The Foul-Mouthed Gatekeeper, the Master's Arrival

The Gatekeeper Youth saw that this old man wanted to seek out someone from Spirit Hall, yet the boy was stopping him from going to find the Spirit Hall deacon.

After a brief analysis, he decided that these people had guilty consciences.

This old fool wanted to use a fake certificate to deceive him. Saying he wanted to find someone from Spirit Hall was merely an act.

But this child was rather timid. After all, deceiving someone from Spirit Hall was a serious crime.

With that thought, he concluded that these people really were swindlers.

"Yo, yo, yo, you little blackie, your chicken feet are showing, aren't they? Go on, go! Why aren't you going?"

"Are you scared to go? You should've said so earlier. Are you starving with nothing to eat? Here, kid, uncle will give you a Copper Soul Coin. Go buy yourself a steamed bun."

As he spoke, the youth took a Copper Soul Coin from his pocket and was about to toss it to Tang San when he suddenly thought of something. "You little pretty boy may still be young, but in a few years, plenty of rich ladies will like you. How about you come home with uncle?"

"Food and lodging included!"

Of the three present, Li Chen definitely understood. Tang San, being Pure and Untainted, surely understood too. Only Old Jack did not understand, and he even said to Tang San with concern.

"Xiao San, food and lodging included. Why don't we go? We dig for food in the fields every day, sometimes hungry and sometimes full. It'd be good enough if he can find you a job."

Then he raised his head and looked at the gatekeeper. "Food and lodging included. Will we get enough to eat?"

"Hahaha! Hahaha! You people are killing me!"

Only then did Old Jack realize what was happening, and his face immediately turned red with anger.

Seeing Old Jack like this, Li Chen realized that he had been so focused on harvesting Tang San and Yu Xiaogang that he had forgotten Old Jack's feelings.

I've gone too far. Grandpa Jack, I'm sorry.

Just as Li Chen was about to do something, the travel-worn Yu Xiaogang finally arrived.

From afar, a medium-built, slightly thin Crew Cut came jogging over, his face beaming with a brilliant smile.

Tang San saw that the Crew Cut's clothes were tattered and covered in footprints, as if he had just been beaten up.

Looking more closely, the man appeared to be in his forties or fifties. Although his appearance was ordinary, he somehow possessed a faint air of heroism. A peculiar aura surrounded him: thirty percent carefree, thirty percent bedraggled, and forty percent unrestrained!

Tang San thought, So this is my teacher? Not bad, not bad. He does look somewhat like a master, and he's rather handsome too.

"Wait, wait! You dog of a gatekeeper, shut your mouth." The master ran over.

Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Without another word, he gave the gatekeeper several hard slaps.

Yu Xiaogang thought, If this ignorant gatekeeper scares away my beloved disciple, what will I do?

An utterly blind gatekeeper actually dared to keep my beloved disciple out. What a fool. He can't even recognize Twin Martial Souls. He might as well smash his head into a block of tofu and die.

"Come, disciple—no, child. Let me see your Spirit Hall certificates."

Yu Xiaogang held out his hand for the Spirit Hall certificates Tang San and Li Chen were holding. He took Tang San's first, then Li Chen's.

Yu Xiaogang first glanced at Li Chen's and was slightly surprised. "Innate Full Soul Power, Broken Bucket Spirit. Child, what a pity. Still, you could try fitting a bottom onto your spirit. That way, when you water the fields, it can hold a little more."

Li Chen thought, Good grief, is he so excited that he's talking nonsense? You can even fit a bottom onto that thing?

Then Yu Xiaogang's old face bloomed like a chrysanthemum as he examined Tang San's certificate. "Blue Silver Grass, Trash Spirit, Innate Full Soul Power."

His gaze shifted to Tang San. He inspected him up and down, left and right, more than a dozen times, then gave Tang San a meaningful look for him to interpret.

Yu Xiaogang thought, This master has already seen that you possess Twin Martial Souls. I'll give you a look and hope you understand this master's strength, then obediently come and acknowledge me as your teacher.

Tang San felt as though Yu Xiaogang had X-ray vision and had seen straight through him!

It was as though even the color of his underwear had been exposed.

Yu Xiaogang realized that he had been slightly improper. He straightened his tattered clothes and continued speaking.

"Child, you are quite impressive. Even with Mount Tai collapsing before you, your expression would not change. You've got something."

"The certificates are genuine. Old sir, children, on behalf of the academy and this gatekeeper, I, Yu Xiaogang, apologize to you for what just happened."

Then Yu Xiaogang gave the gatekeeper a meaningful look, but the gatekeeper stared back at him with an innocent expression.

Yu Xiaogang was close to breaking down. These ordinary people truly cannot understand this master's gaze. I hope my beloved disciple Tang San can understand it.

"Pay up! Don't think this master doesn't know that you just insulted them. Hand over one hundred Gold Soul Coins!"

Upon hearing this, the gatekeeper immediately pulled a long face. "Master, I only earn two Gold Soul Coins a month! I really can't afford that! Even if you sold me, it wouldn't be enough!"

"Give whatever you have, quickly! You're only a lowly gatekeeper and cannot represent Nuoding Academy! You must pay for your mistakes."

The gatekeeper tremblingly handed over three Silver Soul Coins. He swore these were his last private savings. Before he could even visit Xiao Lian at the pleasure house, they were already gone!

The gatekeeper thought bitterly, You fame-seeking master, you've never taught a class and you aren't even a teacher at this school. Don't you also live off the academy's name every day?

But he did not dare say it aloud. Even a trash Soul Master was still a Soul Master.

There were three Silver Soul Coins, one for each person. Li Chen forcibly stuffed one into Old Jack's hand and told him that he would soon become a Soul Master and could receive benefits from Spirit Hall.

Tang San simply put his away himself.

To maintain his righteous and courteous image, Yu Xiaogang gave Old Jack a deep bow.

Old Jack was extremely pleased. A Soul Master, someone above ordinary people, had actually apologized to him today. It felt wonderful.

"Xiao Chen, Xiao San, follow the master inside."

"Children, come with me."

As Yu Xiaogang entered the gate, he gave the Gatekeeper Youth yet another deep look. "This is the first time. I hope it will also be the last."

"If I catch you doing it again, I will show no mercy!"

Tang San saw that Yu Xiaogang's calm voice carried a hint of solemnity, like a knight holding a Holy Sword as he passed righteous judgment upon that evil gatekeeper.

This man has earned my approval. He is qualified to be my teacher!

After entering, Yu Xiaogang said to Li Chen, "Child, although you have a Trash Spirit, cultivate diligently. If there is anything you do not understand, ask the academy's teachers. They can still teach you some basic things. It will be enough for you."

Li Chen said, "Thank you, teacher."

"Leave now."

"Do not come looking for me. My theories are too profound. With your aptitude, it is impossible for you to learn them!"

Yu Xiaogang waved his hand, urging him to leave quickly.

Li Chen thought, He's way too realistic and loves showing off too much.

I call you teacher, and you can't even be bothered with me. Let's see how you react when Tang San calls you teacher later!

You're at level 27 Soul Power now. In the end, Grandpa will make you owe me 27 levels!

"Tangyuan, show me the screen!"

Through Tangyuan, Li Chen could monitor Tang San in real time.

Tang San also said, "Teacher, thank you!"

Yu Xiaogang lowered his head and glanced at Tang San. "Teacher? Such a familiar word. Unfortunately, you cannot call me teacher. I am not a teacher at this academy, nor have I accepted you as my disciple!"

"I have not accepted you as my disciple yet!"

Yu Xiaogang gave Tang San another profound look.

But he immediately realized that this disciple of his was only an ordinary person. If Tang San failed to realize how formidable he was and he lost this disciple because of it, that would be terrible. Yu Xiaogang hurriedly began showing off!