How a Simp Was Made

Lin Chen opened the dormitory door and found Xiao Chenyu and the other two standing outside.

"What's up?"

They were on fairly good terms, but they weren't especially close.

The three of them usually had no reason to come looking for him.

"Um... Master, we wanted to ask about you and those work-study students..."

Xiao Chenyu didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.

"We're not close!"

Lin Chen shook his head, having more or less guessed what was going on.

So that's why the bet between Xiao Wu and Xiao Chenyu's group disappeared.

They think I'm connected to Xiao Wu and the others.

Hearing Lin Chen say that, the three of them visibly relaxed.

"But..."

Lin Chen's sudden "but" immediately made them tense up again.

Liu Long asked, "But what, Master?"

Lin Chen looked them up and down. "But if it comes down to a one-on-one fight, you three probably won't be a match for Tang San and Xiao Wu."

"Huh?"

The three stared at him in confusion, thinking he was underestimating them far too much.

Lin Chen explained, "You'd know if you'd bothered to ask around. Tang San and Xiao Wu both have Innate Full Soul Power."

"And they've both already obtained their first soul ring. They're One-Ring Soul Masters with Hundred-Year Soul Rings. What chance do you have against them one-on-one?"

At that, the three of them couldn't help narrowing their eyes.

They hadn't taken those work-study students seriously at all, so they'd never bothered to ask about Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Who would've thought that Tang San and Xiao Wu both had Innate Full Soul Power?

Since when did Innate Full Soul Power come so cheap?

And it's not just one—two of them showed up at once. On top of that, they're both work-study students.

Is this a joke?

This was a problem.

Two geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power and Hundred-Year Soul Rings.

They couldn't fight them, but they couldn't just let it go, either.

If they fought, they'd have to gang up on them to stand a chance. That would only escalate the conflict, and they couldn't afford to offend two geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power.

But if they didn't fight, that little girl would only get more and more brazen.

"Lin Chen!"

Just as the three of them were at a loss, a voice broke into their thoughts.

The four of them turned to look.

Tang San had just come down from upstairs and was walking toward them.

He seemed to have something weighing on his mind.

"Uh, Master, we'll get going."

Xiao Chenyu was quick on the uptake. He knew Tang San must have come to see Lin Chen for a reason.

He knew the two of them came from the same village.

That was precisely why they'd put up with Xiao Wu's provocations until now.

"Sure!"

Lin Chen merely nodded, showing no interest in getting involved.

Petty squabbles between children weren't worth his time.

"Um..."

Tang San waited until the three of them had walked away before speaking, but he seemed too awkward to get the words out.

Lin Chen looked at him curiously.

He couldn't imagine why Tang San had come to see him, let alone what could have made him so awkward.

"If you need something, just say it."

Tang San hesitated several times. After a moment to compose himself, he finally worked up the courage.

"Um... could I borrow some money from you?"

As soon as he said it, a blush spread across his face.

He lowered his head, not daring to meet Lin Chen's eyes.

If he could help it, he'd never borrow money from anyone.

But his teacher insisted that he pursue Xiao Wu.

Tang San couldn't make sense of it.

He didn't even have that ability anymore. What was the point of pursuing Xiao Wu?

Besides, he and Xiao Wu were only six years old.

If the other person weren't his teacher, he'd have wanted to call him a beast.

When Lin Chen heard he wanted to borrow money, a look of surprise crossed his face.

That didn't seem like Tang San at all.

"What do you need money for?"

Lin Chen was genuinely curious about what could make Tang San ask him for money.

"Uh... well... it's..."

Tang San stammered for a long while, but in the end he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Seeing that, Lin Chen didn't press him.

"Fine, how much do you need?"

He wasn't short on money, and he didn't mind giving Tang San a little compensation.

Tang San's spirits lifted. He hurriedly replied, "Just one Gold Soul Coin."

Lin Chen: "???"

"Have you not already become a Spirit Master? You just need to register with Spirit Hall, and you'll receive one Gold Soul Coin every month. Why come to me for a loan?"

"Besides, your teacher is a Soul Grandmaster. He gets a monthly stipend of ten Gold Soul Coins, and he's friends with the dean. He can't even come up with one Gold Soul Coin?"

Tang San fell silent.

His teacher had mentioned the stipend, but his father wouldn't let him take it.

He didn't know exactly why.

As for his teacher...

He had the ability, and his reputation was impressive. It was just that he seemed a little broke.

It was his teacher's idea to borrow money from Lin Chen.

His teacher had said he would pay him back when next month's stipend came in.

Judging by Tang San's reaction, Lin Chen more or less guessed the reason.

Looks like Haozi has more backbone than Gangzi.

As for Yu Xiaogang...

He was a Soul Grandmaster, yet he couldn't even come up with one Gold Soul Coin.

That takes some doing.

Lin Chen shook his head, took out ten Gold Soul Coins, and handed them to Tang San.

"Here, use these. You don't have to pay me back."

Tang San stared at the ten Gold Soul Coins, his eyes widening.

He hadn't expected Lin Chen to be so generous.

"Thank you!"

Tang San thanked him sincerely before accepting the coins.

Lin Chen waved a hand. "No problem."

"I'll head downstairs, then."

Tang San bowed slightly to express his gratitude. Only after Lin Chen nodded did he turn to leave.

Lin Chen instinctively started to say something, but swallowed the words before they came out.

He'd said he'd give Tang San some time, so he had to let him have it.

As soon as Tang San got downstairs, he went straight to find Xiao Wu.

He said he wanted to take her out for something delicious.

Xiao Wu naturally didn't refuse. She happily followed him out of the academy.

Following Yu Xiaogang's instructions, Tang San took Xiao Wu shopping around the city, treated her to delicious food, and bought her a few little gifts.

But no one could have anticipated what the first gift he bought Xiao Wu would be.

It was a set of bedding.

If Yu Xiaogang found out, he'd probably kick Tang San to death.

Xiao Wu was stunned when she received the so-called gift.

What was that supposed to mean? Did he think she was dirty?

"Thank you!"

Xiao Wu gritted out the two words, took the bedding, and turned to leave.

Tang San was dumbfounded.

Wasn't she supposed to be happy to receive a gift? Why was this different from what his teacher had said?

Meanwhile.

After leaving Nuoding City, Tang Hao made his way to the cave where Ah Yin was.

He sat down beside her.

"Ah Yin, I'm sorry. I failed to take good care of our child. Not only did his Second Martial Soul shatter, but he also lost his dignity as a man."

"Do you know?"

"I'm a walking calamity. I caused my parents' deaths, then yours, and now even our child has suffered because of me."

Tang Hao spoke in a low voice, confiding in Ah Yin as he muttered to himself.

It would've been better if he'd kept it to himself. The moment he started pouring out his heart, he felt a heavy knot form inside him.

He didn't understand why Heaven treated him this way.

What had he, Tang Hao, done wrong?

Tang Hao was miserable. His fists clenched without him realizing it.

A nameless fury began to rise within him.

And as his anger erupted, his blood and qi gradually surged.

It even stirred up his old injuries.