Chapter 17

The phantom of Ah Yin's soul appeared on the Seed. Even though it was only a shadow, the longing and love it radiated could still be felt.

Tang San and Ah Yin talked at length like this. Ah Yin told Tang San how hard he had worked all these years, and Tang San told her how much he missed his mother, what he had imagined his mother would be like, and how Ah Yin was exactly the mother he had imagined.

Only when Lan Changsheng sensed how exhausted Ah Yin's soul had become did he step forward and tell Tang San, "Save whatever else you have to say for next time. Your mother is already very tired."

Tang San gazed reluctantly at the Seed in his hand, seemingly still having so much to say, but he also understood that he should let his mother rest properly.

Ah Yin gave Tang San one last reminder. "When I'm not around, you must listen to your uncle, understand?"

Tang San nodded and returned the Seed to Lan Changsheng.

"This is for you." Lan Changsheng took the Lovesick Heartbreak Red out of System Space and placed it in Tang San's hand.

"Lovesick Heartbreak Red!" Tang San cried out in surprise at the Immortal Herb in his hand. This was something he remembered being recorded in the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record!

"I didn't expect you to recognize it. Looks like I don't need to explain anything. This is for you, and also for that little girl by your side," Lan Changsheng said.

"Little girl? Uncle, you mean Xiao Wu, right?" Then, recalling the effects of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Tang San looked at Lan Changsheng in disbelief. "Could it be?"

"That's right." Lan Changsheng nodded. "So I'm leaving this Lovesick Heartbreak Red with you. If that little girl can gain this Immortal Herb's recognition as its master in the future, that will be her good fortune. Whether or not you're the one by her side then, give her the Immortal Herb.

"If she ultimately fails to gain the Immortal Herb's recognition, tell her to call my name to the Blue Silver Grass if she encounters danger. I'll go help her."

Thinking of the consequences his mother had suffered when her identity was exposed, Tang San nodded solemnly.

I never imagined Xiao Wu had this identity too. I'll have to keep a closer eye on things and make sure she isn't exposed, Tang San silently vowed.

After Tang San put away the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Lan Changsheng teleported him back into the academy again. Just as he was about to leave, Tang San asked, "Uncle, what is this Teleportation Soul Skill?"

He had noticed how powerful this skill was the first time they left, but his mind had been entirely on his imminent reunion with his mother.

"Want to learn it? Then cultivate hard. This skill is also part of the Blue Silver Emperor's bloodline inheritance. Once your rank is high enough, you'll naturally learn it."

By the time he said goodbye to Lan Changsheng, it was almost noon. Tang San walked back toward the dormitory alone, planning to find Xiao Wu first. At the thought of having such elusive, ghostlike methods in the future, combined with the Hidden Weapons in his hands, he was filled with fighting spirit and decided to practice the Mysterious Heaven Skill for an extra two hours every day!

"I heard a new work-study student got into a fight with Sun Li from the upper years over there."

"Yeah, in the clearing in front of the cafeteria."

"I heard Sun Li was bullying people from that new student's Dorm Seven. That little girl wanted revenge for her classmates, and the two of them started fighting. You know, that little girl's pretty good. It's been this long, and Sun Li still hasn't beaten her."

Tang San caught the key details: work-study student, Dorm Seven, little girl. Wasn't that Xiao Wu?

He hurriedly ran toward the cafeteria.

"Nice! What a kick!"

"He blocked it. Sun Li didn't make a name for himself among the upper years for nothing."

More and more chatter reached him, occasionally mixed with a girl's sharp cries and deep bear roars.

At that moment, Xiao Wu was using her advantages in agility and speed to circle Sun Li and strike at his responses, constantly harassing him with attacks.

Although Xiao Wu kept him entangled throughout the fight and seemed to hold the initiative, relying on rapid leaps to evade all of Sun Li's attacks and leave his bear paws striking empty air,

against the broad-shouldered, thick-waisted Sun Li, whose Martial Soul was a brown bear, she could no longer easily throw him to the ground using only the strength of her waist and her soft techniques.

But because he lacked agility, Xiao Wu had also circled behind him several times to launch fresh rounds of attacks.

"Sister Xiao Wu, keep it up!"

The others from Dorm Seven cheered Xiao Wu on from the crowd. Among them, Wang Sheng was shouting encouragement despite his bruised, swollen face.

Having just finished a combination of attacks, Xiao Wu was slightly out of breath. Hearing her classmates' cheers, she patted her chest and told them, "Don't worry. Watch me beat this big lumbering bear flat and get revenge for you."

But Sun Li took the opportunity to grab at Xiao Wu, showing no sporting spirit.

"Sister Xiao Wu, watch out!"

Tang San pushed through the crowd and reached the others from Dorm Seven just in time to see this. Without thinking further, he used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to move in front of Xiao Wu, shielding her behind him, and unleashed Mysterious Jade Hand to block Sun Li's attack.

But feeling the slight trembling in his arm, Tang San understood that his opponent was certainly not someone he could defeat through strength.

"You're back! Where did you run off to all morning? Didn't you say you were just going back to get something?" Xiao Wu's voice came from behind Tang San.

"Sister Xiao Wu, now isn't the time for that, is it?" Tang San was a little amused, but understanding that Xiao Wu was concerned about him, he also felt warmth in his heart.

"Hmph, this guy is throwing his weight around because he's above rank twenty and bullying us work-study students. He even snatched all the money Wang Sheng's family sent him, calling it a protection fee." Xiao Wu spoke indignantly, her puffed-out cheeks looking utterly adorable.

"Hmph, those are the rules, understand? You two can come at me together. Don't waste my time. This is a perfect chance to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys!" Sun Li was clearly unafraid of two children whose combined ages only equaled his own, and actually took the initiative to provoke them.

"You!" At those words, Xiao Wu was about to step forward and kick him again.

But Tang San held her back. "Sister Xiao Wu, don't be angry. Since he said we could come together, let's do just that and see whether he can withstand us."

"All right!" Before her words had even faded, Xiao Wu eagerly closed the distance in several consecutive leaps.

Tang San immediately summoned his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul as well and used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to follow Xiao Wu's movements.

"Hahaha! A rabbit and some lousy grass think they can seek justice for others? What a joke!" Sun Li laughed loudly, but did not lower his guard because of it. His First Soul Ring lit up with white light tinged with faint yellow, and gauntlets formed from mottled chunks of rock covered both his fists. "First Soul Skill: Rock Fist!"

"First Soul Skill: Bow Waist!" Not to be outdone, Xiao Wu lit up her First Soul Ring, planted both hands on the ground for leverage, and drove power through her waist to kick Sun Li's arm.

Sun Li grunted, forcing himself to endure the intense pain as he swung a fist at Xiao Wu.

"First Soul Skill: Blue Silver Spear!" Tang San immediately summoned his Blue Silver Dagger, but the fact that he shouted "spear" while summoning a dagger made Sun Li start mocking him outright.