Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Yu Xiaogang
A week had passed since Wang Chen arrived at Nuoding Academy. The days were flying by as he grew accustomed to the academy's daily rhythm, training, and studies.
Today, after a long day in class, he walked out with Tang San, making their way back to the dorms. Xiao Wu wasn't with them today; she was on garden duty for the week, leaving him and Tang San alone to talk.
As they walked in silence, Tang San suddenly called out, "Wang Chen, I wanted to ask… do you want to come meet my master?"
Wang Chen turned to look at him, mildly surprised.
Tang San's master?
The same mysterious man who had provided Tang San with a blanket and the better meals from the upper floor of the canteen?
He had piqued Wang Chen's curiosity from the start, but why was he being invited? "Your master wants to see me?" Wang Chen asked, raising an eyebrow.
Tang San smiled sheepishly.
"I kind of… mentioned you to him. I told him about your martial soul while we were discussing different types of martial souls and their evolutions. He was really intrigued by it. After all, your Sharingan is not only rare because it's a body-type martial soul, but it's also mutated. He said he's never heard of anything like it."
Wang Chen shook his head with a small chuckle. "It's not that grand, honestly. Mutated martial souls are usually more useless than they're worth." Though Wang Chen knew otherwise. His Sharingan was powerful, but that was because he came from a world where he understood its potential. Here, in this world, no one had even heard of its abilities.
Despite his outward modesty, Wang Chen's curiosity was piqued. Tang San's master wanted to see him. Perhaps he could learn something from this encounter. "Alright, let's go meet your master."
Tang San nodded, and they walked in silence toward the building where Tang San's master resided. Soon, they stood before a simple wooden door. Tang San knocked gently and waited. Wang Chen noticed the respect Tang San held for this man, noting it down in his mind.
A voice from inside the room called out, "Come in."
The door creaked open, and they stepped inside. Wang Chen's eyes quickly took in the room, a simple, modest space, filled with books stacked haphazardly in every corner.
It wasn't messy, but it was clearly the home of someone who valued knowledge over appearances. At the center of the room sat a man reading from an old, worn book.
He was thin, with short white hair, his age somewhere around forty or fifty. At first glance, there was nothing particularly striking about him. His demeanor, however, gave Wang Chen a scholarly impression, as though this man lived more in his mind than in the physical world.
Tang San stepped forward. "Master," he said respectfully, bowing slightly.
The man looked up from his book, setting it aside. His gaze shifted to Wang Chen, studying him for a moment before he nodded toward the seats. "Come, sit."
Wang Chen took a seat beside Tang San, still observing the man. This guy… he gives off a calm, calculating vibe. He wasn't loud, nor did he seem imposing, but something about him seemed off.
"I've heard about you from Tang San," the man said, his voice even but filled with curiosity. "I understand your martial soul is quite unique. Could I trouble you to show it to me?"
Wang Chen had no problem with this. He had nothing to hide—at least not yet. He closed his eyes briefly, and when they opened, the one-tomoe Sharingan spun to life. The red hue of his eyes immediately drew the man's full attention.
The man stood up, his eyes gleaming with interest. "Fascinating…" He walked closer, observing the Sharingan carefully. "Tang San mentioned some of its abilities, but I want to hear it from you directly. What can these eyes do?"
Wang Chen explained calmly, "Right now, it enhances my perception and reaction speed. I can see soul power flow to a certain extent, though it's not very clear yet."
The man let out a small gasp, visibly excited. He ran a hand through his short white hair. "Incredible. To have a body-type martial soul that grants such abilities… and a mutated one at that." He sat back down, his mind clearly working through the implications.
"What's it called?"
"Sharingan," Wang Chen answered, his voice steady.
He thought back to his old life and the significance of the Sharingan. In his world, it meant 'Copy Wheel Eye', the eyes that could replicate jutsus instantly. Here, he didn't yet have the power to copy anything. He wasn't sure when that ability would manifest, but he was looking forward to it.
The man took a deep breath, his excitement finally tempered. "You've truly been blessed with something unique, Wang Chen." He paused, then leaned back in his chair. "I'm planning to take Tang San to the Spirit Hunting Forest soon to help him obtain his first spirit ring. If you're interested, you're welcome to come with us."
Wang Chen frowned slightly, his curiosity growing. "Master, no offense, but why would you want me to come along? It's not like you owe me anything."
The man smiled faintly, clearly seeing the maturity in Wang Chen's question. "I had a feeling you'd ask that," he said, glancing at Tang San for a brief moment before continuing. "I'm not doing this out of obligation. I'm interested in your martial soul. Yours is rare—rarer than full innate soul power. There are no records of it anywhere, and I'd like to gather information as you grow."
Wang Chen considered this for a moment before shrugging. "I don't mind," he said. "You'll find out about my abilities eventually, so I don't care if you want to study them now." He didn't particularly feel the need to hide his Sharingan's power.
Eventually, it would become common knowledge, and by then, his father would be the last person capable of threatening him. Right now, he was just a kid with useless martial soul who has an average innate soul power on paper which protected him from unnecessary attention.
The man nodded. "Good. We'll be leaving in a few days. I'll let you know when we're ready."
Wang Chen stood up and nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Master," he said respectfully, echoing Tang San's formality.
Even if this man wasn't someone he felt close to, it was better to maintain respect for the time being.
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Word Count: [1165]
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone