Afternoon, outside Saint Soul Village.
"Xiao Wu?" Before he even entered the village, Zhu Wu was spotted by Aunt Wang, a villager working in the fields. She called out cautiously.
Having been away for several months and having absorbed a spirit ring, Zhu Wu's physique had changed quite a bit. He was noticeably taller—far beyond what could be expected from a normal child's growth. Years of training had also refined his facial features, smoothing away the remaining baby fat.
Although his overall appearance hadn't changed drastically, there was still enough difference to cause doubt.
"Hello, Aunt Wang," Zhu Wu greeted with a smile.
"It really is Xiao Wu!" Aunt Wang's eyes lit up, and a smile spread across her weathered face.
"Xiao Wu's back!" Other villagers working in the distance heard the commotion and began calling out to him as well.
Zhu Wu responded to each of them, exchanging pleasantries and catching up briefly before quickly making his way to his home in the northern part of the village.
Before he even entered the courtyard, he saw his grandfather Zhu Gang sitting on a bamboo chair, meticulously weaving a half-finished bamboo basket.
His complexion was sallow and weary, his hair grayed and dry. He looked much more emaciated than before Zhu Wu had left. His whole body was like a withered tree, fragile and about to break.
Cough, cough… He hadn't even woven much before letting out a few soft coughs.
Zhu Wu felt a sudden pang in his heart at the sight and rushed into the yard.
"Grandpa!" he called out while running.
Zhu Gang seemed uncertain of who was coming. He slowly turned his head, his cloudy eyes half-closed as if trying to see through a thick fog.
Only when Zhu Wu crouched down in front of him did his eyes finally light up with recognition and joy.
"Xiao Wu, you're back."
"Yes, Grandpa, I'm back." Zhu Wu's eyes turned slightly red.
It had only been seven months, but his grandfather's health had deteriorated so drastically—it was completely unexpected.
"Good, good. I'm glad you're back. Is it the academy's holiday?" Zhu Gang nodded repeatedly, still concerned about Zhu Wu's studies.
"Grandpa, I've already obtained my spirit ring and become a Spirit Master. I've graduated from the academy." Zhu Wu kept his explanation simple, afraid that too much detail might worry or upset him. As he spoke, he took out a card from his pocket.
"Grandpa, look. This is my Spirit Master certification."
"Good, good, good! My Xiao Wu is a Spirit Master now." A faint flush of color returned to Zhu Gang's face.
Cough, cough… Another light cough followed as his spirit lifted.
"Grandpa, let me help you inside." Zhu Wu reached out quickly to support him. "I've graduated now, so I can stay with you from now on. The mountains behind our house are ideal for my martial soul cultivation—my teacher even said so."
"With me here, you don't have to worry about anything anymore."
"Good, I'll listen to you." Zhu Gang smiled warmly, full of comfort and satisfaction.
Soon, supported by Zhu Wu, Zhu Gang was lying comfortably on a bamboo lounge chair near the window, basking in the gentle afternoon sun.
Through his blurred vision, he saw Zhu Wu's silhouette moving about the house, tidying up while chatting about interesting stories from the academy.
Zhu Gang felt, in that moment, that his life had truly been worthwhile.
That afternoon, Zhu Wu did nothing else—he simply kept his grandfather company, talking with him until dinner. After seeing Zhu Gang safely to bed, he returned to his own room, sat on the bed, and began cultivating the Longevity Technique under the moonlight.
Then, burdened with worries, he went to sleep.
---
The Next Morning
After settling things at home and asking the neighbors to help look after Zhu Gang, Zhu Wu ran as fast as he could to Nuoding City.
Afternoon, outside a house.
"Physician Xue, how's my grandfather?" Zhu Wu asked quietly as he walked out with the doctor.
In his previous life, Zhu Wu had studied veterinary medicine—not human medicine—so he was only capable of prescribing some basic health supplements.
Sigh… "Just cherish each day you still have with him," Physician Xue said sadly. "Your grandfather has likely been surviving purely on willpower all these years. From what I can tell, he must've suffered a lot from cold and hardship when he was younger. His internal organs are prematurely aging, and now, at this advanced age, his vitality is nearly depleted. The hidden damage he's accumulated over the years is finally surfacing."
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are part of life. No one can defy it."
"Xiao Wu, don't be too heartbroken. For someone to live into their seventies and still see their grandson awaken spirit power—that's actually a very full life."
At seventy-two, and with a grandson who had awakened spirit power, the old man had no regrets.
Physician Xue had been introduced by the owner of the local medicine shop and had heard about Zhu Wu's story. He guessed that Zhu Gang had only let go of his last breath of willpower after knowing that his grandson had become a Spirit Master. Humans are strange that way—when someone holds onto a lingering wish, their body can force itself to carry on, refusing to die until it's fulfilled.
To be honest, it was a miracle that Zhu Gang had held on this long. Most people wouldn't last more than a month or two under such circumstances.
He had deep respect for elders like Zhu Gang.
"I'll prescribe some herbal tonics to try and help him hold on a bit longer," Physician Xue added softly, seeing Zhu Wu's silence.
"Thank you, Physician Xue." Zhu Wu forced a smile, expressing his gratitude.
He understood that no medicine could save his grandfather now. Even passing down a cultivation technique would only burden him further.
His body was too weak. Whether it was yang energy or yin energy entering the body, both would only cause harm at this point.
"You're welcome." Physician Xue smiled and sat down to write the prescription.
Before long, Zhu Wu paid for the consultation and asked the physician to tell the medicine shop owner to deliver the decoctions daily. He would cover both the medicine and delivery costs. Physician Xue nodded and left.
Zhu Wu then returned to his room and sat beside Zhu Gang's bed.
"Xiao Wu, don't worry about Grandpa," Zhu Gang said with a smile, seeing the concern on Zhu Wu's face. "Just seeing you become a real Spirit Master is enough for me. I've lived a full life."
Once, he had been nothing more than a beggar in Nuoding City. After losing his family to disaster, he became a wandering refugee, too cowardly to take his own life and thus spent his days in a haze, scavenging to survive. He had been waiting to die, aimlessly surviving in garbage heaps around the residential areas of Nuoding.
Then, one cold winter night, he heard the faint cries of a baby near a garbage pile—and there he found Zhu Wu, still an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes. For some reason, that tiny life gave him hope. He decided to raise the child.
Taking the "Wu" from "Martial Soul," he named the child Zhu Wu, hoping he would one day awaken a good martial soul and possess spirit power. He didn't want the boy to grow up as a beggar, looked down upon by others.
So, he brought him to Saint Soul Village.
He wanted to give him a proper childhood—a dignified future.
Now that the child had become a Spirit Master, he was no longer an ordinary commoner. From here on, his life would be far better—free from poverty and hardship.
He could rest easy now. The only thing he still had to say—
"Xiao Wu." His voice turned solemn. "Actually, I'm not your real grandfather."
"Grandpa, you don't need to say that," Zhu Wu shook his head gently. "That no longer matters."
"You raised me. I will always be your grandson. My name will always be Zhu Wu."
Zhu Gang's eyes reddened. "Good, good… My good grandson."
"The Zhu family finally has a descendant. I've honored our ancestors. I can die without regrets."
"Don't say that, Grandpa," Zhu Wu said quickly.
"I know my own body, child. No need to comfort me," Zhu Gang smiled. "I'm already seventy-two. I've lived long enough."
"Alright, no more talk of this. Go take care of your own business. Your grandpa is still tough—won't die that easily."
"Then let me help you to the recliner outside," Zhu Wu offered, extending a hand. "The air is fresh and the sunlight will do you good."
"Alright." Zhu Gang nodded and let Zhu Wu help him out of bed.
After settling him comfortably outdoors, Zhu Wu moved to an open space nearby and summoned his martial soul—Xiao Bai.
"Xiao Bai, transform into the Three-Eyed Demon Fox," he instructed softly.
Xiao Bai nodded. In the next moment, a seven-colored glow shimmered from the scale at its brow, and a yellow spirit ring lit up around it.
Then, with a flash of white light, a small, single-tailed fox appeared, about knee-high. Its fur was purple-black, and a bright violet tuft at its brow formed an oval shape that resembled a vertical eye.
"This…" Zhu Gang was startled but soon smiled with pride.
Zhu Wu may not have been his blood relative, but he had raised him. To personally raise a Spirit Master—that was enough to feel proud.
Even though he didn't know much about martial souls, he could tell that Zhu Wu's was far from ordinary—it could even transform!
His grandson's martial soul was definitely not some useless trash!
"Xiao Bai, use Clone Technique," Zhu Wu commanded again.
"Chiu-chiu!" Xiao Bai chirped, and its figure split into three identical foxes, sitting obediently in front of Zhu Wu.
"Am I seeing things?" Zhu Gang gasped in disbelief.
"Grandpa, it's okay. Xiao Bai just used a clone skill," Zhu Wu explained with a smile.
He wanted to entertain his grandfather a bit—show him something new and fun. It was good for his spirits and health.
"Xiao Bai, bow to Grandpa."
At his words, all three foxes turned toward Zhu Gang and bowed in unison.
"Good, good!" Zhu Gang chuckled with delight, waving at them.
"Next, Xiao Bai, Spirit Possession."
Since the charm skill wasn't very visually striking, Zhu Wu gave the next command.
Xiao Bai nodded, the clones vanished, and its body darted straight into Zhu Wu's chest.
In the blink of an eye, Zhu Wu felt his body heat up as his soul power surged.
His pupils narrowed and transformed into vertical slits, their color changing from brown to brilliant violet. A glowing purple mark resembling the Three-Eyed Demon Fox appeared on his forehead. His fingernails turned dark purple, elongating into claws. His hair grew out swiftly, and a pair of fox ears emerged from the top of his head. A dark tail extended from the base of his spine.
"…" Zhu Gang was completely stunned.
His grandson… had turned into a long-haired, beautiful girl with fox ears and a tail!
(End of Chapter)
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