Chapter 25: Departing

Wong Yazhu burst into the blacksmith shop, shouting, "Gege San!" Before Tang San—who was reading a paper—could react, she caught him in a bear hug. "You are back!"

Tang San, confused, managed to open Wong Yazhu's arms, stepping back to create distance between them, causing the girl to pout, folding her arm. "You don't want me to hug you?"

Tang San, now seven, stood 132 cm tall, with a lean yet muscular body, his muscles more toned than Wong Yazhu's, and his shoulders somewhat broad. His skin was even smoother, his black hair cut to ear length and styled neatly, and his face promised to become attractive as he grew up. He was dressed neatly in a blue shirt with black pants, blue socks that weren't notable, and black sneakers.

His black eyes scanned the taller girl before him, and recognition flashed. "Meimei Yazhu?" He asked, with Wong Yazhu grinning, pointing to her chest. "That's me!"

Tang San scanned the tall girl, who was dressed in black pants, a long-sleeved milk-colored shirt, and black sneakers. "You look..." He looked at her boyish face, her brown eyes gleaming with excitement. "...Different..."

Wong Yazhu did a front double bicep spread. "Stronger and taller."

Tang San smiled, folding the paper he was reading. "How have you been?" Just as Wong Yazhu was about to reply, a clear and melodious voice came from behind her, "Little San, the villagers are so nice---"

Wong Yazhu turned to see a pretty young girl standing in the door, about the same age and height as Tang San, only about an inch shorter. She had a rosy face, fair and soft appearance, and her long black hair braided into a scorpion braid hanging past her buttocks. She wore a pink long-sleeve shirt with a white short, her red eyes scanning Wong Yazhu. "Hello, are you Tang San's friend?"

'Ah, this girl.' Wong Yazhu looked at the girl, smiling and saying, "And who might you be?" She asked, "Tang San's girlfriend?" The girl blinked.

Tang San quickly cleared his throat, "Friend." He quickly corrected, walking beside Wong Yazhu and then introducing the red-eyed girl. "This is—"

"Xiao Wu, Wu of dancing." Xiao Wu jumped in before Tang San could continue, a smile on her face. "Tang San never told me he had a boyfriend back home."

"Boy friend," Tang San quickly corrected, "Try to put spaces between those two words, Xiao Wu." Tang San then gestured to Wong Yazhu, "And 'he' is actually a 'she.' You can call her Wong Yazhu."

"Eh?" Xiao Wu tilted her head innocently. "But she looks so much like a boy."

Tang San was about to tell Xiao Wu to apologize, but Wong Yazhu didn't really mind. "It's understandable." She looked down at her clothes. "It's because of how I dressed."

"Nope." The rabbit-looking girl shook her head. "Even if you dress all girly, you will still look like a guy."

'...' Wong Yazhu froze, glancing at the girl. 'Does she think I am interested in Tang San?' She asked himself, then chuckled. 

Tang San quickly came between them. "Do you know where Father went?" He asked, his question directed to Wong Yazhu.

Wong Yazhu blinked, then looked at the folded paper in Tang San's hand. 'He probably took the God Tree and went somewhere with it.' Not that Wong Yazhu minded since she could summon it whenever he wanted. It is, afterall, Still her martial soul.

Not only that, she could also feel the general direction of the God Tree and it was somewhere north. "I don't know." She replied truthfully. "I just saw him yesterday."

A new voice came, "Tang Hao this fellow left without any warning." All three eyes turned to the newcomer, Old Jack. "The day before yesterday, I came to have him forge some farm tools but he was gone. With him leaving like this, we must again find a new blacksmith later." He shook his head. "This fellow, truly too irresponsible."

Three question marks appeared above Wong Yazhu's head as she asked, "Three days ago?" Old Jack turned to him. "Oh, Little Yazhu, you are awake." He smiled. "Your parents were worried when you suddenly went into a coma for three days." He frowned. "They even called a doctor from the city who said you were fine and even healthy."

Wong Yazhu's eyes widened. "I have to greet mother and father." She said, rushing out nodding at Xiao Wu. "A pleasure meeting you." With that, she walked past her, running home.

He quickly returned home, and just as she stepped in, Wong An rushed to him. "What happened? Where were you? When did you wake up? Why were you in a coma!?" Wong Yazhu was immediately bombarded with questions, as she said, "I can't answer that fast."

Wong Su lightly pulled his wife away, his face grave. "Tell us what happened." Wong Yazhu nodded. He stepped back, allowing his daughter to enter. They walked to the living room, and Wong Yazhu stood in front of her parents who were sitting on the couch.

"Well, I snuck out that night---" Wong An immediately roared, "Snuck OUT!?" Wong Su put his arm in front of his wife, staring at his daughter, who continued. 

"I always sneak out to continue training in the forest." She walked around, her footsteps silent. "I wanted to keep training even in the night to not fall behind Tang San, so I always go to the forest to fight animals, but it's only for a short time before I come back."

She looked into her parents' eyes. "That night, I managed to find a soul beast." Before there was an uproar, a purple ring rose from Wong Yazhu's feet, floating up to her head and disappearing. It was brief, only lasting a second, but the two felt a strong, suffocating aura once the ring appeared and during its duration. "I killed the soul beast, and I absorbed its soul ring."

The two sat, staring at their daughter, who added, "I am now a soul master." She smiled. "I saw how mommy was mad when we gave money to the neighbor. I will make us rich and we can live in a big city." 

The girl flexed, and suddenly, in what seemed like an instant to the two normal humans, she appeared by the door, a strong gust of wind following after her movement. "I am fast too. I will become a strong soul master and make us rich!"

The two were too stunned to speak, and when Wong An was about to snap out, there was a knock on the door. Wong Yazhu quickly opened it, to see Tang San and Xiao Wu standing there. 

"Tang San!" Wong Su roared, standing up and rushing to the door. "How have you been?" 

Wong Yazhu stepped out of the way allowing Wong Su to face Tang San, his massive frame dwarfing the boy. "Hi, Mister Wong, I have been good." Tang San smiled. 

"Really?" Wong An asked, walking up. "Eating well? Sleeping well? What of money, do you need money?"

They both moved out of the way, allowing Tang San and Xiao Wu in, Wong Yazhu closing the door behind them. "I have been eating and sleeping well, and I got a blacksmith job." 

Wong Su burst out laughing. "Like father, like son!"

This caused Wong An to slap her husband's shoulder. "A young boy like you can't be doing physical jobs." 

"He fights soul beasts for a living; I doubt blacksmithing is any problem." Wong Su pointed out. 

Tang San nodded, saying, "It really isn't much." He then turned the attention to Xiao Wu, who had been standing silently and smiling. "This is Xiao Wu, my...er… senior." 

Xiao Wu smiled, happy to be introduced. "Hello! It's great to meet you!"

She looked at Wong Su. "You are really tall and big." 

Wong Su laughed, performing a front lat spread. "All hard work, little girl." He then asked, "Want me to train you?" 

Xiao Wu shook her head defiantly. "No, it's ugly." 

At this, Tang San palmed his face while Wong An burst out laughing. "Hahaha!" She laughed with Wong Su frozen. Patting Xiao Wu's shoulders, she said in between laughter, "It is hideous."

Xiao Wu nodded in agreement. "Too much muscle is bad. You won't be able to move." You could almost see Wong Su spit out blood, with Tang San covering Xiao Wu's mouth as Wong An laughed harder.

To change the subject, Tang San then quickly said, "Elder Jack said I should take Wong Yazhu with me when I leave back for the academy." 

Wong An became serious, asking, "When are you leaving?"

"We will leave tomorrow," Tang San said, releasing Xiao Wu, who tried to bite his palm over her mouth. "After I clean up the blacksmith."

Wong Su patted Tang San's shoulder. "I am sorry about your father disappearing." 

"It is not a problem." Tang San smiled. "He promised we would meet again."

Wong Su nodded, releasing Tang San as Wong An said, "We will get Wong Yazhu ready then." 

Tang San nodded and bowed, with Xiao Wu copying him. "Then we will be on our way." 

The family saw them out then once they closed the door, they turned to their daughter, serious. "Explain yourself, young lady." Wong An snapped. 

"I wanted to get stronger—" 

Wong Su interrupted his daughter. "Stronger? You were already stronger than me."

She looked at the ground, "But you aren't a soul master..." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

There was a long pause before Wong An knelt in front of her daughter, hugging her. "We are just worried." She whispered. "We know you are different from us, and you will be leaving to the Nuoding Spirit Master Primary Academy, and we won't be able to protect you." Her voice cracked, "You will definitely face more danger in your spirit master journey, and we might not be able to help you, but we will try our best." 

Wong Su added, "We are still your parents, so don't make us worry." He walked over to pat his daughter's head. "And I understand you want to be strong, but don't be blinded by power; remember that." 

"I will remember that." Wong Yazhu nodded. 'My life is more important than power.' 

"Now, let's pack your things." Wong An smiled as she stood up.

The packing began: "You will need this for the winter; this spray will fend off bugs and mosquitoes; this is for bears, and this—" 

Wong Su said, "Don't forget your knives." He laid out seventeen different knives of different shapes and sizes. 

"Yeah, that too." Wong An grinned menacingly. "Cut whoever annoys you with this," she said to her daughter, licking the blade like a hooligan. "Show no mercy—" 

Wong Su cut off his wife, saying, "Nope, no, no, don't listen to her." He smiled at his daughter. "Only cut if they cut you first—" 

"So you want our daughter to be injured?" She snapped at her husband as she turned to Wong Yazhu, "Cut first, talk later. Take no SHIT from anyone." 

Wong Su added, "Be humble; don't make too many enemies." Wong An nodded, agreeing. "Yeah, don't be bad, but look out for yourself." She said as she arranged the knives inside the bag.

'This is almost heartwarming.' Wong Yazhu smiled. 'Better than my old parents…' Those people were basically rapists/pdf files/abusers. 'But I can't even remember why I have those opinions.' She knew they were bad parents, but she couldn't remember what bad they did. 'Something is wrong with my memory?' 

Did reincarnation delete some of her memory?

The next day quickly came. Wong Yazhu took a shower, changing into black pants, a gray shirt, and black sandals. By the time the packing was over, Wong Yazhu was wearing a massive bag on her back. 

"And don't spend your 20 gold mindlessly," Wong An warned, looking at her daughter. "Should I even give it to Tang San to keep safe?" She asked her husband. "He is smarter than our little girl."

"Mom…" Wong Yazhu pouted. "I know how to use money."

"Yeah, right." Wong An scoffed. "You know how to fight, but we have never taught you how to handle money."

Wong Su patted his wife's shoulder. "Trust our daughter," he said. "Besides, I think the Spirit Hall gives money to all spirit masters each month, so I don't think she will run out of money."

"Haah." The woman sighed, kneeling down to hug her daughter. "Be safe my girl."

Wong Su knelt beside his wife, his bigger frame warping around the two. "Be safe, my sperm."

"This is serious." Wong An elbowed her husband, "Show your love." The man then tightened his hug on both of them, causing the woman to groan. "Yo—you're killing me." She forced out of her mouth. But the old man didn't listen.

After bidding goodbye, Wong Yazhu met Tang San and Xiao Wu in the eastern part of the city. Seeing how close they were standing, Wong Yazhu couldn't help but think, 'Yeah, something happened last night,' as she adjusted her bag.

Tang San's eyes widened. "You're taking that?" He asked while holding Xiao Wu's hand.

"Will they allow you to take it inside the school?" Xiao Wu asked, eyeing the bag. 

'And she is less hostile.' She noted, replying. "We will see." She shrugged, "So, tell me about the academy."

As they walked to the academy, Tang San and Xiao Wu started explaining it to him. "The elementary spirit master academy teaches a few basic things about being a spirit master, and it also teaches additional things like reading, writing, counting, and other educational courses," Tang San explained

"I think the length of the schooling is six years." Xiao Wu added, tapping her jaw. "So by the time we are twelve, we can graduate and become ordinary spirit masters."

Tang San then chimed in, "The elementary spirit master academy graduation requirements are very simple: as long as the spirit reaches the tenth rank, the teachers at the academy will guide you to obtain a spirit ring, and you can successfully advance your spirit master title."

Tang San glanced at Wong Yazhu. "You are already at the tenth rank, so when we arrive, I can ask Grandmaster to help you get your first ring." If he had actually sensed Wong Yazhu's soul power, he would have noticed that she was already a spirit master. 

Tang San continued, "And if you manage to become a spirit master, you can graduate to take advanced studies at the intermediate spirit master academy, continuously studying until becoming eighteen years old."

They kept talking about the academy, with Xiao Wu being a bubbly ball of energy. Wong Yazhu noticed that though she was less hostile, she could get a bit annoying, especially when the little girl forced herself into conversations she was having with Tang San, something she didn't like. Due to this, she decided he would jog ahead and meet them at the academy.

"Are you sure?" Tang San asked. "We can also speed up if you want." he didn't seem to notice the way Xiao Wu was acting, or he didn't care.

Wong Yazhu smiled. "I want to be alone for now," she said as she started jogging. "I will see you guys there."

With that, she continued forward, and once she was sure she was out of sight, she sped up into a run, but not a full sprint, so she wouldn't break the heavy bag on her back. With Nuoding City being around 60 miles east of the village, he reached the city after about three hours of continuous running at around 20 mph without stopping.

Walking with the crowd of people, Wong Yazhu stared up at the 100-meter-tall wall surrounding the city, built thick and above the massive gate was Nuoding City's insignia, a blue bull head. Following the loud crowd, she entered the massive gate that was more than 6 meters high and only after walking through a fifteen-meter-long tunnel below the thick wall did she finally enter the city. 

'A fifteen-meter-thick wall,' Wong Yazhu looked back at the tall wall. 'Though I doubt this is stopping any spirit grandmaster or elder. I guess it's just to make normal humans feel safe.' He stretched. 'Well, time to go register for the academy.'

"You can't register," the Dean declined.

"WHAT!?" Wong Yazhu roared, almost slamming the table. "What do you mean, 'I can't?' " She brought out a paper from her pocket. "Look! I'm using my village's yearly quota—"

The dean cut her off. "We only accept children who have just awakened their spirits, or at least it has been less than six months since their awakening."

"But I am already a tenth-rank spirit scholar," Wong Yazhu argued. "I can get a ring once I start schooling and catch up with my age!"

The dean nodded. "I understand, but that is the rule."

"Can't you just let me in?" Wong Yazhu calmed down. "I mean, seriously. I am a rank 10 and only seven years old. WIll you seriously accept a six years old rank 3 over me!?" She pointed at herself. "Think this through, sir. How certain are you that they will even become a spirit master? Aren't I a safer choice?"

The dean thought for a while, raising Wong Yazhu's hope only to shatter it with his reply. "The rules are in place to ensure proper training and development." The dean remained firm. "I cannot make exceptions." 

"There are other ways to continue your training." The dean's voice softened. "You can seek a private tutor or join another institution that can accommodate your advanced level. Like the spirit hall."

'Yeah, I will just go and register directly to the spirit hall.' Wong Yazhu thought, turning around. 'I just have to keep my relationship with Tang San, and even though the spirit hall turns out to be the villain of this novel, which I assume they are, I would just defect and join Tang San.' 

Wong Yazhu left the room, slamming the door shut as he picked up the large bag he had left outside. 'But now, I need a way to grow, and this school is now out of the way, so I have no other option.' 

Yes, he could show his spirit ring and be allowed entry or he could wait for Tang San to come to vouch for him, but that was 'too boring.' Besides, they gave more resources.

"Who was that, director?" A woman asked, walking up to the older man who yawned.

"An old woman who thought she could join my school by impersonating a child from Tang San's village." He replied, standing from his seat. There were almost no common people able to become a spirit master at only seven years old. The expectation were those with innate full spirit like Tang San and Xiao Wu. And two innate full spirits appearing in one village? 

Impossible.

If she was a rank 10 spirit scholar, it would be believable. However, she had a spirit ring. How could a village girl get a spirit ring?

Nonsense.

"She is lucky I didn't get her arrested."