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Everything unfolded according to the plan, and Chu Chengzhou kept his word afterward, giving the young beggar a gold soul coin as promised.
After leaving the vegetable market, he found an empty alley, removed his black robe and mask, and headed home.
"Sigh~ I'm still too kind-hearted!"
Halfway home, Chu Chengzhou shook his head and sighed.
A truly ruthless person would have eliminated all traces by getting rid of the young beggar—after all, the only people who couldn't leak secrets were the dead.
Unfortunately, he wasn't that heartless or cruel.
"Hmm, the letter was delivered through a third party, and I didn't reveal my true identity. Even if Tang Hao investigates, there's no way he'll trace it back to me."
Reviewing the entire operation, Chu Chengzhou reassured his conscience.
As for whether Tang Hao would follow the script he had written after receiving the anonymous letter, Chu Chengzhou chose not to dwell on it.
He had done everything he could, and if Tang Hao and his son stubbornly refused to leave, there was nothing more he could do.
There was always a way out—when the enemy wouldn't move, he could always choose to leave instead!
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On the western side of Holy Spirit Village, three dilapidated earthen houses stood at the village entrance.
Above the roof of the central house hung a wooden sign about a meter in diameter, featuring a crudely painted hammer design.
These three run-down earthen houses were Tang San's residence.
It was hard to believe that the renowned Hao Tian Douluo lived in such poverty.
As noon approached, Tang San, whose stomach was growling with hunger, lifted the lid of the rice jar.
Seeing only a small scoop of rice left at the bottom, Tang San sighed: "Sigh~ The rice jar is empty again!"
Bad luck seemed to compound upon bad luck. Without dwelling on it further, he scooped out a tiny half-scoop of rice and began preparing lunch.
The pot was filled with plenty of water—not because he liked watery porridge, but because there wasn't enough rice to make a proper meal.
With so little rice, even making a full pot of cooked rice wouldn't be enough for him alone!
Side dishes? What side dishes? Having something to drink was already a luxury!
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Suddenly, a series of knocks came from outside.
"Coming~!"
Tang San called out and hurried to open the door.
"Huh? Uncle Dahe?"
Opening the old gate, Tang San recognized the visitor.
"Tang San, where's your father?"
Wang Dahe asked.
After selling off the vegetables from his ox cart to vendors at the southern market, Wang Dahe hadn't lingered in the city. He immediately returned to Holy Spirit Village with his cart, ensuring he didn't delay the important errand entrusted to him.
"My dad's still sleeping! Uncle Dahe, please come in. Dad, Uncle Dahe is here to see you!"
After inviting Wang Dahe inside, Tang San called out toward the inner room.
Villagers visiting meant business for the blacksmith shop. Earlier, Tang San had been worried about having no rice for tomorrow's meal, but it seemed like that concern was now resolved.
After a while, the curtain in the inner room parted, and Tang Hao emerged. Tall and muscular, he wore tattered leather clothes, his hair disheveled, his eyes bleary from sleep, and his body reeking of alcohol.
"What is it?"
Without any courtesy in his tone, Tang Hao glanced at Wang Dahe.
"Tang Hao, I've got a letter for you. A lord from the city sent someone to deliver it to me."
With that, Wang Dahe handed over the envelope.
Hearing this, Tang Hao frowned and looked at the letter Wang Dahe held out.
He had lived in seclusion in Holy Spirit Village for six years and never interacted with anyone outside. Who would send him a letter?
Still, Tang Hao didn't overthink it and took the letter.
"Oh, and the person who sent me said that after you read the letter, you need to give me another errand fee."
Wang Dahe reminded him about the second payment.
Though he'd already earned a gold soul coin, who would refuse more money?
This statement made Tang San, standing nearby, tense up.
Not only had the anticipated business deal fallen through, but now they had to pay out money?
Their family was already struggling to survive. If his father gave Wang Dahe an errand fee, they'd be left starving!
Tang Hao, however, showed no reaction. While it was true their family was poor, it didn't mean he couldn't get money—he just didn't bother.
If he wanted, he could easily kill a spirit beast in the forest and sell it, allowing Tang San to live a lavish life as the son of a wealthy family.
Opening the envelope, Tang Hao read the letter.
It contained just one sentence: "A Blue Silver Grass martial soul with full innate soul power has drawn the Spirit Hall's attention. Your identity has been exposed. Leave immediately!"
Instantly, Tang Hao's expression changed, and he felt a wave of fear.
Yes! A Blue Silver Grass with full innate soul power was anything but ordinary, and the person who awakened Tang San's martial soul was from the Spirit Hall. This would naturally attract their attention.
He hadn't hidden his identity while living in Holy Spirit Village—it wouldn't take much effort for someone to find out his name.
Put the two together, and his identity was practically exposed!
After all, who else in the world besides his son Tang San, with Ah Yin's bloodline, could awaken a Blue Silver Grass with full innate soul power?
Thankfully, someone had secretly warned him. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable—Spirit Hall's experts might already be on their way!
At this moment, Tang Hao felt immense gratitude toward the unknown sender.
Though he didn't know who had leaked the information, he was certain it was someone on his side!
"Did you read this letter?"
Suddenly, Tang Hao glared fiercely at Wang Dahe.
"No, no, I didn't read it privately!"
Although Tang Hao appeared decrepit, his towering frame was intimidating to Wang Dahe, who was barely 1.7 meters tall. He quickly shook his head and waved his hands in denial.
Come on, he was just an ordinary villager in Holy Spirit Village. The young beggar who gave him the letter had explicitly warned him against opening it—how could he dare disobey?
After staring intently for two seconds, Tang Hao withdrew his gaze, believing Wang Dahe's words.
With his keen perception, it wasn't hard to tell Wang Dahe wasn't lying. Moreover, the wax seal on the envelope showed no signs of tampering—he should be the first person to see its contents apart from the sender.
"Tang Hao, about my errand fee…"
Seeing Tang Hao fall silent, Wang Dahe cautiously reminded him.
Glancing at the greedy Wang Dahe, Tang Hao thought for a moment before saying: "I don't have money, but you can take anything you want from my blacksmith shop."
Instantly, Wang Dahe was dumbfounded.
What? Take anything I want? Without tools to eat with, are you planning to beg for food?
Wang Dahe was baffled, while Tang San beside him grew increasingly anxious, looking as though he wanted to speak but hesitated.
The only valuable things in their home were Tang Hao's blacksmithing tools. If those were given to Wang Dahe, wouldn't they be reduced to begging?
But before Tang San could gather the courage to protest, Tang Hao grabbed him, walked outside, and soared into the sky, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"Whoa, Tang Hao can fly?!"
Staring at the sky where Tang Hao and his son had vanished, Wang Dahe blurted out in astonishment.
Though limited by his perspective, Wang Dahe didn't know what level of soul master could fly, but he was certain that the drunk blacksmith of Holy Spirit Village, Tang Hao, was undoubtedly a powerful soul master!
And very likely stronger than the legendary Soul Sage of the village!
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