Holy Soul Village wasn't far from Notting City. The three of them walked for half a day and finally arrived at the city gates.
"小San, XiaoWu, Grandpa will take you to the academy and then head back. Once you enter, you must listen carefully to your teachers," Old Jack patiently reminded them as they entered the city. "When the semester ends, Grandpa will come back to pick you up."
"Grandpa Jack, are you really in such a hurry to leave?" Tang San couldn't help but ask.
At his age, what's there to rush about? Zhu Wu silently mocked, noticing Tang San's nervous expression.
When you came to steal from my house, you didn't look this flustered.
"This inn isn't a place ordinary folks like us can afford," Old Jack said with a bitter smile and shook his head.
"Let's go." Leading Tang San and Zhu Wu, he continued forward, stopping occasionally to ask passersby for directions to Notting Academy.
After some time, they spotted from afar a massive stone archway about 20 meters wide and 10 meters tall. Beneath it was a large iron gate, and to the left, a smaller door stood next to a guard booth. Looking back, the road was wide, lined with lush green trees.
The four gilded characters "Notting Academy" hung quietly above the archway.
"A soul master truly is a privileged class in this world. Even a beginner's soul master academy is built so grandly," Zhu Wu murmured in awe.
While observing, they followed Old Jack closer.
"What are you doing here? Are you country bumpkins even allowed in?" Before they reached the gate, a sharp voice cut through the air.
Looking over, a young man stepped out of the guard booth with a disdainful glare, acting like a complete jerk.
Tang San glanced sideways at Old Jack, sensing the tension.
Sure enough, Tang San furrowed his brows, clearly displeased.
"Little brothers, we're from Holy Soul Village," Old Jack explained with a forced smile.
"What a joke! A grass nest can't hatch a golden phoenix," the youth scoffed mockingly.
"There haven't been any kids with soul power around Notting City for years. Suddenly, two pop up from some small village? Who are you trying to fool?"
"Little brothers, it's true!" Old Jack straightened his chest proudly. "Look, here's proof issued by Steward Su Yuntao of the Soul Hall."
He pulled out a certificate from his pocket and handed it over.
Hearing Su Yuntao's name, the youth's expression twisted, clearly considering it somewhat credible. He glanced at Tang San and Zhu Wu, then back at Old Jack. Taking the certificate, he opened it fully, his eyes suddenly blazing with fury.
"Damn, old man, you're trying to trick me!"
He spat venomously.
"Blue Silver Grass soul skill with innate full soul power, Silkworm soul skill with innate level 6 soul power? Come on, old man, if you're going to fake something, at least make it believable. I've been here four years — do you think I don't know anything?" He lifted his chin arrogantly, acting like a well-educated expert, then snorted coldly: "These two soul skills are recognized trash soul skills. There's no way someone with those could awaken such high soul power."
With that, he flung both certificates to the ground. "Get lost! If you cause trouble here again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"You—" Old Jack's face flushed with anger as he bent down to pick up the certificates, but Zhu Wu was faster and grabbed them first.
Seeing this, Old Jack gave up trying to retrieve them and looked up at the youth, scolding, "You're clearly trying to cause trouble! Hmph, wait here. I'm going to the Soul Hall branch to find the steward and settle this properly."
The youth's face tightened, clearly nervous.
What's the deal with this guard? With his meager salary, who does he think he is? Does he really care whether it's true or not? The tutors will check once they're inside, right? But to throw away a certificate issued by the Soul Hall itself—that takes some nerve. Zhu Wu, holding the certificate, glanced at the youth with growing irritation. Arrogance might not be illegal, but it sure deserves a beating.
"小San, XiaoWu, let's go!" Old Jack turned angrily once Zhu Wu had the certificates back.
Zhu Wu's eyes flicked sideways just as Tang San subtly raised his left hand.
Here he comes, here he comes! As expected of Tang San—he really dares. Zhu Wu was secretly amazed.
Right in front of the academy gates, with people around, they actually dared to start a fight!
"Holy Soul Village? More like Beggar Village," the youth guard grumbled stubbornly, though clearly rattled.
"What did you say?!" Old Jack exploded and spun around, glaring furiously.
"What? Don't like it? Am I wrong?" The youth was startled and stepped back.
Then, as if ashamed to back down from an old man, he got angry and stepped forward aggressively, raising his hand to push Old Jack.
"Full of patches all over your clothes—looks like you're from Beggar Village!"
"Get lost! Now!"
With his bad temper flaring, just as the youth's palm was about to hit Old Jack's chest, Zhu Wu kicked out, voice full of childish defiance.
"Bad guy! Don't bully my Grandpa!"
But Tang San was quicker. His left hand swept up and struck away the youth's left hand, stepping forward and stepping on the youth's ankle. The youth stumbled, and Tang San pushed forcefully against his stomach. Zhu Wu's foot followed with a quick kick to the youth's lower leg.
The youth yelped, collapsing to the ground as if shocked by an electric shock.
Kicking the ankle nerve? Tang San glanced at Zhu Wu with a knowing look. Of course, he just got lucky hitting the right spot.
"小San, XiaoWu," Old Jack gasped in surprise.
"You little brats are asking for death!" The youth was furious, hopping on one leg, trying to attack Zhu Wu, who had hurt him the most.
Zhu Wu jumped back instinctively, glancing sideways.
Nearby, a middle-aged man with a buzz cut and one hand behind his back was approaching. Around 40 or 50 years old, this was Yu Xiaogang.
Having noticed the scuffle earlier, he hadn't shouted to stop them but walked over slowly. Only when the guard shouted about the Blue Silver Grass's full soul power did he quicken his pace.
Still, he didn't say a word on the way over.
Was he afraid of damaging his throat by yelling from afar? Or was he just putting on an act?
Though he wasn't obligated to intervene, having witnessed the scene, Yu Xiaogang seemed like a real show-off.
"Alright, stop it," he said calmly as he arrived beside Tang San.
"Master, you're back," the youth said with surprise, then turned away with a forced bow.
Yu Xiaogang ignored him and looked at Zhu Wu, voice neutral, "Kid, can you show me that certificate from the Soul Hall?"
Zhu Wu nodded and handed it over.
"Here, Grandpa," he said.
(End of Chapter)
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