"Do you know who your mother is?"
Boom!
Li Changsheng's words were nothing short of a thunderbolt from a clear sky, making Tang San's heart rise little by little.
His mother? His mother?
"Teacher, do you mean... you know my mother?"
Li Changsheng slowly stood up. Holding the kettle, he poured some water while looking straight at Tang San with his calm eyes.
"Yes. Your mother's name is Ah Yin. She was the previous Blue Silver Emperor!" Li Changsheng handed Tang San a cup of cool water, then plopped back into his chair.
"The Blue Silver Emperor?"
Tang San knew about the Blue Silver Emperor. Both the Compendium of Soul Beast and Soul Ring Theory and the Compendium of Soul Master Theory that Li Changsheng had given him contained records of it.
What truly puzzled him, then, was whether the Blue Silver Emperor Teacher Changsheng spoke of was a Martial Soul or a Soul Beast.
"Your mother, Ah Yin, was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who took human form. Her original form was the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor!"
"Only one Blue Silver Emperor can exist on this continent. When Ah Yin sacrificed herself to your father, Tang Hao, that position became vacant. You possess the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline, so naturally, you qualify to become the emperor."
"What?! Mother was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who took human form, and she sacrificed herself to Father?!"
Li Changsheng nodded. At that, Tang San slumped helplessly into his chair, his eyes vacant.
He was a child born of a human and a Soul Beast. Didn't that mean he wasn't a purebred human?
"Why?! Why has Father never said anything? I've never even seen Mother's face, not once in my entire life!" Tang San's voice choked up a little. That was simply how he thought: loyalty and righteousness were practically carved into his bones.
As such, his mother was also the person he most wanted to see.
But now, Teacher Changsheng had told him the truth. It was cruel, but his teacher would never lie to him!
Just then, Tang San suddenly recalled his first trip to the Soul Hunting Forest with Li Changsheng. Those words about the standpoint of Soul Beasts remained fresh in his memory even now.
So you were already trying to remind me back then? Teacher Changsheng, you truly went to such pains, yet Little San kept failing to understand!
Sitting opposite him, Li Changsheng was rather baffled as he watched Tang San let his imagination run wild, filling in the blanks himself. Had this kid slipped into "I reckon" mode again?
"Teacher, do you know what happened between Mother and Father? Could you tell Little San?"
Facing Tang San's almost pleading gaze, Li Changsheng steeled himself and shook his head. "I can't tell you. At least, not now."
Hearing that, Tang San lowered his head. He didn't blame Li Changsheng. He only blamed himself for not working hard enough at cultivation, for not being strong enough to have the right to know everything.
But Li Changsheng's next words filled him with unexpected joy.
"However, I can take you to see your mother, sometime soon!"
"Really?!"
"Though there are things I cannot tell you, I always keep my promises. When have I ever lied to you?"
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Tang San's mood finally improved somewhat. Those words from Li Changsheng alone were enough to lift his spirits.
[Detected a subtle change in disciple Tang San's mindset. Combined with the changes in Oscar and Ning Rongrong, reward: medicinal bath herbs × 100 portions!]
In an instant, a hundred packets of herbs appeared in the system space, all intended for medicinal baths.
"I even get a little reward. Not bad, not bad."
Li Changsheng nodded in satisfaction, then looked out the window. Judging by the moon's height, it should still be quite early. He could have them all take a medicinal bath!
With that thought, Li Changsheng took out several packets of herbs without hesitation, handed them to Tang San, and said:
"Little San, take these and distribute them to the others in a bit. Make sure Teacher Zhao gets some too. These can be used for medicinal baths to relax the body and improve physical fitness!"
"Thank you, Teacher! Little San will go right away!"
Tang San's tone was light now, his mood clearly much better. Seeing this, Li Changsheng instead felt a little reproachful toward himself. Had he told him about Ah Yin too soon?
"Forget it. The sooner he knows, the more the template progress increases. Besides, learning about it early isn't necessarily a bad thing!"
Shaking his head, Li Changsheng took his packet of herbs into the bathroom. There was a large wooden tub and hot water there, enough for a simple soak.
As for Tang San, after leaving Li Changsheng's room, the relaxed look on his face faded considerably, but at least he no longer looked so weighed down.
Looking at the packets of herbs in his hands, he couldn't help feeling warmth in his heart. Teacher Changsheng really was caring, always keeping their health in mind.
"Knock, knock."
"Coming!"
The wooden door opened, revealing Ning Rongrong. She still wore the same clothes as during the day, and her pinkish-purple eyes regarded Tang San curiously as she said:
"Tang San? Are you here for Xiao Wu? I'll get her."
"No, no. Rongrong, take these. They're herbs from Teacher Changsheng. Traveling during the day took quite a bit of stamina, and these herbs can help condition your bodies. You can use them for medicinal baths. This inn has hot water."
She accepted the three packets of herbs. A faint, refreshing fragrance drifted from them. From the smell, they were indeed good stuff.
Ning Rongrong couldn't help raising her opinion of Li Changsheng yet again.
She had already thought him a handsome young man with considerable strength, extensive theoretical knowledge, and a melancholy look. She hadn't expected him to be so attentive, too.
"Thank Teacher Changsheng for us!"
"I will. I'll head off now. I still need to deliver these to Mubai and the others."
Before leaving, Tang San also noticed that Ning Rongrong was still carrying that jar on her back. He couldn't help marveling inwardly. It seemed Ning Rongrong also held Teacher Changsheng in high regard.
After Ning Rongrong closed the door, Tang San delivered all the remaining packets before slowly returning to the room he shared with Oscar.
"Sigh!"
"Little San, what's wrong? Looking at you, don't tell me you've worn yourself out?"
"Get lost. I, Tang San, am pure as ice and spotless as jade. How could I possibly do such sordid things?! Oh, Little Ao, take these."
Oscar, who had been pacing back and forth beside the bed, caught them. Discovering that they were two packets of herbs, he immediately grew curious and asked:
"Are these from Teacher Changsheng?"
"Yeah. Could you prepare a tub of water for me? I'm a little tired."
"No!"
"I'll teach you how to pursue Ning Rongrong."
"Deal!"
The moment Tang San said he would teach him, Oscar immediately stood at attention. He was desperate to improve. Ning Rongrong was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen!
Oscar immediately headed toward the bathroom. He, too, still carried a jar on his back. According to Li Changsheng's instructions, they could only take them off before bed.
Listening to the sound of water being poured in the bathroom, Tang San gradually let his mind go blank. He began recalling what Li Changsheng had just said.
"Your mother was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor who took human form. She sacrificed herself to your father."
Had his mother really... met the end of sacrificing herself?
Tang San found it a little hard to believe, but Teacher Changsheng had said it, so its credibility was absolutely one hundred percent. In his heart, Li Changsheng's standing was, in a certain sense, even higher than Tang Hao's.
Tang Hao had fathered him without raising him. Li Changsheng had taken him as a student at six and had now brought him to study at Shrek Academy.
He wasn't his father, yet he surpassed a father. What did Tang Hao have to compare with that? Just because he had fired off a god-Tang San?
How was that any different from being a biological dad?
"Little San! The bath's ready. Shall we go together?"
"Coming!"
Only when Oscar's shout rang out were his thoughts pulled back.
The next day.
"Yaaawn!"
Tang San went downstairs with Oscar, who stretched beside him, his eyes bleary with sleep. Zhao Wuji and Li Changsheng were already waiting on the ground floor.
"You're here? You're the first ones down. Here's your reward!" As he spoke, Zhao Wuji tossed two steamed buns over, and the pair caught them securely.
"Teacher Zhao, aren't there more buns on the table? How does this count as a reward?"
"Your teacher handed them to you personally. Just count yourselves lucky!"
One after another, everyone came downstairs.
Looking at the girls' rosy faces and the boys' brimming spirits, Li Changsheng nodded. The herbs from the system seemed very effective.
As expected of a system product. Truly top quality!
"All right, it's still early. Let's head straight out!"
As everyone entered the Star Dou Great Forest.
Everything around them began changing into a primeval landscape.
Countless ancient trees towered here, dead branches and rotting leaves mingled with the soil underfoot, and the air was filled with the fresh fragrance of vegetation.
The nine formed a single-file line. Tang San and Dai Mubai walked at the very front, while Li Changsheng and Zhao Wuji brought up the rear.
Zhu Zhuqing kept leaping and flashing between the surrounding branches, constantly watching for movements nearby.
"Teacher Li, how many days have you even taught them? These Little Monsters already know to form up on their own!"
Watching the scene before him, Zhao Wuji's eyes were filled with shock. He had thought these Little Monsters would fall into complete disarray.
"Well, it isn't really a matter of how well I teach. The children are willing to learn, so naturally, they become more self-disciplined."
Li Changsheng kept both hands in his pockets. At his feet, Luo Sanpao moved his short little legs, following closely beside him.
At the very front, Tang San was also observing their surroundings.
"Little Qing, are you tired?"
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing frequently using Soul Power to move through the terrain, Dai Mubai hesitated a moment before finally saying what he had wanted to say all along.
"None of your business!"
"You..."
"Mubai, let it go. This sort of thing can't be resolved in a day or two. Take it slowly."
Tang San patted Dai Mubai's shoulder, his tone gentle. He could guess at the conflict between them, but after all, it hadn't developed over just a day or two. Resolving it would take patience.
Dai Mubai nodded. He knew Tang San had a point, and in the end, he resumed keeping watch over their surroundings alongside him.
"Little San, you have plenty of theoretical knowledge. Why not give us a little lesson?"
"Sure. Then I'll make a poor showing."
"Actually, a formation like ours right now is already quite perfect. A single-file line, with the strongest at the rear and agility attackers scouting ahead, is a very good arrangement for venturing deeper."
"The Star Dou Great Forest is different from those places where Soul Beasts are raised in captivity. Once a battle breaks out here, the smell of blood and bursts of Soul Power are extremely likely to draw other Soul Beasts over!"
"Our strategy of prioritizing scouting and avoiding combat is first-rate!"