After finishing the sweet potato soup, Tang San sat on a small stool in the courtyard, basking in the sun and playing with the little cloth pouch Aunt Wang had given him. His martial soul had only just awakened, and there was nothing much happening in the village for the time being. This was the perfect chance to earn more Slacking Value and hopefully raise his Soul Power by another level before heading to Nuoding Academy.
After cleaning up the kitchen, Tang Hao carried his Iron Hammer into the blacksmith shop. Yet instead of lighting the furnace as usual, he sat on the threshold drinking, occasionally glancing at Tang San. Tang San pretended not to notice and continued fiddling with the cloth pouch. He knew Tang Hao might still be thinking about what had happened during the awakening, but at a time like this, saying less was the safest option—and it could earn him some Slacking Value too.
Avoided excessive interaction with others, reducing mental exertion. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 1 point.
The system notification rang out, and Tang San secretly rejoiced. He shifted into a more comfortable position, leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes as if dozing. He deliberately slowed his breathing, putting on a listless, lazy appearance.
Before long, Old Jack's voice came from the courtyard gate. "Little San, are you home?"
Tang San opened his eyes and saw Old Jack entering with a cloth bundle in hand, followed by a young man from the village. "Grandpa Jack, did you need something?"
"Of course I do." Old Jack handed the bundle to Tang San. "There are two changes of clothes and a few steamed buns inside. Take them. Your father and I have discussed it. In three days, you'll go to Nuoding Academy. A Li will take you there since he has business in the city anyway, so it's on the way."
Tang San accepted the bundle and felt the clothes inside. The fabric was much better than what he was wearing. "Thank you, Grandpa Jack. Sorry to trouble you."
"What are you thanking me for? You're the first child in our village with Soul Power. Even if your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, you still need to go to an academy and learn some theory, right?" Old Jack smiled and patted his shoulder, then looked toward Tang Hao in the blacksmith shop. "Tang Hao, you don't object to what I told you about, do you?"
Tang Hao came out of the blacksmith shop and shook his wine gourd. "No objection. If he wants to go, let him go."
Old Jack nodded and reminded Tang San, "Listen to your teachers once you get to the academy. Don't fight with your classmates. If you have any problems, go to the academy teachers. Oh, and don't idle around these next couple of days. Practice your Soul Power more. Your Soul Power may be weak, but more practice will always make it stronger. That way, you won't fall behind once you get there."
Tang San's heart stirred. This was another chance to earn Slacking Value. He deliberately put on a troubled expression. "Grandpa Jack, my body is still a little weak. Practicing Soul Power is too exhausting. What if I overdo it and develop some problem? That might delay my trip to the academy instead. I think I should rest for now and learn from the teachers after I get there. Don't you think so?"
Refused additional Soul Power training advice, avoiding the competitive behavior of "actively becoming stronger." Slacking Value +1. Current total: 2 points.
Old Jack froze for a moment, then laughed. "You really know how to make excuses for yourself, don't you? Fine, rest if you want. Don't wear yourself out. Safety comes first." After that, he chatted with Tang Hao for a while about details concerning the academy, such as staying safe on the road and the procedures to handle after arriving. Only then did he leave with A Li.
After Old Jack left, Tang Hao called Tang San over. "When you get to the academy, don't cause trouble, but don't let anyone bully you either. If someone does bully you, don't endure it. Come back and tell me."
Tang San nodded. "I understand, Dad. By the way, is there anything I need to bring to the academy?"
"You don't need to bring much. Old Jack has prepared everything." Tang Hao took a small cloth pouch from his clothes and handed it to Tang San. "There are two silver coins inside. Take them and buy yourself something to eat when you get there. Don't go hungry."
Tang San took the pouch and felt the hard silver coins inside. He knew that most of the money Tang Hao earned from blacksmithing went toward wine. These two silver coins must have been saved bit by bit. "Dad, you should keep them. Grandpa Jack gave me steamed buns, so I don't need to spend money."
Tang Hao shoved the pouch back into his hand. "Take it when I tell you to. Stop talking nonsense." With that, he turned and entered the blacksmith shop, lit the furnace, and the clanging sounds of hammering soon rang out again.
Tang San looked at Tang Hao's back, warmth rising in his chest. He placed the silver coins into the little cloth pouch, returned to his small stool, and opened the system panel. He only had 2 points of Slacking Value, still far from enough for another exchange for a "minor Soul Power increase." He needed to find a way to earn more.
That afternoon, several village children came to find Tang San again. This time, they wanted to invite him to catch fish by the river. Tang San refused without a second thought. "I need to pack tomorrow, and I'm going to the academy the day after that. I don't have time to catch fish. Besides, the riverbank is slippery. It'll be troublesome if someone falls in."
Avoided meaningless outdoor activities, reducing time expenditure. Slacking Value +1. Avoided potential safety risks. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 4 points.
Although the children were a little disappointed, they did not pester him and simply headed for the river. Watching their backs, Tang San quietly calculated, Tomorrow, while packing, I can probably find more chances to earn Slacking Value too. Things like "packing slowly" or "bringing less to reduce the burden."
That evening, Tang Hao finished work, and father and son ate dinner together. Tang Hao did not mention the academy again. He simply drank quite a bit, his eyes carrying a trace of reluctance. Tang San knew that although Tang Hao usually seemed unconcerned about him, he still cared deep down.
After dinner, Tang San washed the dishes and returned to his room. He opened the bundle Old Jack had given him, took out the clothes and steamed buns, then placed the silver coins Tang Hao had given him inside. He packed everything slowly, deliberately taking his time as he thought, If I pack slowly and avoid rushing, does that count as slacking?
Sure enough, before long, the system notification sounded in his mind: Actively slowed packing speed, avoiding the energy expenditure caused by rushing. Slacking Value +1. Current total: 5 points.
Tang San smiled to himself. It seemed that as long as he "actively reduced expenditure and avoided trouble," he could earn Slacking Value, whether it was something major or trivial. After packing his things, he lay on the bed and considered tomorrow's plan—he would help Tang Hao make breakfast in the morning, slowly pack the remaining things afterward, then rest a while in the afternoon and try to earn a little more Slacking Value.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the cloth bundle on the table. Tang San looked at it, feeling a little anticipation for his days at Nuoding Academy. There, he should find more opportunities to earn Slacking Value and learn more Soul Master theory. Perhaps he might even meet Xiao Wu from the original story.
He yawned and slowly closed his eyes. Tomorrow would be another day for earning Slacking Value, and another day of preparation for Nuoding Academy. This path of "slacking his way to strength" had only just begun.
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