* * *
[1] (天青牛蟒) “Sky Blue/Green Cow/Bull/Ox Python”
[2] (小刚) “Little Firm”
[3] (黄金铁三角)
[4] Possibly related, Ox Head (牛头) is one of the two guardians of the underworld in Chinese mythology, along with Horse Face (马面)
Chapter 037: Blue Silver Grass Post-Evolution Might
Part 1
“Generally speaking, spirit variation is set from birth, consequently, when the spirit awakens, if the spirit is already varied, it will exhibit. Receiving post-natal influence and generating spirit variation is really too rare. Tang San’s spirit is Blue Silver Grass, its weakness leading to him absorbing any spirit ring comparatively easily, and won’t cause too great rejection. Although the Man Faced Demon Spider was powerful, it still wouldn’t cause this kind of spirit variation condition. Most importantly, his Blue Silver Grass spirit hasn’t disappeared and can still be released, from this point I can conclude it really isn’t spirit variation.”
Flender said:
“Then what’s going on? These spider legs would never appear without reason. Wuji just now also said, on these spider legs is added the Man Faced Demon Spider’s poison. If used appropriately, it can be considered a kind of weapon on its own, and still a very surprising one.”
In Grandmaster’s eyes twinkled a light, abruptly standing up,
“I must personally see the circumstances of these spider legs, to decide what they are after all classified as.”
Flender waved his hand to Grandmaster, saying:
“Let it be, those children have only just returned, finding Tang San again tomorrow is not too late, let him have a rest.”
Grandmaster hesitated a moment, at last still sitting back down in his seat,
“If it truly is like I estimate, then, this time Tang San’s harvest in Star Dou Great Forest was too great. Even better than the spirit ring he acquired.”
Flender started,
“You are saying……”
Grandmaster nodded,
“But I still can’t be certain, if it truly is like this, then, I promise you to stay here.”
Flender laughed,
“Good. Then I look forward to your stay. We brothers are at last able to be together again. It’s a pity, she isn’t here.”
Hearing Flender speaking of that ‘her’, Grandmaster’s face changed minutely, frowning,
“Flender, don’t mention her, I don’t want to quarrel with you.”
Flender somewhat helplessly shrugged,
“Fine. I don’t want a quarrel either. Only, I truly wish you will stay. For all these years, I could be considered spending all my effort towards Shrek Academy, I have now finally decided to close the Academy, I hope this last batch of students are able to give me the perfect ending. With you here, this has all become likely.”
From Flender’s eyes, Grandmaster saw a bit of weariness, the expression on his rigid face couldn’t help but soften a bit, nodding,
“We can speak of that again tomorrow once I’ve seen little San.”
Flender said to Zhao Wuji,
“Wuji, you’re also tired after hurrying for one day. Go rest at once. Thank you for your troubles this time.”
Zhao Wuji smiled slightly, saying:
“The Academy also isn’t just you alone, if we were not full of hope for this place, and fond of this kind of tranquil life, who would remain at this place for so many years? We have all spent our heart’s blood for this place, you need not speak politely. Grandmaster. Flender. I’ll leave first.”
Finished speaking, Zhao Wuji stood up and left Flender’s office.
Flender all along followed Zhao Wuji’s departure with his eyes. In his eyes displayed some gratitude,
“Were it not for the help of these old brothers in these years, perhaps I long ago would have failed to support the Academy. Once this batch of students have graduated, I will also properly relax, travelling to every place on the Continent, relaxing my mind. Xiao Geng, when that moment comes will you go together with me?”
Grandmaster looked blank a moment, shaking his head,
“I don’t know.”
Flender sighed,
“Although I know you don’t want to recall the past, I still can’t help but to say, those days we lived together, was something I cannot forget in a lifetime. That memory was the happiest time in all my life. If we could always keep living so happily and carefree, it would be great, ah!”
Hearing Flender’s words, something appeared in Grandmaster’s eyes, lowering his head, he indifferently said:
“People will grow old, and all will mature. Since past matters are already in the past, what’s the point in speaking of them? Only seeing the past, speaking easily, what can it really achieve?”
Flender sighing shook his head,
“Xiao Gang, your character is too strict. If you agreed to soften a bit, perhaps, right now you also wouldn’t have this appearance. You truly couldn’t accept her? After all, that wasn’t her mistake. Furthermore, do you truly care about such worldly opinions?”
“Shut up.”
Grandmaster’s mood suddenly became agitated, shouting loudly, both eyes firmly glaring at Flender,
“Don’t mention her before me again. And you? What about you? After so many years, why aren’t you together with her? Don’t tell me you didn’t like her. If it was like that, why are you still unmarried, still insisting on this Shrek Academy? This was just a joke on her part, that’s all.”
Flender’s gaze gradually chilled,
“Xiao Gang, you are still so stubborn, in all these years you haven’t changed. Right, I admit it, I like her. However, the one she truly likes is you. A noble person will not forcibly seize a person’s love, even more, in my heart, both of you are always my best friends. I can’t forget her, but, I also will never move on her, I only want to recall the past, nothing more. Isn’t it good to be free and unrestrained alone like this?”
Grandmaster abruptly stood from his seat,
“Free? Bullshit, what I wanted was for you to bring her happiness. I didn’t expect that after all these years, seeing you again, you to tell me you only want the memories. If I was able, I wish I could kill you right now.”
Flender sighed,
“Xiao Gang, Don’t get agitated. I know, at that time you chose to leave for the sake of us three. For the past many years, always without messages from you, just didn’t want to trouble our lives. But, she only likes you, even though between you was that kind of relationship, she only likes you. We both love the same person, don’t tell me you let me go force her, forcing her into matters making her unhappy? Perhaps if she would agree like that, but, in all her life she wouldn’t be happy. These years, I always tried to find you, she as well. Before she left, I told her, I would always be her eldest brother, forever willing to act as her eldest brother. She never forgot you, and never gave up that sincerity in her heart, don’t tell me, you couldn’t……”
Grandmaster smiled, on his rigid face that smiling expression nevertheless made people feel cold,
“Me and her, is it possible? If it was possible, would I wait until now? If it weren’t for that special relationship between us, do you think I would give her to you? I wouldn’t. I couldn’t care about common peoples’ opinions, but I can’t let her bear them together with me. Flender, if you still are my brother, don’t inform her about me, otherwise, I will immediately leave this place, never meeting you again.”
Flender also seemed angry,
“Then you have the heart to see her always painfully search for you, to see her alone all her life?”
Grandmaster’s gaze was somewhat sentimental,
“Twenty years, a whole twenty years, it’s all already late. Right now I only hope to foster little San into a great person, matters of emotions I already do not dare expect. At that time I left like that, don’t tell me you believe she would still forgive me? In this life of mine, I have never before been a
fraid of anything, but, right now I’m truly afraid, I’m afraid to confront her. Honestly, when I found you this time, when I didn’t see her at your side, I was secretly somewhat delighted, but when I sobered, I discovered my heart was only empty. I lack the ability to repay her. I don’t have the courage to face her.”
“You……”
Flender stared at Grandmaster, for a long time unable to speak a word,
“Forget it, this is all your own matter. I won’t let her know you’ve appeared. But if there comes a day when she finds you, Xiao Gang, hear my words, do not run away again. If you still are my brother.”
Grandmaster didn’t promise, but, Flender saw the rims of his eyes had already reddened, he understood the suffering in Grandmaster’s heart, right now didn’t say anything more.
“Have you returned home?”
Flender changed the topic.
Grandmaster shook his head,
“Since long ago I already didn’t have a home.”
Flender sighed,
“That is after all your home. Even though they don’t welcome you. But……”
Grandmaster waved his hand, indicating Flender shouldn’t say more,
“Even if I wanted to return, I still wouldn’t return like this. Without first having my proof, I will not let those people laugh at me.”
On Flender’s face suddenly revealed a smile,
“Apparently, your heart truly is completely placed on Tang San. Did you know, for little San, Wuji was even beaten up.”
Grandmaster smiled, this time his smile was no longer cold,
“Although I didn’t know, I can guess. That person, couldn’t be offended by you.”
“You know?”
Flender started, his gaze at Grandmaster immediately became somewhat strange.
Grandmaster pulled out a token tile from his chest and tossed it to Flender, on the surface six distinct insignia immediately appeared before his eyes.
“He gave me this. Flender, know that what you right now see of little San, is not all of him. His true potential is still far, far from being unearthed. Don’t tell me you believe that his spirit really is just Blue Silver Grass? If it was like that, how would he still become my disciple?”
Flender was shocked in his heart,
“Don’t tell me his spirit also has a variation?”
Grandmaster shook his head,
“No, it really isn’t variation, just twins, that’s all.”
“What?”
…...
Filling the night, tonight’s night sky brought several faint spirits, as if giving the night mist a layer of muslin, giving people a kind of mist covered water hazy sense of beauty.
When the night washed away, as the distant day showed its first hints of white, a dorm’s door quietly opened.
Being tired wouldn’t affect a lifetime of habit, Tang San quietly walked out of the dorm. Even though the day still seemed very dark, he liked this time every day the most.
Because this was dawn, it was a beginning, a brand new beginning. Every time, he felt himself seem to completely awaken, everything being that beautiful.
Behind talent was great effort, without assiduous cultivation, even talented Spirit Masters still couldn’t accomplish much. Behind Tang San’s formidable surface was already more than ten years of great effort.
Practiced leaping onto the house, only this time Tang San nearly fell off the roof. Because just when he jumped onto the roof, he happened the see a person sitting there alone, burning gaze staring fixedly at him.
At dawn, a person’s mind would be very relaxed, and Tang San was no exception, therefore he hadn’t at all carefully listened to his surroundings, just would jump from fright.
The person on the rooftop caught Tang San by one shoulder, pulling him to sit down at his side, the other hand making a gesture for him to sit silently.
After shock came exultation, Tang San immediately recognized, this person sitting on the roof was precisely Grandmaster.
“Grandmaster, when did you arrive?”
Tang San pleasantly surprised asked.
Part 2
Tang Hao had left Holy Spirit Village when Tang San was seven years old, leaving behind only a letter. And ever since had faded away without news. Grandmaster filled this gap of affection, although he wasn’t a person adept at expressing himself, Tang San obtained immeasurable care and affection from him. If not for Grandmaster and Xiao Wu, Tang San’s character definitely wouldn’t be like right now. To him, in this second life, besides his father, they were the most important people.
Rubbing Tang San’s head, this was Grandmaster’s customary action,
“I said I would come find you here. I arrived several days ago, learning you had left for Star Dou Great Forest. However, you also gave me a surprise. I didn’t think you could so quickly break through the thirtieth rank pass.”
Tang San smiling said:
“Isn’t that because you taught me well?”
Grandmaster’s expression suddenly dropped,
“Then did I teach you to absorb spirit rings from spirit beasts with unknown age?”
Tang San was distracted a moment, immediately understanding Grandmaster already knew the danger he’d been in, and somewhat awkwardly shook his head,
“No.”
Grandmaster sighed,
“Then you still dare act rashly? Did you forget I told you how dangerous the Man Faced Demon Spider was? If this time you ended badly, how should I explain it to your father? You are my only disciple, and also my hope. Without my permission, you cannot die, understand?”
Although what Grandmaster said wasn’t pleasant to hear, how would Tang San who was familiar with him not hear the concern and fear deep in his words? Teacher feared his danger, the corners of Tang San’s eyes heated, respectfully lowering his head,
“Teacher, I was mistaken.”
Grandmaster glared at Tang San for a long time without uttering a word. After a long time, sighing, he said:
“Little San, do you know, you have an unusually severe weak point. This weak point might in the future put you in a crisis.”
“What is it? Tell me, I will certainly change.”
Tang San hurriedly said.
Grandmaster shook his head, saying with a wry smile:
“Although this is a weak point, it’s also a merit. You put too much importance in emotions. This time, if it was not for Xiao Wu being kidnapped, you also wouldn’t so arbitrarily have forced absorption.”
Tang San at this understood Grandmaster’s meaning, for a moment he was speechless. Grandmaster wasn’t wrong, if not for Xiao Wu, he absolutely wouldn’t have been so impetuous. But that time, Tang San’s mind had already lost the majority of its ability to make judgements, in his heart only thinking to as far as possible go to bring back Xiao Wu.
Once again rubbing Tang San’s head, Grandmaster’s gaze once again became mild,
“My reprimands today, I hope you will remember, at all times calmly reflect. Even if it’s your most important person appearing in danger, you must be even more calm. Only after first saving yourself will you have the opportunity to save others. Most importantly, you can’t impetuously settle problems. Do you understand?”
Tang San hurriedly nodded,
“Teacher, I will remember.”
Grandmaster smiled slightly, extremely pleased with this obedient disciple, saying:
“Go, we’ll go outside the Academy. Let me have a look at what you gained from being impetuous this time.”
Tang San was ecstatic, he also just thought to ask Grandmaster just what was going on with the changes to his body.
The two master and disciple jumped off the roof, and without alerting anyone, quietly left the village, reaching the little grove outside the village.
Grandmaster raised his hand and made a gesture towards Tang San. After many years as master and disciple, Tang San naturally understood his meaning. Urging the spirit power within his body, he released his sp
irit.
Blue silver light sparkled, quietly a cover of Blue Silver Grass rose in Tang San’s surroundings, moving rhythmically at Tang San’s side.
Grandmaster attentively watched the Blue Silver Grass Tang San summoned, mumbling:
“The Blue Silver Grass is slender, looking even glossier than before. Apart from the original tea fragrance, it also has a faint sweet fishy smell, should be the Man Faced Demon Spider poison permeating it. With the toughness of the Man Faced Demon Spider silk, although your Blue Silver Grass has become slender, it should be even more durable than before. Little San, twine that tree over there, try pulling it with your full strength.”
“Yes.”
Tang San raised one hand, one Blue Silver Grass shot out like lightning, between eyeblinks already twisting around a large tree ten metres away, both hands simultaneously exerting, using Mysterious Heaven Skill with all his might.
That tree was thicker than a person could reach around, but under Tang San’s pull, the thick tree trunk began to gradually bend.
Grandmaster walked over to the tree, carefully observing the Blue Silver Grass twisting around the tree trunk. Along with Tang San’s effort, the Blue Silver Grass was already gradually carving into the tree bark. A layer of faint smoke rose from where the Blue Silver Grass was in contact with the tree trunk. It could clearly be seen the Blue Silver Grass was gradually penetrating deeply within the tree trunk. Along with Tang San’s effort, deeper and deeper into the complete width of the tree trunk.
“Good, you can stop.”
Grandmaster gestured to Tang San.
Tang San at this relaxed Blue Silver Grass, the strand of grass twining around the tree trunk swiftly withdrew like it was a snake, itself appearing without a trace of change.
“Little San, come and see.”
Grandmaster called Tang San to his side.
“The degree of Blue Silver Grass’ toughness has clearly increased, although it has become slender, under the full strength of your more than thirtieth rank spirit power, it hasn’t the slightest indication of being stretched apart, in other words, your spirit power is insufficient to break the Blue Silver Grass. Furthermore, the additional poison on Blue Silver Grass has clearly improved, if you used the Ghost Vine’s added poison, the result should be even better. Besides the original poison type, now it also has corrosive poison. This belongs to the Man Faced Demon Spider.”
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 68