Tang San had heard there was a blacksmith's shop next door and planned to give it a try. He turned into a narrow alley, but for some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that a chill was creeping down his back.
"Hey, little friend, wait!"
A call suddenly rang out behind him, instantly putting him on alert.
He turned to look.
A middle-aged man with a round, platter-like face and a bushy beard was walking toward him. He wore aristocratic court attire, with white stockings covering his trouser legs.
"Uncle, is something the matter?"
Tang San slightly raised the cuff of his right sleeve, ready to strike back at any moment.
Naturally, that little movement didn't escape the eyes of a Spirit Saint.
But the Bearded Man didn't care.
What kind of waves could an eight- or nine-year-old child make?
"Uncle heard you want to earn some money?"
The Bearded Man took out a coin purse, weighed it in his hand, and smiled at him.
Tang San's eyes lit up at the sight of the purse.
"Yes, I want to earn money. Is there anything you need help with, Uncle?"
Tang San asked, his eyes full of anticipation.
The Bearded Man smiled. "Of course. If you're willing to help me, I can give you anywhere from a few dozen to a hundred Gold Soul Coins each time. I just don't know if you're willing."
"A few dozen to a hundred Gold Soul Coins each time?"
Tang San's eyes widened in shock at the man's lavish offer.
An ordinary person might not earn that much in an entire year.
What kind of job paid so well?
The Bearded Man smiled. "That's right. And if you do well enough, I can pay you more. A hundred Gold Soul Coins definitely isn't the limit."
He had been secretly following Tang San and knew that the boy was short on money.
So he'd come up with an idea.
He would use money to force him to bend. That would be far more interesting than taking him by force.
Tang San asked cautiously, "Can I ask what the job actually is?"
There was no such thing as a free lunch.
If the man was offering such a high price, then it certainly couldn't be an ordinary job.
"Phew..."
At Tang San's question, the Bearded Man took a deep breath. His eyes unexpectedly reddened.
Tang San looked confused.
I only asked what the job was. Why's he getting so sentimental?
The Bearded Man said, "I had a son about your age, and he looked a little like you, too. But he passed away unexpectedly."
"The moment I saw you, I couldn't help thinking of him."
"There's not really any work involved. I just wanted to ask if you'd be willing to keep me company for one night and ease the longing in my heart."
Some things couldn't be said outright. He had to take it one step at a time.
Being direct would only get him rejected.
"Huh? You don't want me to pretend to be your son, do you?"
Tang San stared at him, dumbfounded.
"I know this is a bit much to ask, but I can't help it. I miss him so much. You can ask for whatever you want."
As the Bearded Man spoke, tears spilled from his eyes before he could stop them.
Seeing this, Tang San couldn't help softening.
He could deeply feel a father's longing for his deceased son.
But...
The bond between father and son was something he absolutely could not profane.
Not even by pretending.
The Bearded Man saw Tang San's reluctance and quickly said, "You don't have to pretend to be my son or anything. Just keep me company for one night."
Tang San froze, then asked instinctively, "Are you sure?"
The Bearded Man nodded. "I'm sure."
Tang San hesitated.
He could earn anywhere from a few dozen to a hundred Gold Soul Coins just by keeping the man company for one night.
There was no ordinary job that could earn him that kind of money.
"Fine. Pay me first!"
Tang San finally gave in, but he kept his wits about him.
He didn't want the man to refuse to pay afterward.
The Bearded Man beamed and immediately counted out fifty Gold Soul Coins from his purse.
"This is the deposit. We'll talk about the details tomorrow."
Tang San accepted the coins, and a hint of delight appeared on his face as well.
The Bearded Man patted his head.
"Come on. I'll take you to buy a couple of outfits and get you something tasty to eat."
Tang San's eyes lit up. There's more?
"Thank you, Uncle!"
After thanking him sincerely, Tang San trotted off after the Bearded Man.
The Bearded Man took Tang San all around the city, just like a father taking his son out. He bought him clothes and treated him to food and fun.
Only after the sky had darkened did the Bearded Man take him back to the hotel.
"You've been running around all day and worked up a sweat. Go take a bath."
The Bearded Man swallowed.
"Okay."
Tang San didn't notice anything odd about him. He took the new clothes and went into the bathroom.
"Phew!"
The Bearded Man let out a heavy breath and couldn't help licking his lips.
He took out a stick of incense and lit it.
It was a special incense he had made himself, one that could make people obediently do as he pleased.
He had overestimated his patience and ultimately decided to take Tang San by force.
A moment later.
Tang San came out of the bathroom and caught the fragrance lingering in the air.
He didn't react much.
The ingredients in the incense were things that didn't exist in the world he had come from.
Naturally, he couldn't identify them.
"Come over and chat for a while."
The Bearded Man sat on the sofa and patted the spot beside him.
Tang San didn't think much of it and walked over.
The Bearded Man chatted with him while waiting for the drug to take effect.
But it didn't take long for him to notice something was wrong.
The drug still hadn't taken effect. That meant Tang San's mental power was probably far beyond that of someone his age.
Could he be a genius with a spirit-type Martial Soul, too?
The thought only made the Bearded Man even more excited.
He'd never taken a genius before.
"Uncle is a Spirit Master, too—and a Spirit Saint, at that."
"Would you like to see Uncle's Martial Soul?"
The Bearded Man looked at Tang San with a faint smile.
"A Spirit Saint?"
Tang San stared at him in astonishment, his heart shaken.
The man was actually a Spirit Saint.
"I do!"
Tang San nodded vigorously, curiosity and anticipation in his eyes.
"All right."
The Bearded Man stood up and held out his right hand. As Soul Power surged, a pink flower appeared in his palm.
Then two yellow, two purple, and three black Spirit Rings rose from beneath his feet.
When Tang San saw that he had a plant-type Martial Soul, his eyes brightened even more.
The Bearded Man smiled. "I'll let you experience one of Uncle's Soul Skills. Don't worry, this Soul Skill doesn't cause any real harm."
Tang San didn't think much of it. He waited, full of anticipation.
Knowing that Tang San's mental power was extraordinary, the Bearded Man poured Soul Power directly into his Sixth Soul Ring.
His Sixth Soul Skill was called Lustful Illusion. It could trap someone in an amorous, disoriented illusion, and even a Spirit Saint with a spirit-type Martial Soul couldn't resist it.
Tang San's mental power might be strong, but there was no way it could be stronger than that of a Spirit Saint with a spirit-type Martial Soul, right?
As the Bearded Man's Sixth Soul Ring lit up, pink motes of light drifted from his Martial Soul, floating toward Tang San until they completely enveloped him.
Tang San closed his eyes and felt the effects. His body inexplicably grew hot, and his mind grew hazy. His own will was soon swallowed up.
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