Huisinuo's Gift

"Brother San, which school are we signing up for?"

Xiao Wu came skipping over to Tang San, her graduation certificate in hand.

"I've been thinking about it these past few days. With our talent and strength, we could get into any academy."

Tang San sat at his desk, leafing through the academy directory that Notting Junior Academy had given every graduating student.

It listed the advanced Soul Master academies throughout the Heaven Dou Empire.

Each academy's background, address, and contact details were laid out clearly.

Tang San turned the pages one by one until he reached the end, then flipped back to the beginning. His gaze settled on Spirit Hall Academy and Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Hmm... Spirit Hall Academy is the best academy on the continent. Its faculty is exceptionally strong. You might even see Titled Douluo and Soul Douluo teaching there..."

Titled Douluo? Experts at that level actually taught classes? Panic stirred in Xiao Wu's heart, and she quickly shook her head.

"Brother San, I've looked at that academy. I don't like it much. Let's choose another one."

With a firm hand, Xiao Wu turned the directory page for Spirit Hall Academy.

She pressed a finger against the name Heaven Dou Royal Academy. "How about we go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Brother San?"

Tang San rubbed his chin. "That could work. Although Heaven Dou Royal Academy belongs to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, its students aren't all nobles. Plenty come from humble families like ours, or are the children of ordinary Soul Masters.

"We might learn a lot there."

Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, his eyes crinkling. "Let's see just how different noble Soul Masters are from ordinary ones like us."

Xiao Wu's taut nerves eased. She had no intention of going to Spirit Hall Academy to court death.

Spirit Hall Academy stood in Spirit City. Even if those Titled Douluo never bothered teaching there, more than twenty Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall walked the city every day. Running into any one of them could mean life or death for Xiao Wu.

She did not want to become someone else's Soul Ring and Soul Bone.

"Then it's settled."

Tang San took Xiao Wu's hand, and they left Dorm Seven, heading out of Nuoding Academy.

The road ahead was long and mountainous. They still needed supplies.

"Brother San, is that Jin Yang up ahead?"

Xiao Wu pointed at the distant figure faintly glowing gold.

"Why bother with him? Come on, let's buy what we need. We'll be going our separate ways soon anyway."

At the sight of Jin Yang, Tang San pulled Xiao Wu into a nearby alley and took another route.

After four years of beatings from Jin Yang, Tang San had had arrogance and impatience beaten right out of him.

He truly could not understand how anyone could train his body to be as strong as a Soul Beast's.

Even his Sleeve Arrow could not pierce Jin Yang's skin.

Tang San could not even use the Purple Demon Eye to make out his movements.

It was not because Jin Yang moved too fast. Once Tang San activated the Purple Demon Eye, Jin Yang looked like a moving sun, too dazzling to gaze at directly.

Blinding golden light filled his vision until everything before his eyes went white.

At first, Tang San could still use Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to deflect Jin Yang's force and hold his own. But as they grew stronger, Jin Yang's strength increased until the technique was of little use.

One force broke ten thousand techniques. The saying might as well have been written for Jin Yang.

Moves? Footwork? Before absolute strength and defense, none of it mattered.

Fortunately, Douluo Continent was vast. Perhaps Tang San would never run into him again.

At that thought, Tang San smiled in relief.

Xiao Wu turned her head toward him.

"It's nothing. Let's keep going."

Walking ahead, Jin Yang noticed neither Tang San nor Xiao Wu.

He had received his graduation certificate today and was in a fine mood. Humming a tune, he headed toward Spirit Hall.

Inside Spirit Hall, Huisinuo was already settled in his office.

Six years had passed. Huisinuo's hair had turned entirely white, and his back had grown more stooped.

He was still in good spirits, though. Retiring at Spirit Hall in this small city gave him little to worry about.

As long as he cultivated peacefully and nourished his body with Soul Power, extending his life was no problem.

Knock, knock, knock!

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a young man entered. He looked about fourteen or fifteen, tall and sturdy, his fitted clothes unable to hide his muscles.

His half-long golden hair hung loose, framing a handsome face with sharp, well-defined features. Though he wore a smile and still had the softness of youth, there was something dangerous about him.

It was Jin Yang.

"Hello, Senior Huisinuo."

"Jin Yang, why so polite today? Since when do you stand on ceremony with me?"

Deacon Huisinuo smiled and pointed to a chair nearby.

"Sit, sit. Don't just stand there. You're never usually this proper."

Huisinuo winked teasingly.

At that, Jin Yang dropped the act.

"Come on, is the recommendation letter ready? I can hardly wait. It's my first time getting one."

Jin Yang rubbed his hands together excitedly.

"What's the rush? I prepared it ages ago. Poor old me, though. I won't have anyone to keep me company anymore."

Huisinuo lowered his head in feigned dejection, peeking at Jin Yang from the corner of his eye.

"It's not like I'm never coming back. I'll visit during the holidays, won't I? My home's in Nuoding City. Where could I run off to?"

Jin Yang sounded helpless.

"You promised, then. It's a deal. Come back and keep this old man company during the holidays." Huisinuo broke into laughter at once.

Huisinuo handed Jin Yang an envelope.

Jin Yang felt its thickness, then tucked it carefully inside his clothes for safekeeping.

"Come on, want to go fishing?"

"Let's go!"

They picked up the fishing gear from Huisinuo's office and headed straight for the stream behind Spirit Hall.

"Have you got everything ready?" Huisinuo asked Jin Yang as he tossed out the bait he had prepared to draw in fish.

"Everything's been ready for ages. I've just been waiting for this day."

"You really are eager to leave."

"Of course. Nuoding City is so small. I'm thirteen now; it's time I got out and saw the world. I've never been anywhere else."

Longing shone on Jin Yang's face.

Huisinuo smiled at him and took a bracelet from his pocket.

Its style looked old, but it had been so well kept that its owner must have cared for it meticulously.

"This is for you."

Huisinuo placed the bracelet firmly in Jin Yang's hand.