Although Jiang Chen no longer blamed Tang San for what happened before, the bitter taste from being beaten by him still lingered.
Now that he had finally won a round against Tang San, he felt a rush of relief and lightness.
"I'm heading back first. You'd better get home soon too—your dad's waiting for you to call him for breakfast," Jiang Chen hummed as he descended the mountain, leaving Tang San standing there in a daze.
Half an hour later, Tang San returned home.
His face was still bruised and swollen, blotched with purple and blue, and even his eye sockets were darkened.
"Jiang Chen really hit hard… ugh," Tang San muttered, touching his swollen mouth and sharply inhaling.
In that close-quarters fight, he hadn't had a chance to use any hidden weapons. Without his speed advantage, he was no match for Jiang Chen's strange brute strength and was soon left dizzy and disoriented.
After the battle, he tried channeling his energy to heal, but with little effect. Resigned, he had no choice but to return home with a sore face.
"Dad, get up for breakfast… ugh," Tang San called out, accidentally tugging at his injured mouth again.
Tang Hao yawned as he came out from the inner room and immediately noticed Tang San's battered face.
"Hm? What happened to you?" Tang Hao frowned.
"Nothing, just a little accident—I tripped," Tang San said, avoiding eye contact.
Losing to Jiang Chen was embarrassing; how could he admit the truth?
Tang Hao took a sip of his porridge and shook his head. Such a poor excuse wouldn't fool anyone who had grown wise with age.
The bruises clearly came from fists.
"You got into a fight, didn't you?"
Tang San remained silent.
"Jiang Chen?"
Still, Tang San lowered his head, saying nothing.
Finishing his porridge, Tang Hao set down his bowl and said, "Losing a fight isn't shameful. Just make sure you win next time."
There was a nostalgic gleam in his eyes—he had been the kid king of the Haotian Sect when he was young. No one in their generation escaped his fists.
It surprised him that his own son had been beaten by a peer. But once he thought of Jiang Chen, he felt relieved. That kid really was something else—strong, with his first spirit ring already. It was no wonder Tang San lost.
Tang San was a little surprised by his father's words—he'd expected a scolding.
"Got it, Dad," Tang San nodded, committing those words to memory. He was determined to win back this match.
"Next time, you must use hidden weapons. Don't give him a chance to get close," he resolved silently.
"You don't need to forge weapons today. Pack your things, rest up, and get ready for school tomorrow," Tang Hao said as he headed back to the bedroom for another nap.
Watching his father's retreating figure, Tang San felt an unexpected twinge of sadness.
…
The next morning, Jiang Chen woke early and prepared breakfast. After eating, he went with Old Jack to Tang San's home.
Because they were heading into the city today, Old Jack wore a fresh set of clothes, looking much more spirited.
At Old Jack's insistence, Jiang Chen also changed into a newer outfit.
"Xiao San, let's go. Your lazy dad won't get up to see you off," Old Jack called as he entered the house.
Tang San gestured for silence, then picked up a piece of charcoal and scribbled some words on the ground. Only then did he reluctantly pick up his bundle and step outside.
Seeing the bruises on Tang San's face, Old Jack couldn't help but ask, "What happened to you, kid?"
Tang San glanced at Jiang Chen and quietly shook his head. "Nothing. I just tripped."
"You're always so careless. Come on, it's time to leave."
"Okay."
Inside the house, Tang Hao rushed out and watched the three figures walk away. A hint of reluctance filled his heart.
On the floor, the charcoal message read:
"Dad, I'm leaving. Take care of yourself, drink less, and don't forget to eat the porridge in the pot."
"That kid," Tang Hao muttered with a smile, his eyes moistening.
…
The old man and the two youngsters walked along the road toward Noding City. The morning sunlight was warm, and the sadness of parting gradually faded from Tang San's heart. Like Jiang Chen, he looked forward to life at the academy with hope and excitement.
Tang San was very curious about soul masters and the academy, asking Old Jack countless questions along the way.
Jiang Chen, having recently crossed over, had just finished reading Douluo Continent and was already quite familiar with much of what Old Jack explained.
"Xiao San, Xiao Chen, listen— we're both from the countryside. Once you get to the academy, you must study hard. Don't let anyone look down on you, understand?" Old Jack said earnestly.
"Understood, Grandpa," both boys answered in unison.
"Especially you, Xiao Chen. Your talent is better than Xiao San's, so at the academy, you have to watch out for Xiao San and make sure no one bullies him, got it?"
Jiang Chen found this a bit ridiculous. With Tang San's skills, it was always him doing the bullying—not the other way around. Who could possibly mess with Tang San?
"Alright, Grandpa, no one dares to bully Xiao San," Jiang Chen assured confidently.
Old Jack nodded with satisfaction, then looked up to see the broad walls of Noding City coming into view.
"We've arrived," he said with a smile.
Both Jiang Chen and Tang San looked ahead, marveling at the city before them. It was their first time in Noding City.
"Mathew Nuo, you didn't think I was dead yet, did you? Jiang Chen has come for you!" Jiang Chen's heart burned with a murderous intent.
After passing through the city gate guards' inspection, the three of them entered the city smoothly.
The Noding Junior Soul Master Academy was located in the western part of Noding City. After inquiring several times on the road, Old Jack finally led the two boys to the academy's gate.
Although it was only a junior academy in a small city, the Noding Academy was impressively grand, evident even from the main entrance.
The gate was twenty meters wide and ten meters tall, built from sturdy granite. The massive iron doors, spanning more than twenty meters in width, were forged from refined steel.
Through the iron bars, they could see tall trees and faint outlines of magnificent buildings inside.
Above the gate hung four large characters: Noding Academy.
Jiang Chen was surprised to discover that the aura of Jing Wuming was actually inside the academy.
"Could the assassin organization be hiding within Noding Academy?" he wondered silently. But from Jing Wuming's previous memories, Jiang Chen hadn't found any clues about this.
Jing Wuming had already reached level twenty over two months ago and should have obtained his second spirit ring, making him a great soul master by now.
Thinking of this, Jiang Chen couldn't help but smile. Maybe life at Noding Academy would be very interesting.
However, he knew that Jing Wuming was there without sensing his arrival.
Just as Old Jack and Jiang Chen approached the gate, a young guard stopped them abruptly.
"What business do you have here? This is Noding Academy, not a place for country bumpkins like you!" The youth's eyes were filled with contempt, yet there was a gleam of excitement. These country kids were the easiest targets—and maybe this time, he could even make some money.
Old Jack immediately lowered his tone, trying to negotiate quietly, but the youth only grew more arrogant.
Watching this familiar scene unfold, Jiang Chen frowned. It had seemed insignificant when he read about it in books before, but now, seeing the youth's ugly face in person, a flash of anger ignited within him.
Also, the so-called "master" should be arriving soon. Jiang Chen glanced back at the path behind them.