T/N: Many thanks to MashiroSymphony for contributing a power stone. You are the first to contribute a Power Stone to this fanfic, so I am posting a bonus chapter because of this. Enjoy.
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Chapter 22: A Father's Deep Love
Pa—!
Within the slightly stifling forge, the heavy air trembled as a middle-aged man's face twisted with rage. A resounding slap cracked through the room, landing across Tang San's young, tender cheek.
"Speak! I told you not to awaken your spirit, and yet you went behind my back—stole money to do it, didn't you!?"
The force of the blow sent Tang San staggering several steps backward. A burning pain spread across his face, and a vivid crimson handprint surfaced before his very eyes. He clenched his jaw tightly, refusing to make a sound, though blood seeped faintly from the corner of his lips. When he finally spoke, his voice came out like steel scraping through clenched teeth.
"It was money I earned myself."
"Earned!?"Tang Ba's chest rose and fell violently, his voice sharp with disbelief. "At your age, what money could you possibly earn? If you stole, then say so! And now you even dare to lie!?"
Then, as if realizing something, he forcefully suppressed the fury boiling within and asked in a low, tense voice, "What spirit did you awaken?"
Upon hearing that, Tang San slowly lifted his hand. A delicate sprout of translucent blue silver grass unfurled from his palm, swaying softly as if caressed by an unseen breeze. The sight made the veins on Tang Ba's forehead bulge.
"Useless! You wasted money just to awaken Blue Silver Grass? What good can that do!?"
As soon as he finished, Tang Ba raised his arm again, about to strike another blow—but in that instant, his eyes suddenly widened in disbelief, pupils contracting sharply.
Right before him, Tang San withdrew the Blue Silver Grass, lifted his other hand—and in a soft flicker of black light, a small, jet-black hammer appeared from thin air, resting solidly in his grasp.
"T-Twin Spirits!?"
Even Tang Ba's voice trembled with shock. In that single heartbeat, all his anger evaporated without a trace, replaced by a surging, almost feverish excitement. He swallowed hard, his rough hand gripping Tang San's shoulder as he asked, his voice quick and breathless,
"What's your innate Spirit power? How many ranks!?"
"Rank eight and a half."
"Good! Good! Good!"
He could no longer contain himself—saying "good" three times in a row as his eyes gleamed with ecstatic light."Twin Spirits! My son actually has Twin Spirits! My son, my genius boy!"
With that, he spread his powerful arms and pulled Tang San tightly into his embrace. A long moment passed before his rough voice softened, carrying a rare warmth.
"Little San, you must be hungry, right? Come—your father will take you out for a good meal!"
He grabbed Tang San's small hand and laughed heartily as they walked out together."My son is a Twin Spirit Master! My son is a genius!"
Feeling the broad warmth of his father's palm, Tang San's nose stung with emotion. In his previous life, even when Tang Hao had learned that he possessed Twin Spirits and innate full soul power, he had only held him once in silence. Yet this Tang Ba not only shouted his pride to the world, but was even taking him out to celebrate. Wasn't this the fatherly love he had always yearned for?
After three lifetimes, at last, he felt a father's deep, genuine love.
One Year Later
Two young figures walked side by side along the main road, the distant outline of Shrek City faintly visible beyond the horizon.
"When you get to Shrek, remember—unless it's absolutely necessary, never expose your spirit's ability to devour life. Understand?"
"Mm-hm."The young girl nodded obediently. "You've already reminded me several times on the way here. But… are you really sure it's fine to go into the Star Dou Great Forest alone?"
The pair, naturally, were Huo Yuhao and Tang Ya, traveling all the way from Heaven Dou City. With the aid of the Sin of Gluttony, Huo Yuhao's spirit power had already reached Rank 10 several months prior. But to keep Huo Yun'er from worrying, he had claimed he was merely escorting Tang Ya to enroll at Shrek Academy before making a short trip.
Conveniently, Shrek City lies close to the Star Dou Great Forest. After seeing Tang Ya off, he planned to venture in to find Skydream Iceworm. He was only eight this year—three years earlier than in his past life—which meant he might have to go deeper into the forest this time.
"Don't worry. I'll just find a spirit ring around the outskirts and come back. You've seen my strength yourself."
Tang Ya rolled her eyes at that, muttering under her breath, "You don't even have a spirit ring yet, and you're already this strong. I really don't get how that's possible…"
To gain better control over her Dark Blue Silver Grass's devouring ability, she had sparred frequently with Huo Yuhao over the past year. Though she had a higher cultivation level, she was the one getting beaten every time.
Still, the training wasn't without results. She had learned to command her spirit precisely—devouring only an opponent's spirit power instead of their life force. As for the latter ability, Huo Yuhao had promised to teach her once her control became even finer.
"Alright, enough talk. Let's move," Huo Yuhao said, lips curling faintly.
He didn't bother to explain. Even without a spirit ring, his spirit power—refined by the Sin of Pride—far surpassed ordinary standards. In both quantity and quality, his tenth rank was easily on par with Tang Ya's nearly twentieth.
As they drew closer to Shrek City, the vast crowd at the academy's registration site came into view. Although applicants were required to present a recommendation letter from a city lord, each lord typically issued several each year, so the square was still packed to bursting, an overwhelming sea of people that made the air feel almost suffocating.
Realizing that their parting was near, Tang Ya looked at Huo Yuhao's back. After a moment's hesitation, she seemed to make a decision and softly called his name.
"Yuhao."
"What is it?"
When he turned, Tang Ya stepped forward, raised her slender arms, and swayed them slightly as she murmured, "Once I go to the academy, we won't see each other for a long time… I want a hug."
Huo Yuhao's face instantly darkened. "Haven't you had enough of that already? You can get all the hugs you want at home—why here, of all places? There are so many people…"
As he spoke, his eyes flicked around. Many passersby, drawn by Tang Ya's delicate beauty, were already looking their way curiously. Being stared at like that, Huo Yuhao felt a strange, guilty embarrassment rise inside him.
But Tang Ya seemed utterly unconcerned, her arms still extended playfully."This one's different."
Her mischievous, impish personality had long made her a favorite of Huo Yun'er's. Back home, she often used that advantage shamelessly—claiming after every training session that she was "hurt" and needed a hug to heal.
Huo Yuhao had learned the hard way what people meant by the difference between zero times and countless times. Once the line was crossed, there was no going back.
Still… that was at home. Out here—?
After a brief internal struggle, he sighed, finally opening his arms to pull her gently into his embrace. A faint, refreshing fragrance drifted into his nose. He had meant to release her quickly, but Tang Ya's arms tightened slightly around his waist instead.
Before he could speak, her soft whisper reached his ear.
"…Thank you."
Only then did his tense body relax a little. He patted her back lightly and chuckled. "No need for thanks. Go on—get inside."
"Mm."
With a soft hum, Tang Ya nodded. Huo Yuhao could feel her head shift slightly against his shoulder—and then, between the whisper of hair brushing his cheek, came the tender warmth of a fleeting touch. Her lips brushed past his face, paused just an instant, and withdrew.
"I'm going."
Before he could even react, Tang Ya—face flushed and head lowered—had already disappeared into the crowd.
Since the Tang Sect was granted one direct admission quota to Shrek Academy each year, she didn't need to go through any entrance examination once she revealed her identity.
"Hey, little sister—are you a new student this year? I'm a third-year. Want to get to know each other?"
A voice suddenly called from nearby. Tang Ya's expression instantly turned cold. She stopped, glanced sideways at the boy who had sidled up to her, and said a single word, icy and concise:
"Scram."
The handsome upperclassman froze in place, mouth half-open—but by the time he gathered his wits, Tang Ya had already walked away without another glance.
Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, in that mysterious and forbidden place known as the Lake of Life, a spirit beast that resembled a lion—yet bore three shimmering eyes—suddenly raised its head. A glimmer of confusion flickered within its gaze.
"What's… going on?"
(End of Chapter)