"All right, since we've accomplished what we came for, we can head back!"
"Maintain formation. Once we're out of the forest, we'll take carriages back this time. You must all be tired, right?"
Zhao Wuji's words sounded like heavenly music to everyone. Although running back counted as training, who would want to run when they could sit?
Hm? Wait, where's the Titan Giant Ape? Where's Er Ming?
Only then did Li Changsheng notice something was wrong. Why hadn't Er Ming appeared?
He glanced at Xiao Wu before realizing it. Could it be because Xiao Wu had taken that pill earlier? As long as she didn't actively release her Soul Beast presence, Er Ming couldn't sense her.
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Still, it didn't matter whether Er Ming came looking. Xiao Wu and Tang San were both over level thirty now and didn't need any further boosts.
"Old Zhao, there's something I need to tell you. I need to take Little San back to Holy Soul Village. Sorry for the trouble, but please pass word to Flender later."
"Hm? Holy Soul Village?"
"Little San's spawn point."
With Li Changsheng's explanation, Zhao Wuji understood immediately. He hadn't expected Tang San to be so homesick and promptly nodded his agreement.
Beside them, Tang San was completely dumbfounded when he heard this. Back to Holy Soul Village?
Wasn't he going to see his mother?
Suddenly, something seemed to occur to Tang San. Could Teacher Changsheng be taking him back because his mother was in Holy Soul Village?
Since the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was a Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the region it inhabited wasn't very deep inside. Before long, everyone had left the Star Dou Great Forest entirely and reached the hunters' village from before.
After explaining the reason to everyone, Li Changsheng took Tang San with him and prepared to board a carriage.
"Third Brother!"
"Xiao Wu..."
Looking at Xiao Wu's reluctant expression a short distance away, Tang San's eyes filled with warmth. "Xiao Wu, your big brother will be back soon! I'm just going back for a visit!"
"Okay, you have to come back soon!"
With their goodbyes finished, Li Changsheng waved and boarded the carriage back to Holy Soul Village with Tang San.
"Xiao Wu, what are you so upset about? It's not like Little San isn't coming back."
"Fatty, you just can't keep your mouth shut! What's wrong with a dear little sister being reluctant to part with her dear big brother?"
Dai Mubai smacked Ma Hongjun on the head and spoke irritably. He actually envied Tang San and Xiao Wu's bond too. Sincere and deep, it was something that took time to cultivate.
"Let's go. It's still early. We might even make it back to the academy for dinner."
The Shrek group also boarded their carriages and headed back to Suotuo City.
Meanwhile, with Li Changsheng.
Tang San watched the scenery constantly retreating outside. The anticipation and excitement in his eyes had faded, replaced by a trace of doubt. Didn't Teacher Changsheng taking him back to Holy Soul Village mean his mother was here?
Then why had his father never taken him to see her all these years?
"Teacher..."
"I know what you want to ask. This isn't something I can answer carelessly. Ultimately, I'm not your biological father. Some things are better asked in person."
Li Changsheng had two possible answers, but he wouldn't speak recklessly. If Tang Hao held a high place in Tang San's heart, his explanation could very well change Tang San's perception of him.
Hearing Li Changsheng's words, Tang San lowered his head, hiding his emotions from view.
Yes, Teacher Changsheng wasn't his biological father.
But in Tang San's heart, Li Changsheng held an even higher place than Tang Hao. At its root, his inability to let go of Tang Hao was still the feudal thinking ingrained in his bones at work.
Unless Tang Hao deliberately got in his face, cursed at him a few times, and gave him a few hard slaps, which might leave Tang San thoroughly disillusioned.
Just then, a large hand settled on Tang San's head, warm and comforting.
"Teacher?"
"Don't worry, Little San. I've been teaching you since you were six. Make your decisions without worry. I'll always stand behind you!"
Li Changsheng rubbed Tang San's head, and the feeling of being cared for by a father instantly welled up in his heart.
How wonderful would it be if Teacher Changsheng could become my father?
Tang San didn't know why he had such a thought, but Li Changsheng's care over these six years had already made him regard the man as his father.
Nuoding City was also relatively close to the Star Dou Great Forest, and Holy Soul Village lay in the Nuoding City area.
As such, the carriage journey didn't take very long.
As soon as they reached Holy Soul Village, Li Changsheng paid the fare and led Tang San toward the mountain behind the village.
By now, the sky had almost completely darkened, and many of Holy Soul Village's wooden houses were already pitch-black.
"Little San, summon your Blue Silver Grass and try to sense your mother's location."
"I'll try!"
As Tang San's Martial Soul Avatar Armor covered him, swathes of Blue Silver Grass drifted around him like willow catkins, their faint blue fluorescence particularly striking in the darkness.
Li Changsheng looked around. Tang Hao certainly wasn't here at this hour. It was even hard to say whether he was within the Heaven Dou Empire's borders.
As Tang San poured in Soul Power, the light surrounding the Blue Silver Grass actually began to flicker. Countless starlike specks gathered into a blue thread that emerged from Tang San's body and drifted along a particular path toward the depths of Holy Soul Village.
"Teacher, this is...!"
"Yes, follow your senses. This means she's responded to your sensing."
Li Changsheng nodded, signaling for Tang San to follow.
Without further hesitation, Tang San circulated his Soul Power while leading the way deeper into Holy Soul Village.
Before long, the two reached a relatively open area.
Small, low-growing trees surrounded the area. Not far away stood a small mountain, with a waterfall cascading from its summit and crashing heavily into the deep pool below.
From Tang San's perspective, the blue thread coming from his body led behind this waterfall.
"Teacher, this is the place! I can sense fluctuations of energy. It's very close!"
"All right, let me."
Without hesitation, Li Changsheng wrapped an arm around Tang San's waist. Soul Power erupted beneath his feet, and he shot straight toward the waterfall like a cannonball.
Boom!!
Soul Power exploded, forcibly blasting an opening through the waterfall, and the two passed through it.
Bang!
As his Soul Power withdrew, the waterfall behind them immediately closed again.
After being set down, Tang San immediately examined the "hidden sanctuary" behind it.
Dark and damp, it wasn't somewhere anyone could live at all. Even plants would struggle to survive!
That was Tang San's first impression of the place, but the stronger that impression became, the more distressed he felt. If his senses weren't mistaken, his mother had been living in a place like this all along.
"Phew-"
Taking a deep breath, Tang San did his best to adjust his emotions and state of mind. Having lived two lives, he could finally meet his mother from this life!
"Don't be afraid. I'm right here beside you!"
"Mm!"
The two headed farther inside. The passage along the way was extremely narrow, barely allowing one person through at a time.
Once they passed through, the space inside finally opened up somewhat. At its deepest point, a golden-blue stalk of Blue Silver Grass grew on a small mound of earth, barely clinging to life.
Its leaves, originally patterned with golden markings, were now dull and lusterless. Its vitality was like a guttering candle in the wind, as though it had been placed here with only a single breath keeping it alive.
"Th-this is..."
"Yes, this is your mother, the previous Blue Silver Emperor!"
Thud!
Tang San staggered over to Ah Yin, his eyes gradually reddening, before dropping straight to his knees.
His mother really was a Soul Beast! And a legendary Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast at that!
Perhaps Tang San could accept all of that, but what truly filled him with disbelief and anger was this.
His father, Tang Hao, had actually settled his mother like this, planting her in a sunless cave!
Seeing Tang San like this, Li Changsheng could only turn away for now. Mother and son were meeting, so it would be best not to disturb them.
"Mother!"
Tang San called softly. The Soul Power within him surged uncontrollably. As though sensing something, Ah Yin slowly moved her stems, extending them toward Tang San.
"My child..."
Ah Yin's light, gentle voice rang out in his mind, and Tang San froze on the spot. This was the first time he had heard his mother's call. The Blue Silver Grass within him grew uncontrollably, resonating with Ah Yin.