Grandmaster showed no surprise at the sight of Xiao Wu, as though he had known all along that this would happen.
I never expected Bibi Dong to have become so clever and perceptive.
Grandmaster sighed inwardly.
He knew Bibi Dong must have been keeping an eye on him. After all, he held the Dharma Sutra. He did not know whether lingering affection was the reason she had never come to take it from him over the years.
But he knew that day would come sooner or later.
He simply had not expected it to arrive at such a coincidental moment.
All I wanted was to minimize the loss of the gold of life, yet I actually drew Bibi Dong's attention.
It must have been because of that book, Supreme Principles of World Ordering.
Bibi Dong had most likely come for the Dharma Sutra, though Tang San was another possibility. Xiao Wu, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, was probably just an unexpected windfall.
For now, however, keeping himself and his disciple safe took priority.
Tang San frowned at the unconscious Xiao Wu. Though he did not understand the situation, he keenly sensed that this was not the time for him to step forward.
Chrysanthemum Douluo was in excellent spirits. He had never expected a simple errand to net him a hundred-thousand-year soul beast that had taken human form.
And he might even get to eliminate the descendant of one of Spirit Hall's greatest enemies.
Tang Hao's son: Tang San.
Chrysanthemum Douluo glanced at Tang San standing behind Grandmaster and smiled. This boy really was remarkably calm.
If he grew up, he would become an outstanding soul master sooner or later. Whether he had a future at all, however, depended on what happened next.
"Lord Chrysanthemum Douluo, I shall take my leave."
Seeing that things were taking a bad turn, Fa Yan excused himself and left the room.
No one stopped him.
Compared with what they were about to discuss, Fa Yan was merely an insignificant minor figure.
"Grandmaster, it's been a long time."
Though Grandmaster was only a soul grandmaster, Chrysanthemum Douluo did not put on airs as a titled douluo.
After all, his superior had specifically instructed him not to harm a hair on Grandmaster's head.
Besides, knowing Grandmaster's notorious reputation, Chrysanthemum Douluo had no interest in touching him. It would only dirty his hands.
"Your Eminence Chrysanthemum Douluo, may I ask what virtue or ability a worthless man like me possesses to warrant your visit?"
"Grandmaster, with your intelligence, you should know perfectly well the true identity of that disciple you've taken in."
"Xiao San is merely an ordinary villager. I know Blue Silver Grass capable of cultivation is unusual, but surely it doesn't warrant Your Eminence coming here in person."
"No, no, no. Blue Silver Grass capable of cultivation is quite rare, and with such a powerful first soul skill, even I find myself tempted."
Did that Fa Yan even tell him about the soul skill?
Grandmaster frowned. That young man truly held nothing back. Still, for the Pope to have asked about soul skills, wasn't she being far too suspicious?
"If not for this boy's identity, I really would like to take this remarkable Blue Silver Grass boy under my wing," Chrysanthemum Douluo said, half joking.
Tang San was utterly puzzled. Wasn't he merely a blacksmith's son? Why had even a titled douluo from Spirit Hall been stirred into action?
Tang San looked questioningly at Grandmaster, then at Chrysanthemum Douluo, without the slightest clue.
"May I ask, Your Eminence Chrysanthemum Douluo, just what identity could Xiao San possibly have?"
Grandmaster asked calmly, neither servile nor overbearing.
"Still playing dumb?" Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression soured. He immediately unleashed his pressure as a titled douluo, directing it precisely at Tang San.
In an instant, cold sweat covered Tang San's back. A sense of impending death welled up inside him, and he instinctively released his martial soul.
"It really is Blue Silver Grass, but this feeling..."
Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at the Blue Silver Grass martial soul brimming with vitality, somewhat surprised. At the same time, another question arose in his mind.
Where's the Clear Sky Hammer?
Doesn't he have twin martial souls?
Under my pressure, a boy who is only a one-ring soul master should be unable to endure it and summon his strongest martial soul outright.
So why is there only Blue Silver Grass?
And... he hasn't panicked. He's barely holding on.
Watching Tang San remain standing despite his violently trembling legs, a barely perceptible trace of appreciation appeared in Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes.
"Your Eminence Chrysanthemum Douluo, surely you understand now. Xiao San is merely a somewhat unusual Blue Silver Grass soul master."
Grandmaster released his martial soul to help offset some of the titled douluo's pressure on Tang San, though he himself was hardly comfortable.
The manifested Luo Sanpao remained on guard, glaring fiercely at Chrysanthemum Douluo.
"Years ago, Spirit Hall's previous Pope and several of its experts died at Clear Sky Douluo's hands."
Chrysanthemum Douluo ignored Grandmaster and continued speaking.
"That Clear Sky Douluo's name was Tang Hao."
Tang San's brow twitched. He had learned about the major sects before, so he was not surprised that the two shared a name. But another suspicion arose in his mind.
"After that battle, Tang Hao vanished without a trace. According to the intelligence at the time, his wife should have been about to give birth."
"If his son survived back then, he should be about the same age as this young fellow."
"And, as coincidence would have it, Holy Soul Village is the closest village to the site of that battle."
"By another coincidence, there's a blacksmith there surnamed Tang, named Tang Hao, and he has a son named Tang San."
"So, young Tang San, do you think all these coincidences really are nothing more than coincidences?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Tang San with a smile.
Tang San swallowed. He could not see a shred of goodwill in the smile on Chrysanthemum Douluo's face.
"Your Eminence Chrysanthemum Douluo, forgive my bluntness, but if my father really were that Clear Sky Douluo, he should be nearby protecting me."
Tang San forced his voice up and spoke each word distinctly.
That was a reasonable point. If what Chrysanthemum Douluo said was true, Tang Hao, who was at odds with Spirit Hall, could not possibly have allowed Chrysanthemum Douluo to appear before Tang San.
Chrysanthemum Douluo had considered this earlier too, which was why he had searched and investigated the surrounding area to avoid being caught off guard by Tang Hao.
It was during that search that he had discovered Xiao Wu.
"Besides, just because my surname is Tang, does that mean I must belong to the Clear Sky Sect?"
"My teacher's surname is Yu. Does that mean he must belong to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo thought, Your teacher really does.
"Besides, Your Eminence Chrysanthemum Douluo, you saw for yourself that I don't have a Clear Sky Hammer martial soul. If my father really were Clear Sky Douluo, he must have already disowned me."
"After all, sects only recognize martial souls. I don't have the Clear Sky Hammer, so even if you kidnap me, it'll only be wasted effort."
Faced with Tang San's string of arguments, Chrysanthemum Douluo smiled helplessly. What a silver-tongued little brat.
Unfortunately, the Pope's reach extended to the heavens, and she had already confirmed that Tang San was the son of Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao.
Still, Chrysanthemum Douluo found it strange. The Pope had told him to be wary of this boy, that he was exceedingly cunning and harbored dark schemes. If he let his guard down, he might suffer a major loss.
Yet all Chrysanthemum Douluo saw before him was a clever, sincere little boy.
What exactly was going on?