Chapter 22

"Don't worry, Father. Ever since I learned how Mother was forced to sacrifice herself, I've wanted to kill those people! Even if Uncle hadn't done this, I would have done it someday. Sooner or later, we would have come up against Spirit Hall."

Tang Hao said nothing more. He merely nodded, a smile in his eyes, as he watched Tang San walk away.

When Tang San returned to Nuoding Academy, the first class had just ended. He went to find Xiao Wu. "Xiao Wu, come somewhere with me."

"Hmm? Why are you acting so strange today?"

"It really is something important."

"Where are you taking me? Why are we getting farther and farther out of the way?" Xiao Wu grumbled as she followed Tang San, and the two arrived at a secluded corner.

"Xiao Wu, this Immortal Herb is called Lovesick Heartbreak Red. Once it recognizes you as its master, wear it close to your body. It can conceal the special aura you have after your Soul Beast Transformation."

"Ah, ah!" Xiao Wu backed away in shock. "What Soul Beast Transformation? I don't know anything about that."

"Xiao Wu, don't be afraid. Only my father, my uncle, and I know that you're a soul beast right now.

My mother was a hundred-thousand-year-old Blue Silver Emperor who had taken human form. My father is the Clear Sky Sect's Clear Sky Douluo, and my uncle is a million-year-old Blue Silver Emperor. That's how I know your identity.

I bear no ill will toward soul beasts. I don't even need to hunt soul beasts to obtain Soul Rings for my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul."

"Ah!" Xiao Wu was shocked once again. The news of the Blue Silver Emperor's sacrifice had shaken the soul beast community back then. Da Ming and Er Ming had kept telling her that story as a cautionary tale, which was why neither of them had ever agreed to let her take human form. She had only succeeded this time by secretly hiding away.

She had simply never imagined that the Blue Silver Emperor's son from that story would be standing right before her.

"So what now?" Xiao Wu composed herself before asking him.

"Take this Immortal Herb. It needs someone with sincere feelings to drip blood onto it. If the flower blooms, it will recognize that person as its master, and it will conceal your soul beast aura." Tang San pressed the Lovesick Heartbreak Red into Xiao Wu's hands before continuing.

"To avenge my mother, my uncle wreaked havoc at Spirit Hall. Now Spirit Hall has ordered the eradication of Blue Silver Grass across the entire continent. Even people whose Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass are to be placed under restrictions. This place is no longer suitable for me. My teacher, Yu Xiaogang, has connections at Shrek Academy and plans to take me there to continue studying and cultivating. Would you like to come with me?"

Xiao Wu looked at the Lovesick Heartbreak Red in her hands, then at Tang San's earnest face. Her eyes gradually filled with tears, and she threw her arms around him and burst into tears. "Waaah!"

She cried for quite a while before calming down, though she was still quietly sniffling as she told Tang San, "Ever since I took human form, I've been afraid of being discovered, so I found a small city to hide in. I was so happy to meet you, and you're even thinking of me like this. I... waaah!"

Seeing Xiao Wu burst into tears again as she spoke, Tang San hurriedly hugged her back and comforted her softly. "It's all right. It's all right. I'll protect you."

"Mm..." Xiao Wu looked at Tang San through tear-filled eyes. Her eyes and nose were red, making her look utterly adorable.

A powerful sense of responsibility rose within Tang San. "From now on, you'll be my little sister. I swear I'll protect you well, with my life."

Xiao Wu could feel how deeply Tang San meant those words. "How can that work? I'm the boss of Dorm Seven. Besides, besides, I..."

"There's no rule saying an older brother has to be stronger than his little sister, is there? Besides, protecting you takes more than being good at fighting."

Xiao Wu thought of Da Ming and Er Ming, far away in the Star Dou Great Forest. They cared for and cherished her like this too, willing to protect her with their lives. She couldn't help calling out, "Big Brother!"

The Lovesick Heartbreak Red that Xiao Wu held behind her back flickered with a faint red light. Neither of them noticed.

Since they had already decided to withdraw, neither returned to the classroom. They went straight back to the dormitory to pack. After putting their few daily necessities into Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges, they headed to the academic affairs office to arrange their withdrawal.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Come in." They pushed open the door to find a tall, thin teacher in his forties with neat, short hair.

Tang San presented his and Xiao Wu's withdrawal applications with both hands. The teacher in the academic affairs office glanced at them and said, "You're both new students this year, aren't you? The term has barely started. Why are you withdrawing already?"

"Teacher, something really has come up at home. They can't manage without me, so I have to go back."

"And you?" The teacher turned to Xiao Wu.

"I... something has come up at home for me too!" Xiao Wu clearly wasn't someone who knew how to lie.

"Ah." The teacher wanted to try persuading them further, but when he saw their work-study status in their records, his expression grew increasingly grim, with the frustration of someone disappointed that iron would not become steel. He no longer wanted to say anything and briskly stamped their forms.

The two left the office side by side. Tang San looked back at the drab teaching building behind him. This had been his first school in this life, yet now he had to leave.

"Third Brother, what are you looking at? Grandmaster is waiting for us up ahead." Noticing that Tang San had fallen behind, Xiao Wu turned and called to him.

"Coming." Tang San jogged to catch up with Xiao Wu. In the distance, at the school gates, Yu Xiaogang's familiar figure stood holding a cloth bag.

"Teacher, let's put your luggage in the storage space." Tang San stepped forward, took the luggage from Grandmaster, and stored it in Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges as well.

"Then let's go. Shrek Academy is in Suotuo City in the Balak Kingdom. It's not too far. We can talk as we walk."

Then he asked Tang San in a very low voice, "Did you send word to your uncle?"

Tang San nodded. On his way to find his father, he had sent Lan Changsheng a message through the Blue Silver ring. "Uncle should have received the message by now. I wonder how he'll react."

Only then did Yu Xiaogang breathe a sigh of relief and lead the way.

Tang San glanced back. He knew his father would surely be protecting them from some corner.

Meanwhile, Lan Changsheng was purifying the toxins inside Dugu Yan's body.

An hour earlier, Dugu Bo had brought Dugu Yan to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Dugu Yan had been complaining the whole way. "Grandpa, what exactly was so important that you had to call me over? I was cultivating. I feel like I'm about to break through."

"You can break through anytime. This really is something very important." Dugu Bo accompanied her with an appeasing smile.

"Honestly, you won't tell me anything. You won't even explain why you've turned into this." Dugu Yan pouted.

"That's the very important thing I wanted to tell you. The poison in my body has been cured! And there won't be any lingering problems!" Dugu Bo said excitedly.

"Really, Grandpa?" After Dugu Bo nodded in confirmation, she asked, "Who's so amazing that they could do that?"