Returning home with two unconscious children, Mu Ji Wu held the pipe between his teeth, inhaling and exhaling without using his hands, and with ease.
If that proved anything, it was that Mu Ji Wu was an expert smoker.
He glanced at Tang Wulin’s right shoulder, remembering that he had been stabbed there, but the skin had already closed up, leaving only a faint scar.
That showed just how strong his physique and vitality were.
Mu Ji Wu released his Spiritual Power and formed a dome around the three of them to reduce other people’s perception of them, so they would be ignored and not draw attention while he carried two unconscious children.
After a few minutes, he arrived at his home.
He set Xie Xie down on the ground, then climbed the tree with Tang Wulin and laid him down on the floor of his house.
He went back down and brought Xie Xie up as well.
The poor boy’s face was swollen again—he had been punched twice in the same spot over two consecutive days.
Mu Ji Wu sat at the entrance and watched the two sleeping children, still smoking but exhaling the smoke outward so it wouldn’t choke them.
He reached out and examined Tang Wulin’s ankle.
It was hard and tough, like his skin and muscles after using his enhancement, yet Tang Wulin had a body like that even in his normal state.
Of course, Mu Ji Wu clearly remembered that transformation from earlier—the golden scales and the claw on his right hand—especially those golden veins in his body afterward.
As he looked at the unconscious Tang Wulin, exhausted from fatigue, Mu Ji Wu quietly realized something: it was Tang Wulin who had drawn his eyes to him in this academy.
Especially as he recalled the inheritance in that cave and what now lay inside his Sea of Consciousness, with a thought, his purple veins appeared again, and he began to observe them.
Then he thought, _’The second Seal opens at Rank 20.’_ He remembered the information he had obtained after unlocking the first Seal when the inheritance was completed.
Because of that, he had obtained his first Soul Ring.
That was also why he didn’t have a spirit like the other students—even Tang Wulin, with his white Soul Ring, had a snake spirit.
The purple veins slowly faded.
Even though he could summon the power of the second Seal a little, he did nothing with it except release an intimidating aura, at least for now.
Then he turned toward Tang Wulin again and thought, _’Does Tang Wulin have Seals too?
Did he obtain some kind of inheritance?
Hmm… is it a physique-related inheritance?
According to Wu Zhangkong’s teachings, Blue Silver Grass isn’t related to physical strength but to control, healing, or combat if it’s poisonous.
So what he has definitely has nothing to do with his soul power… How many years did he spend inheriting it?
Did he notice me this morning when I confronted that screaming girl?
But there was no reaction from him—does he hide his emotions well, or does he really not know?’_ Thoughts raged in Mu Ji Wu’s mind with no one to answer them.
His pipe was finished, but for the first time, he didn’t even notice.
After half an hour, he shook his head and pushed every thought away.
Since he had no answers, why tire himself?
He would just wait for Tang Wulin to wake up and ask him.
He glanced at the sun and realized lunchtime was approaching.
Since the children showed no sign of waking, he took out a blanket from his Spatial Storage Bracelet and covered them before leaving his house and heading to the cafeteria for food.
The moment he climbed down from the tree and started walking, he heard a voice: _”Bring some ice for the child’s cheek.”_ Mu Ji Wu’s steps froze in place.
His blood seemed to freeze in his veins as he stood there.
He slowly turned his head, wishing to see the owner of that voice.
Behind him, there was only rustling leaves moved by the wind, with no shadow of the person whose voice he had heard.
It was a voice all too familiar, a voice he longed to hear so much that he heard it in his dreams.
It was the voice of his wife, Hong Xing.
It was impossible for him to forget that beautiful voice he never tired of hearing, no matter how much she spoke.
And now he had heard it again.
Immediately, his Soul Ring appeared behind him and shone, showing that it was activated.
He started running around the large tree, climbed it and searched, but found nothing.
Then he climbed down and circled the area, but found nothing.
Mu Ji Wu stopped searching and sat where he was, crying.
It had been a while since he had cried like that.
Many memories flashed through his mind for some time before he stood up, wiped his face, and walked calmly toward the academy again.
His eyes had become deader than ever.
He walked with an axe in his hand, swinging it through the air nonstop.
But in his mind, he wanted to bring the axe down on his own neck instead of the air.
Of course, he clearly failed.
His mind split into two thoughts: one that wanted to commit suicide, and another that wondered how he had suddenly heard her voice again.
When he reached the garden gate and there were more people around, he finally snapped out of his madness and put the axe back into his storage bracelet.
Like a normal person, he walked toward the academy.
“Wait, kid.
Are you a student?
Where’s your school uniform?” A staff member stopped him after he entered.
Then Mu Ji Wu realized he was still in his house clothes, barefoot, and had forgotten to change on the way.
He said nothing and took out his school uniform.
Under the stunned gaze of the staff member and some passing students, he removed his outer clothes right there, changed as if he were in his room, and continued on his way.
The staff member didn’t even know what to say.
Mu Ji Wu arrived at the cafeteria and entered without speaking to anyone.
The look on his face was terrifying to anyone his eyes met.
After throwing some food from Window 3 into his stomach—without even noticing what it was—he packed some into his storage bracelet and left the cafeteria.
He searched for the school infirmary.
It was a well-known place, with signs pointing to it every few hallways.
In a place like a Soul Master academy, injuries were common, so it had to be easy to find.
Upon arriving, Mu Ji Wu entered and went up to a nurse and said, “I need ice.” She turned and saw a corpse looking at her, which made her scream, “Ah!” She stepped back a few paces, screaming, before realizing that the “corpse” was a student—he just had a face like a corpse.
Everyone looked at her strangely as she fearfully said, “The ice is over there,” pointing to what looked like a large freezer.
Mu Ji Wu opened it, took an ice pack, and jumped out of the nearest window.
“Damn it?!” A curse escaped the nurse’s mouth, and even some students lying on the beds reacted to the sight.
As an expert at jumping from windows and trees, Mu Ji Wu landed easily and continued on his way.
He left the academy again, and after a short walk, he arrived at his home.
After climbing up, he found Tang Wulin and *Xie Xie* lying quietly, just as he had left them, with *Xie Xie*’s swollen face.
He entered the house, placed the ice pack on Xie Xie’s cheek, then sat beside them and recalled the memory of that voice.
He realized he was hallucinating again.
It wasn’t the first time and certainly wouldn’t be the last, but years had passed since the last time, to the point that he had forgotten.
Yet he would be happy for it.
He took out his writing notebook and began to write, practicing his handwriting for an hour before stopping.
He closed his eyes and started meditating, circulating his Soul Power.
By around evening, Tang Wulin opened his eyes and saw a ceiling—or rather, a tree trunk—above him.
He saw himself covered with a blanket, with Xie Xie beside him and an ice pack on his swollen face, though the swelling had gone down compared to before.
He felt strange about where he was.
When he sat up, he noticed Mu Ji Wu sitting beside them, eyes closed, meditating.
As if he had sensed the movement, Mu Ji Wu opened his eyes.
He had indeed sensed Tang Wulin waking through his spread-out Spiritual Power and stopped circulating his Soul Power.
Stopping midway caused no harm as long as the Soul Power didn’t deviate.
“You’re awake,” Mu Ji Wu said calmly as he watched Tang Wulin.
“Ah.” Tang Wulin didn’t know what to say.
He remembered how he had transformed before losing consciousness from exhaustion, and that he had seen Mu Ji Wu before blacking out.
“Thank you for bringing me here, Mu Ji Wu.” He thanked him right away after understanding the situation.
Mu Ji Wu said nothing and kept watching his handsome, childish face.
Then he took out some food from his storage bracelet and said, “Eat.” “Food!” Tang Wulin shouted happily.
Outside, he could tell night had fallen, meaning he had missed lunch and was hungry, especially with an appetite like his.
“Thank you!” he shouted and started shoveling food into his black-hole stomach.
From the side, Mu Ji Wu watched his reaction and found no pretense or acting in it.
There was no delay in his reactions or deep eyes trying to pretend.
So he confirmed that Tang Wulin really didn’t know anything at all.
_”Mmm, nom”_ Tang Wulin made happy eating sounds and didn’t stop until he had eaten everything Mu Ji Wu had taken out, though he was only barely a little full.
Then he asked awkwardly, “Ji Wu, do you have more?” Mu Ji Wu didn’t reply.
Instead, he reached out and pointed at the sleeping *Xie Xie* and said, “I still have a little left, and it’s for him.
Dinner is close anyway—just wait.” “That’s right!
*Xie Xie* is still here!
How is he?” That was when Mu Ji Wu understood where Tang Wulin’s priorities lay—his stomach.
“He’s fine.
He didn’t die.
It seems you controlled your strength at the end, or you would have blown his head off.” Tang Wulin scratched his head awkwardly, not knowing what to say as he remembered that terrifying transformation.
Suddenly, he saw Mu Ji Wu reach his hand toward him.
It glowed with a deep purple light, and he heard him say, “Does this remind you of anything?” “…Is this your ability?
I saw you use it this morning in the square.” Tang Wulin thought for a few seconds before answering, but he didn’t really understand.
“I see… Do you remember the scales and the claw?
How did you do it?” Mu Ji Wu asked again.
“Hmm… Would you believe me if I said I don’t know?
I suddenly felt my body burning as if it had been put in a furnace, then it transformed on its own.” “I believe you,” Mu Ji Wu answered immediately, then continued, “Has your body been strong since childhood?” “Right.
After my martial soul awakened, my body started changing and growing stronger and faster, and my appetite increased with it.
Maybe there really is a secret in my martial soul.” Tang Wulin answered truthfully.
He already considered Mu Ji Wu a friend.
He had brought him to his home, given him food, and his behavior since yesterday showed he wasn’t a bad person.
Maybe he was curious, but that was normal for a child.
“I see… Thank you for answering.” “Hehe, no need.
You saved me earlier from lying in the garden.” Tang Wulin replied.
Suddenly, a faint groan was heard before Xie Xie opened his eyes.
“Where am I?” he asked immediately, then remembered losing consciousness while fighting Tang Wulin.
He sat up to find two people in front of him.
“Hello.
You’re at my house.
I found you unconscious earlier while I was walking around after hearing the sound of your fight.
That ice pack is from me.” Mu Ji Wu explained briefly so he wouldn’t be questioned.
Xie Xie looked around and found himself sitting in a tree, confirming that Mu Ji Wu really did live in a tree.
He reached for the bag that had turned to water and touched his face, finding it swollen again for the second day in a row.
He remembered how he had offered to pay for Tang Wulin’s damages in exchange for a fight, meaning he had paid money to get beaten.
“Thank you, Mu Ji Wu,” Xie Xie bowed politely and thanked him in a quiet, gloomy voice.