Smack—
Inside the somewhat stuffy blacksmith's shop, a middle-aged man's face was twisted with fury. He slapped Tang San's young, delicate face with force.
"Speak! I didn't allow you to awaken your martial soul, and yet you stole money to do it, didn't you!?"
The tremendous force behind the slap caused Tang San to stagger back a few steps instinctively. His face instantly burned with pain as a bright red handprint quickly appeared, visible to the naked eye.
He bit down hard on his lip, letting blood drip from the corner of his mouth, and spoke through gritted teeth, as though forcing the words out.
"I earned this money myself."
"Earned it?"
Tang Ba, enraged, heaved with fury. "At your age, how could you possibly earn money!? Stealing is one thing, but now you're lying too!?"
Suddenly, as if a thought crossed his mind, Tang Ba suppressed his anger, asking coldly, "What martial soul did you awaken?"
Hearing this, Tang San raised his hand, and a delicate blue plant materialized in his palm. The way it swayed gently in the air made Tang Ba's forehead veins bulge with rage.
"Useless! You wasted money awakening Blue Silver Grass, what's the point of that!?"
As he said this, Tang Ba raised his arm, preparing to strike again. But just as he was about to swing down, his eyes widened in disbelief. His pupils contracted sharply.
Before him, Tang San retracted the Blue Silver Grass and raised his other hand. A small black hammer appeared out of nowhere in his palm.
"Tw-Twin Martial Souls!?"
Tang Ba's voice trembled with shock, and in an instant, his rage dissipated into nothing. His throat bobbed as he grabbed Tang San's shoulder urgently.
"Your innate soul power! How much innate soul power!?"
"Eight and a half levels."
"Good, good, good!"
Tang Ba exclaimed 'good' three times in a row, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Twin Martial Souls! My son has twin martial souls! My good son!"
He opened his strong arms and pulled Tang San into a tight embrace. After a long while, he finally spoke, somewhat belatedly.
"Xiao San, you must be hungry, right? Come, your father will take you out for a good meal!"
Saying this, he held Tang San's hand and, laughing heartily, led him outside.
"My son has twin martial souls! My son is a genius!"
Feeling his father's broad hand, Tang San's nose tingled with emotion. In his previous life, Tang Hao had only hugged him briefly after learning he had twin martial souls and innate full soul power. But in this life, Tang Ba not only proudly announced it to the world, but also took him out to celebrate. This... this was the fatherly love he had always longed for, wasn't it?
After experiencing three lifetimes, he finally felt the warmth of a father's love!
One year later.
Two young figures were walking along the official road. In the distance, the outline of Shrek City could be faintly seen.
"When we get to Shrek, try not to reveal your martial soul's ability to devour life unless absolutely necessary. Remember that, okay?"
"Mhm." The girl nodded obediently, "You've told me several times already on the way here. By the way, are you sure it'll be okay going into the Star Dou Forest alone?"
The two were naturally Huo Yuhao and Tang Ya, who had come all the way from Heaven Dou City. With the help of the Sin of Gluttony, Huo Yuhao had reached level ten in soul power several months earlier. However, not wanting to worry Huo Yun'er, he used the pretext of accompanying Tang Ya to Shrek Academy as an excuse to take this trip.
Since Shrek City was close to the Star Dou Forest, once he dropped off Tang Ya, he planned to head into the forest to search for Tianmeng. Now only eight years old, he was three years ahead of his previous life's schedule, so he knew he'd likely have to venture deeper into the forest to find him.
"Don't worry. I'll just find a soul ring on the outskirts and come right back. You've seen my strength yourself."
Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Tang Ya rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "You don't even have a soul ring yet, I don't know how you can be so strong."
Over the past year, in order to better control her Dark Blue Silver Grass's devouring ability, Tang Ya had sparred with Huo Yuhao countless times. Although she had higher soul power, she found herself beaten every time.
Of course, despite the tough training, the results were apparent. She could now control her martial soul to only absorb her opponent's soul power.
As for the ability to devour life force, Huo Yuhao promised to teach her once her control improved further.
"Alright, let's get going."
Huo Yuhao smirked and didn't bother explaining further. In terms of soul power alone, the ten levels he had, enhanced by the Sin of Pride, were already on par with Tang Ya's soul power, which was nearing level twenty.
As they approached Shrek City, the admissions area for Shrek Academy came into view. Despite the requirement for a recommendation letter from a city lord to apply, there were still many applicants, creating a crowd that seemed to stretch on endlessly.
Seeing that their time together was about to end, Tang Ya called out softly to Huo Yuhao as if she had made up her mind.
"Yuhao."
"What is it?"
Turning around, Huo Yuhao saw Tang Ya walk up to him, arms stretched out, swaying a little as she pouted.
"Once school starts, I won't see you for a long time… I want a hug."
Huo Yuhao's face darkened. "Haven't I hugged you enough already? You can get hugs at home; there are so many people here."
He glanced around instinctively. Attracted by Tang Ya's pretty face, several passersby were casting curious glances their way. Feeling those eyes on him made Huo Yuhao inexplicably self-conscious, like he'd done something wrong.
But Tang Ya seemed unfazed. She waved her arms again.
"This is different."
With her playful personality, Tang Ya was well-loved by Huo Yun'er, often complaining after training that she needed a hug to heal her "wounds."
After giving in once, Huo Yuhao had come to understand the difference between zero hugs and endless hugs. Once the line was crossed, he felt his own sense of restraint begin to crumble.
But no matter how much she demanded hugs at home, this was different…
After a fierce internal struggle, Huo Yuhao finally opened his arms and gently hugged Tang Ya. A faint fragrance drifted into his nose. Just as he was about to pull away, Tang Ya tightened her hold slightly.
Before he could say anything, her soft voice whispered in his ear.
"Thank you."
Huo Yuhao's tense body relaxed a little. He patted her back and chuckled softly.
"You're saying this now? Go on in."
"Mhm."
With a soft hum, Tang Ya's head moved slightly on his shoulder. Her hair brushed against his cheek, and then her lips, soft and warm, grazed his face before lightly pressing against their destination, lingering for only a moment before parting.
"I'm going."
Before Huo Yuhao could react, Tang Ya, blushing, ducked her head and disappeared into the crowd.
Since the Tang Sect had one exemption spot each year, Tang Ya didn't have to take the entrance exam after revealing her identity.
"Hey, little sister! Are you one of the new students this year? I'm a third-year student. Would you like to get to know each other?"
A sudden voice made Tang Ya's face turn cold. She stopped, glanced at the male student approaching her, and a look of disgust flashed across her eyes. She opened her mouth and spat out one word.
"Scram."
The handsome student's expression froze. Before he could say anything, Tang Ya had already walked away.
Meanwhile, deep within the Star Dou Forest, in a mysterious and dangerous area, a three-eyed soul beast, resembling a lion, lifted its head. A look of confusion flickered in its eyes.
"What's going on?"
(End of chapter)