Tang San:"..."
Seeing this, the blacksmith shop owner decided to give up; the forging industry would lose a potential "master craftsman."
What a pity...
"Tang San, did you go to the Spirit Hall Branch in Notting City for a soul power assessment?"
Tang San was taken aback, shaking his head in confusion. "Not yet? I planned to go after my shift. Have you already gone?"
Ye Hao nodded, pulling out a gold soul coin and the badge that contained his information.
"That is right, I get a gold soul coin subsidy every month; however, at this rate, it is just a drop in the bucket. Why do not you bring Xiao Wu along to work the forge? More hands could mean more income, right?"
Tang San sighed helplessly, "Xiao Wu is now the boss at Notting Academy; how can I, her younger brother, pull her along? Are you here just to check on me?"
"I am just passing by..."
Ye Hao said quietly, "Let me tell you a secret: Xiao Wu is actually a rabbit."
After saying that, Ye Hao walked towards Notting Junior Soul Master Academy, intending to return to his dormitory for some more rest...
"Xiao Wu is really a rabbit?"
Tang San thought about this statement for a moment before shaking his head and returning to work on the forge...
The sounds of "clang, clang, clang" rang out once more...
Not long after Ye Hao left, a man in a gray robe appeared quietly, looking in the direction Ye Hao had gone.
After a brief pause, the man returned his gaze to Tang San, who was diligently working at the forge, and sighed helplessly before disappearing.
Life at Notting Junior Soul Master Academy was rather dull, with days beginning at sunrise and ending at night.
Aside from his daily commutes between the academy and the blacksmith shop, Tang San had little else to do but train. Xiao Wu continued to assert her authority, forming a small faction within the academy.
It was said that even the principal was aware of the new "Xiao Wu," but he could not be bothered to intervene; as long as nothing went wrong, everything was fine; after all, she possessed innate full soul power.
Ye Hao's only real hobby was daily lounging, which he continued to do alongside his regular training.
Training?
Did he still require the body that the system had provided him before it left?
Dating?
He had no plans for that at the moment.
Playing with kids?
Sorry, he was too old to hang out with them.
Working alongside Tang San at the blacksmith shop?
Working was impossible; he would never do it in this lifetime.
The academy had its own set of rules; students were not permitted to visit their parents while at school, and they could only leave during breaks to return home.
The once-busy dormitory 7 was suddenly deserted, with work-study students returning to their homes.
Xiao Wu sat alone on her bed, staring at Tang San, who was diligently training. This guy was just a blockhead; all he did was train, train, train.
Then there was Ye Hao, who was sprawled out and resting; Xiao Wu had a bad impression of him; when Ye Hao first arrived at dormitory 7, he embarrassed her in front of everyone by pinning her down and calling her "Xiao Wu Jie," which was completely humiliating.
For Xiao Wu, that was a lifelong shadow; whenever she saw Ye Hao, she could not help but feel aversion.
Rabbits are quick to hold grudges, especially since Ye Hao previously mentioned enjoying spicy rabbit heads.
"Aren't you going home?"
Tang San slowly opened his eyes, gathering his belongings to return to Holy Spirit Village. Time flew by; it had already been half a year since he had left home, and he wondered how his father was doing, probably still drinking at this hour.
Xiao Wu stared blankly, casting a dismissive glance at Ye Hao, whose annoying expression reminded her of that dark, cold night.
Sharing the same Death Spider Emperor martial soul as him, she had witnessed her mother's death at the hands of a few Title Douluo right in front of her eyes, and the moment the hundred-thousand-year soul ring lit up, her hatred for that person was sealed.
There was nothing she could do; Ye Hao resembled Bibi Dong, and the system had simulated Bibi Dong's martial soul, giving Ye Hao a powerful body as well as her demeanor and facial expressions. Standing together, it was difficult not to make some connections.
Could they be mother and son?
(Ye Hao: ???)
(Bibi Dong: ???)
But that was a story for another time...
Ye Hao, dazed, muttered, "I have been lonely and helpless since I was a child; everyone at the academy knows I am an orphan."
"If I recall correctly, Tang San, your family lives in Holy Spirit Village, right?"
Tang San nodded. "Yes, my home is in Holy Spirit Village. It takes less than half a day to get there from Notting City. How about you come with me? You can't just stay in the academy alone."
Ye Hao contemplated for a moment. Holy Spirit Village? It was said to be Tang San's birthplace; while he was still alive, it would not hurt to investigate.
"Okay, then."
After that, Ye Hao jumped up from his bed, packing nothing since he had very little to carry.
"How about you, Xiao Wu?"
Xiao Wu stared at Ye Hao, her mind racing. While she despised Ye Hao and his martial soul, as well as his face, he was not for her in the end.
"All right then."
Holy Spirit Village was named after a Soul Sage-level soul master who appeared here over a century ago. It was a small village on the border between the two major empires. The villagers grew fruits and vegetables, and they lived comfortably while trading between the two empires.
After a day of trekking, the three arrived at Holy Spirit Village, where local customs were simple and the air was much cleaner than in Notting City.
Ye Hao took a quick look around, stopping in the village's center to examine the handprints left by the so-called "Soul Sage." It was roughly equivalent to his own. Why not make a mark of his own? Who knows, it might earn him some fame later?
Tang San came from a poor family and lived with his alcoholic father, who owned a blacksmith shop. As they approached Tang San's house, Ye Hao detected a strong metallic odor.
Rusty smell.
The yard was overgrown with weeds, and the rusted lock on the front gate indicated that Tang San's drunken father had not been home in a long time.
Tang San paused for a moment before taking out a spare key and opening the door, which revealed a white and dusty interior.
The furniture was covered in dust, and the floor was littered with weeds. Ye Hao could not help but shake his head; the visit to Holy Spirit Village was over, and he had unintentionally ended up cleaning for the protagonist.
For someone like him, who preferred to lounge around, the only option was to keep relaxing.
Given the current situation, Tang San's father, Tang Hao, had clearly left; where he went was unknown...
"Hmm? Why is this door open? Could it be a thief?"
Old Jack, leaning on his cane, staggered to Tang San's house, glancing at Tang San, who was cleaning, and finally feeling relieved that it was not a thief.