Refusing the Master-Disciple Invitation

Upon learning that the handsome youth was Xu Yuan, Yu Xiaogang looked at him and said, "Xu Yuan, I wish to take you on as my student. Would you be willing?"

Xu Yuan feigned a moment of thought before politely declining, "I apologize, Master, but I have no desire to take on a teacher at this moment."

The smile on Yu Xiaogang's face faded slightly, a flicker of imperceptible displeasure flashing through his eyes, though he quickly masked it.

He was a master of theory; to be rejected as a teacher was nothing short of an insult.

Yu Xiaogang waved his hand, feigning magnanimity as he said, "No matter. Taking on a master is a matter of mutual consent, not something to be forced. If you change your mind in the future, you may come to find me at any time."

Xu Yuan gave a slight nod, said nothing more, and turned to walk toward the dormitory with Xiao Wu and Wang Sheng.

Behind them, Yu Xiaogang watched Xu Yuan's retreating figure, the corners of his mouth sinking into a grim line.

Once the three of them were out of earshot, Yu Xiaogang turned to Tang San and said, "Little San, your classmate is perhaps a bit short-sighted. The potential of Twin Martial Souls is immense; to miss such an opportunity for the sake of momentary stubbornness—it is a pity, truly lamentable."

Tang San kept his head lowered, offering no reply.

He did not believe Xu Yuan was short-sighted; the other party likely had his own considerations.

Seeing that Tang San did not respond, Yu Xiaogang did not pursue the topic further. Instead, he perked up and pulled Tang San toward his office, saying, "Enough about him. Come, let me explain the principles of compatibility between spirit rings and spirit power; this is crucial for when you absorb your first spirit ring in the future..."

He had already decided: once Tang San absorbed his first spirit ring, he would wait for Xu Yuan to do the same, then have Tang San challenge him.

Only after Tang San gave Xu Yuan a sound thrashing would the boy realize the error of his ways.

By then, Xu Yuan would surely regret his choice and beg to become his student.

He would refuse the boy without hesitation, for if one did not follow his path, they were destined to be a failure.

In the end, Xu Yuan would regret it for the rest of his life, wondering why he hadn't chosen to become his disciple.

At the thought of this, Yu Xiaogang felt an immense sense of satisfaction.

Meanwhile, on the way back to the dormitory.

Xiao Wu was still muttering, "That uncle must have been furious from embarrassment; the way he looked at you just now was all wrong."

Wang Sheng nodded as well, "That's right, Xu Yuan. You turned him down so bluntly, he's probably feeling quite sour about it."

Xu Yuan smiled, "His feelings are his own business. I walk my own path; we have nothing to do with one another."

He knew clearly that Yu Xiaogang's petty dissatisfaction was not worth mentioning; the man was nothing more than a clown performing on a stage.

The one he truly needed to be wary of was the God King residing within his Sea of Consciousness.

Xiao Wu suddenly thought of something and said to Xu Yuan, "This is my first time in Nuoding City. Xu Yuan, why don't you take me out for a stroll?"

"Very well, but we must return early; we have classes tomorrow," Xu Yuan replied.

"Yay! That's great!" Xiao Wu cheered immediately, grabbing Xu Yuan's arm and running toward the school gate, "Wang Sheng, are you coming?"

Wang Sheng scratched his head, "No, no. My mother asked me to write her a letter tonight. You two go ahead, and make sure to get back early!"

The letter was entirely an excuse; he simply didn't want to disturb the two of them.

It was obvious to him that Xiao Wu had a fondness for Xu Yuan, and he had no intention of being a third wheel.

Xu Yuan and Xiao Wu walked out of the gates of Notting Academy, and the streets of Nuoding City were bustling with activity.

Street vendors were shouting at the top of their lungs to sell all sorts of novel trinkets, and the air was filled with the aroma of various delicacies.

Xiao Wu was like a happy little rabbit, hopping and skipping as she walked in front, looking at one small ornament one moment and being drawn to a sugar painting the next.

"Xu Yuan, look at that sugar painting! It looks just like a little rabbit, how pretty!" Xiao Wu pointed at the sugar painting stall, excited.

Xu Yuan smiled and walked over, buying the rabbit-shaped sugar painting for Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu took the painting and took a cautious bite. As the sweet flavor spread in her mouth, her eyes crinkled into crescents.

As the two passed a blacksmith shop, Xu Yuan noticed a sign looking for apprentices.

"Apply as an apprentice here. From now on, you will practice your smithing here."

At this moment, the voice of God King Tang San suddenly rang out.

Xu Yuan understood what God King Tang San meant; he was being told to practice his hammer techniques more diligently.

"What are you looking at?" Xiao Wu leaned in, holding the sugar painting, a smear of syrup on the corner of her mouth like a little kitten that had stolen a treat, "Do you want to be a blacksmith?"

Xu Yuan withdrew his gaze and smiled at Xiao Wu, "Yes, I'm going to go ask."

Xiao Wu blinked, though she didn't understand, she followed him into the blacksmith shop.

The shop was filled with rolling heat, the metallic tang of iron mixed with the scent of coal rushing to meet them. A burly blacksmith was swinging a heavy hammer, striking a red-hot piece of iron with force, sending sparks flying everywhere.

"Master, may I ask if you are still looking for apprentices?" Xu Yuan walked forward, his voice slightly muffled by the sound of the hammering.

The blacksmith stopped, wiped the sweat with a towel draped over his shoulder, and looked Xu Yuan up and down, "You? You're soft-skinned and tender, like a scholar. Can you even lift a hammer?"

Xu Yuan said nothing. He walked straight to the side, picked up a spare small hammer, tested its weight, and then stepped up to the anvil. Looking at the iron block that hadn't been fully heated through, he took a deep breath.

Xu Yuan adjusted his stance and swung the hammer down with a fierce strike.

"CLANG—"

With a crisp sound, a clear indentation was left on the iron block, even more uniform than the one the blacksmith had just made.

The blacksmith froze, a look of astonishment appearing in his eyes, "Interesting. Have you practiced this before?"

Xu Yuan set down the hammer and shook his head. "I've never trained seriously; I just have a steady amount of strength."

The blacksmith grinned, revealing two rows of teeth stained yellow by smoke. "Fine, I can see you're made of the right stuff. I'll give you one Silver Soul Coin a month. The more work you finish, the more extra pay you'll get. You in?"

Xu Yuan's heart stirred. One Silver Soul Coin was not a small amount for a new student; it was enough to cover his daily expenses.

Xu Yuan nodded. "I'm in. But I'm a student at Notting Academy, so I can only come during my spare time."

"Spare time?" The blacksmith paused, then patted Xu Yuan on the shoulder. "No problem! As long as the work gets done well, a flexible schedule is fine. My surname is Zhao; you can just call me Master Zhao."

"Hello, Master Zhao," Xu Yuan replied respectfully.

Master Zhao smiled and said, "Go back and rest today, then come by tomorrow."

Xu Yuan agreed, then walked out of the blacksmith shop with Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu held up her nearly finished sugar painting and licked the sugar residue from the corner of her mouth. "Are you really going to be a blacksmith? It was boiling hot in that shop just now, and there was a weird smell."

"Just practicing," Xu Yuan said, kicking a small pebble on the side of the road. "It's still better than staring at Yu Xiaogang's face all day."

Xiao Wu giggled. "That's true. His face turned almost green when you rejected him today. By the way, can I come watch you forge tomorrow? I promise I won't cause any trouble, I'll just sit to the side and watch!"

"Aren't you afraid of the heat?"

"Not at all!" Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, her eyes shining with curiosity. "I want to see you swinging the hammer; it's better than being alone."