Soul Land 5: The Rebirth of Tang San

Chapter 219: The Cave Behind The Waterfall

"Alright." Tang San agreed without hesitation.

"I will prepare the materials for you," Zhang Haoxuan said.

"Then please prepare as much as you can. I'll write you a list later," Tang San replied. He needed rare metals.

With the hammer made of Heavenly Fire Essence Iron, forging was now much easier than before. Naturally, making hidden weapons was not an issue.

Mei Gongzi was now in a critical moment, and with an uncertain future ahead of them, preparing some powerful hidden weapons was a priority.

Moreover, Mei Gongzi had seen him buy the Heavenly Fire Essence Iron Hammer as Tang San, so this hammer could not appear as a weapon in front of her. Thus, Tang San needed to forge a suitable weapon to enhance his strength. Thankfully, on this planet, resources were abundant.

In the following days, life returned to normal. Sweeper Tang continued his daily routine of cultivation and work.

Tang San occasionally saw Mei Gongzi at the academy. She seemed no different from usual and didn't pay him much attention. It appeared that she was also lying low after the TItan Bear incident.

At Kali Academy, there were no reports of any movements from the Titan Bears after the death of their leader.

About a week later, Zhang Haoxuan approached Tang San upon his return to the Redemption Academy, informing him that the hideout in the Kail Mountains was ready.

The next day was Tang San's day off, so he didn't have to work at Kali Academy. The two of them thus entered the Kali Mountain Range early in the morning.

The "master and disciple" duo delved deep into the mountain range, under the umbrella-like tree canopy, and continued northward, crossing several peaks until finally they reached a valley.

This valley was in a hilly region, with steep terrain and sparse vegetation due to the abundance of rocky outcrops.

Water could be faintly heard between the hills, and as the two of them walked, they reached a cliff with a small waterfall running down.

Beneath the waterfall was a pool covering a few hundred square meters.

The pool's turquoise water was crystal clear, with some fish swimming freely.

"This area rarely sees the presence of demonic beasts because it has very little vegetation and practically no treasure plants or anything. The northern part of Kali Mountain Range has always been known as a barren land, so few demons venture here. I discovered this waterfall by chance, and behind it there’s a cave. I carved a passage through the back of the cave years ago so we could hide here if the Redemption Society ever needed it. I've brought your girls here. What do you think?" Zhang Haoxuan explained.

Tang San smiled. "A scenic spot, it's great!"

While talking, they had already reached the side of the pool.

"There are wild vegetables to gather here, and with the fish from the pool, it's enough for their daily needs," Zhang Haoxuan said.

"You've thought this through, master," Tang San complimented him.

"Let me bring you inside." As he spoke, Zhang Haoxuan leaped up, waving his hands, creating a hot air current that blocked the waterfall's flow and dispersed clouds of steam. Tang San also released wind elemental energy around him, supporting himself as he flew after Zhang Haoxuan.

As the waterfall lifted, it revealed a cave behind it, large enough for two people to walk through side by side. The cave appeared dark, obscuring the view inside.

Both of them entered the cave. Zhang Haoxuan extended his left hand, and a flame lit up, illuminating the surroundings.

The cave was somewhat damp, but as they proceeded, the ground sloped upward, and after a few dozen meters, the dampness significantly reduced.

Under Zhang Haoxuan's lead, they kept moving inward. After about thirty or forty meters, they faintly heard voices inside.

"Who's there?" a frail voice asked.

"It's me," Zhang Haoxuan said. He continued upward with Tang San, turned a corner, and suddenly, their view brightened. Light shone from somewhere, illuminating the cavern ahead of them.

The terrain here was at least fifty meters higher than the pool area. The cavern was cool and dry. The upward-sloping passage in the back, faintly lit, was probably the one Zhang Haoxuan mentioned he had dug.

This cavernous space appeared spacious, about five or six hundred square meters wide and seven or eight meters high. Several mattresses were laid on one side of the flat ground, and a dozen human girls were gathered together, looking rather frightened.

Tang San had not paid much attention to them previously at the auction. Now, up close, he could see them more clearly.

These slave girls with Crimson Fox bloodline were all around fourteen or fifteen, and they were really pretty. Their eyes, in particular, were exceptionally beautiful. Even though they were somewhat fearful and withdrawn, their eyes still sparkled, and they exhibited a certain charm beyond their young age—an unmistakable trait of the fox lineage. Without activating the Demonic God Transformation, they were indistinguishable from humans in all other aspects.

Furthermore, the mixed blood of the fox demons and humans bestowed them with slender waists and long legs, their figures surpassing even their faces in beauty. This was a significant reason for their popularity at auctions.

Tang San observed them, and they, in turn, scrutinized him. Upon seeing Zhang Haoxuan, they visibly relaxed, and their expressions turned to curiosity when they saw Tang San standing behind Zhang Haoxuan.

Although Tang San's physique had developed beyond his years due to his cultivation and bodily refinement advancement, his appearance still retained a hint of youthfulness. At a glance, he seemed about the same age as the girls, though in reality, Tang San was only eleven years old.

"Senior Zhang, hello." The leading girl bowed slightly to Zhang Haoxuan, and the other girls followed suit in greeting.

Zhang Haoxuan smiled and said, "No need for formalities. Let me introduce you. This is the person I mentioned who bought you. He's your master."

While speaking, he pulled Tang San to stand in front of him.

Master? Tang San was momentarily taken aback.

The girls were also startled, but almost immediately, they were led to greet Tang San with soft voices, “Master.”

Although Tang San had lived three lifetimes, he was always faithful in love. Even though many women had shown interest in him in his previous life, his heart was solely devoted to his wife. Now, faced with eighteen human girls from the Crimson Fox clan calling him master, he couldn't help feeling awkward.

"Master, this..."

Zhang Haoxuan gave him a knowing look and transmitted a message, "Since you need to ensure their loyalty and they will inevitably learn some of your secrets, it's essential to establish firm rules. This status is also the easiest for them to accept given their mindset right now. What happens in the future can be decided later. For now, this is the best way to go about your plans."

Hearing this, Tang San’s thoughts raced. Indeed, these girls, raised as slaves from the Crimson Fox clan, couldn't change their mindset overnight. They needed education and a stable life to build confidence and establish new perspectives on life. It wasn't something to rush.

"No need for formalities. What are your names?" Tang San asked. After that brief moment of discomfort, he had regained his composure.

The leading girl said, “My name is Red One, and they are Red Two, Red Three... all the way to Red Eighteen.”

Tang San's lips twitched.

Nodding, he told the eighteen girls, “From today on, you will follow my commands. I will show you the way to a better life, and we will ensure that you live with dignity. You will never be anyone’s slaves or playthings.”