Tang San Returns!

In the end, it was only after the healing-type Soul Masters among the senior students treated them that Xiao Chenyu and the others slowly recovered from their injuries. In particular, not a single wound could be found on Wang Sheng and the other work-study students.

"All right, come meet your boss."

Once their injuries had mostly healed, Han Yu clapped his hands and smiled at Xiao Chenyu.

Seeing this, Xiao Chenyu led the senior students over to Han Yu. They let out a long breath, then bowed together and called out.

"Boss!"

"You've got the wrong person."

Han Yu laughed, helped Xiao Chenyu up, and pointed at Wang Sheng.

"He's your boss. Call him that."

Wang Sheng was a little ill at ease, standing there with both hands unsure where to go. He had been a commoner since childhood, and his family were commoners too. Now that he had beaten up this group of noble children, how could he dare be their boss? He hurried over to Han Yu and whispered.

"Boss, I-I don't dare."

"There's nothing to be afraid of. I, Xiao Chenyu, lost today, so naturally I'm yours to command."

Before Han Yu could speak, Xiao Chenyu stepped forward and said firmly. Then he turned to the people behind him.

"Everyone, I, Xiao Chenyu, lost today. If anyone doesn't want to acknowledge Wang Sheng as boss with me, or can't accept it, you can leave now."

These senior students had followed Xiao Chenyu in holding sway over the academy, and they had heard something of his background. Why would they leave now?

Seeing that no one had left, Xiao Chenyu felt a little comforted. He naturally knew what these people needed, and why they had acknowledged him as their boss. But under the circumstances, with no one leaving, he was naturally a little gratified.

"Don't acknowledge Wang Sheng. Acknowledge Xiao Wu instead."

After thinking it over, Han Yu pulled Xiao Wu out from behind him and placed her in front of Xiao Chenyu.

If Xiao Chenyu acknowledged Wang Sheng as his boss, there was no telling whether Xiao Chenyu would suppress Wang Sheng after Han Yu left Nuoding City. If something even worse happened, that wasn't what Han Yu wanted to see either. But acknowledging Xiao Wu was different. This little rabbit was going to leave with him.

"All right."

Xiao Chenyu had already gotten a clear look at the Hundred-Year Soul Ring on the pretty little girl before him, especially her unusual way of attacking when she charged into the crowd. He found acknowledging her as his boss far easier to accept than acknowledging Wang Sheng.

He immediately took the lead, bending in a deep bow to Xiao Wu and calling out loudly.

"Boss!"

The group of senior students behind Xiao Chenyu also bowed deeply and called out.

"Boss!"

More than twenty students shouted at once, startling the birds roosting in the woods into flight in all directions.

"Why call me boss? That sounds awful."

Xiao Wu was a little excited to be called boss, but she soon frowned slightly, feeling that the title didn't sound nice. After giving it some thought, she spoke again.

"Call me Sister Xiao Wu from now on."

"Yes, Sister Xiao Wu!"

Xiao Chenyu and the more than twenty students bent in another deep bow together, respectfully acknowledging Xiao Wu as their big sister.

And so a farce between children came to an end, and Xiao Wu became the student second only to Han Yu at Nuoding Academy.

A few days later, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang finally hurried back from the Soul Hunting Forest. After returning to the academy, Tang San escorted Yu Xiaogang to his dormitory before coming to Dorm Seven.

"Brother, Brother!"

Before he arrived, his voice had already reached them. Tang San walked excitedly into the dormitory.

"What is it? What is it?"

Woken by the noise, Han Yu opened his eyes and asked impatiently.

He was sleeping more and more now, even falling asleep in class during the day. He didn't know whether it had something to do with the growth of his Soul Power.

"Brother, I'm back."

Tang San's face was full of excitement as he looked at Han Yu expectantly.

"I know."

Lying on his bed, Han Yu rolled over, reached back to scratch his backside, and spoke impatiently.

Seeing that his brother wasn't interested in his Soul Skill, Tang San could only rub his nose, turn around, and leave Dorm Seven and the academy. He still had to go to Spirit Hall to have his Martial Soul assessed, and he also needed to find a smithy to forge his Hidden Weapons.

It wasn't until evening that Tang San returned. When he switched on the light, he saw that Han Yu was still the only one in the room.

"Little San, you're back."

Having woken up, Han Yu yawned and rubbed his bleary eyes.

"Brother, where are Xiao Wu and the others?"

Han Yu was still alone in the room, so Tang San couldn't help feeling curious and asked.

"Xiao Wu? Her. She's really riding high now."

At the mention of Xiao Wu, Han Yu clicked his tongue twice.

Ever since she had taken Xiao Chenyu as a follower, she had become quite a figure at Nuoding Academy. The benefit was that someone paid for her and Han Yu's meals. Though she couldn't ask Xiao Chenyu for money, at least she didn't have to worry about paying for food. She still had to borrow money from Han Yu for her expenses, though.

"Brother, I found a job at a smithy. Every afternoon, after I finish cleaning at the academy, I'll be going there to work."

Not knowing what he meant, Tang San scratched his head and told Han Yu about finding a job.

A job.

Han Yu looked at Tang San as though he were a fool. Weren't the Gold Soul Coins he received from Spirit Hall enough to spend? And he was looking for a job? He could spend that time cultivating instead.

But even kind words couldn't dissuade a ghost bent on death.

Han Yu waved a hand and spoke.

"Go ahead."

"Oh, right, Brother, this is the Gold Soul Coin I received from Spirit Hall. Brother, why don't you go to Spirit Hall to have your Martial Soul assessed?"

As though remembering something, Tang San took a Gold Soul Coin out of his cloth bag and held it in his hand, then asked Han Yu in confusion.

"You can keep it. Why don't I go to Spirit Hall to have my Martial Soul assessed? Do you want them to take me away and study me?"

Han Yu shot Tang San an annoyed glance and spoke.

His Clear Sky Hammer had only that one Soul Ring, and it was a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring at that. If he went to Spirit Hall so rashly, there was no telling what might happen.

"Brother, then why don't you add a Soul Ring to your little tree?"

Tang San was puzzled. If the Clear Sky Hammer wouldn't do, didn't Han Yu have another Martial Soul?

"This is grown-up business. What's a kid like you poking around for? You'll understand when you're my age."

Han Yu looked at Tang San with disdain, reached out and gave him a push, shooing him away.

A kid.

The corner of Tang San's mouth twitched, and a trace of warmth rose in his heart. In both his lives, neither the people of the Tang Sect nor Tang Hao had ever treated him as a child. Only his own brother did, though he might have been only a few minutes older, but...

No matter what, I must protect my brother. Whatever happens, anyone who wants to hurt my brother will have to step over my corpse first.

Tang San secretly swore this to himself. He gave Han Yu a long look, then sat on his own bed and began cultivating.

There was still a book lying in his cloth bag, a book with no title. Grandmaster had given it to him for cultivation; it would let a Soul Master cultivate much faster than ordinary Soul Masters.

P.S. spoiler: at some point in the future.

Tang San stared at Han Yu with bloodshot eyes and roared through clenched teeth.

"You stole my identity, stole my life, absorbed the Soul Bone my mother gave me, made my mother into a Soul Ring, and took my Xiao Wu from me. You have a way to die!"