Tang San slowly opened his eyes as dawn light filtered through the forest canopy. His entire body felt different—stronger, more vital, as if he'd been reborn. The process of absorbing the datura snake's spirit ring had been agonizing, like being immersed in an ocean of flame, but he'd succeeded.
He looked down at his right hand and summoned his Blue Silver Grass. The change was immediately apparent. What had been thin, pale blue grass was now thick, deep blue vines marked with black patterns resembling snake scales. The grass moved with serpentine grace, and he could feel the power thrumming through them.
One yellow ring rose from beneath his feet, circling his body—the mark of a Spirit Master.
"Tang San!" A familiar voice called out urgently.
Luna rushed to his side, her white hair streaming behind her, fox ears flat with worry. She'd been keeping watch throughout his absorption process, and now relief flooded her features.
"Luna," Tang San said with a smile. "I did it. I'm a Spirit Master now."
"I can see that," Luna said, her ruby eyes shining with happiness. "Your spirit looks so different. And powerful."
Tang San was about to respond when he noticed something wrong. "Where's Grandmaster?"
Luna's expression turned serious. "Tang San, he's been poisoned. When you were absorbing the ring, he suddenly collapsed. I've been trying to keep him stable, but..."
Tang San's heart clenched. He immediately looked around and found Grandmaster lying motionless on the ground, his face pale and covered in a sickly sheen. A circle of realgar powder surrounded them both—Luna must have placed it for protection.
"Teacher!" Tang San rushed to Grandmaster's side.
Grandmaster's right arm was swollen to three times its normal size, the skin stretched tight and turning purple. A cloth band was tied around his upper arm—emergency treatment, but clearly not enough.
"The datura snake," Tang San realized. "When it bit Luo San Pao, the poison affected Grandmaster through their spirit connection."
"I tried to help," Luna said quietly, kneeling beside them. "But I don't know enough about human medicine. My spirit beast healing won't work on him—it might make things worse."
Tang San took Grandmaster's pulse and felt a weak, thready beat. "The poison hasn't reached his heart yet. There's still time."
What followed was intensive emergency treatment. Tang San quickly built a fire, heated his short sword, and performed bloodletting to drain the poisoned blood. Luna assisted, holding Grandmaster steady, fetching water, and following Tang San's instructions precisely.
Using his newly advanced Mysterious Heaven Skill—now at the second tier after breaking through with the spirit ring—Tang San pushed his internal energy into Grandmaster's body, forcing the poison to gather in one location before expelling it.
Luna watched in awe as Tang San worked with the skill of someone far older than his apparent six years. She'd known he had the soul of an adult, but seeing him perform such advanced medical techniques drove home just how much knowledge he carried from his previous life.
After hours of careful work, the poison was finally expelled. Grandmaster's color improved slightly, though he remained unconscious.
"He'll live," Tang San said, exhausted but relieved. "But he'll need constant care for the next few days."
Luna placed a gentle hand on Tang San's shoulder. "You should rest. You just absorbed a spirit ring and then performed emergency surgery. Let me keep watch."
"We both need to stay alert," Tang San said. "This is Spirit Hunting Forest. There could be more spirit beasts."
The next three days were difficult. Grandmaster remained unconscious with a constant fever. Tang San and Luna took turns keeping watch, feeding him broth, and maintaining the protective circle of realgar powder.
Luna proved invaluable. Her spirit beast senses could detect approaching creatures long before they became threats, and her Fox Fire Assault ability, though she was careful to use it sparingly, helped drive away curious ten-year spirit beasts.
On the fourth day, Grandmaster finally regained consciousness.
"How am I like this?" he croaked, his voice weak.
"Teacher, you're conscious!" Tang San moved to his side immediately, sending a pulse of Mysterious Heaven Skill to stabilize him.
"Little San, I'm still alive?" Grandmaster looked genuinely surprised.
"Yes, and you'll continue living," Tang San said firmly. "Though you'll need a long recovery."
Grandmaster turned his head to see Luna sitting nearby, her white hair catching the morning light. "The spirit beast girl. You stayed too."
"Of course," Luna said softly. "Tang San needed help caring for you. I couldn't leave."
Grandmaster studied her for a long moment. "You're... different from other spirit beasts I've encountered. More human in your emotions."
Luna smiled slightly. "Perhaps I've been in this form long enough to understand human feelings."
"Little San," Grandmaster said, turning back to Tang San. "Did you succeed?"
Tang San raised his right hand. Blue light shimmered on his skin, and deep blue Blue Silver Grass emerged from his palm. A yellow ring rose from beneath him, floating around his body.
"The spirit ring absorption was successful," Tang San reported. "My Blue Silver Grass now has binding ability with paralysis effects from the datura snake's poison. It's perfect for control-type development."
Grandmaster's eyes filled with tears. "We succeeded. My theory... it works."
To demonstrate, Tang San sent his Blue Silver Grass shooting out to bind a nearby tree. The thick vines wrapped tightly, and he could feel the paralytic toxin seeping into the wood.
"The binding range is about ten meters, and I can control where the grass emerges from within fifty meters," Tang San explained. "The poison isn't lethal, but it's very effective at paralyzing."
"Excellent," Grandmaster whispered. "Better than I hoped."
It took several more days before Grandmaster could even attempt to walk. During this time, Luna and Tang San worked as a team—Luna using her enhanced senses to scout and hunt for food (carefully avoiding other spirit beasts), while Tang San focused on medical care and cooking.
One evening, as they sat around a small fire, Grandmaster looked at Luna thoughtfully.
"Girl, you also obtained a spirit ring recently, didn't you?"
Luna tensed. "Yes, sir. When you were fighting the demon wolves."
"Show me your ability."
Luna glanced at Tang San, who nodded slightly. She raised her hand, and small fox-shaped flames appeared, dancing across her fingers.
"Fox Fire Assault," she said. "My first soul skill. Attack-type."
"Interesting," Grandmaster said. "A spirit beast in human form obtaining a spirit ring. The energy signature is unusual. Almost as if the ring grew from within rather than being absorbed from without."
Luna's heart raced, but she kept her expression calm. "Is that strange, sir?"
"For most spirit beasts in human form, yes. But you're clearly exceptional." Grandmaster's gaze was penetrating. "I won't pry into your secrets, girl. Just know that I'm aware you're more than you appear. Take care of my student. He's precious to me."
"I will," Luna promised. "Always."
When Grandmaster could finally walk with support, they began the slow journey back to Notting Academy. Luna took one side, Tang San the other, and together they helped Grandmaster through the forest.
They made quite a sight arriving back at the academy—Grandmaster pale and weak, supported by a six-year-old boy and a white-haired girl with fox ears and nine tails.
Tang San brought Grandmaster to his room and settled him on the bed.
"Teacher, you need to rest for at least a month," Tang San said firmly. "I'll take care of everything you need."
Grandmaster nodded weakly. "Little San, take this book." He gestured to his bookshelf. "Third row, second from the left. It contains my research on spirit power cultivation techniques. Study it carefully."
Tang San retrieved the thick volume and stored it carefully in his Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges.
"Also," Grandmaster continued, "go to Spirit Hall in the city center. Get your Spirit Master certification. You'll need official registration to receive the monthly stipend."
"I'll go immediately," Tang San said. He turned to Luna. "Can you stay with Grandmaster while I'm gone?"
"Of course," Luna said, settling into a chair beside the bed.
As Tang San left, Grandmaster looked at Luna with tired eyes.
"You love him," he stated simply. "Not as a companion or friend. You genuinely love him."
Luna didn't deny it. "Yes."
"Good. He'll need that in the trials ahead." Grandmaster closed his eyes. "Protect him, spirit beast girl. The path he's chosen will not be easy."
"I know," Luna whispered. "And I'll be beside him every step of the way."
Tang San headed back to the dormitory first to let his roommates know he'd returned. But when he entered Room Seven, it was completely empty—unusual for the break between classes.
As he stepped back outside, he overheard some older students talking.
"Those working students are overrating themselves, challenging boss Xiao..."
"That new first-year girl, Xiao Wu, is apparently fierce..."
"The stakes are crazy. If boss Xiao wins, the working students become his servants. If Xiao Wu wins, she becomes the whole academy's 'big sister'..."
Tang San's expression hardened. Xiao Wu had started a fight. And from the sound of it, a serious one.
He quickly asked for directions and learned the confrontation was happening in the woods behind the academy.
I need to get there. And I need to bring Luna.
He ran back to Grandmaster's room. "Teacher, there's trouble with the working students. I need Luna's help."
Grandmaster waved him off weakly. "Go. I'll be fine alone for a short time."
Luna stood immediately. "What's wrong?"
"Xiao Wu challenged a sixth-year boss. All our roommates are involved. Come on!"
They ran together toward the back of the academy, Luna's superior speed and Tang San's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track carrying them quickly through the grounds.
When they reached the woods, they found all the working students lined up behind Xiao Wu, facing more than twenty older students led by a tall, confident-looking boy.
"Little girl, right now there's still time to repent," the boss was saying mockingly. "Of course, I don't mind having a pet rabbit."
Xiao Wu's face showed pure disdain. "Boss Xiao, are you scared? Scared of becoming my little brother?"
Tang San and Luna approached quietly, staying back to assess the situation.
"This is bad," Luna whispered. "That boss—he's at least peak ninth rank, maybe even Spirit Master level. And he has twenty students with him."
"The fight's already been arranged," Tang San said, watching Wang Sheng step forward as the first fighter. "All we can do now is make sure our side wins."
Wang Sheng faced off against a student with a long staff spirit. The fight was brutal—Wang Sheng had superior strength but couldn't deal with the reach and technique of his opponent's weapon. Within minutes, he was beaten back, bloody but still standing.
"This isn't good," Tang San murmured. "Wang Sheng will lose, and then they'll all fall one by one."
Luna tensed. "Should we interfere?"
"Not yet. Let's see how Xiao Wu handles this."
But as Wang Sheng was finally knocked down, unable to continue, Tang San made his decision. He quietly moved through the crowd to stand beside Xiao Wu.
"Tang San!" Xiao Wu's face lit up. "You're back!"
"I'm back," Tang San confirmed quietly. Then, looking at the smug boss Xiao and his followers, he said softly, "And I'm not going to let my roommates lose this fight."
Luna appeared on his other side, her ruby eyes cold as she surveyed their opponents.
"Two more working students?" Boss Xiao laughed. "Fine. Send them out. We'll crush them just like the others."
Tang San looked at Xiao Wu. "What are the rules?"
"One-on-one elimination. Whoever wins keeps fighting until someone on one side can't continue."
Tang San nodded slowly. "Then I'll go next."
"Tang San—" Xiao Wu started to protest.
"Trust me," Tang San said quietly. "I'm not the same person who left for Spirit Hunting Forest."
And as he stepped forward, a yellow ring rose from beneath his feet, marking him as a Spirit Master.
The entire crowd fell silent.
Boss Xiao's confident expression faltered. "You... you're a Spirit Master? But you're only first year!"
Tang San smiled calmly. "Shall we begin?"
Behind him, Luna's hand rested on the fox-shaped pendant hidden beneath her shirt—the focus for her Fox Fire Assault. If Tang San needed help, she would be ready.
Whatever happened next, the working students weren't going to lose.
Not today.