Douluo Continent: This Tang San is different

Chapter 6 Reporting to Notting College

"Thank you, Uncle Lin. I'll bring you tea next time."

After thanking the guards, Tang San took Old Jack's hand and headed towards the Spirit Hall branch in Notting City.

Old Jack had never been to a place like this before.

Although he had been to Notting City many times, he had only ever looked at the towering buildings of the Spirit Hall from the outside; this was his first time actually being inside.

At this moment, Old Jack was like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, looking left and right, carefully examining the furnishings in the Spirit Hall, marveling at everything, but looking at those shiny decorations, he dared not touch them, for fear of breaking them and not being able to afford to pay for them, so he moved rather cautiously.

"Grandpa, this is your first time entering the real Spirit Hall. What do you want to say? How does it compare to that stone house in our village?" Tang San, though not a frequent visitor, was a regular and asked Old Jack for his impressions.

"It can't compare, it can't compare. How did you put it again? Yes, magnificent, that's the word." Old Jack smacked his lips, his eyes filled with longing, and then said, "This is the first time I've ever been to a place like this. It's so beautiful. I hope our village's Spirit Hall will be this bright in the future, and the children will definitely have a better life."

"Don't worry, Grandpa, there will be opportunities in the future," Tang San said with a smile.

Just as the grandfather and grandson were chatting, Su Yuntao came out from a passageway on one side of the hall. When he saw the two of them, his eyes lit up and he waved to them, saying, "Little San, you've finally come. I knew you were coming back as soon as Notting Academy started. I've been making the most of my time to come here these past few days. I just happened to have some free time and no work to do."

"Brother Tao, thank you so much." Tang San said a little embarrassed.

"You rascal, you're too serious. What's the trouble? I also graduated from Notting College. I'll go with you later. Consider it a visit back to my alma mater. It's just that I might not have any familiar teachers there." Su Yuntao laughed, scratching his head, and his gaze fell on Old Jack. "Old village chief, is this your first time here? What do you think? You can come often when you have time. I, Su Yuntao, still have some influence here."

"I wouldn't dare trouble Master Su. I just came with Xiao San today to take a look," Old Jack said somewhat apprehensively, but a smile appeared on his face. He knew that Su Yuntao had become respectful to him because of Tang San, but he still couldn't suppress his joy.

Old Jack and Su Yuntao didn't chat for long before a woman in a short skirt, carrying a stack of documents, walked out from the passageway.

That was Su Yuntao's girlfriend: Sisi.

"Little San, long time no see! Why haven't you been coming over lately?" Upon seeing Tang San, Sisi's eyes lit up. She smiled and walked over, reaching out to pinch Tang San's round cheek. "So cute."

Do girls like to pinch children's cheeks?

Tang San, feeling somewhat helpless, wanted to resist, but could only put on a disgusted face, which made Su Yuntao and Old Jack laugh heartily.

"Now that we're here, shall we go and visit Master Matthew?" Su Yuntao asked. "He's been thinking a lot about you, this clever child, and your Blue Silver Tea lately."

"Since we're already here, it wouldn't be right not to go and visit him. Perfect timing, I brought some Blue Silver Tea with me, but my grandfather..." Tang San looked at Old Jack.

"This is the Spirit Hall, nothing will happen here." Su Yuntao looked at Sisi, and Sisi pulled Old Jack to the back garden to chat, bringing him some tea and snacks, and talking about everyday things.

Seeing this, Tang San breathed a sigh of relief. The others here didn't know Old Jack, but with Sister Sisi by his side, it was safer. Maybe he could even get acquainted with the Spirit Hall staff here.

The two walked through the main hall and entered a passageway. On the walls on both sides hung portraits of the successive branch hall masters of the Spirit Hall.

Arriving at the door.

"Knock knock knock!"

Su Yuntao knocked on the door.

"Come in."

A stern voice came from inside the door.

Su Yuntao turned the doorknob and opened the door.

The room was simply furnished with a desk, a bookshelf, and a green plant by the window, creating a simple yet refreshing atmosphere.

Behind the desk sat an elderly man with a face full of wrinkles, holding a quill pen in his hand and signing a document. His gaze was quite serious, but he looked very energetic overall.

This person was none other than Matthew.

"It's Xiao Tang."

Compared to Su Yuntao and others calling him "the other woman," Matthew called him "Little Tang," which was a bit more formal.

At this moment, the furrowed brows on Matthew's serious face relaxed a little, as if moss had grown on a rock full of ravines, causing others to relax their tense hearts.

Su Yuntao, who was standing next to Tang San, greeted Matthew, but Matthew merely nodded.

Seeing each other every day is nothing compared to seeing Tang San, whom I haven't seen for a long time.

"Grandpa Matthew, how have you been lately?" Tang San greeted him, apologizing for his long absence, and handed him a small jar.

"What is this?" Matthew asked curiously.

"Dried Blue Silver Grass," Tang San said with a smile. "Brother Tao said you've been missing my Blue Silver Tea."

The so-called Blue Silver Tea is actually made by Tang San selecting the tender leaves of Blue Silver Grass, drying them in the sun, and then dry-frying them in a pot thirty-six times. When the dried Blue Silver Grass is used to brew tea, it has a unique refreshing taste. It has a slightly sweet taste when you first taste it, but the aftertaste is quite different, and it is even good for refreshing the mind.

In Tang San's view, this thing was like coffee without side effects, or a stimulant.

"Then I'll accept it, Grandpa." Matthew gave Su Yuntao a reproachful look, then opened the lid with a big smile. A faint fragrance wafted out, not strong, but it relaxed his tired body a little. "If it weren't for your discovery, Little Tang, no one in the world would know that Blue Silver Grass has such an effect."

The leaves of blue silver grass, dried in the sun and stir-fried several times, can actually refresh the mind!

If Tang San hadn't discovered it, who would have known?

After carefully storing the dried Blue Silver Grass, Matthew asked Tang San why he didn't join the Spirit Hall: "Little Tang, the Spirit Hall Academy is excellent, much better than Notting Academy. Are you really not going? Although your spirit is only Blue Silver Grass, your level six innate spirit power qualifies you to go there. Just say the word, and I can write a letter of recommendation and personally send you there."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Grandpa Matthew, but I will not be joining for the time being."

Tang San shook his head. If he had to give a reason, it would still be a matter of identity. If he dared to go, Tang Hao would dare to deal with him.

However, when facing Matthew, he gave a similar reason to what Su Yuntao had given, only more specific:

"You know, I want to study the theory of spirit cultivation. Although the Spirit Hall has the most information in the world, you also know that I am just a six-year-old child, and my spirit is only Blue Silver Grass. The teachers at the Spirit Academy are all spirit masters, or at least spirit kings, right? Do you think they would believe the words of a child?"

"They'll just think that my weed spirit is trying to challenge their authority... Grandpa Matthew, you know my ideas are wild and unrealistic, and most of them may be impractical, but if we want to make breakthroughs in spirit research, we need these wild ideas."

"Soul Masters are all about strength. As a commoner Soul Master, I was powerless and vulnerable there. I was bullied and had no way to fight back. In order to fight back, my personality had to change..."

"At least, I don't want the educational environment of Martial Soul Academy to turn me into someone I don't even recognize. I don't like fighting; I like reading and studying."

Matthew sighed, "It seems I was overthinking it. You must have thought a lot in the three months before school started, right? In the past, the environment of Spirit Academy was not bad, but in the last six years, many small families have joined Spirit Hall. Their children study at Spirit Academy and they do look down on talented commoner children."

"Studying at Notting College is good, as it gives you more freedom. However, you must be down-to-earth and not be overly ambitious, as that will not do you any good."

"Don't worry, Grandpa Matthew, don't you know my temperament? Even if I want to publish a theory, I'll first find existing evidence or experiment on myself. I won't publish it casually," Tang San said with a smile.

After catching up with Master Matthew for a while, Tang San decided to head to Notting Academy.

"Alright, we'll have plenty of time to chat later. Su Yuntao, you take Xiao Tang to Notting Academy," Matthew said with a smile.

"No problem, I'm free today anyway."

Su Yuntao escorted Tang San and Old Jack to Notting Academy.

Notting College is quite large, similar to a high school in my previous life.

I must say, it truly lives up to its reputation as a Soul Master Academy.

Upon seeing Su Yuntao, the gatekeeper immediately opened the door without asking any questions or even asking Tang San to produce his martial soul certificate. His smiling face made it seem as if Su Yuntao was the master of the place.

Is this what a Soul Master is?

Ordinary people wouldn't dare to resist at all.

Tang San gained a deeper understanding of the status of Soul Masters.

"Little San, you must study hard. Grandpa is going back now." Old Jack handed Tang San a small bag containing five silver soul coins. "This is your allowance. It's not much, but use it to buy some good food at the academy. You're still growing. I'll come pick you up when this semester is over."

"Thank you, Grandpa." Tang San accepted the bag, a surge of warmth welling up inside him, and his eyes welled up with tears.

After watching Old Jack's figure disappear from sight, Tang San said to Su Yuntao, "Brother Tao, just tell me where the Academic Affairs Office is. I'll go by myself. After all, one should always be independent."

"Then I'll be going now. When you're ready to hunt for spirit rings, just come find me at the Spirit Hall." Su Yuntao pointed out the direction of the Academic Affairs Office to Tang San, gave him a few simple instructions, and left Notting Academy.

After Su Yuntao left, the gatekeeper asked rather cautiously, "Young man, is Master Su Yuntao a distant relative of yours?"

Tang San shrugged, not answering directly: "I already call him Brother Tao, so what do you think our relationship is?"

The doorman was a little embarrassed, but still kindly reminded him, "Hurry up and register. It's almost noon, and the teachers in the academic affairs office may be going to lunch. There's an hour and a half break at noon, so if you're late, you won't be able to go to the dormitory."

"Thanks."

Tang San was impressed by the doorman, thanked him, and quickly ran towards the Academic Affairs Office with his luggage on his back.

The teacher welcoming the new students received the Martial Soul Certificate from Tang San and exclaimed in surprise, "You're Tang San?"

"It's me, teacher? Do you know me?" Tang San guessed that it might be Matthew or Su Yuntao who had come to Notting Academy and explained their situation.

"Yes, I know you. Su Yuntao came to see the principal and explained your situation. However, since you are a work-study student, the school cannot let you study for free. You will be responsible for organizing the library area from now on. We know you like reading."

The teacher filled out Tang San's form, then gave him a school uniform, and then took out a brand new quilt. "But we've prepared a quilt for you, so it will be warmer to sleep at night."

"Thank you, teacher." Tang San took the blanket and expressed his gratitude to his teacher.

After leaving the academic affairs office, Tang San had only walked a few steps when he encountered a somewhat disheveled middle-aged man.

Looking at the other person's unkempt hair, stubble beard, and simple long robe, Tang San guessed the other person's identity—

Yu Xiaogang.

It is true that the Spirit Hall recruits commoner spirit masters, but a commoner spirit master who is not born with full spirit power and is truly powerless and without influence will not receive much attention there.

If someone says Bibi Dong was a commoner, or the Golden Generation were commoners...

Well, in this world where martial spirits are inherited through bloodlines, are things like the Death Spider Emperor, Soul Devouring Spider Emperor, Moon Blade, Demon Fox, and Flame Lord something that ordinary people can possess?

Or should we just wishfully believe that these are mutations?

It can be said that their family declined and was then discovered and absorbed by the Spirit Hall, but it can never be said that they were originally commoners.

(End of this chapter)