In the blink of an eye, a year had hurried past. School was about to let out for the holidays, and at Tang San's insistence, the two brothers decided to go home for a visit. Of course, a certain rabbit came along too.
To prepare for their trip home, Tang San bought a huge pile of things to bring Tang Hao. But Tang Xuan knew Tang Hao had probably already left Holy Soul Village, so he brought nothing. The three raced along in Tang Xuan's carriage and soon arrived at Holy Soul Village. Sure enough, when they reached home, there was no sign of Tang Hao. Tang Xuan had no idea when he had left; all he had left the brothers was a letter.
Tang San's initial excitement turned into deep disappointment, giving him the idea of becoming sworn siblings with Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu had no objection either. After a year together, she had grown deeply dependent on Tang San. The only thing she refused to accept was having Tang Xuan as their eldest brother.
Anyone who wanted to be Sister Xiao Wu's eldest brother had to be good at fighting.
Xiao Wu could hardly be blamed for that. Tang Xuan had always been busy cultivating and managing his businesses, and he had almost never shown his strength in front of either of them. In Xiao Wu's eyes, anyone who never fought had to be weak.
Tang Xuan smiled. "Xiao Wu, are you sure you want to fight me? Don't go crying when you lose!"
"Hmph, we don't know who'll win yet! Watch out, I'll beat your face into a big pig's head!" Xiao Wu said defiantly.
"Tang San, you're coming with me!" Standing beside her, Tang San felt utterly helpless at her words (՞•Ꙫ•՞)ﾉ????. What does this have to do with me? Do you think I don't know how strong Brother Xuan is? I don't want a beating! Reluctance was written all over his face.
"All right, Tang San, you join in too. Let me see whether you've improved lately," Tang Xuan said casually. Xiao Wu was at rank seventeen, Tang San was at rank eighteen, and he had already reached the peak of rank nineteen.
Now that Tang Xuan had spoken, Tang San had to step forward, however unwilling he was. Sigh, let's see whether Xiao Wu and I can force Brother Xuan to use his full strength. Every time I've sparred with him before, I've lost. With Xiao Wu helping this time, even if we can't beat Tang Xuan, we should at least manage a draw.
The three went to the place where Tang Xuan and Tang San had first trained. Tang Xuan faced Tang San and Xiao Wu, and the fight was about to begin.
"First Soul Skill: Entanglement!" Tang San tried to restrain Tang Xuan right from the start. "First Soul Skill: Waist Bow!" The two worked in perfect harmony, attacking together.
"Good! Take this!" Tang Xuan shouted in a low voice. One slash cleaved through the surging Blue Silver Grass, and the sharp gleam of his sword drove straight at Tang San, forcing him back. Tang Xuan brought his sword around and struck Xiao Wu's leg with its spine, deflecting her attack. His left hand caught her ankle and flung her away. Xiao Wu was exceptionally flexible; she kicked off a tree and used the force to spring back. Their first round of Martial Soul attacks had achieved little, so Tang San and Xiao Wu switched to fighting Tang Xuan at close quarters. Blow after blow flew back and forth, making for a lively battle.
Even now, Tang Xuan had not used his Soul Skills. They were too lethal, and he would not use them against the two for fear of injuring them by accident.
Fighting Tang Xuan at close quarters only left the two suppressed at every turn. His physique was terrifying, far beyond that of an ordinary person. Xiao Wu sent a spinning kick straight at his forehead, but Tang Xuan casually swept out a streak of sword energy and forced her back. Next came Tang San, whose close-combat techniques were exquisitely refined. Tang Xuan, however, broke through every technique with sheer force-brute strength worked miracles, after all. Although Tang San neutralized some of the force behind Tang Xuan's attacks with Mysterious Jade Hand, he still struggled to bear them and gradually found himself unable to hold his ground.
Seeing Tang Xuan occupied in a fierce exchange with Tang San, Xiao Wu seized the chance to attack him from behind. Tang Xuan noticed, blasted Tang San back with a punch, then turned with his sword raised to meet Xiao Wu. Under the onslaught of his fierce swordplay, Xiao Wu gradually began to falter.
"First Soul Skill: Entanglement!" Seeing that Xiao Wu was outmatched, Tang San used Blue Silver Grass to hold Tang Xuan off briefly and pull her back.
Tang Xuan stood with his sword in hand, looking at Tang San and Xiao Wu. He smiled. "Nice teamwork. Now it's my turn." Keeping this fight going would only waste time. Let's finish it early.
Tang San and Xiao Wu were utterly unable to withstand Tang Xuan's next assault. After a dozen or so exchanges, both had bruised noses and swollen faces.
"Stupid Brother Xuan, you hit so hard! You don't know how to cherish a delicate flower at all," Xiao Wu grumbled, clutching her swollen face. She had also accepted Tang Xuan as their eldest brother.
"Brother, I'm your own little brother! You really didn't hold back," Tang San said gloomily from beside her. You even made my teeth hurt. His cheeks were now so swollen that his face looked lopsided.
Tang Xuan stood to one side in excellent spirits. "I think getting beaten up together suits you two better."
Tang San: ...(´•ω•̥`)
Xiao Wu: ...
Brother Xuan, where are your manners?
With Tang Hao gone, there was little point in Tang Xuan and Tang San staying in the village. The three headed back to the academy together the next day. Their trip home had amounted to little more than going through the motions.
Tang Xuan did not return to the academy, however. Instead, he went straight into town to inspect his businesses.
After making the rounds, he found that all his businesses were thriving, with customers pouring in without end. This made Tang Xuan very happy.
Just then, one of the managers spotted Tang Xuan and hurried over to report to him.
"Where's that old man you mentioned?" The manager had told Tang Xuan that an old man had recently been coming to the shop to eat and drink without paying. Even the shop's Soul Masters could do nothing about him.
"Boss, look, he's right up ahead," the manager said, pointing at a barbecue shop in front of them.
When Tang Xuan arrived at the shop, he saw an old man of around sixty sitting there, eating one skewer of barbecue after another. At least fifty or sixty Wooden Skewers already lay on the table. The old man showed no intention of stopping, and every so often he took a sip of the shop's specially supplied liquor.
Tang Xuan gazed at the old man, lost in thought. Something about him felt far from ordinary. Though past sixty, he brimmed with vigor and was powerfully built, with an air of natural authority about him. According to the manager, the old man had toyed effortlessly with more than a dozen Soul Masters in their twenties and thirties in rank. Tang Xuan had guessed then that he was at least a Soul King. Yet now, standing before him in person, Tang Xuan felt a pressure no less imposing than when he faced Flender. His instincts told him that this seemingly unremarkable old man was immensely powerful. He was very likely a Soul Saint like Flender-and at an even higher rank!
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