Telling Stories at the Village Entrance

Yan Zu sat down on the ground and opened the booklet in his hands to the first page. It was an adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights that he had copied out the night before-he had replaced all the characters with Soul Beasts and changed the setting to the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Today, I'll tell you a story about a 'wise fox' and a 'greedy wolf king.'" Yan Zu cleared his throat and began.

He told it vividly, bringing the story to life with his words. The fox was clever and quick-witted, using his wiles to overcome the wolf king's harassment time and again; the wolf king was greedy and cruel, and in the end he reaped the bitter fruit of his own deeds. The children listened, spellbound, and even passing adults couldn't help stopping to listen.

"...In the end, the fox said to the wolf king, 'Strength isn't meant for bullying the weak, and wisdom isn't meant for scheming against others. Every living thing in the forest has a reason to exist.'" Yan Zu brought the story to a close in an unhurried voice. "From then on, the Soul Beasts in that territory learned to live together in peace, and the forest grew even more lush."

When the story ended, the children were still caught up in it, all talking at once.

"The fox was so clever!"

"The wolf king was so bad!"

"I want to be like the fox and use wisdom to solve problems when I grow up!"

Something stirred in Yan Zu's heart. As he told the story, he had felt the faint image of the Xuanyuan Sword tremble slightly in his spiritual world, and the golden patterns on its blade seemed a little brighter. Though the change was minuscule, he had felt it beyond a doubt-Civilization Vow Power was gathering!

"I see..." Yan Zu grew thoughtful. "Spreading stories of wisdom can resonate with listeners and produce Vow Power. It's still very faint, but this path is viable."

He decided that after enrolling at Nuoding Academy, he would find a way to formally publish these adapted stories. Although the Douluo Continent had a Soul Master culture, popular literature was almost a blank slate. Using novels as a vehicle to spread ideas of civilization was both discreet and efficient.

Looks like I'll have to find time to write a few more, Yan Zu thought.

Over the next few days, Yan Zu trained Xiao Wu and told the children stories during the day, then entered the Mimicry Training Ground with Xiao Wu to cultivate together at night. Their coordination improved at a speed visible to the naked eye, and their Martial Soul compatibility rose steadily as well.

The children of Five Souls Village came to look forward to story time every evening. Yan Zu told them adapted versions of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, The Adventures of Sinbad, and other stories one after another, and every time, the villagers listened with rapt attention.

Seven days later, the family sat around the stone table in the courtyard for dinner that evening. The atmosphere, however, was not as relaxed as usual.

Yan Hu put down his bowl and chopsticks and said gravely, "A-Zu, Xiao Wu, your mother and I have talked it over. You'll be reporting to Nuoding Academy soon, and we... aren't comfortable letting you two children go on your own."

Su Qing added, "Nuoding City is more than sixty li from the village. You'll have to live at the academy and can only come back once a month. Your father and I thought it over and decided to go to the city with you."

Xiao Wu looked up in delighted surprise. "Really? Auntie Su and Uncle Yan are coming too?"

"Mm." Su Qing smiled gently. "We're planning to rent a little courtyard house in the city. Your Uncle Yan can take on some escort and guard work, and as for me..." She pulled a wooden plaque from her robes, the words "Su Medical Clinic" carved on it. "I'll put up a sign and practice medicine. Who from Five Souls Village can't recognize a few medicinal herbs? Treating minor illnesses and aches won't be a problem."

Warmth welled up in Yan Zu's heart. His parents were giving up their relatively stable life in the village to start over with them in an unfamiliar city. He understood that this was the best solution his parents could think of-they could look after them nearby, make a living, and avoid drawing attention.

"Mother, won't opening a clinic take a lot of capital?" Yan Zu asked.

Su Qing smiled. "We've saved some over the years, and the materials from that Wind Wolf last time sold for a good price. It's enough. Besides..." She winked. "Your father is a Soul Elder now, so the pay for his jobs has gone up quite a bit too."

Yan Hu scratched his head with an honest smile. "It's really thanks to the cultivation technique you gave me, A-Zu. I've felt my Soul Power improve again lately. Maybe in another year or two, I'll be able to make a push for level thirty-three."

Level thirty-three already counted as an expert in a small place like Nuoding City. Only then did Yan Zu put his mind at ease.

"When are we leaving, then?" Xiao Wu asked eagerly.

"In three days," Yan Hu said. "I've already asked someone about Nuoding Academy's enrollment dates. There's still half a month left. We'll go early so we can get familiar with the place."

For the next two days, the Yan family busied themselves packing. In truth, there wasn't much to take. Most of their belongings would stay in the village; they would bring only the necessary clothes, bedding, and a few daily necessities. Yan Hu carefully wiped down his hunting gear before putting it away, while Su Qing sorted and packed her dried medicinal herbs.

On the eve of their departure, Yan Zu and Xiao Wu entered the Mimicry Training Ground one last time. This time, Yan Zu simulated a complex environment: a dense forest, dim light, and a three-person Soul Master team whose members worked seamlessly together.

"Tonight's graduation exam," Yan Zu said with a smile. "Win, and I'll reward you with two packets of spicy strips on the road tomorrow."

"It's a deal!" Xiao Wu was full of fighting spirit.

The fight began. The three Soul Masters closed in from three directions: one pressed forward with a shield, one harassed them from a distance, and one waited for a chance to launch a sneak attack. Seven days ago, Xiao Wu would probably have been flustered long before now.

But now, her Wind God Legs footwork was superb, and she moved through the trees like the wind. She no longer charged in blindly, instead waiting patiently for Yan Zu to create an opening.

Yan Zu didn't disappoint her. First, he used the terrain to hold the shield-bearing Soul Master in check, then used the Nine Yin Manual's Hidden Weapon techniques to harass the long-range Soul Master. Though he used only pebbles, they struck vulnerable spots such as his opponent's wrists and eyes with precision.

Xiao Wu seized the opportunity at once, shooting forward like an arrow. Her First Soul Ring lit up, and Waist Bow activated. She made an incredible turn in midair and drove her right leg hard into the center of the sneak-attacking Soul Master's back.

"Bang!" The phantom vanished.

The remaining two Soul Masters were too late to come to the rescue. Yan Zu took the opportunity to charge forward and, with Xiao Wu harassing them, quickly "dealt with" the other two as well.

When the fight ended, Xiao Wu was panting, but her face was full of excitement. "Little Brother A-Zu, we won!"

Yan Zu nodded with a smile, his eyes full of gratification. Their progress over these seven days was real-Xiao Wu's combat awareness, use of movement techniques, and timing had all taken a qualitative leap. Their coordination had reached the point where a single glance was enough for them to understand each other's intentions.

[Detected: Host and bound target "Xiao Wu" have completed difficult coordination in a complex environment. Martial Soul compatibility +5%. Current compatibility: 58%.]

[Notice: Only 2% remains until initial Martial Soul Resonance.]

Almost there, Yan Zu thought.

Their consciousnesses returned to reality. Outside the window, the moonlight was bright. Hugging her pillow, Xiao Wu shuffled over to his bedside and said softly, "Little Brother A-Zu, I'm a little sad to leave the village..."

Yan Zu ruffled her hair. "We'll come back. And Nuoding City has more delicious food and more fun things to do."

"Really?" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up.

"Really." Yan Zu smiled. "Go to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow."