Chapter 163 - 55

! Chapter 55: Target, Oscar!Not "Teacher", but "Master".The difference between these two terms was something he had understood deeply during his past life in the Tang Sect!A "Teacher" could be a mentor who imparts skills, but a "Master" implied inheriting a legacy and a bond as close as father and son.During his short time on the Douluo Continent, everything Fu Shiyan had done for him had already far exceeded the typical relationship between a teacher and a student."Master..."Tang San's lips trembled slightly, and his eyes suddenly grew hot. Without a word, he fell to his knees with a "thud" and respectfully kowtowed three times."Disciple Tang San pays his respects to Master!!!"He enunciated every word heavily, as if carving this recognition and promise into his very marrow.Seeing the six-year-old child before him being so solemn, a ripple of emotion stirred in Fu Shiyan's heart as well.He took a step forward, firmly grasping Tang San's shoulders with both hands and pulling him up from the ground."Good disciple, stand up."Tang San stood up and looked up at Fu Shiyan. His eyes, usually calm, were now startlingly bright, filled with a complex swirl of emotions.Since their time in Saint Spirit Village, although his father Tang Hao was by his side, he had spent his days in a drunken depression, rarely showing him any warmth.It wasn't until he met Fu Shiyan that he felt, for the first time from this silver-haired young man, the kind of unreserved teaching, meticulous care, and even the determination to act as bait to protect him in the simulations.After just a few days together, combined with the fragments of the future glimpsed in the two simulations, Fu Shiyan had already become a figure like both a teacher and a father in his heart.Fu Shiyan gently patted Tang San's shoulder, his expression turning solemn."Little San, since you have officially taken me as your master, there are some things I need to make clear to you.""I plan to leave Nuoding City and head to a hidden place. The environment there is special and will be of great benefit to the growth of your Spirit, and it is also safer."He paused and looked directly into Tang San's eyes."Are you willing to come with me?""This disciple is willing!" Tang San answered without a second thought, his voice firm and decisive.Fu Shiyan's lips curled up slightly, a hint of mischief flashing in his eyes."What? You don't want your little girlfriend Xiao Wu anymore?"Tang San's face instantly turned bright red!Although the scene of Xiao Wu's sacrifice in the simulation had a massive impact on him, giving him an indescribable concern and protective urge for this lively "little rabbit"...in reality, both of them were only six years old.His master's blunt teasing made his ears burn, leaving him at a loss for words."Ma... Master! Xiao Wu... we aren't..."Seeing his disciple's embarrassed state, Fu Shiyan shook his head and laughed."Alright, I'm just joking with you."However, a second later, the smile vanished from his face, and his expression became serious."However, there is one thing I must remind you of.""Your little girlfriend's identity is not ordinary."Tang San's heart tightened, immediately understanding what his master meant—Xiao Wu's status as a transformed Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast; his master had indeed seen through it long ago."Moving forward, Nuoding City might not be peaceful anymore."Fu Shiyan continued, his tone carrying a hint of gravity, "You can go and ask her if she's willing to come with us.""I'll give you two days.""In two days, regardless of her choice, we must depart."He reached out and habitually rubbed Tang San's head."Alright, go back for now and think carefully about how to tell her.""Yes, Master." Tang San took a deep breath, suppressing the roiling thoughts in his mind, and after bowing, he turned to leave.---Back at the dormitory, Xiao Wu wasn't there; she likely went back to the working students' side to act like a boss again.Tang San sat on the edge of his bed, frowning slightly as he began to carefully ponder his master's words."Nuoding City won't be peaceful..." he whispered to himself. "Could it be the Spirit Hall again?"In the futures seen in the two simulations, no matter how the details changed, there was always a common enemy—the Spirit Hall!His father's severe injury, Xiao Wu's sacrifice, his master's "fall"... the source of all these tragedies seemed to point toward that behemoth.For that name, Tang San no longer had any shred of goodwill, only deeply hidden vigilance and hostility."Master said Xiao Wu's identity isn't simple... he must already know that she's a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast."Tang San's thoughts raced. "Since Master said there will be trouble in Nuoding City, given the Spirit Hall's greed for hundred thousand year spirit rings, it's indeed dangerous for Xiao Wu to stay here.""Therefore, Xiao Wu must come with us!"The question was, how should he tell her?Directly revealing her identity? That wasn't right.Setting aside whether Xiao Wu would even admit it, rashly exposing this secret might instead trigger unnecessary suspicion and panic.Invite her along by saying "Nuoding City might be dangerous, and Master is taking me to a safe place to cultivate"?That would work, but Xiao Wu had a lively and restless personality and was quite attached to Nuoding Academy and her group of "little brothers" among the working students; she might not be willing to leave so easily.Tang San rubbed his brow, feeling that this matter was more taxing than cultivation... After leaving Nuoding Academy, Fu Shiyan didn't return directly to his residence. Instead, he went to the most bustling market in Nuoding City to purchase a batch of decent quality alchemy equipment and basic medicinal herbs.There were still four days left of the seven-day period agreed upon with Dugu Bo. Once Tang San was ready, the timing would be perfect for them to set off for the Sunset Forest.In these two days, he had another task—to collect the first wave of "faith power points" from Oscar.The system had already located Oscar's current position:Balak Kingdom, Balak City Junior Soul Master Academy.At this time, Oscar's Spirit had been awakened for two years. With his Innate Full Spirit Power talent, his spirit power had reached level 15, making him something of a little genius in the academy.However, his unique Spirit and embarrassing spirit incantations also caused him to endure many strange looks... ——————————————Balak City, Balak Junior Soul Master Academy.That evening, after finishing his daily classes and joking around with his roommates, Oscar lay down early on his simple bed in the working students' dormitory with a hint of fatigue and the slight depression accumulated during the day, falling into a deep sleep.However, that night, he had an exceptionally clear "dream," as if he were experiencing it firsthand.In the dream, he was still Oscar, but he seemed much older, around fifteen or sixteen years old.He was standing by a giant arena with a group of companions who looked both unfamiliar and vaguely familiar, the atmosphere tense and exciting—they seemed to be participating in a very important Soul Master Tournament.Beside him, a chubby boy of about fourteen with a strange Mohawk hairstyle familiarly hooked an arm around his shoulder, winking and saying:"Little Ao, Third Brother won't let me play, so the next match is up to you!How are those self-created Spirit Skills that Teacher Fu Shiyan taught you coming along?"