In Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy, the Master was reading in his room.
Tang San and Tang Sui had returned home. In this academy, his only remaining friend was the principal, with whom he could occasionally talk. Other times, he was alone.
Over the course of a year, his feelings for these two disciples had changed, and he had come to care for and worry about them as if they were his own children.
Even though they had only been gone for less than a morning, the Master, sitting in his chair, couldn't focus on his book.
"Alas, I wonder how far Sui Sui has traveled. Will she make Xiao San carry her again?" Unable to read, the Master finally flipped his book face down on the desk, looking with some concern at the sunny window.
During this past year, in addition to teaching them knowledge and cultivation techniques, he had also been diligently trying to improve Tang Sui's health.
Unfortunately, his meager salary and the fact that others considered his martial soul to be useless made it impossible to purchase good medicinal ingredients and herbs. He could only proceed slowly.
As for information about the "Ling Mian" martial soul, he had scoured all the martial soul classics throughout the year, but had found no trace of it.
"Bang, bang, bang,"
Three distinct knocks echoed in the Master's ears. A trace of surprise appeared on his face, as if he hadn't expected anyone to come looking for him.
"Please come in."
The door opened, and a tall figure in a gray robe entered from outside.
"Hello, Master."
A hoarse, deep voice spoke from the newcomer.
The person raised his head, revealing a face etched with weariness and messy black hair hidden beneath the gray robe. His eyes, bloodshot but sharp, looked at the Master with a hint of danger.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly. Although it was sunny outside, inside the room, the Master felt as if he were standing in an ice cellar, a chill running down his spine.
For some reason, the moment this person entered, the Master's muscles instinctively tensed, and his soul power began to circulate unconsciously, putting him on high alert.
"Who are you?" the Master asked, inwardly wary and confused.
Tang Hao looked at the Master and said lightly, "Speaking of which, we haven't seen each other for twenty years, have we? That's understandable. With my current appearance, it's no wonder you don't recognize me." As he said this, a hint of self-mockery entered Tang Hao's tone as he revealed his identity:
"Master, I am Tang Hao."
"Tang Hao!"
The Master's pupils contracted sharply. The usually calm expression on his face cracked, and he suddenly stood up from his chair, not even bothering to catch it as it fell backward.
He stared intently at the person before him, his hands gripping the desk, his fingertips turning pale and blue from exertion.
"You, you are Hao Tian..."
Tang Hao raised a hand, stopping the Master from continuing, and said coldly, "Enough. There's no need to mention past titles. We had a few encounters back then. Others might think you're just a madman, but I know you're a persistent person."
The Master's agitated emotions gradually subsided. The corners of his stiff mouth twitched slightly as he understood, "It seems my guess was right. You really are Xiao San and Sui Sui's father. They've already gone home to find you, so why are you here instead?"
A fleeting, obscure light flashed in Tang Hao's eyes. He lowered his gaze and said, "It's precisely because both my children have gone back that I am standing here. Because I know you've taken them as disciples. As their father, I should have come to see you earlier, but I kept postponing it."
After a pause, Tang Hao continued, "Master, I'm planning to leave. My only lingering concern is for them. So, I've come to entrust them to you."
"You're leaving?!" The Master's recently calmed heart rippled with renewed turbulence. The way he looked at Tang Hao lost its earlier agitation and gained a sharp edge, almost questioning. "They are both your children! Especially Sui Sui, she's frail from birth. She's barely managed to become a soul master and has been living cautiously. Now is when they need their father the most, and you're telling me you're entrusting them to me and leaving yourself?!"