Hearing Lu Xuan say that, Xiao Wu cried even harder.
"Boo-hoo-hoo~"
"But it's my first time being human, too!"
Xiao Wu's sobbing grated on Lu Xuan's nerves, so he could only muster his patience and make her a promise.
"Enough!"
"As long as you stay obediently by my side, hardly anyone can hurt you."
Xiao Wu asked, "Not even people from the Upper Three Sects?"
Lu Xuan replied, "No!"
"What about Spirit Hall?"
"No! As long as you don't run off, no one can lay a finger on you."
At those words, Xiao Wu visibly froze for a moment.
Her mind couldn't quite catch up, and an emotion she had never felt before suddenly spread through her heart.
Ever since she was little, only her mother had ever made her such a promise. Now, there was a "teacher" as well...
At that moment, Lu Xuan's image filled Xiao Wu's mind.
The air fell still. Through tear-filled eyes, the girl gazed at his fair face, as though trying to confirm the sincerity of his promise in those clear eyes-or perhaps she simply wanted to look at him.
Lu Xuan felt a little awkward, but he had no idea what to say.
Until... a faint voice came from outside the door.
"Teacher, your disciple Tang San has a few questions he would like to ask."
Tang San's voice broke the silence through the closed door.
Lu Xuan released Xiao Wu from his comforting embrace and said toward the door, "Later. Your teacher is a little tired."
Outside the door.
Rejected, Tang San's smile abruptly froze, and the hands he had been about to use to push the door open hung suspended in midair.
Why... why?
Teacher is clearly comforting Xiao Wu. He clearly has time. Why won't he pay attention to me?
Tang San couldn't understand it!
Just now, he had learned that his teacher actually possessed twin martial souls, just like him.
Moreover, his teacher had struck fear into a veteran Titled Douluo with a single sword strike.
If he received his teacher's guidance and began cultivating his second martial soul, wouldn't he be able to become like his teacher someday?
Tang San had come to Lu Xuan's door full of joy and excitement, hoping to ask about cultivating twin martial souls.
Yet he had been turned away!
Unwilling to give up, Tang San tentatively asked again.
"Teacher, I wanted to ask about twin martial souls."
"Later!"
This time, a clear hint of impatience had entered Lu Xuan's voice.
Tang San's brows drew even tighter at that!
Just then, Ning Fengzhi and the others arrived.
Ning Fengzhi, who was leading them, saw Tang San and said:
"You must be His Eminence Lu Xuan's disciple, Tang San."
Tang San turned around and immediately saw a gentle smile, warm as a spring breeze.
He had never encountered such friendliness before. Without realizing it, he began to feel a little more fond of Ning Fengzhi.
"Yes, I am Tang San."
Knowing that the man before him belonged to the Upper Three Sects, Tang San bowed slightly to Ning Fengzhi.
At the sight, Ning Fengzhi's smile indeed grew a little more sincere.
"My young friend, we're about to leave, and we thought we would bid His Eminence farewell."
He glanced at the tightly shut door, then back at Tang San. "Is His Eminence unavailable at the moment?"
Tang San looked a little embarrassed. He thought for quite a while but couldn't decide how to answer.
After all, he didn't dare speak on Lu Xuan's behalf. In the end, Ning Fengzhi spoke first. "If His Eminence is unavailable, never mind. We won't disturb his rest any further."
"Sorry for the trouble, but when you have a moment, please pass along a message for me. Tell His Eminence that he is welcome to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect whenever he has time. I will welcome him at any time."
"Of course, that goes for you as well, my young friend."
Ning Fengzhi's gentle courtesy left Tang San feeling overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. Growing up, Tang Hao had neglected him, the children around him had shunned him, and even after he started school, Lu Xuan had shown him little warmth. Only Ning Fengzhi, standing before him, made Tang San feel truly welcome.
Looking at those smiling eyes, Tang San suddenly broke into a grin.
"Thank you, Uncle Ning."
Ning Fengzhi was briefly taken aback. He hadn't expected Tang San to suddenly address him so affectionately.
Still... this was a perfect opportunity.
"My young friend, this is a greeting gift from your Uncle Ning. Come visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect when you have the chance."
Ning Fengzhi took a card worth ten thousand gold soul coins from inside his clothes and pressed it straight into Tang San's hand. Before Tang San could refuse, he turned and walked away from Lu Xuan's door.
Chen Xin understood his intent. The three instantly turned into streaks of light and flew into the sky, leaving Tang San no chance whatsoever to refuse.
The air fell still.
Little Tang San simply tipped his head back and gazed at the sky, his grip tightening slightly around the gold soul coin card.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect...
Why does it feel as though Teacher treats me worse than a stranger I've only just met?
A breeze swept past, scattering fallen leaves across the courtyard. They finally drifted into the nearby lake and sank beneath the water.
Tang San's thoughts also wandered further despite himself.
Late at night.
The moon shone bright among sparse stars, and a cool breeze brushed gently past.
In the living room, Lu Xuan put on his coat and spoke to Xiao Wu, who was fiddling with a storage soul tool.
"I'm going out for a while. I might be back very late tonight, or I might not come back at all."
"I'll leave you a first soul skill. Stay home and cultivate properly."
As he spoke, he was about to summon his Blue Silver Emperor martial soul.
But like a frightened little rabbit, Xiao Wu sprang off the sofa and threw her arms around Lu Xuan.
"Can you take me with you? I don't dare stay home alone."
Lu Xuan said, "Uh... isn't that a bit much?"
Xiao Wu tilted her head up.
"Of course it isn't!"
"Too many powerful people have visited the academy lately. I'm afraid my identity will be exposed."
"Please, take me with you."
Lu Xuan thought Xiao Wu had a point. If Yu Xiaogang brought Yu Yuanzhen back while he was away, her identity really could be exposed.
"All right, then. Behave yourself while you're with me."
"Hehe! Thank you, Teacher."
Xiao Wu beamed with delight.
And so, after leaving the house, the two turned into a streak of light and flew into the sky.
On the way, Xiao Wu asked Lu Xuan curiously, "Teacher, where are we going this late at night?"
Lu Xuan replied, "To find something."
About a quarter of an hour later, Lu Xuan finally sensed a faint stirring in his bloodline as he flew through the air.
He looked a short distance ahead and, sure enough, saw a rushing waterfall reflecting flecks of silver beneath the moonlight.
Lu Xuan thought to himself:
I wonder if Tang Hao really is too ashamed to face Ah Yin, or what.
Even after being injured that badly, he still hasn't moved Ah Yin elsewhere. His mind really works in peculiar ways.
That was right!
Lu Xuan had come out tonight to find Ah Yin and that hundred thousand year soul bone.
His first martial soul was the Blue Silver Emperor, so the hundred thousand year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone couldn't have suited him better. Now that he possessed sufficient strength, he naturally had to seize the opportunities within his reach as quickly as possible.
Lu Xuan had already planned everything: first, take Ah Yin and the soul bone, then head to the Sunset Forest to find immortal herbs.
Whether these things would significantly improve his strength or not, having them was at least better than having nothing.
Besides, didn't he still have other students?
Soon, the two passed through the silver waterfall and entered the cave.
As expected, Xiao Wu clung tightly to Lu Xuan again.
"It's so dark in here!"
Lu Xuan felt rather helpless. Even his previous life and current life combined amounted to only a fraction of Xiao Wu's years. He wasn't afraid of the dark, so what did she have to fear?
"Let me ask you something."
"Are you really afraid of the dark, or are you pretending?"
"Did you live those hundred thousand years before taking human form for nothing? Why do you seem so childish?"
Before you continue