Old Jack and his companions were dressed quite respectably. Besides, even if they were country folk, that was none of the gatekeeper's business. The man was clearly fishing for a little something.
Although Su Mo was hardly short of money now, he had no intention of letting this fellow profit.
But he did not want Old Jack to be bullied, either.
Suddenly, Su Mo's eyes shifted. Without a sound, he cast an illusion on the gatekeeper, amplifying his contempt and mockery toward Tang San.
Using his Illusion Eye and Emotional Control against an ordinary person was more than enough.
Old Jack, however, paid little mind to the gatekeeper's disdain. Their village had no fewer than three children with innate full soul power this year.
Once a person had something to stand on, composure came naturally.
In the past, being mocked as a country bumpkin might have made Old Jack uncomfortable.
Now, all he wanted to say was, Yes, yes, absolutely. Our village has three children with innate full soul power.
Old Jack handed over the three little ones' Martial Soul certificates and said with a smile, "Young man, we're from Holy Soul Village. These three children are the work-study students our village has sent this year."
The gatekeeper took the certificates and glanced at them, his eyes immediately widening.
"What the hell? Three with innate full soul power?"
The Martial Soul certificates did not look fake, but this was too ridiculous.
Even storybooks would not dare write something like this.
"Fine, I won't say anything about the glove and the rabbit. But a trash Martial Soul like Blue Silver Grass can have innate full soul power too? Which of you is Tang San?"
"I am." Tang San frowned slightly.
"Heh."
Noticing Tang San's patched, coarse hemp clothes, the gatekeeper gave a contemptuous laugh.
"Your certificate must be forged. A pauper like you, with innate full soul power? Covered in patches-you crawled out of some beggars' den, didn't you?"
"You..."
Old Jack could not stand watching this and was about to step forward to argue.
But the gatekeeper ignored him entirely and raised his foot to kick Tang San.
"Trying to freeload at Nuoding Academy? We're not a charity. Get lost!"
At this, a cold glint flashed in Tang San's eyes.
The third rule in the general principles of the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record-
Once you have confirmed your opponent is an enemy, if they have done anything deserving of death, show no mercy. Otherwise, you will only bring trouble upon yourself.
Facing the gatekeeper's incoming kick, Tang San used a simple move from Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, catching the man's leg and pulling it behind himself.
Rrrip!
"Ow!"
The gatekeeper dropped straight into a split. A seam tore open at his crotch, while the strain on his ligaments made him cry out in pain.
But it was not over yet.
A vicious look surfaced in Tang San's eyes. With a slight twist of his body, he raised his foot and kicked the gatekeeper in the crotch.
There came a crack-the echo of eggs shattering.
"Urgh-aaaaah..."
The gatekeeper let out a piercing, inhuman scream, joining the crotch-clutching sect as he rolled on the ground, tears spilling from the pain.
"Hiss!" Su Mo sucked in a breath of cold air.
You really take the crown for ruthlessness. One disagreement, and you destroy a man's manhood.
Xiao Wu looked utterly astonished, as though she were seeing Tang San for the first time. Remembering how she had teased him earlier, she could not help feeling a lingering fear and resolved to keep her distance from him in the future.
"You little bastard... I'll kill you..."
Even through the unbearable pain, the gatekeeper could not resist spitting out a threat.
Hearing those words only intensified Tang San's killing intent. His left hand rose slightly, the safety on his Sleeve Arrow already disengaged.
"All right, everyone, stop."
Just then, a somewhat hoarse voice rang out, bringing the confrontation to a halt.
"Grandmaster?" The gatekeeper stared in surprise.
Old Jack and the three children looked toward the voice and saw that a rather thin, middle-aged man had approached them at some point.
He looked around forty or fifty, with short black hair. Though his features were ordinary, he carried himself with great importance, his hands clasped behind his back in the very image of an official on an inspection tour.
The newcomer was none other than Yu Xiaogang.
"Tsk, this grand poser certainly knows how to pick his moment." Tian Meng curled his lip.
Ever since Su Mo had mentioned attaining godhood through faith, Tian Meng had spent his spare time devising the remaining ten laws of Martial Souls. He had also prepared to enter the ring against the grand poser who had proposed the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul.
"Heh, he's trying to deliver charcoal in the snow."
Su Mo had spotted the fellow long ago through Spiritual Detection.
He had been hiding nearby and secretly watching the academy gates the whole time, presumably scouting the incoming students for promising seedlings.
"Grandmaster, you have to get justice for me!"
The gatekeeper seized the initiative. "This brat is vicious! He actually crippled my little brother..."
Yu Xiaogang glanced at the gatekeeper and ignored him. He picked up the three Martial Soul certificates that had fallen during the fight and examined them one by one.
"A glove, a rabbit, Blue Silver Grass-all with innate full soul power..."
He shifted his gaze to the three little ones, taking a particularly close look at Tang San before turning to Old Jack with a kindly expression.
"Sir, the certificates are in order. On behalf of the academy, I apologize for what just happened."
Old Jack hurriedly waved his hands. "No need to apologize. This old man is fine. It's little San who's been wronged."
At that, Yu Xiaogang cast a cool glance at the gatekeeper.
"I'll inform the dean of your conduct. Don't come in tomorrow."
Seeing the Grandmaster's icy gaze, the gatekeeper broke into a cold sweat. He repeatedly murmured his agreement, not daring to offer a single objection.
Inside, however, he was filled with bitter regret.
He had no idea what madness had come over him just now, making him insist on targeting a child.
Not only was his little brother ruined, but he had lost his job too.
"Leave these three children with me. I'll take them to the academic affairs office to register."
When addressing Old Jack, Yu Xiaogang's tone grew gentle again.
"Yes, yes, of course. Grandmaster, sorry for the trouble with these children." Old Jack did not refuse. After saying goodbye to the children, he prepared to leave.
Su Mo suddenly caught Old Jack and slipped a few Gold Soul Coins into his hand.
"Little Jerry, what are you..."
"Grandpa Jack, it's getting late. Take a carriage home. Don't make your grandson worry." Su Mo cut off Old Jack's questions.
There were still plenty of pedestrians on the street outside Nuoding Academy. If someone with ill intentions overheard, Grandpa Jack could be in danger.
"All right, all right..."
Deeply heartened in his old age, Old Jack departed with a spring in his step.
Yu Xiaogang gave Su Mo an appreciative look, then forced a stiff smile at the three little ones. "Come along, all of you."
As though to comfort the shaken Tang San, he even took the initiative to hold his hand.
After entering the academy, Tang San thanked the Grandmaster.
"Don't mention it. It was no trouble." Yu Xiaogang waved a hand dismissively.
Then he abruptly changed the subject. "All three of you have innate full soul power. Do you know what kinds of Martial Souls can achieve innate full soul power?"
The three little ones shook their heads.
Tang San and Xiao Wu genuinely did not know.
Although Su Mo knew, he had no intention of interfering with Tang San's process of taking a master.
Seeing the bewilderment tinged with curiosity on the three children's faces, Yu Xiaogang felt the urge to show off and raised three fingers.
"Through my research and observations, I have found three categories of Martial Souls that can achieve innate full soul power."
"Which three?" Tang San obligingly played the straight man.