Reuniting with Tang Hao

When night fell, Wang Xingyu sat up in bed. Tang San had already put on his outer clothes and was waiting on the edge of the bed. No lamp had been lit, and moonlight slipped through the window, tinting his blue hair a pale silver.

"Let's go." Wang Xingyu pushed the door open.

The two left the dormitory, crossed the training ground, and went out through the academy's side gate. The village had grown quiet in the darkness. The daytime stalls had all closed, leaving only a few lanterns hanging beneath the eaves, their light dim and yellow.

Wang Xingyu walked in front. Instead of heading into the village, he circled around to a small grove behind it. Tang San followed him without asking where they were going. Wang Xingyu had said they were going to watch a show, so he came along.

Wang Xingyu stopped beneath an old tree so thick it took two people to encircle it. He looked up at the canopy, then crouched down and gestured for Tang San to step on his shoulders and climb up.

Tang San did no such thing. He pushed off the ground and sprang lightly upward, landing steadily on a sturdy branch. Then he reached down and pulled Wang Xingyu up.

The two sat side by side on the branch, completely concealed by the leaves. Looking down from there, they had a clear view of a small clearing deep in the grove.

"Why didn't you call Xiao Wu?" Tang San asked in a low voice.

"It wouldn't be appropriate," Wang Xingyu said.

Tang San did not press him and looked down at the ground.

"Teacher Zhao? What's Teacher Zhao doing here? Is that the shopkeeper who sold the Dragon Whisker Needle beside him?"

"That's Flender, the headmaster of Shrek Academy."

Tang San nodded.

Zhao Wuji stood in the clearing. The Immovable Wisdom King, a rank seventy-six Soul Saint and their examiner from earlier that day, stood awkwardly in the middle of the clearing. Facing him was a man in a black robe, his hood pulled low enough to hide most of his face.

Tang San's gaze fell on the man, and all his questions stopped. He had seen that figure before, and that presence, like a mountain standing there.

The black-robed man spoke, his voice hoarse. "I won't use Soul Power. If you can last the time it takes one incense stick to burn, you win."

Then Zhao Wuji got beaten up.

There were no Soul Rings and no Soul Skills, just punches and kicks, clean and efficient. Zhao Wuji's Immovable Bright King Body was like paper. He was smashed into the ground, then kicked flying, breaking two trees. From beginning to end, the black-robed man did not take a single step back.

Flender stood beneath a tree, his hands tucked into his sleeves, watching from beginning to end without intervening.

Zhao Wuji climbed to his feet and dusted himself off, blood at the corner of his mouth. He walked up to the black-robed man, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Thank you for your guidance."

Then he turned and left. Flender followed, and the two disappeared into the night, one behind the other.

The black-robed man pushed back his hood. Moonlight illuminated his unshaven face-Tang Hao.

He raised his head and looked up at the tree. "Come down."

The two jumped down. Tang San's knees bent slightly as he landed, and he quickly straightened.

Tang Hao stood a few steps away, the moonlight shining on him. He was exactly like the drunken man from the smithy in Holy Soul Village, and yet completely different. His eyes were different. At the smithy, those eyes had always been clouded; now they were clear as a deep pool.

Tang San stood where he was, his lips moving. "Father."

Tang Hao looked at him and nodded.

Tang San's eyes reddened. He had been an orphan in his previous life, and just as things had begun to improve in this one, Tang Hao had left without a word.

Every time he had a holiday, he hoped Tang Hao would be home, only to be disappointed again and again.

Now Tang Hao stood before him, a hand resting on his shoulder. That hand was covered in calluses. When it came to rest on Tang San's shoulder, it was as light as a shaving of iron.

Tang San's tears fell. Silently, they streamed down his cheeks. He stood there with his back straight.

Tang Hao's Adam's apple bobbed. He raised his other hand, and his rough fingertips brushed Tang San's face, wiping away the tears.

"A man shouldn't cry."

Wang Xingyu stood nearby, holding his closed fan. He watched the father and son as the moonlight cast their shadows over one another.

Tang Hao was much like a Chinese father: he clearly cared deeply, but did not readily show it.

He looked away.

Tang Hao stepped back and looked at Tang San, then at Wang Xingyu. "You're both doing well. Cultivate hard. I've been here all along."

With that, he turned around. His cloak lifted in the night breeze as he walked deeper into the grove.

Tang San watched his retreating figure. His lips moved, but he did not call out. Tang Hao's figure was swallowed by the night.

The clearing fell quiet. Moonlight shone on the craters left by the blows, and on the tear tracks that had yet to dry on Tang San's face.

"Let's go."

Tang San glanced once more in the direction Tang Hao had disappeared, then turned around. The two walked out of the grove. After a few steps, Tang San suddenly spoke.

"He's been here all along."

"Yes, all along."

The two left the grove and returned to the dormitory.

Moonlight moved past the window, and the night passed without dreams.

The next morning, Wang Xingyu shook Tang San awake. After washing up, the two went outside. Xiao Wu was already waiting at the door, her hair tied in a high ponytail, looking full of spirit.

"Did you two sneak out yesterday?" Xiao Wu glanced at them.

"No, no." Wang Xingyu wondered whether this rabbit's senses were really that sharp.

Tang San said nothing.

Xiao Wu hmphed and asked no more. The three headed to the cafeteria.

A few people sat scattered around the cafeteria. At the serving window, there was only a pot of plain rice porridge and a dish of pickles. Wang Xingyu took one look and had to admit that Flender really was stingy.

"Oscar," Wang Xingyu called toward a corner.

Oscar rose from his stool, dark circles under his eyes and a sleepy look on his face, but his hand instinctively reached for his Martial Soul. "How many?"

"Three."

Oscar recited his soul incantation in a low voice, "I Have a Big Sausage." Three steaming sausages appeared in his hand. Wang Xingyu took them and handed one to each of the others. Oscar collected the money, then sat back down and resumed dozing.

The three drank their porridge with the sausages, then headed to the training ground.

Several people had already arrived at the training ground. Ning Rongrong stood with Oscar. Whatever Oscar said made Ning Rongrong smile, but she quickly wiped the smile away and turned her head, refusing to look at him. Oscar scratched his head, then leaned closer and spoke again.

Wang Xingyu unfolded his fan, which bore the words "Tang Sect."

Tang San and Xiao Wu stood to one side. Xiao Wu gestured as she talked about the Soul Beast she had dreamed of the night before, while Tang San listened and nodded occasionally. The two stood close together, and Xiao Wu turned toward Tang San as she spoke.

On the other side, Dai Mubai leaned against a tree with his arms crossed, watching the entrance to the training ground. Zhu Zhuqing stood three steps away, her face nearly expressionless, without looking at Dai Mubai. Dai Mubai coughed, but Zhu Zhuqing did not react. He coughed again, and still she did not react. Dai Mubai shut up.

Wang Xingyu waved his fan, his gaze sweeping over the pairs.

Tang San and Xiao Wu went without saying. They were a sure thing.

Ning Rongrong and Oscar: one was the young miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the other a food-type Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power. Not bad either. What a shippable pair.

As for Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, Wang Xingyu took one look and averted his gaze. They were hard to judge. This was another world, after all, and it wasn't easy to measure them by modern moral standards. In any case, by his standards, those two didn't make the grade.

Maybe they would later on.

There was also the little fatty, who would meet Bai Chenxiang later. Not bad either, but this little fatty?

"Ma Hongjun, what's with that look?"

Wang Xingyu asked curiously.