Refusing the Apprenticeship

Yu Xiaogang learned that the handsome young boy was Xu Yuan and looked at him. "Xu Yuan, I'd like to take you on as my student. Are you willing?"

Xu Yuan pretended to think it over, then politely declined. "I'm sorry, Grandmaster. I don't really want to take a master right now."

The smile on Yu Xiaogang's face faded a little, and a trace of displeasure flickered through his eyes, gone almost as soon as it appeared.

He was a master of theory, and Xu Yuan had actually refused to become his student. It was a disgrace.

Yu Xiaogang waved a hand and put on a magnanimous air. "It's fine. Taking a master is a matter of mutual willingness; it can't be forced. If you change your mind someday, you can come find me anytime."

Xu Yuan nodded slightly and said no more. He turned and headed for the dormitory with Xiao Wu and Wang Sheng.

Behind them, Yu Xiaogang watched Xu Yuan's retreating figure, the curve of his lips sinking without a sound.

Only after the three had gone some distance did Yu Xiaogang turn to Tang San. "Xiao San, I'm afraid your classmate is rather short-sighted. The potential of Twin Martial Souls is enormous, yet he's missed a golden opportunity over a moment's stubbornness. What a pity, what a shame."

Tang San lowered his head and didn't reply.

He didn't think Xu Yuan was short-sighted. Maybe the other boy had his own reasons.

Seeing that Tang San wasn't responding, Yu Xiaogang dropped the subject and perked up, leading him toward the office. "Let's not talk about him. Come, I'll explain how Soul Rings and Soul Power are matched. It's crucial to absorbing your first Soul Ring in the future..."

He had already decided: after Tang San absorbed his first Soul Ring, he would wait until Xu Yuan absorbed his, then have Tang San challenge him.

Tang San would teach Xu Yuan a harsh lesson, and only then would Xu Yuan understand how formidable he was.

By then, Xu Yuan would surely regret it terribly and want to take Yu Xiaogang as his master.

Yu Xiaogang would reject him without hesitation. Xu Yuan had refused to do as he said, so he was bound to amount to nothing.

In the end, Xu Yuan would regret it for the rest of his life, wishing he had taken Yu Xiaogang as his master.

Thinking of this, Yu Xiaogang felt immensely pleased.

Meanwhile, on the way back to the dormitory...

Xiao Wu was still muttering, "That uncle must have been furious with embarrassment. He looked at you strangely just now."

Wang Sheng nodded too. "Yeah, Xu Yuan. You turned him down so decisively, so he's probably upset."

Xu Yuan smiled. "If he's upset, that's his problem. I'll walk my own path. We have nothing to do with each other."

He knew that Yu Xiaogang's displeasure was nothing worth worrying about. Yu Xiaogang was just a clown.

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

Xiao Wu thought of something and said to Xu Yuan, "This is my first time in Nuoding City. Xu Yuan, will you take me around?"

"Sure, but we'll have to come back early. We have class tomorrow," Xu Yuan replied.

"Yay! That's great!" Xiao Wu cheered, grabbed Xu Yuan by the arm, and ran toward the school gate. "Wang Sheng, are you coming?"

Wang Sheng scratched his head. "No, no. My mom wants me to write her a letter tonight. You two go ahead, and make sure you're back early."

The letter was just an excuse. He simply didn't want to get in Xu Yuan and Xiao Wu's way.

He could tell that Xiao Wu liked Xu Yuan. There was no way he was going to be a third wheel.

Xu Yuan and Xiao Wu walked out of Notting Academy's gate together. The streets of Nuoding City were bustling with activity.

Street vendors hawked all kinds of curious trinkets at the top of their lungs, while the aromas of delicious food filled the air.

Xiao Wu hopped ahead like a lively little rabbit, stopping to look at one trinket before being drawn to the sugar painting stall nearby.

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

Xu Yuan smiled and went over to buy her a rabbit-shaped sugar painting.

Xiao Wu took it and carefully bit off a piece. Its sweetness spread through her mouth, and her eyes crinkled into crescents.

As they passed a blacksmith's shop, Xu Yuan noticed that it was hiring apprentices.

"Apply to become an apprentice here. You can practice forging here from now on."

At that moment, the voice of God King Tang San suddenly sounded.

Xu Yuan knew what God King Tang San meant: he wanted Xu Yuan to practice his hammer techniques more.

"What are you looking at?" Xiao Wu came over, holding up her sugar painting. Syrup clung to the corner of her mouth, making her look like a little cat sneaking a treat. "Are you thinking of becoming a blacksmith?"

Xu Yuan turned away from the shop and smiled at Xiao Wu. "Yeah. Let's ask first."

Xiao Wu blinked. Though she didn't understand, she still followed him inside.

The shop was sweltering. The sharp, metallic tang of iron mixed with the smell of coal as it hit them. A burly blacksmith swung his hammer, pounding a glowing red piece of iron, sparks flying everywhere.

"Sir, are you still hiring apprentices?" Xu Yuan stepped forward, his voice partly drowned out by the hammering.

The blacksmith stopped, wiped his sweat with the towel draped over his shoulder, and looked Xu Yuan up and down. "You? You're so soft and fair, more like a bookish type. Can you even swing a hammer?"

Xu Yuan said nothing. He went straight to a spare little hammer and tested its weight, then walked over to the anvil. He looked at the piece of iron that hadn't been fully heated yet and took a deep breath.

Xu Yuan adjusted his stance, then suddenly swung the hammer down.

"Clang—"

The clear ring of metal filled the shop. A distinct dent appeared in the iron, even neater than the ones the blacksmith had made.

The blacksmith froze, surprise showing in his eyes. "Not bad. Have you practiced before?"

Xu Yuan put down the hammer and shook his head. "Not seriously. I'm just pretty steady with my strength."

The blacksmith grinned, revealing two rows of smoke-yellowed teeth. "All right, you've got potential. I'll pay you one Silver Soul Coin a month. The more work you finish, the more extra pay you'll get. Interested?"

Xu Yuan's heart stirred. One Silver Soul Coin was a decent amount for a new student, 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 in my free time."

"Your free time?" The blacksmith paused, then patted Xu Yuan on the shoulder. "No problem! As long as you do good work, your hours can be flexible. My surname is Zhao. Just call me Master Zhao."

"Good to meet you, Master Zhao," Xu Yuan replied politely.

Master Zhao said with a smile, "Go home and rest today. Come by tomorrow."

Xu Yuan agreed, then left the blacksmith's shop with Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu held up her nearly finished sugar painting and licked the syrup from the corner of her mouth. "You really want to be a blacksmith? It was so hot in there, and it smelled weird."

"I'm just practicing," Xu Yuan said, nudging a little stone at the roadside with his foot. "It's still better than staring at Yu Xiaogang's face all day."

Xiao Wu giggled. "True. His face nearly turned green when you rejected him today. By the way, can I come watch you forge tomorrow? I promise I won't get in the way. I'll just sit nearby and watch!"

"Aren't you afraid of the heat?"

"Not at all!" Xiao Wu nodded eagerly, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "I want to see you swing the hammer. It'll be better than being by myself."