Extorting Gangzi

After bidding farewell to Ye Miaoyun and her daughter, Lin Mu took Tang San by carriage back to Nuoding City.

[Main Quest: Take Tang San as a disciple and reshape his worldview. The greater the contrast, the richer the reward. Completion: 9.5%.]

This trip to hunt a Soul Ring for Tang San had not been in vain.

As a disciple of the Tang Sect, Tang San's beliefs were already deeply ingrained. To change his worldview, Lin Mu could only influence him gradually, supplemented by some deliberate guidance.

After returning to the city, Lin Mu sent Tang San to Nuoding Academy, only to run into Yu Xiaogang.

Compared to a few days ago, Yu Xiaogang was clearly far more despondent now. He had become unkempt, looking like an utterly ragged beggar.

After having his disciple snatched away, Yu Xiaogang had once fallen into self-doubt.

However, after enduring countless cold stares, his heart had long become unbreakable. Even though Tang San had already taken a master, he still had no intention of giving up.

The moment he saw them, Yu Xiaogang perked up. He hurried over and stared at Tang San with burning eyes.

Faced with Yu Xiaogang, who looked like a lecher seeing a beauty, Tang San's eyes were filled with disgust.

That old bastard was rotten to the core.

If he had not met his master, he might really have been deceived by this old bastard. Just thinking about it made him want to kill the old man with a Sleeve Arrow.

"Gangzi, I admit that what I said to you before was indeed a little cruel. But it was the truth, and there was nothing I could do about it. Still... I truly didn't expect it to hit you so hard."

Lin Mu sighed theatrically.

If Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong saw Yu Xiaogang in this state, who knew what they would think.

It was rather laughable. Lin Mu truly did not know where Yu Xiaogang got his charm from, to have two women think of him so fondly. Which of the handsome men present was not leagues above him?

Hearing Lin Mu's mockery, Yu Xiaogang nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. Was that not plainly calling him trash?

And this guy actually called him Gangzi. Damn it!

With the previous incident as a lesson, Yu Xiaogang was clearly much more restrained. He was no longer as arrogantly self-important as before, and at the very least, he did not dare act haughty in front of Lin Mu.

"Tang San hasn't been at the academy these past few days. Did you go hunt for a Soul Ring?"

As a theoretical master who had studied countless Martial Souls, Yu Xiaogang believed that no one understood the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul better than he did.

As long as Lin Mu attached the wrong Soul Ring to Tang San and gave him a trash Soul Skill, Tang San would naturally realize who the true master was.

"That's right. We went to the Star Dou Great Forest."

At that, a strange glint flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes. This guy had actually dared to take Tang San to the Star Dou Great Forest.

A Soul Ancestor might be powerful, but in a dangerous place like the Star Dou Great Forest, even protecting himself would be difficult, much less protecting Tang San, who did not even have a Soul Ring yet.

This guy's Martial Soul was nothing more than a piece of metal. Other than using it to smash people, Yu Xiaogang could not think of any other way it could attack.

He probably could not even deal with a Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

"Then what Soul Ring did you attach to Tang San?"

Seemingly afraid of provoking Lin Mu's hostility, Yu Xiaogang added, "Don't misunderstand. This is simply the first time I've encountered a Blue Silver Grass Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power, so I wanted to study it."

"Gangzi, you can't hide that little scheme of yours from me."

Seeing Yu Xiaogang's timid appearance, Lin Mu curled his lips and exposed him directly.

Yu Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly explained, "I truly don't have any other intentions."

"Gangzi, why are you so nervous? Even if you do have some little schemes, it's not like I can stop you, right?"

Lin Mu changed his previous attitude and instead became understanding.

This left Yu Xiaogang bewildered. Why had this guy suddenly become like a different person? He was actually considering Yu Xiaogang's feelings. Was he dreaming?

Could it be that Lin Mu felt guilty?

"Master."

Tang San truly could not understand it. For an old bastard who cheated and swindled like this, even if they did not kill him, they should at least teach him a harsh lesson.

Seeing Tang San being so dull, Lin Mu felt somewhat helpless. No wonder Yu Xiaogang had fooled him so thoroughly.

"Gangzi, how about we make a bet? We'll bet on Little San's first Soul Skill."

"How would we bet?"

Yu Xiaogang vaguely guessed that this might be the other party's trap, but a drowning man would not let go of any life-saving straw. Even knowing it was a trap, he had to give it a try.

In any case, he had nothing left to lose. He only had this rotten life, so he might as well go for it.

Lin Mu's eyes flickered. Since the prey had taken the bait, it was time to reel in the line. He continued:

"It's simple. If you can break free from Little San's first Soul Skill, I'll agree to one request of yours. Otherwise, you agree to one request of mine."

Yu Xiaogang's heart immediately stirred. As a level twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster, he did not believe he could not withstand a Soul Master's first Soul Skill. Moreover, with a weak Martial Soul like Blue Silver Grass, at most Tang San would gain an Entangling Soul Skill.

With the strength of Blue Silver Grass, controlling a Soul Grandmaster was absolutely impossible.

"How do I know you won't go back on your word?"

Yu Xiaogang still retained some rationality. The gap in strength between them was far too great. If Lin Mu lost and refused to honor the bet, there was nothing Yu Xiaogang could do.

"Other than trusting me, do you have any other choice?" Lin Mu asked.

Hearing that, Yu Xiaogang was instantly speechless. It was somewhat unreasonable, but he truly lacked the strength to resist.

This continent had always revered strength. Even if Lin Mu went back on his word afterward, Yu Xiaogang would have nowhere to seek justice.

"If I win, you must sever your master-disciple relationship with Tang San."

After some consideration, Yu Xiaogang made this request. After living for decades, he had only one obsession left: proving his Martial Soul Theory.

And Tang San was his best test subject.

Hearing this request, Tang San immediately frowned. After spending the past few days together, he had already accepted this master.

After all, even his father had never treated him as well as his master did. Lin Mu had not only helped him hunt for a Soul Ring, but had even roasted rabbit for him to eat.

"Gangzi, he's my best disciple."

After pausing for a moment, Lin Mu stepped forward and looked directly at the clearly insecure Yu Xiaogang. He slowly said, "You'll have to offer something that satisfies me."

Hearing that, Yu Xiaogang instead felt relieved. As long as Lin Mu wanted something, it would be fine.

After thinking for a while, Yu Xiaogang took out a very beautiful belt. This Soul Tool was already the most valuable thing on him. Other than that, he could not think of anything that would satisfy Lin Mu.

Could he give away his Martial Soul Theory?

Forget it. With this guy's limited vision, he definitely would not recognize its greatness.

Seeing his master treat him as merchandise, Tang San immediately felt dissatisfied. But because of his master's status, he could only keep it bottled up inside.

"This is a Storage Soul Tool. Every piece of jade provides one cubic meter of storage space, for a total of twenty-four cubic meters. Its value is immeasurable."

After Yu Xiaogang's introduction, Tang San's eyes immediately lit up. If he had this Soul Tool, he would have somewhere to store Hidden Weapons in the future.