty bowl and stood up. "Let's go to class."
"Can you still pay attention in class today?"
"I have to try."
As it turned out, no sooner had the first class begun than he discovered he was not the only one who had to try.
The lecturing teacher wrote the characters for "Tool Martial Soul" on the blackboard, only to be immediately stumped by a student.
"Teacher, can the Clear Sky Hammer really send a ninety-second-rank Titled Douluo flying with a single smash?"
The teacher was silent for a moment. "Today we are discussing the classification of Tool Martial Souls."
"The Clear Sky Hammer is a Tool Martial Soul too."
"It is." The teacher put down his chalk. "But I didn't witness that battle, so I can't tell you how many hammers he used."
"Then do you know if the Pope agreed to the marriage proposal?"
"That is even less of a subject for today's lesson."
The classroom dissolved into laughter.
Tang San had originally been taking notes, but hearing this, his pen tip paused as well.
Xiao Wu passed a piece of paper over from the side, on which was drawn a little figure holding up a hammer.
Next to it was written a small line of text: Do you think if they have a younger brother for you, they'll name him Tang Si?
Tang San glanced at her.
Xiao Wu lay slumped over the desk, her shoulders shaking nonstop.
Tang San flipped the paper over and wrote on the back: Let's wait until Tang Si actually exists before talking about it.
After writing it, he couldn't help but chuckle himself.
The teacher tapped the blackboard: "Tang San, Xiao Wu, do the two of you find today's class that amusing?"
The two immediately sat up straight.
"No, Teacher," Tang San replied.
Detestable Dad, just where on earth have you run off to? You promised that we would discuss anything that came up.
Before you continue