Chapter Seventy-Three: Recognizing the Master
No matter how disgusted Su Tang looked, the little thing was still extremely enthusiastic. It flew back quickly, flapping its wings non-stop, and its small face showed a smiling expression as it called out: "Mama... Mama..."
Su Tang's consciousness was dazed for a moment, and he saw that towering giant tree again, as well as countless green light clusters floating away from the tree trunk, flying towards the distant edge of the starry sea. Suddenly, he understood everything, and slowly stretched out his palm.
That little thing became quiet and fell into Su Tang's palm, knelt down, and looked up at Su Tang with its small face.
Su Tang let out a soft sigh, the life source of this little thing had been exhausted, which means it no longer had any chance to evolve, and this became its final form. So there would come a day, perhaps soon, when it would grow old and die, whereas the lifespan of a Tree of Fate could reach thousands or even tens of thousands of years.
Su Tang felt some heartache.
After a moment of silence, Su Tang slowly stood up and asked, "Have you seen Xiao Ru..." Before he could finish his sentence, Su Tang hesitated, wondering how to teach him to address Xiǎo Rú.
"What's your name?" Su Tang changed the subject.
"Mom, I don't have a name," the little thing replied.
"Then I'll call you Xiao Budo from now on." Su Tang said, looking around: "Xiao Budo, have you seen that girl with the big chopper?"
"Mom, she's a bad person!" Xiaobu exclaimed: "I helped her so much, but she still stabbed me with a knife!"
Su Tang thought to herself, "Kill you? Kill you for what... She killed me too, didn't she see that?"
"When did she leave?"
"He left long ago."
"Hasn't come back yet?"
"Hmm." "How long did I sleep?" Su Tang asked again.
"Slept for a bit."
Su Tang was a bit entangled, thinking for half a day without understanding what "a while" meant, the surrounding mountain walls were too high, couldn't see the sun, only felt that the sky had darkened.
Su Tang bent down to pick up a fruit, took a bite, and suddenly froze. This fruit was like strong liquor, one bite and it directly warmed her heart, and the pulp was extremely sweet.
Su Tang ate several fruits in a row, and only then did he remember to be polite to his "child". The little thing had already flown onto his shoulder, sitting there, no matter what Su Tang was doing, she always looked up at Su Tang's face, as if admiring something.
Su Tang waved half a fruit in her hand: "Xiao Bu Dian, want some?"
"I'm full already," said Xiaobudian.
Su Tang didn't stand on ceremony, and the two of them finished off the fruit in their hands. If it were those few powerful Natural Spirit Sect members who saw Su Tang eating like this, they might be so heartbroken that they would faint.
After eating his fill, Su Tang let out a satisfied belch and patted his own belly. He felt somewhat puzzled - was it that he had eaten too little or what?
Then, Su Tang stood up and walked forward, picking up the flying swords that had fallen to the ground. These were the spiritual instruments of the sect master, and he had already opened his third spiritual aperture. Even if he couldn't use them himself, taking out one and selling it would probably be enough for half a year's worth of medicinal elixirs.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Xiaobudian curiously asked.
"These are all treasures." Su Tang said, he was too lazy to let Xiao Bu Dong change his address, because he had thought about it carefully. In fact, calling him "mom" was still good, others would not think wildly if they heard it, at most they would think it was interesting, but they would absolutely not suspect Su Tang's character and hobbies. If he called him "dad", that would be bad... What exactly did he do to create such a daughter?
"What's this treasure?" Xiaobu was somewhat disdainful: "Mom, I know a place with really, really powerful treasures!"
"Oh? Is it true?" Su Tang's face turned serious.
"Of course it's true!" Xiaobudian said.
"Do you remember that place?" Su Tang asked again.
"Remember, it's not far from here."
"Take me there and have a look." Su Tang said, his curiosity was piqued, anyway the distance wasn't far, quick to go and quick to return.
"Alright." Xiaobudian was indeed swift and decisive, saying goodbye and leaving immediately. He flapped his wings and flew into the air, disappearing from sight in an instant. Su Tang remained on the ground, looking up at the sky with a puzzled expression.
Xiao Bu Dian finally found out that Su Tang hadn't caught up and flew back, calling: "Mom, come on, come on..."
"Do you think I can fly like you?!" Su Tang said irritably.
"Oh..." Xiaobudian landed back on Su Tang's shoulder, seemingly sensing Su Tang's displeasure, and occasionally stole glances at him.
Su Tang suddenly felt that this cheap 'daughter' seemed a bit off, obviously lacking in brains, so it's best to be fully prepared.
Su Tang tied the old man's five flying swords together, and put all the other spoils of war on one side. He couldn't carry too many things at once, so he had to leave some behind, which was also a signal for Xi Xiao Ru and the others. Since he could clean up the battlefield, it proved that Su Tang was fine, just going out for a walk and would be back soon. Then, he found the tree with fruit on it again, and was overjoyed. He jumped onto the tree, picked a dozen or so fruits, and put them in his bag.
Finally picking up the Taizhong sword, he felt something was wrong at that moment. He walked out a few steps before reacting and shouted in a hurry: "Who the hell secretly replaced my..." Before he finished shouting, Su Tang closed his mouth again. He knew it was impossible, but why did the Taizhong sword become so light and agile?!
Su Tang had just shifted his attention to the Taizhong Sword, when suddenly a surge of spiritual energy like a tsunami burst out from the sword and flowed into his body. In that instant, he felt himself connected to the Taizhong Sword - it was his sword, his hand, his bloodline, his will.
"Mom, the baby has recognized its master." Xiaobudian said: "But this baby is still not as fierce as that other baby."
"Let's go."
Two corpses were seen in the crevices of the mountain wall, and another one came out of the crevice, all died under Xi Xiao Ru's knife. Looking around, it was vast and empty, with no human figure in sight. The sun had already set, and the sky had darkened.
"Mom, over here..." Xiaobudian flapped its wings and flew out, this time it noticed, from time to time turning its head to look back at Su Tang, the distance between the two slightly farther apart, it would land on a branch and wait for a while.
It turns out that Xiaobian's learning ability is still quite good.
"It's already dark, shall we head back?" Su Tang hesitated a bit. Yun Shui Ze was a place full of danger to begin with, and traveling at night would be even more perilous.
"Mom, it's okay, we won't provoke them and they won't come to provoke us." Xiaobu said: "There is a very powerful big snake over there, as long as we avoid it, we'll be fine."
"How did you know?" Su Tang stopped in her tracks.