Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"Wow! Is this the mountain village where you grew up, Xiao San? The scenery is amazing!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, admiring the quaint village before her.

After being invited by Tang San, Qi Ling and Xiao Wu followed him to the Holy Soul Village.

The village elder, Jack, was overjoyed when he saw Tang San arriving with two classmates.

"Oh! Isn't this our young Tang San? I had planned to go to the academy to pick you up, but I didn't expect you to come back on your own!" Old Jack said enthusiastically.

"And these two are your classmates? They truly are outstanding talents!"

Qi Ling and Xiao Wu greeted Old Jack, and then Tang San asked, "Village chief, where is my father? Is he still at home?"

Old Jack's expression became unnatural upon hearing this.

"I had planned to pick you up with your father, but when I went this morning, I only found this at your house."

Old Jack handed Tang San a piece of paper, which bore the handwriting of his father, Tang Hao.

The letter explained that Tang Hao had to leave to handle some personal matters and advised Tang San to take care of himself.

It was, in essence, a farewell letter.

As Tang San read the note, he was filled with a profound sense of loss.

He had hoped to reunite with his long-lost father, only to find the house empty.

He was overwhelmed by helplessness and sorrow.

"Hey! Xiao San, why are you standing there in a daze?" Qi Ling suddenly patted Tang San on the shoulder, then hugged him and said, "Since we're here in your village, why not show us around your house?"

"Yes, Xiao San, take us to your house! I'm hungry, and you have to cook me something delicious!" Xiao Wu chimed in.

As Tang San was dragged away by the two, Old Jack smiled contentedly.

"What wonderful kids! I'm relieved that Xiao San has such good friends!"

When they arrived at Tang San's house, the three of them were shocked by the mess inside.

Tang Hao was never one to pay attention to details, and after Tang San left, the house had fallen into disarray. Expecting him to clean it up was wishful thinking.

"It looks like we've got some work to do!" Qi Ling said helplessly.

"If we don't want to sleep in an ash heap tonight, we'd better get to it."

The three of them fetched water and began cleaning, scrubbing away the dust and tidying up the house. Eventually, the place was spotless, and Tang San showed his skills by cooking a delicious dinner for them.

After eating and drinking, they sat outside the blacksmith shop, watching the sun gradually set.

Tang San suddenly laughed.

"What's wrong, Xiao San? Did you eat something bad?" Xiao Wu asked, concerned.

"No, I'm just really happy today," Tang San said slowly.

"I felt a sense of home today, something I haven't felt in a long time."

"Thank you, Brother Qi, Xiao Wu.

Today has been the happiest day I've had in a long time," Tang San said with a longing expression.

"If only you two were really my family, that would be perfect."

"Hey, silly boy, that's an easy problem to solve!" Qi Ling said, leaning against the doorframe.

"You've been calling me Brother Qi for so long, so why not make it official?"

"And me! Sister Xiao Wu can also be your sister!" Xiao Wu added enthusiastically.

"I have no objections to Brother Qi being my big brother. Honestly, I can't imagine him as anything else," Tang San laughed.

What Tang San said was the truth.

At the academy, no matter how old the students were, everyone called Qi Ling "Brother Qi," and it felt natural.

"As for Xiao Wu, you can be my little sister," Tang San said. "Having two older brothers to protect you in the future wouldn't that make you even happier?"

Hearing this, Xiao Wu's expression suddenly turned sad, and she lowered her head.

"But... what if bad people come after me in the future, and they're stronger than you two? What will I do then?"

Tang San looked at Qi Ling, who was already looking back at him, and the two of them exchanged a knowing smile.

"If that day ever comes," Tang San said.

"Then they'll have to get through us first!" Qi Ling finished.

Xiao Wu looked at the two men before her, their expressions serious, and her eyes gradually filled with tears.

Today was also Xiao Wu's happiest day.

"Brother Qi, Third Brother!" Xiao Wu suddenly exclaimed, "I'm so lucky to have brothers like you!"

Hearing Xiao Wu call them "Brother Qi" and "Third Brother," Tang San was elated, and even Qi Ling smiled.

"Alright! Since the three of us are officially siblings now, how can we not celebrate?" Qi Ling said, suddenly pulling out a jar of wine from his storage.

"Xiao San, don't say I never gave you a chance! If you can outdrink me today, I'll let you be the big brother! How about that?" Qi Ling said with a grin.

Tang San smiled back. "Alright! I'll risk it all today!"

The two of them poured large bowls of white wine. Xiao Wu laughed, "I'll be the referee! Brother Qi, Third Brother, you should know that Xiao Wu is a fair judge!"

"Hahaha, don't worry! Even if Xiao San plays dirty, he still won't beat me.

I'm determined to keep my title as big brother!" Qi Ling said confidently.

And indeed, that's how it turned out.

Even though Tang San was an exceptional genius of the Tang Sect, his alcohol tolerance was quite low.

After three bowls, his eyes started to glaze over.

"Hahaha, how about it, Xiao San? Do you give up?" Qi Ling asked after downing another bowl of wine.

"Yes... I give up, big brother..." Tang San mumbled before collapsing to the ground, unable to wake up no matter how much he was shaken.

"Hahaha, Third Brother, you're hopeless!" Xiao Wu patted Tang San's back.

"Forget it, Brother Qi, I'll drink with you!"

"Alright! Fill it up!" Qi Ling laughed.

In the end, Qi Ling carried both Xiao Wu and Tang San back inside, looking at the two of them passed out. He sighed, "Ah, it's lonely being unbeatable!"

And so, the three spent the entire holiday in Holy Soul Village, catching fish and birds every day, reliving a bit of childhood fun.

Before they knew it, five years had passed, and it was time for their graduation.

Master Yu Xiaogang looked proudly at the three outstanding students.

"Alright, the three of you, get ready to head to Soto City today."

"Master, are we really going to Shrek Academy?" Xiao Wu asked, puzzled.

"There are many prestigious soul master academies willing to take us in without any conditions! Is Shrek really that special?"

"Hahaha, don't worry, Xiao Wu, Xiao San, Qi Ling, Shrek Academy won't disappoint you!" Yu Xiaogang said, a knowing smile on his face as if recalling someone.

"After all, it's that person's academy how could it be boring?"