Chapter 19: Not Yet, Let

Soon, Xiao Wu could no longer stay angry.

She began hopping and skipping around, picking flowers and snapping grass.

"Senior brother, we're almost there! Do you see that mountain?!" Tang San said excitedly, pointing at a small hill in the distance, and added, "Our village is at the foot of the mountain, called Shenghun Village. Grandpa Jack said our village once produced a Soul Saint."

As they neared home, Tang San felt excited, hopeful, and a bit nervous.

In his previous life he was an orphan, so he longed especially for family affection.

Following his senior brother's suggestion, he bought fine wine, brand‑new clothing, and some tasty foods for his father in Nuoding City, and stored them all in his senior brother's Storage Soul Guide Device.

The Storage Soul Guide Device is truly convenient.

Unfortunately, the Master doesn't have any extra for now.

Besides that, he also bought a Big Hammer at the blacksmith shop.

He believed his father would definitely like it.

Xiao Xian smiled, "Shenghun Village, that's a nice name. Grandpa Jack, is he the old man who took you to the academy last time?"

"Yes!"

"……"

The three of them soon arrived at the foot of the mountain.

"This is my home!" Tang San said excitedly to Xiao Xian, pointing at a shabby little house at the village entrance.

The gate was left open; after all, there was nothing worth stealing inside.

Tang San quickened his pace, sprinted inside, and shouted excitedly, "Father! I'm back!"

Xiao Xian knew Tang San was bound to be disappointed; at this moment, Tang Hao was probably off looking for the Master.

He stood at the doorway, staring at a small river not far from the village entrance, his gaze following the river's source, a faint smile curling his lips.

"Mountains and water—what a fine place," Xiao Xian murmured softly.

Xiao Wu followed inside, looking at Tang San with a hint of surprise.

She had never seen Tang San like this before.

In her eyes, Tang San and Xiao Xian were so alike—both geniuses, both busy, yet both composed, their faces always bearing a gentle smile, never nervous or excited, not at all childlike.

But she hadn't expected him to be so excited today.

Not long after.

Xiao Xian withdrew his gaze, murmuring silently to himself, "It's not time yet…"

Inside the house, the voices of Tang San and an old man could be heard.

But soon their conversation ended, and Old Jack sighed helplessly and stepped out.

Xiao Xian politely greeted him and entered the house.

He only saw Tang San clutching a piece of paper in his hand, standing there despondently.

Xiao Wu was also a little silent.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Xian asked knowingly.

Tang San came to his senses, turned his head toward Xiao Xian, his eyes a bit hazy.

He said, downcast and helpless, "Senior brother… my father is gone…"

"……"

Xiao Xian was startled for a moment, then slowly walked to his side and patted his shoulder.

He said nothing, yet said everything.

Only the three of them were in the house; Tang San said nothing more, merely bowing his head and silently tidying up everything in the room and every item on the floor.

Xiao Wu quietly helped, fetching water in an attempt to wipe away the dust.

Xiao Xian became much more carefree.

Bored, he casually gave a palm strike.

Whoosh—!

Gale howls!

Dust swirled through the house, rushing straight out the door!

It was clean, clean.

"Cough… cough cough… vomit! Vomit!"

Xiao Wu, carrying a basin of water, stepped into the house and was immediately pelted in the face with dust, covering her eyes, nose, and mouth.

The empathetic sorrow that had risen because of Tang San vanished in an instant, replaced by a surge of anger!

"Xiao Xian!!!" Xiao Wu shouted angrily, flinging the water basin aside and rushing forward at once.

"……"

Watching Xiao Xian and Xiao Wu tussle.

Tang San's momentary loneliness eased a bit, and his tidying motions paused.

He silently wondered why his usually composed senior brother had suddenly become so unrestrained.

Perhaps it was worry for him.

Tang San's downcast mood improved somewhat, but the corners of his eyes quietly grew wetter.

"……"

Xiao Xian glanced at Tang San, not knowing what the kid was musing about.

While evading Xiao Wu's pursuit.

He casually gave him a palm strike.

Whoosh—!

Dust swirled across the sky again.

Tang San was fed a mouthful of dust, and the fresh surge of emotion vanished instantly.

"Senior brother... senior brother!!!"

"..."

After a while of teasing, they finally began to tidy up the house.

After a half day's hustle, they ran to Shenghun Village; they couldn't possibly rush back to Nuoding City overnight.

They had to stay at least one night today.

Not until the sun set westward did the three of them barely finish cleaning up.

Tang San and Xiao Wu sat at the doorway of the blacksmith shop.

The lingering glow of the sunset fell on them, casting a faint red hue and stretching long shadows.

Xiao Xian stood not far ahead of them, facing the sunset with his hands behind his back, a hint of contentment and a faint smile on his face; half of his shadow fell precisely onto Xiao Wu and Tang San.

With a lull, Tang San's expression became somewhat despondent again.

His father was gone, and he was alone again.

But at least he still had his senior brother and Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu brushed the dust off herself, occasionally turning her head toward Tang San, as if to say something, but she never did, still seeming a bit worried about him.

But more often, she stared straight at Xiao Xian's back, glaring fiercely...

Seeing this, Tang San couldn't help but smile faintly.

His mood eased considerably.

He took the initiative to chat casually with Xiao Wu.

But as Xiao Wu kept talking, she mentioned that he had lost his father, and that she was his friend. She even said that if he wanted a family member, she wouldn't mind being his sister.

Tang San naturally wasn't pleased, yet he couldn't help but laugh.

Not long after.

Tang San's gaze hardened, his figure flashed out, and he silently stood beside Xiao Xian.

"Senior brother, Xiao Wu, come with me up the mountain; I'll show you something," Tang San said, his tone somewhat serious.

Xiao Xian turned his head and gave him a glance, the faint smile still on his face.

"Alright, is that the mountain?" Xiao Xian pointed toward the distant hill.

"Yes!" Tang San nodded.

Xiao Wu also rose quietly, obediently standing in place.

"Then... let's go...!" Xiao Xian's mouth twitched, revealing an inexplicable smile.

The next moment.

Xiao Xian took a sudden step.

From beneath his feet burst a Gale, bringing a powerful thrust that propelled his body to sprint out rapidly!

Blowing Fire Palm can push enemies.

Of course it can also push oneself.

This is created by using the thrust of Blowing Fire Palm combined with the rapidity of Ghost Shadow Maze, essentially a purified version of Ghost Shadow Maze.

He calls this technique Violent Step, advancing with the aid of a Gale, taking the meaning of the gale's ferocity.

Violent Step can generate a Gale at the foot; the spot where he vanished... naturally, in an instant, a denser cloud of dust erupted.

"Cough... cough cough...!"

"Xiao... Xiao Xian!!! You wait for me!!!"

Xiao Wu was caught off guard, once again covered in dust and grime, coughing wildly without cease; after regaining a bit, she also lunged out, a flash of red light enveloping her, even releasing her martial soul.

Tang San watched their backs; though they were also dust‑covered, he could only smile helplessly, stepping on Ghost Shadow Maze and following them.

The three of them teased each other on the mountaintop for a while longer.

Gradually, they fell silent.

Xiao Xian stood at the summit, silently lowering his head to watch the winding creek at the foot of the mountain, his thoughts unknown.

Tang San suddenly spoke, somewhat serious yet rambling, saying a lot.

"Senior brother, Xiao Wu, this is where I used to practice..."

"... I know you..."

"..."

"... Senior brother, would you be willing to be my brother? I really hope to have another family member."

Xiao Xian glanced at Tang San, still patting his shoulder.

"Since you call me senior brother, I am naturally your brother."

"And you, Xiao Wu, would you be willing to be my sister?"

Looking at Tang San's eyes glistening with tears, Xiao Wu's already red eyes became even redder.

But she seemed to recall something, glaring fiercely at Xiao Xian.

"I definitely don't want to be that annoying guy's sister!"

…