"Oh." Soul Rings, Soul Beasts—these two brand-new terms echoed ceaselessly in
By now, Jie Ke had come back to himself. He looked down at Tang San in surprise. "Little San, you couldn't possibly be that boy the Great Master mentioned—Innate Full Soul Power, Martial Soul
Tang San nodded. "That's me."
Lao Jie Ke crouched down so they were face to face. "Little San, I never expected your talent to be this remarkable. What a pity that you have a father like that, who couldn't pass down a decent Martial Soul to you. Otherwise, you might really have become the second Soul Saint our village has ever produced. Tell Grandpa—would you be willing to attend a special academy to learn how Soul Masters cultivate? That's the only place where you can find the most accurate knowledge about Martial Souls."
Tang San had already developed a keen interest in Martial Souls, especially since this Martial Soul seemed to be connected to his own Mysterious Heaven Skill. But he still didn't give a direct answer. "Grandpa Jie Ke, I'd have to ask my father about that."
Jie Ke suddenly came to his senses. Right—no matter how sensible a child might be, he was still a child.
A flicker of steely resolve appeared in his eyes. Despite the fact that he really didn't want to go see that slovenly wretch, for the sake of having another Soul Master come from the village, he couldn't let that stop him.
"Come along, Little San. Grandpa will walk you home." Lao Jie Ke first dismissed the other children, letting their parents take them away, and only then did he bring Tang San back to the blacksmith's shop.
In the mornings, Tang Hao had his regular routine of sleeping, and the blacksmith's shop was utterly silent.
"Tang Hao! Tang Hao!" Lao Jie Ke couldn't care less whether Tang Hao was asleep or not. He truly despised this disheveled blacksmith. If it weren't for the fact that the farming tools he forged were dirt cheap, Jie Ke would have long since kicked Tang Hao out of the village.
While calling out for Tang Hao, Jie Ke's gaze swept around the shop. He wanted to find a chair to sit on, but looking at all the dilapidated objects, he really didn't have the courage to pull one over. He wasn't young anymore, and he had no intention of breaking a bone in this place.
"Who's making all that racket?" Tang Hao's slightly irritated voice rang out as the curtain to the inner room was pushed aside and he stepped out at a leisurely pace.
He first spotted his son, and only then did he turn his gaze toward Jie Ke. "Lao Jie Ke. What is it?"
Jie Ke replied irritably, "Today is the day your son undergoes his Martial Soul Awakening—don't you know how important that is? Every other family has both parents accompanying their child, but you, as always, are no different."
Tang Hao seemed not to have heard a word of Jie Ke's sarcasm. His gaze shifted back to his son. "Little San, your Martial Soul has awakened? What is it?"
Tang San answered, "Father, it's Blue Silver Grass."
"Blue Silver Grass?" For reasons unknown, Tang Hao—who had never shown much interest in anything outside himself—suddenly trembled when he heard those three words. A peculiar light flickered deep in his eyes.
Only Tang San noticed the change in Tang Hao's expression. Lao Jie Ke naturally couldn't care less about the face of some slovenly blacksmith, and he cut straight to the point: "It may be Blue Silver Grass, but Little San has Innate Full Soul Power. Tang Hao, I've made up my mind—the village's one Work-study Student slot this year will go to Little San. He should go study at the Nuoding Soul Master Junior Academy. The village will cover his travel expenses."
"Blue Silver Grass… Blue Silver Grass…" Tang Hao murmured the words twice, then abruptly raised his head. A look of determination that Tang San had never seen before appeared in his eyes. His voice was low and heavy: "No."
"What did you say? I must have misheard." Jie Ke stuck a finger in his ear, staring at Tang Hao in disbelief. "You should know how precious this opportunity is. Our Sacred Soul Village once produced a Soul Saint, and even so we only get one slot per year. Other villages have to share a single slot between two or three villages—do you understand? This is a golden chance. Little San could become someone of true standing someday."
Tang Hao cast Jie Ke an icy glance. "What good is being someone of standing? All I know is that if he leaves, no one will be cooking for me. Blue Silver Grass—what do you think a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul can ever cultivate into? It's nothing but a worthless Martial Soul."
Jie Ke's voice rose with fury: "But he has Innate Full Soul Power! As long as he obtains a Soul Ring—even the lowest-quality one—he'll immediately become a Soul Master. A Soul Master—do you understand? Our village hasn't produced a single Soul Master in many, many years."
Tang Hao replied flatly, "Now that's your real motive, isn't it? I said no, and that means no. You can leave."
"Tang—Hao—!" The fury in Jie Ke's chest had burned to its limit.
Tang Hao remained as languid as ever. "No need to shout. I'm not deaf. I said—you can leave."
"Grandpa Jie Ke, please don't be angry. I'd rather not go study to become a Soul Master after all. Father is right—Blue Silver Grass is just a worthless Martial Soul. Thank you for your kindness."
Though Jie Ke loathed Tang Hao with every fiber of his being, he genuinely adored the sensible little Tang San. His boiling rage gradually subsided, and he let out a long sigh. "Good child. Grandpa isn't angry. All right, Grandpa will be going now." With that, he turned and walked toward the exit.
Tang San hurried to see him out. He could ignore his father's manners, but Jie Ke was the village chief and had always treated him well—politeness was the bare minimum he would offer.
Jie Ke stopped at the doorway of the blacksmith's shop, turned around to face Tang Hao, and spoke with heartfelt earnestness: "Tang Hao, your life may already be over, but Little San is still young. Don't you think you owe him the means to make a living? Don't hold him back. Becoming a Soul Master—at the very least, he won't end up as wretched as you. If you change your mind, come find me. There are still three months until this year's enrollment deadline at the Nuoding Soul Master Junior Academy."
(End of Chapter)