Going Home

"Xiao Wu, the academy is about to go on break. What are you planning to do?"

Hu Jiu gazed at Xiao Wu. This break would last a whole month, and to avoid missing her, he decided to trick her into coming home with him.

"Me? I'll probably just stay at the academy. The break isn't very long anyway." Xiao Wu tapped her pink lips with one finger, again and again.

"You're not going home?" Hu Jiu feigned surprise, fully embracing his role.

"I'm not going back this time. I don't really have any family, and there wouldn't be anything fun to do even if I did." Xiao Wu spoke in a dejected tone.

Xiao Wu was quite the actress too. The last time she left, she had said her family would help her hunt a soul ring. Now she had no family? Was she really that casual about it?

"Alas, what a pity. I'm going home after the break. I'll prepare some extra carrots for you these next few days, so you won't run out." Hu Jiu wore a regretful expression.

The two actors were working hard to show off their acting skills.

Xiao Wu had been very disappointed when she heard she wouldn't be able to eat carrots, but her eyes soon lit up as she thought of an excellent solution.

"Hey, Xiao Jiu, how about I go home with you after the break? Would you let me visit your house?"

No matter how many carrots he prepared in advance, they couldn't compare to freshly made ones.

Her name was Wu Xiao Tu, and she only liked to eat fresh ones.

"Come to my house? Sure, you're welcome anytime." Although he had been confident from the beginning, Hu Jiu was still delighted by the plan's success. After all, how could being with Tang San be as fun as being with Xiao Wu?

"Mm, then I'll go to your house." Xiao Wu nodded decisively.

As a rabbit, she didn't care much about worldly etiquette. She did whatever she pleased. Since she loved eating carrots, she naturally felt close to Hu Jiu.

Perhaps this was the advantage of being a keeper...?

Three days later, Xiao Wu, Tang San, and Hu Jiu set out on the journey home.

All three were Level Twenty-One Soul Grandmasters, so they traveled extremely quickly. In just two short hours, Holy Soul Village appeared before them.

When they saw the entrance to Holy Soul Village, Tang San's eyes filled with anticipation.

In this life, he yearned for familial affection. During the past year of studying, he had felt dejected every time Hu Jiu's family came to visit him, because his father, Tang Hao, never came.

After not seeing him for a year, he could hardly wait to see his father.

Seeing Tang San's expression, Hu Jiu secretly shook his head. "Little San, Little San, you're going to be disappointed. Your father is a famous child-abusing fanatic. He'd rather protect you from the shadows than meet you."

Ever since the Five Senses Strengthening Technique had reached Level Seven, he often sensed Tang Hao's aura. Tang Hao probably hadn't expected anyone in a tiny Primary Soul Master Academy to have such keen senses.

Of course, this was also because Tang Hao hadn't deliberately concealed his aura. Otherwise, with Hu Jiu's current cultivation, how could he possibly have detected it?

"Wow, Xiao Jiu, is this your hometown? It's so beautiful!" Xiao Wu munched on a carrot as she bounced around at the front.

"Come on, we're almost home." Hu Jiu smiled and quickened his pace.

When they reached the fork in the road, Hu Jiu glanced at Tang San, who was visibly excited. Unable to bear the blow Tang San was about to suffer, he thought it over and decided to accompany Tang San first.

"Little San, I'll go see Uncle Tang Hao with you first. I even bought some good wine in Nuoding City this time."

After selling carrots to Xiao Chenyu and the others, he now had money. Before returning home, he had naturally gone on a major shopping spree and bought some gifts for his family.

Especially for his father, Hu Rui. Back then, in order to learn the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer from Tang Hao, he had nearly emptied the wine cellar at home.

"Mm, then let's go together." Tang San nodded. There were still quite a few of Hu Jiu's things in his Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night. He would see his father first, then go to Hu Jiu's home.

On the west side of the entrance to Holy Soul Village, the three arrived at Tang San's home.

"Father, Father, I'm back!" Tang San rarely showed this childish side of himself. Usually, he was as steady as an old man.

He pushed the door open and hurried inside, but no one answered from within.

Suddenly, the curtain to the inner room was pulled aside, revealing Old Jack's face.

"Grandpa Jack!"

"Grandpa!"

Tang San and Hu Jiu cried out in surprise—one was genuine, while the other was feigned.

"Grandpa Jack, where's my father?" Seeing Old Jack, Tang San had a bad feeling. He immediately asked anxiously.

Old Jack held a letter in his hand. Hearing the question, he looked at Tang San with a bitter smile. "Take a look. Tang Hao left this behind. It seems he's already gone."

Tang San hurriedly took it and stared intently at the contents.

The short letter contained only a few lines, yet Tang San stood there in a daze for half a minute, the disappointment gradually spreading across his face.

"Tang San, don't worry. Uncle Tang Hao will be fine. Think about the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer—Uncle Tang Hao isn't an ordinary blacksmith. He must have had something to do when he left. You'll meet again sooner or later." Hu Jiu patted Tang San's shoulder and comforted him.

"That's right. Father probably isn't an ordinary person. He must have had something to do if he left so suddenly. I should pull myself together and wait for him to return at the academy." Tang San rallied his spirits, but he couldn't hide the disappointment on his face.

"Grandpa Jack, Xiao Jiu, you two go back first. I'll bring my things to your house later. The place is a little messy, so I'll clean up first." Tang San put away the note and spoke to them.

"All right. I'll wait for you at home. Come over for dinner tonight!" Hu Jiu tugged at Old Jack, who was about to speak, and shook his head, signaling him not to persuade Tang San.

At this moment, Tang San needed some time alone. They shouldn't disturb him.

After leaving Tang San's home, Hu Jiu introduced Xiao Wu. "Xiao Wu, this is my grandpa. You can call him Grandpa too."

"Grandpa, this is Xiao Wu, my good friend. She's come home to stay for a few days during the break."

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes at Hu Jiu, then obediently called out, "Grandpa Jack!"

She had heard Tang San call him that. She wasn't foolish enough to simply call him Grandpa.

Stinky Xiao Jiu, he's always bullying people.

"Hehe, so your name is Xiao Wu. What a beautiful little girl. Make yourself at home here. If Xiao Jiu bullies you, tell Grandpa, and I'll teach him a lesson." Old Jack wore a kindly expression. If such a well-behaved little girl became his grandson's wife, that would be even better.

"Hehe, thank you, Grandpa Jack!" Xiao Wu stuck her tongue out at Hu Jiu and stood beside Old Jack, showing that she now had someone to rely on.

They returned home happily. Old Jack didn't go back to his own house. His cherished grandson had returned, and he couldn't bear to leave either.

At home, Hu Rui and Emma had already been waiting for their son's return.

After seeing Xiao Wu, they became even more enthusiastic, completely setting their own son, Hu Jiu, aside.