Chapter 13: Wavering Trust
At Notting Academy's work-study dormitory, Tang San had just returned from Master's place, clutching the notes he had diligently taken. As soon as he stepped through the door, Wang Sheng pulled him aside impatiently.
"Brother San, have you heard? The news about the Clear Sky Douluo!"
"Clear Sky Douluo?" The name of the record-holder for the fastest Breakthrough to Titled Douluo flashed through Tang San's mind—the man who shared the same name as his father.
"You guys know Little San's father?" Xiao Wu was on a nearby bed, swinging her legs. Her surroundings were filled with pink, tender rabbits and carrots; now that she had money, she had bought decorations for everything she liked.
"Xiao Wu, stop teasing me about that." Tang San gave a helpless, bitter smile before turning to Wang Sheng and the others. "Anyway, what's this news about the Clear Sky Douluo?"
He was still quite curious, after all, the man was the fastest Titled Douluo and possessed a hammer Martial Soul.
"Rumor has it that the Clear Sky Douluo is either hiding or died in Fasinuo Province!" As soon as Wang Sheng whispered this, he felt a strange chill wash over his body, but looking around, he couldn't find anything wrong.
Tang San looked bewildered. "Died in Fasinuo Province?"
"Yeah, didn't you know? He went missing back then, and the place he disappeared was right here," Wang Sheng added. The sharp chill grew even more piercing; he scratched his head and looked around again, but still sensed nothing amiss.
"Missing in Fasinuo Province..." Tang San dithered, once again overlapping the image of the Clear Sky Douluo with his father, Tang Hao.
"I heard he has six Soul Bones and holds the title of the World's Number One Divine Craftsman. If we could obtain his Legacy, even people like us could become incredibly strong."
As for exactly how strong, he didn't know either.
But the moment he said those words, Wang Sheng immediately turned around to inspect his surroundings carefully. Outside the window was pitch black, and he couldn't see a thing.
"Strange, why do I keep feeling this inexplicable chill?"
Tang San blinked. "A Divine Craftsman's Legacy... and six Soul Bones?"
He had only heard his teacher mention the term 'Soul Bone' once. And 'Divine Craftsman'—was that the title for the strongest blacksmith in this World?
Tang San recalled the forging techniques his father had taught him, and his breath hitched slightly. Why did things seem to match up more and more? Could it be...
Wang Sheng looked longing yet somewhat helpless. "Unfortunately, Fasinuo Province is just too big. Trying to find someone's Legacy is simply unrealistic."
"With our strength, we wouldn't even last a few days if we went out into the wilderness."
"Exactly, stop dreaming about nonsense all day long."
"Don't tell me you don't want it?"
"Tch, who wouldn't want it?"
After a few more exchanges with the other Work-Study Students, the group collectively lapsed into a state of longing and fantasy.
Xiao Wu tilted her head back and gave a disdainful snort. If Tang San's father really were the Clear Sky Douluo, she would have been discovered and dragged away long ago. How could she still be alive?
Since she was fine, it meant Tang San's father couldn't possibly be the Clear Sky Douluo.
Outside the window, Tang Hao frowned and clenched his fists. The forging techniques he had passed down had actually become the biggest liability for his exposure. He shouldn't have been so impulsive back then,
teaching them to Little San. *Sigh*... To prevent exposure, Yu Xiaogang needs to be of some use now.
With that thought, Tang Hao's figure flickered through the forest, appearing in Yu Xiaogang's room in the blink of an eye.
At that moment, Yu Xiaogang was holding a wooden carving in Tang San's likeness, stroking it with a gentle smile. Seeing the black-robed figure suddenly appear, he immediately tightened his expression.
"Greetings, Clear Sky Crown Prince."
"Little San is doubting my identity. Find a way to dispel his suspicions."
The voice faded as Tang Hao's figure vanished again, leaving only Yu Xiaogang slowly knitting his brows in thought.
The Clear Sky Douluo was still on the Spirit Hall's wanted list; exposing Little San's identity now would bring only harm and no benefit. Based on his understanding of Bibi Dong, if such a Genius existed, she would definitely send someone to pull him out by the roots.
But where did this news spring from?
Spirit Hall? It wasn't impossible. They used to send people to search; have they switched to using psychological tactics now? A clever move!
Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong!
Yu Xiaogang pondered, sitting at his desk and taking out pen and paper. His brow was furrowed as he considered what excuse to use.
The excuse didn't need to be too complex. Given Tang San's current level of trust in him and his respect for his teacher's words, a simple lie would suffice to gloss it over and make Tang San believe him.
Just to be safe, however, he would arrange it perfectly.
Back at the dormitory, Mo Bai looked up at the night sky, the corners of his mouth curling slightly as he waited for the situation to ferment.
...
The next day, after finishing his lessons with Yu Xiaogang, Tang San hesitated as he was about to leave, unsure if he should speak up.
If it were false, wouldn't he seem like someone without ambition who only cared about status? Would it hurt his teacher's self-esteem?
He might think he was looking down on him.
Thinking of this, Tang San sighed and didn't ask. Behind him, Yu Xiaogang took out the paper he had prepared and then put it away again. Little San cared about him even more than he had imagined. A gentle smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face.
On the third day, Tang San again finished his studies with Yu Xiaogang but still didn't speak. If the Clear Sky Douluo really was his father, did that mean his relative had died at the hands of a powerful enemy? If he didn't even know his mother's killer, how could he call himself a son?
Teaching attentively, Yu Xiaogang noticed a flash of resolve in Tang San's eyes and couldn't help but frown. The Spirit Hall's power was not something the current Little San could face; even the Clear Sky Sect had to retreat before them.
No matter how much of a Genius one was, they needed time to grow. Growing up with hatred would eventually backfire on oneself and those around them—both Tang Hao and he were examples of this.
Considering Little San was still young and shouldn't know these things yet, it was time for him to act.
On the fourth day, before Tang San began his lessons, Yu Xiaogang produced a book disguised as a Spirit Hall file and deliberately placed it in the most obvious spot. Little San knew he held a Spirit Hall elder token, so the appearance of this file was perfectly reasonable.
"I've noticed you haven't been focused on your studies lately," Yu Xiaogang said, looking at the increasingly resolute Tang San with a gratified smile as he pushed the file forward. "I only recently noticed the rumors circulating. No, they can't exactly be called rumors."
"The Clear Sky Douluo was secretly captured by the Spirit Hall five years ago. He is likely still imprisoned in the Spirit Hall's dungeon."
"Five years ago?" Tang San was stunned. He took the file and flipped through the records. It stated that Tang Hao had sacrificed a relative to strike a heavy blow against the Spirit Hall's Pope, leading to her death.
So the enemy was the Spirit Hall? That Spirit Hall that was everywhere, with Soul Masters all over the World?
But as he continued reading, it said Tang Hao had broken through to Douluo but was heavily injured. Under the pursuit of several Spirit Hall Douluos, he was captured five years ago. The legendary Clear Sky Sect was also constrained by the Spirit Hall because of this, leading them to seal off their mountain and close the sect.