Comforting

After that fateful day, Dugu Yan has acted more like a child her age. It was quite refreshing seeing the aloof kid become more bright and considerate, or so Baiyu saw it.

In reality, she was only like that if Baiyu or Dugu Bo were with her, but she did the opposite and wanted it to come to strangers. She was like a poisonous snake in front of them, while like an obedient snake in front of her grandpa and material sister. That was already confused everyone who saw her action, but Baiyu remained oblivious to the looks.

Baiyu has already started her full life after smoothly obtaining her soul master title. In the morning, she would cook meals for the two snakes and later go to pick herbs. She also attends her lessons regularly which happen every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

She used the remaining time to study more about herbs, cultivating, and perfecting Shen's family skills. She also caused some mischief in the Nuoding Academy, but mostly was visiting Tang San whenever she could. They spent the time hanging in near the lake or even the library.

It was a fun time, but Xiao Wu would come unannounced and always challenge Baiyu for a duel, but Baiyu would always teleport away before then.

But Baiyu would occasionally wear a black veil over her face and roamed about the academy. Sometimes, Baoyu would be an audience member when Tang San and Xiao Wu were fighting. Tang San had the upper hand, sometimes he was reversely surpassed by Xiao Wu. Although both were children, to the two who refused to give in, exchanging points like this was hard to avoid.

Just when starting, Xiao Chen-Yu and Wang Sheng, these higher grade students occasionally joined in, but along with Tang San and Xiao Wu's spirit powers' lightning fast rise, there were no people who again came to disturb them. One could ask: who would hope to become like a sandbag's existence?

Baiyu has quite a reputation in the academy, she was called the Phantom Butterfly. The title suited her more than expected, maybe because she would occasionally disappear from the academy, and saw her the next time with Tang San. but another reason was that she was the only one who can fight Xiao Wu head-on after Tang San.

The mischief Baiyu sometimes causes trouble for the headmaster, but could only sigh with a smile, and order to keep everything private. The special treatment the girl received shocked the teachers but they didn't pry too much.

A year has passed, she has turned seven, and they celebrated her at the Dugu castle, Qinghe and Baiyu were the ones who prepared the dishes, and Dugu Bo and Mingluo were fighting with each other again. Dugu Yan and Qing Qiu were having a staring contest, the intensity was so heavy that even the others were sweating.

After a few days.

Bang!

"Baiyu! I got accepted into the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy!" Dugu Yan came in holding the acceptance letter, she had a happy and delighted expression.

Baiyu, who in her lab tested combining poison, smiled and chuckled at the 12 years old girl jumping in happiness, the sight was still refreshing to see every day.

"You deserve it. You've been working hard just to enter the prestigious academy of the Heaven Dou Empire." Dugu Yan nodded with a proud look before she frowned and suddenly clasped onto Baiyu's shoulder with a serious face.

"Baiyu, do you really don't want to go to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy? Grandpa can recommend you to the academy." The seriousness in Dugu Yan's voice was clear as day, she wanted Baiyu to attend the academy with her.

Baiyu's eyes looked distant before a small smile graced her lips.

"Yan-Jie, I want to go to another school. So, you can't decide for me to go to somewhere I don't want to."

Dugu Yan heaved a sigh and plopped down on the sofa, seemingly exhausted just from talking with Baiyu.

"Do whatever you want, just send me a message from time to time." Dugu Yan sat down, crossed her legs, and started to meditate.

Baiyu looked at her material sister before continuing to test the poison.

'I need to create that weapon.'

"Xiao Wu, for tomorrow's holiday, will you return home?"

Tang San said to Xiao Wu while packing his luggage.

One school year had passed, and he was finally able to return home and see his father. This afternoon at the smithy he had already asked Xiao San for a leave of absence. Also specially bought a brand new forging hammer, intending to bring it back to give to his father.

He also bought something for Baiyu, just thinking about making Tang San want to hide under the pillow. Luckily, it was quite affordable, so he can buy it.

Since Tang San joined Shi San's smithy, making the quality of the various kinds of weapons and equipment produced in the smithy rise one grade, the business became better, and right now Tang San's wages already reached five silver spirit coins every month, equivalent to half a spirit master's stipend.

Xiao Wu leaned on the bed, her eyes revealing some loneliness, entirely different from her usual liveliness,

"I'm not going home. Maybe, just stay at the academy."

Tang San was dumbfounded for a moment,

"All year, you won't return to see your family?"

Xiao Wu's eyes suddenly lit up, saying:

"Little San, your family isn't far from the academy, is it? Otherwise, I'll follow you to return and play, how about that? Anyway Wang Sheng and Xiao Chen-Yu are both going to participate in the intermediate spirit master academy examination, there's nobody to accompany me to play."

Tang San smiled, after passing one year together, he could be considered as having some comparative understanding regarding Xiao Wu could. This little girl was lively and energetic, always appearing motivated by a desire to see the world in chaos; when acting gentle and soft, she somehow appeared like a lovely doll, but a moment later became a violent whirlwind.

That Nuoding Xiao Wu Jie title of hers was exactly called in vain. In the entire academy, who knew how many students had already tasted bitterness from her.

"My family can be very poor, without anything good to entertain you."

Xiao Wu with both hands akimbo, and big eyes glaring at Tang San said:

"Every month you saved so much of your stipend, so reluctant to spend, but still fear entertaining me?"

Tang San wearing a slight smile extended his right hand,

"Speaking of stipends I suddenly recall, a certain person still appears to owe me six silver spirit coins."

Xiao Wu was dumbfounded for a moment, her fair and tender little face revealing some embarrassment. A stipend of one gold coin every month could definitely not be regarded as little, however, her spending was truly extravagant, if seeing something good coming back to buy it, not taking into account a bit whether or not it was useful. By now she long ago already had her own bedding, not having to share with Tang San.

Never able to manage her finances, in a short time asking Tang San to lend spending money, had already became a habit.

"Not exactly six silver coins? Wait for me to get the stipend to pay you. You still haven't said, if you after all are willing to let me come along with you."

Tang San said with a slight smile:

"You want to go then go. Only, my dad's temperament can be bad. I will also introduce you to my friend."

Xiao Wu not in the least fazed said:

"Someone this lovely, your dad will happily approve of me. And besides, how come I don't know you have other friends? "

While speaking, still assuming a gentle and soft appearance asking Tang San with blinking eyes.

Other people might be fooled by her outward appearance, but Tang San had seen too many scenes of her true volcanic eruptions. He could not help but shake his head, still not a bit swallowing her cover.

"You need not use your honey trap on me. Fortunately you will appear seven years old, if a bit older, perhaps you truly would have a little fox spirit talent."

"Fox spirit? What's that?"

Xiao Wu, full of curiosity asked.

Tang San smiling said:

"It's a kind of spirit beast turned into a demon, specializing in seducing men."

Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment, her gaze at Tang San suddenly became somewhat strange, between eye blinks, her mood abruptly became agitated,

"You drop dead, daring to call me a fox spirit, I'll definitely fight you."

While speaking, she already baring fangs and brandishing claws leapt up from her bed, charging at Tang San.

The other working students regarding this scene no longer wondered at the sight. The noise of fighting between Xiao Wu Jie and Tang San to their point of view, long ago became accustomed to; if someday those two were not fighting several times, on the contrary perhaps they instead would feel uneasy.

"Is it still far ah?"

Xiao Wu looked east, then gazed west, offhandedly asking.

"We'll arrive soon. See that hilltop over there? Our Holy Spirit village is at the foot of the hill."

About to arrive home, Tang San couldn't help his mood being somewhat excited, if not for the Nuoding academy regulations he would have returned to staying at home at night, without the teacher making the rounds every day, maybe Tang San long ago would have returned home to look in on his father.

'Not meeting for a year, dad and Baiyu, are you still well?'

Perhaps it was because of being an orphan in his last life, this life, Tang San all the more especially treasured that family love.

Touching Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges at his waist, there he had brought the iron hammer for his father, brand new clothes, and even some bottles of pretty good wine, he brought gifts for the Shen family.

The little mountain village where he lived for six years was already in view, not knowing why, in Tang San's heart a kind of indescribable feeling gradually appeared. If insisting on using words to describe it, then he would say, the feeling of having family was truly good. Even if that family was only him and his father.

"San-ge?" A familiar voice was heard at the front, Shen Qing Qiu stood there holding a basket full of picked herbs.

"Xiao Qiu! How are you doing?" Tang San let out a smile running over to where Qing Qiu is, Xiao Wu was curious about who the boy is, followed by Tang San.

"I'm fine, San-ge. But who is this young lady? It can't be..." Qing Qiu looked at Xiao Wu again before he gasped in shock. He completely forgot that today was Tang San coming back, he gulped nervously.

Tang San misunderstood the reaction and nervously explained it to Qing Qiu.

"Oh... so, it was like that. Well, Jiejie hasn't come back yet, she said her teacher gave her another assignment to do." Qing Qiu told Tang San and ran off to his house.

"Xiao San, I don't know you have such a cute brother." Tang San looked flustered before he coughed, looking before looking away from Xiao Wu.

"Ahem, well, he is my friend's brother. She studies with her material sister, so you won't able to see her." They walked until they arrived at way Tang San lived for 6 years.

"Dad, I'm back."

Tang San excitedly shouted.

Xiao Wu from never having Tang San this excited, stood at his back looking at him somewhat curiously. In her impression, Tang San was a very gentle friend, usually not saying much, but always with a busy feeling, always having some matter to attend. Only in their exchanging of pointers could his serious side be seen.

And even if seriously losing to her, one still never saw his angry or even agitated appearance.

While calling, Tang San walked inside with quick steps.

Everything seemingly had not changed, the smithy was still in turmoil, even more so compared to before he left, a hideous mess of things left all over, a broken tattered, and worn out feeling, bringing Tang San even more familiarity.

"Oh, little San, you're back."

A mild voice rose. From inside a person walked out.

Seeing him, Tang San couldn't help but be stunned,

"Grandpa Jack, you also, ah, then my dad?"

Walking out from inside was exactly Holy Spirit village elder old Jack, on his face a somewhat wry smile, he handed over a paper in his hand to Tang San, saying:

"You have a look, this is your father's message. Earlier I came to find him, originally thinking to have him and me go meet you, not thinking you would already have returned."

A nervous feeling appeared in Tang San's heart, hurriedly taking the paper old Jack held out and lowering his head to read.

On the paper were only a few simple lines, handwriting somewhat sloppy, but concealing a bold and unconstrained spirit.

« "Little San:

When this letter reaches you, I will have already left. Do not look for me, you will not be able to find me.

Although you are still young, you have the strength to provide for yourself. A young falcon must first spread its wings on its own before soaring.

You need not worry about me. In your nature is a great deal of your mother's delicacy. Dad is a useless person. You gradually grow up, dad has to go get back some things that originally should have belonged to me. Inevitably one day, we two father and son will again see each other.

I hope you become formidable, but I also do not hope you become formidable. You choose your own path.

If one day you feel the spirit master vocation is not good, then return to Holy Spirit village, and like me, work as a blacksmith.

Do not miss me.

And take care of her.

Tang Hao"»

That time, Tang San's high spirit went down low, Grandpa Jack comforted Tang San, and return to his house.

Only Tang San and Xiao Wu left. Tang San did not open his mouth, then began tidying up the messy room, clearing away the room's different things.

Unusually, the ordinarily lively and energetic Xiao Wu right now kept silent, walking to Tang San's side, calmly helping him put various things away, and bringing scoops of fresh water from the water jar outside, helping him wipe the dirt within the room.

Not long after, familiar red and white jade butterflies came out of nowhere and revealed Baiyu with her black veil.

"Baiyu?"

Tang San tilted his head, Baiyu has her face covered but the concern and worried look in her eyes isn't hidden. Tang San remembers the letter told him to protect Baiyu, he let out a soft smile, welcoming Baiyu.

Baiyu was so into her research that she almost forgot the most important thing she need to do. She quickly grabbed the black veil and teleported to the smithy. Seeing Tang San smile made her heartache, without thinking, she pull Tang San into a tight hug.

The hug shocked Tang San but also bring realization for himself. The warmth was what he wanted when he first arrived home, but instead he was greeted with an empty smith house. He subconsciously dropped the broom he was holding and hug Baiyu back tightly, he buried his face in the crook of Baiyu's neck. Tears wet Baiyu's clothes but she did not care, all she cares about right now is the mentally adult with a child body silently crying.

She calmly stroked Tang San's back, letting him release all the build-up emotion.

They have been at that position for a while, not noticing a bunny looking at them, with wide eyes.

"San-ge, let it all out." Baiyu said softly humming a tone.

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