Taking Pains to Teach Tang San

"You really are the most obedient of the lot."

Old Jack stroked his white beard and chuckled.

"Grandpa Jack, could you tell me about the academy?"

Tang San, however, was growing impatient. He was desperate to know what Nuoding Academy was really like.

"Nuoding Academy? An academy is a place for learning, of course. Although Grandpa never attended one, but..."

The adult and two children walked along the road to Nuoding City, leaving Holy Soul Village farther and farther behind as they drew closer and closer to the city. Their future lay there, while Old Jack's future remained in the little village of Holy Soul.

Behind the three of them, a figure in a black cloak followed slowly from the shadows, keeping an unhurried pace that matched theirs.

Old Jack and the two boys walked for half a day before reaching Nuoding City. Han Yu had intended to pay for a carriage headed the same way, but Old Jack couldn't bear to spend the money. He told Han Yu to eat and drink well at the academy and not deprive himself. Han Yu could only drop the idea.

Upon entering the city, Han Yu quietly walked over to a carriage and spoke a few words in a low voice. He took a silver coin from the cloth pouch he carried, waved it before the man's eyes, then pointed at Old Jack not far away and handed the coin to the driver.

"Little Han Yu!"

Old Jack stood at the gates of Nuoding City, holding Tang San's little hand. When he suddenly noticed that Han Yu was gone, he hurriedly called out.

"Coming, Grandpa Jack!"

Han Yu clutched a slip of paper the driver had given him, quickly answered Old Jack, and ran back to the two of them.

"Let's go."

Only when Han Yu returned did Old Jack breathe a sigh of relief. He looked ahead and took the two boys through the inspection before entering the city.

The carriage made regular trips between Nuoding City and several nearby villages. There was no need to question the driver's character; after all, he needed to keep the business going in the long run.

Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy was situated in the west of Nuoding City. Old Jack had never been there before, but after asking passersby for directions several times, he finally brought Han Yu and Tang San there.

Old Jack was about to take the two boys into the academy to register when Han Yu tugged at his clothes and spoke.

"Grandpa Jack, you should head back first. Little San and I will buy some bedding, then go register. Don't worry. With me, his big brother, here, there definitely won't be a problem."

Old Jack gently stroked his beard at those words. Though it was still early, by the time an old man like him made his way back to Holy Soul Village at a leisurely pace, it certainly wouldn't be. Seeing the caring, resolute look in Han Yu's eyes, Old Jack chuckled.

"All right. I'll leave the rest to you, Little Han Yu. Make sure you and Little San study hard in there. Did that fellow Tang Hao give you any money? Grandpa still has a little here. Take it."

As Old Jack spoke, he rubbed Han Yu's head. Then he reached to untie the cloth pouch fastened to his belt, which contained some of his money.

"Grandpa Jack, I have money. Look."

Seeing this, Han Yu hurriedly stopped Old Jack and untied his own cloth pouch, giving it a shake. The metallic clink of coins came from inside.

Old Jack had to let the matter drop. Escorted by Han Yu and Tang San, he left Nuoding City again. After saying goodbye, Han Yu slipped the note he had kept hidden in his hand into Old Jack's. Before the old man could react, Han Yu and Tang San ran back into Nuoding City.

Watching their retreating backs, Old Jack lowered his head to look at the crumpled note in his hand. He smiled with relief as warmth welled up in his heart. He stood there quietly until Han Yu's figure disappeared into Nuoding City, then turned and walked over to the carriage. With the driver's help, he climbed inside.

By the time Han Yu and Tang San returned to the gates of Nuoding Academy, they had changed into new clothes. Though their outfits could hardly be called luxurious, they were at least much better than the patched clothes they had worn before.

Han Yu stretched in his new clothes. He had been rather busy these past few days; otherwise, he would have come to Nuoding City to buy new clothes long ago.

With help from his big brother Han Yu, Tang San, too, had put on new clothes for the first time in years. The child's eyes and heart were full of gratitude toward Han Yu. His thin, small body straightened at the waist as he strode after Han Yu toward Nuoding City, and even the pain from his body, which had yet to fully recover, eased somewhat.

"Here, our Martial Soul certificates."

Before the gatekeeper could speak, Han Yu arrogantly waved the two certificates in front of his eyes. Regardless of whether the gatekeeper had seen them clearly, he strode into Nuoding Academy with Tang San.

The gatekeeper looked puzzled. If he had seen the Martial Soul certificates waved past him correctly, one of the children seemed to have Blue Silver Grass as his Martial Soul.

Though Han Yu and Tang San had just changed into new clothes, they were only ordinary commoners' attire. If they really had no Soul Power, someone inside the academy would naturally chase them out. The gatekeeper had no intention of doing such a thankless task, so he leaned against the doorframe and resumed his nap.

Half asleep and half awake, he felt something block the scorching sun in front of him. He opened his eyes and saw a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties standing before him.

"Grandmaster, you're back."

Once the gatekeeper saw who it was, his drowsiness vanished in an instant, and a fawning smile spread across his face.

Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang glanced at him and asked casually,

"Have any children come to the academy recently?"

It had only been a casual question. Yu Xiaogang was about to leave after asking it when he heard the gatekeeper's slightly puzzled voice.

"I think... I think there were two. They just went in. The Martial Soul seemed to be Blue Silver Grass, and there was Innate Full Soul Power too."

Han Yu had only flashed the certificates before his eyes, so the gatekeeper hadn't seen them clearly. He had merely caught a glimpse of the two rather unusual terms, Blue Silver Grass and Innate Full Soul Power.

At the time, Han Yu had staggered the two Martial Soul certificates and waved them in front of him. Tang San's was first, and Han Yu's was second. All of Tang San's information had been exposed, while Han Yu's name and Martial Soul had been covered, leaving only his other information visible.

"What did you say? Blue Silver Grass? Innate Full Soul Power?"

A glimmer of light flashed through Grandmaster's dispirited eyes, and his sharp gaze fixed on the gatekeeper.

"Y-yes, there was one with Innate Full Soul Power. It was those two who just went in."

Pinned by a Soul Master's gaze, the gatekeeper's body went rigid, and he instinctively stood at attention. He only dared confirm that one of them had Innate Full Soul Power.

"All right, I understand."

Fine beads of sweat had appeared on the gatekeeper's forehead under Yu Xiaogang's stare. Only then did Yu Xiaogang wave a hand and head toward the academy's academic affairs office, his steps quickening.

"Little San, did you find out? Let me tell you, in this world, you have to be good at communicating. Don't be as silent as a stone."

Sitting in a chair, Han Yu was taking pains to educate Tang San, who had just gone to ask where the academic affairs office was.

Well, the plot got away from me. Selling Tang San will be tomorrow. Arigato.