Chapter 6: Her Second Martial Soul
“Bring out the one who’s harboring the Tian Dou criminal!”
The thunderous voice shattered the rare silence inside the shabby hut. Both of them turned toward the door simultaneously. Almost in the next instant, Tang San stood up, a sudden sharpness flashing in his eyes that had been calm for days. Xue Yuan’s body trembled slightly. Tang San stepped in front of her protectively and whispered,
“Run out the back door, hide in the forest. I’ll come find you after this is over.”
Xue Yuan understood her precarious situation. She rose quickly and hurried toward the back door.
After only a few steps, several hostile voices came from behind:
“Tang Hao! Get out here!”
“Tang Hao! Hand over the wanted criminal!”
Their voices seemed intent on swallowing Tang San whole, making Xue Yuan’s steps grow heavier. She didn’t want to run away again.
Tang San remained calm. After waiting a moment, he opened the door.
Outside stood the group who had caused trouble the day before: Village Chief Old Jack, Li Dan, and others. Additionally, two men in formal attire were present.
Seeing the door open to reveal a gaunt, pale child, Li Dan snorted disdainfully. Backed by the two suited men, he pushed past Tang San into the house, shouting loudly,
“Tang San! Where’s your father? The Martial Soul Hall’s enforcers are here. Why isn’t he coming out to greet them?”
Tang San was shoved aside but played ignorant, answering,
“He went out yesterday.”
Hearing this, greed completely overtook Li Dan’s expression. He paced anxiously in place, shouting,
“What! Tang Hao must have taken that wanted criminal to claim the bounty himself! Sir, this is a blatant insult to you!”
The two Martial Soul Hall enforcers frowned impatiently. They had thought this was just a local quarrel. But just as they were about to leave, one of them was drawn by something:
“Wait.”
His sharp gaze fixed on two bowls on the wooden table that had been used for porridge. Slowly, he said,
“The person is still here.”
---
Tang San took a slight step back, hand resting near the door.
Just as the two prepared to thoroughly search the hut, a rustling sound arose. Against expectations, Xue Yuan—who should have fled—appeared before them all.
Li Dan’s eyes lit up. He immediately grabbed Xue Yuan’s arm, excitedly telling the enforcers,
“That’s her! She’s the one I saw yesterday! She’s the wanted criminal!”
Xue Yuan exchanged a glance with Tang San, giving him a look that urged calm.
The enforcers remained composed. One produced the wanted notice and compared the portrait with Xue Yuan’s face, frowning deeper.
“Doesn’t quite match.”
Xue Yuan blinked; she truly looked like an innocent child.
She had every reason to be confident. The portrait showed her at her most spoiled and cherished, with a rosy, adorable face and elegant clothing. Now, after days of fleeing, exposed to the elements, exhausted and worn, even the proud rose had withered. Even her closest old retainers would struggle to recognize her now, let alone enforcers relying on a mere portrait.
Silver hair alone meant nothing.
The enforcers understood this. One looked down at Xue Yuan, frowning, and asked,
“Little girl, who are you? What’s your name?”
“I’m Tang Xi. I am—”
Xue Yuan’s eyes flickered briefly. Tang San immediately interjected knowingly,
“My father said this is a debt he left before marriage. She’s my sister.”
…
The crowd fell into silence once more, their eyes full of sympathy toward Tang San.
Xue Yuan hesitated before finally choosing silent acceptance.
Tang San, you truly are your father’s worthy eldest son!
Far away in the Sunset Forest, Tang Hao suddenly felt a tickle in his nose.
“Little San, your father...” Old Jack seemed to have much to say but finally placed a hand on Tang San’s shoulder, rubbing Xue Yuan’s head as he comforted them both,
“Good children, this isn’t your fault. It’s a matter from the previous generation. When Tang Hao returns, I promise to have a serious talk with him!”
---
Li Dan snorted coldly, arguing dismissively,
“Village Chief, don’t listen to these two children’s lies! A child becoming a wanted criminal must be cunning beyond measure. Tang San was surely ensnared by her!”
Xue Yuan broke free from Li Dan’s grasp and ran behind Tang San, wearing a wronged expression.
The two enforcers exchanged glances, clearly considering giving up. Li Dan rushed forward again, shouting,
“Sir, what does it matter if she looks alike? How many silver-haired girls are there in the world? Just take her back to Tian Dou City for proper interrogation!”
One enforcer finally lost patience and sharply reprimanded,
“Shut up! Do you know how many people have brought fake silver-haired girls to claim the bounty since the wanted notice was issued? The officials are utterly fed up. Anyone who reports without cause now faces fifty lashes and expulsion from the city. Can you endure fifty lashes?”
The Martial Soul Hall’s punishments were harsh enough to kill!
Li Dan immediately hesitated.
Xue Yuan looked at the suddenly tense situation, shook her head slightly, and whispered,
“I’m not the sister on the wanted notice. My Martial Soul is different.”
This revelation enlightened the enforcers, who nodded in agreement,
“Right, appearance can be faked, but Martial Souls cannot. Come on, little girl, show us your Martial Soul.”
Xue Yuan looked frightened but cautiously extended her hand. Under the heavy, expectant gazes, a small, silver, utterly unremarkable dagger appeared in the palm of her youthful hand.
She bowed her head in some shame and whispered,
“My Martial Soul is very ordinary. Just a small dagger.”
“A dagger? Impossible!”
Li Dan’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The enforcer relaxed slightly, glaring fiercely at him and questioning,
“See? Xue Yuan has a top-tier Beast Martial Soul, while Tang Xi is just an ordinary Artifact Martial Soul. The difference between Beast and Artifact Martial Souls is vast. If you still don’t believe it, then test her soul power.”
He gestured for Xue Yuan to step forward and briefly sensed the fluctuations of her soul power, his expression easing further.
“The soul power is only level five. Xue Yuan’s was once level seventeen, but rumors say it dropped to level one. No matter what, it’s impossible to fall to level five within a few days. Are you convinced now?”