Lin Rong had already completed everything that could be done in his current phase of the plan.
As for the remaining steps—when to act, or whether changes might be needed—those would depend on how circumstances unfolded.
For now, the most important goal was to reach Level 20 in cultivation as soon as possible. Everything else, Lin Rong planned to hand over entirely to the old steward's care.
Half a month later.
Fasno Province, Heaven Dou Empire.
Nuoding City, Holy Soul Village.
Inside a simple earthen hut—
"Y-You… Yuehua? How did you know I was here…?"
A disheveled middle-aged man rubbed his eyes in disbelief, stunned to see the elegantly dressed noblewoman standing before him.
The woman gave a bitter smile as her lips curled slightly. Salty tears rolled into her mouth.
After a long silence, she responded with a question of her own:
"Is that all you have to say to your little sister after all these years?"
These two were none other than Tang Hao and his younger sister, Tang Yuehua.
With trembling hands, Tang Yuehua reached out to gently touch Tang Hao's face. Tang Hao didn't avoid her touch—on the contrary, a softness rarely seen by Tang San emerged in his expression.
"Dad, who is she?"
Unable to hold back his curiosity any longer, Tang San spoke up from behind Tang Hao.
The woman was incredibly beautiful, and there was a warmth in her presence that stirred something deep in his bloodline. Could she be… his mother?
No… something felt slightly off.
Tang Hao didn't answer him. Instead, Tang Yuehua withdrew her hand from Tang Hao's face and turned her gaze toward Tang San.
"This is your child? You and… her?"
That one question told Tang San everything he needed—this woman was not his mother.
"You look just like your father," Tang Yuehua said gently, reaching out to stroke his hair.
Tang San instinctively dodged back.
"Why are you backing away? I'm your aunt!" she chided playfully, and once again reached for his forehead.
This time, Tang Hao spoke up:
"Little San, she's your real aunt."
Aunt?
No wonder there was that inexplicable feeling of kinship in his blood.
This time, Tang San didn't dodge. He let her gently stroke his hair.
"Little San, my dear nephew… Have you and your father been living here all these years?"
It was only now that Tang Yuehua finally took in the condition of the room. Her heart ached as she looked around.
"You've had it rough, haven't you? Look how thin you are…"
"But don't blame your father too much. He's never been good in the kitchen since we were young."
"The fact that he's learned to cook porridge at all is already a huge accomplishment."
"Uh… Auntie," Tang San said, pointing a bit awkwardly at the porridge on the wooden table, "I made that."
"..."
Tang Yuehua paused, momentarily stunned, then broke into a teasing smile.
"I thought so! It's soft and evenly cooked—not at all like something your father would make."
"All right, Yuehua," Tang Hao interrupted from the side, cutting through the family chatter. "Why did you come looking for me?"
"Why?" Tang Yuehua's tone sharpened as she pressed forward, "I've come all this way to find you, and you're still not planning to return?"
"Do you have any idea how much Father and Big Brother miss you?"
"Now Father's on the brink of death. Even in his coma, he keeps calling your childhood name."
"And you're not even going to visit him one last time?"
"Who knows—if he sees you and his grandson, he might find peace of mind and recover!"
At her words, Tang Hao's pupils widened in shock. He leaned shakily against the wall and fell silent.
A long while later, a hoarse voice emerged from his mouth:
"Yuehua, take Little San back with you."
"I've let the clan down—far too much. I don't have the face to see Father or Big Brother again."
"Little San possesses twin martial souls—Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer. Think of it as my offering to the clan."
"I can't leave this place. Please raise Little San well on my behalf."
Tang Yuehua opened her mouth to protest, but Tang Hao cut her off firmly:
"My mind is made up. No matter what you say, I won't go back."
"Little San, come here."
"Dad." Tang San stepped in front of him.
"There's one thing I want you to always remember."
"Please say it, Dad."
"We and Spirit Hall share a hatred as deep as the sea—a blood feud that cannot coexist under the same sky."
A blood feud?
One so great that we cannot exist in the same world?
Tang San's mind raced. Soon, he understood the truth.
They killed his wife. His beloved. My mother.
Realization dawned—and Tang San clenched his fists tightly.
No wonder… No wonder Father cried so desperately the night I was born. No wonder I've never met my mother.
Spirit Hall… for killing my mother, your death is already certain.
Three days later.
"Auntie, where are we? Aren't we going straight to the Clear Sky Clan?"
Tang San stood in front of a gated forest, puzzled.
Tang Yuehua stood beside him, calm and composed.
"This is the Spirit Beast Hunting Forest. Of course, we're here to help you obtain your first soul ring."
"My carriage driver is a Soul King. In a place like this—where thousand-year spirit beasts are already rare—he'll be more than enough to ensure our safety."
At the forest gate, the guard respectfully returned a token to Tang Yuehua and opened the gate to let the three of them in.
As they made their way deeper into the woods, Tang Yuehua asked:
"Little San, do you have any specific spirit beast in mind for your first soul ring?"
Tang San shook his head. Most of what he knew about soul masters came from villagers and Su Yuntao, not exactly detailed or trustworthy knowledge.
Seeing this, Tang Yuehua smiled gently.
"That's all right. Let Auntie help you decide."
"Blue Silver Grass's greatest trait is its resilience and vitality."
"So, we should look for plant-type spirit beasts with powerful life force to suit your martial soul."
Of course—"wildfire can't destroy it, and spring wind brings it back to life."
Wasn't that exactly the nature of Blue Silver Grass?
Tang San's eyes lit up. "I'll go with whatever you suggest, Auntie."
"I think… something like a bamboo-type spirit beast would be great—sturdy stalks, sharp leaves, strong life force. Sounds like the ideal choice to me."
Though Tang San said this casually, deep down, what he truly wanted was the sharpness of the bamboo leaves.
If Blue Silver Grass could inherit that trait, it would be a perfect natural hidden weapon.
"Excellent thinking. You're indeed my nephew—so clever." Tang Yuehua praised him, and then added:
"Bamboo-type beasts such as Lonely Bamboo, Sword Bamboo, or Ink Bamboo—most of them fit your criteria perfectly."
"So we just need to find one with a suitable age."
"For most people, the first soul ring caps out around four hundred years. Little San, yours can't be too weak either. At the very least, it should be over three hundred and fifty years."
"Madam," the Soul King carriage driver spoke up, "bamboo grows near water and prefers warm, humid environments. If we follow the stream, our chances of finding a bamboo-type spirit beast will increase significantly."