An apology from someone who was at least a Soul Master greatly satisfied Old Jack's vanity. He hurriedly waved his hands and said, "No need to apologize, no need to apologize. We were at fault too. Master, I'll have to trouble you with this child. Xiaosan, follow the master inside, but you must be obedient."
Tang San nodded but didn't speak.
Earlier, just as this master had stopped the doorman from rushing at him, his left hand had already lifted, with the safety on his sleeve arrow released. If the master's words had come any later, perhaps there would have been a short arrow lodged in the doorman's throat.
[Tang Sect's Mystic Sky Records General Principles, Article Three: Once the opponent is confirmed to be an enemy and they pose a lethal threat, show no mercy, otherwise, you will only bring trouble upon yourself.]
In Tang San's view, the doorman making a move on someone as old as Jack, along with his mean spirit, already constituted a lethal threat. He was also confident that, including Old Jack, no one would realize that he had fired the sleeve arrow. Without evidence, who could say it was him who had killed? Tang Sect's silent sleeve arrows were extremely fast, only a shadow would be seen, something the likes of that doorman could never dodge.
After giving a few more instructions to Tang San, Old Jack finally left.
The master glanced indifferently at the doorman, "This is the first and last time. If it happens again, you won't need to stay here." His voice was hoarse with calmness yet carried an undeniable authority.
The doorman's back was covered in cold sweat as he quickly agreed and moved to one side.
The master looked down at Tang San and squeezed out a slight smile, his facial muscles seemingly a bit stiff, making his smile somewhat disconcerting. He took Tang San's hand, saying, "Let's go inside."
The master's hand was soft and dry, comforting to the touch, which subconsciously gave Tang San a sense of trust. Under his guidance, Tang San finally entered the academy.
"Teacher, thank you," Tang San said to the master.
"Teacher? I am not a teacher at the academy," the master said, looking down at Tang San.
"Not a teacher? Didn't you just say you represent the academy?"
The master shook his head. The usually impatient him was exceptionally tolerant today, and once again forced out that unsightly smile, "Who said that only a teacher can represent the academy?"
Tang San suddenly realized, "I see, then you must be the principal of the academy, or a leader, right?"
The master laughed, "You are a clever six-year-old child. However, you guessed wrong again."
Tang San asked with confusion, "Then who are you?"
The master said, "I'm just a freeloader here for food and lodging. Like everyone else, just call me Master. That's how everyone addresses me. I've even forgotten my own name. The document from the Martial Soul Hall says your name is Tang San, right? You need to understand there's a big difference between master and teacher; don't mix them up in the future. Unless..."
He stopped speaking here, but his eyes sparkled with intense light, "Unless you truly wish for me to be your teacher."
"Are you going to teach me how to cultivate my Martial Soul?" Tang San asked.
The master stopped walking, stood in front of Tang San, and asked, "Would you like that?"
Tang San also stopped and looked up at the master. From this close range and looking up, he noticed the master had a relatively large mouth with thick lips. He didn't speak, neither agreeing nor declining.
Seeing Tang San's eyes staring blankly at him, that stiff smile appeared on the master's face again, "Good, you truly are a smart child."
Not speaking had two meanings: firstly, not to hastily decline and offend the master; secondly, to ask the master with actions—why should I accept you as my master?
Like Old Jack, the master lifted his hand and tousled Tang San's hair, "Gifted and so smart, it seems I must be persistent this time. After all, you're the third person with Twin Martial Souls in the past hundred years."
Tang San was shocked by the master's words. His gaze toward the master changed, and his left wrist had already lifted silently, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.
The master looked at him composedly, smiling and saying, "Are you curious how I knew you had Twin Martial Souls?" Shaking the document that Old Jack had given him, he continued, "It's because of this document. Others might not spot the flaw, but if I couldn't, I wouldn't deserve the title Master."
"I have studied six hundred and forty-seven people whose Martial Soul was the Blue Silver Grass. Among them, only sixteen had Soul Power, less than three percent. And of those sixteen, not a single one had Soul Power above level one, whereas you have Innate full soul power of level ten. According to one of the ten core competitive abilities of Martial Souls that I've researched, Innate soul power is directly proportional to the quality of the Martial Soul. Blue Silver Grass could not account for it, so I'm confident that you must have another Martial Soul, and a very powerful one at that."
Tang San's gaze gradually calmed down, countering, "There are always exceptions to everything, why can't I be an exception?"
The master nodded earnestly, "You are right, there are always exceptions, but your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, so you clearly are not that exception. In the last hundred years, the Tiandou Empire and Xingluo Empire have only had two individuals with Twin Martial Souls, but there have been nineteen with Innate full soul power. I have carefully studied each of their Martial Souls, all of which are powerful, with the youngest one already reaching the level of a Grand Soul Master. Fourteen of them inherited strong Martial Souls through familial bloodlines, while the rest were exceptions."