Xiao Wu turned to look at Lin Chen, her expression utterly exasperated.
"Seriously, couldn't you come up with a different line?"
[Disaster Curse Xiao Wu succeeded, obtaining sixty-eight Gold Soul Coins.]
Lin Chen rolled his eyes and got straight to the point.
"Your lapdog challenged me to a fight in the back hills. He said if I didn't show, he wouldn't pay me back. You caused this, so go deal with it yourself."
"What? How can he be so shameless?"
Xiao Wu was deeply shocked by what she heard. She truly hadn't expected Tang San to have this side to him.
Lin Chen said, "Whether he thinks I'm scared or whatever else, I don't care. Just tell him to stop bothering me. I don't have the energy to deal with him."
Xiao Wu nodded.
"Okay."
"Don't worry. I guarantee he won't bother you again."
"Otherwise, I'll teach him a lesson myself."
Xiao Wu felt that Lin Chen was already willing to ask her for help.
That was a good start.
If they interacted like this a few more times, they'd naturally grow closer.
"Okay, I'm leaving."
Lin Chen was in a hurry to eat, so he had no intention of sticking around to chat.
"Sure."
Xiao Wu didn't say anything else. Some things couldn't be rushed.
The back hills.
Tang San stood quietly in the middle of an open clearing, gazing toward the foot of the mountain.
He had copied Yu Xiaogang, clasping his hands behind his back.
He deliberately kept his face stern, putting on an air of solemnity.
That was what a great master looked like in his mind.
At the same time, he pondered to himself.
Should he just beat Lin Chen up, or warn him first and then strike?
"Hm?"
As Tang San was thinking, he suddenly spotted Xiao Wu storming up the mountain.
"Wait... Why is Xiao Wu here?"
The instant he saw her, Tang San's heart sank.
"Could that bastard Lin Chen have gone running to Xiao Wu to complain?"
He forgot all about striking a pose and hurried to meet her.
"Xiao Wu, what are you doing here?"
Tang San's expression was awkward, his guilt written all over his face.
Xiao Wu said coldly, "You're pretty tough, huh?"
Tang San understood at once. That bastard Lin Chen had definitely gone to Xiao Wu.
He just didn't get it.
They were both born with full innate soul power, so why was that bastard such a coward?
And he was supposed to be a man.
"Xiao Wu, I..."
Tang San wanted to explain, but when the words reached his lips, he didn't know where to begin.
"You what?"
"You're from the same hometown, and when you were short on money, he didn't hesitate to help you. You don't know how to be grateful, fine—but now you're even trying to cause trouble for him."
"Do you have no bottom line at all?"
"And threatening not to pay him back if he didn't show up—how did you have the nerve to say that?"
"I never thought you'd be such a shameless, ungrateful wretch."
Xiao Wu let loose, holding nothing back.
Tang San's pupils involuntarily widened, and he felt as if he'd been struck by lightning.
"What kind of person you are has nothing to do with me, really."
"I have no right to criticize you or tell you what to do."
"You can beat him up or kill him, for all I care."
"But you'd better listen closely."
"I, Xiao Wu, will never be friends with a despicable person like that."
Xiao Wu used retreat to advance, making no attempt to force or order him to do anything.
As soon as Tang San heard that Xiao Wu intended to cut ties with him, he panicked.
"Don't... Xiao Wu, I was wrong."
"I'll go apologize to him right now. I'll pay him back immediately."
"Please don't ignore me, okay?"
In his desperation, Tang San instinctively stepped forward, reaching to grab Xiao Wu's hand.
But Xiao Wu took a step back and dodged him.
"Don't touch me. You disgust me."
"Boom!"
Xiao Wu's words struck Tang San's mind like a bolt from the blue.
He stood frozen in place.
At that moment, he was truly afraid. He was afraid of losing Xiao Wu.
He was afraid Xiao Wu would never speak to him again.
"X-Xiao Wu..."
Tang San's voice caught in his throat, and his eyes reddened slightly.
Xiao Wu's tone softened.
"Tang San, you can't act like this. Who would want to be friends with someone who repays kindness with ingratitude?"
"You're still young. It's not too late to change."
At her words, a glimmer of hope finally appeared in Tang San's eyes, and he blurted out,
"I'll change. I'll change right away."
"I'll go apologize to him now, and I'll pay him back immediately."
"I'm sure I can earn his forgiveness."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu finally let out a relieved smile.
That smile left Tang San completely dazed.
"Heh heh..."
He couldn't help letting out a lovesick giggle.
Xiao Wu found it ridiculous, even disgusting, but she didn't let it show.
"Go on. I hope you mean more than just saying it."
"Otherwise..."
At that, Xiao Wu's expression suddenly turned serious again.
"Otherwise, I'll never speak to you again."
Tang San's expression turned serious as well, and a hint of determination entered his eyes.
"Xiao Wu, don't worry. I absolutely won't disappoint you."
But Xiao Wu shook her head.
"It's not about disappointing me. It's about not disappointing yourself."
"Your character is the foundation you stand on."
"Someone with poor character won't earn everyone's respect, no matter how strong they are."
Tang San felt there was nothing wrong with what Xiao Wu had said, though he didn't think there was anything wrong with his own character in the first place.
Lin Chen had brought it on himself. Tang San couldn't be blamed.
Of course, Tang San didn't dare argue. He could only nod firmly.
"I understand."
Seeing that he seemed to truly understand, Xiao Wu dropped the subject.
"An apology needs to be sincere. There's no rush. Let's eat first."
"Okay!"
Tang San smiled sweetly and trotted after Xiao Wu down the mountain.
That afternoon.
After finishing his chores, Tang San bought a gift for Lin Chen as Xiao Wu had instructed, then brought a thousand Gold Soul Coins to Lin Chen's dorm.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Hearing the knock, Lin Chen got up, went to the door, and opened it.
Seeing Tang San, Lin Chen immediately felt his luck sour.
What was Xiao Wu playing at? She couldn't even handle a single lapdog?
Tang San held out both hands, one with a money pouch and the other with a gift.
"Lin Chen, I'm here to apologize."
"We're from the same hometown, and you helped me when I was in trouble."
"I shouldn't have repaid your kindness by causing trouble for you."
"This is the thousand Gold Soul Coins I borrowed from you, along with a gift I bought."
"I'm sorry!"
With that, Tang San held out the money pouch and gift and bowed deeply.
He didn't think he'd done anything wrong, and he didn't want to apologize to Lin Chen so humbly.
He was doing it only to keep Xiao Wu from getting angry, and to keep her from ignoring him.
He could only force down his displeasure and lower himself to apologize to Lin Chen.
Lin Chen was completely dumbfounded.
Well, well.
A verbal apology was one thing, but he'd actually bowed a full ninety degrees.
Was this Tang San?
Who would've thought? Xiao Wu was a master at taming dogs after all.
Lin Chen really hadn't seen it coming.
"Forget the gift. There was never any real grudge between us."
Lin Chen made no attempt to put on airs. After taking the money pouch, he said,
"Fine, I'm leaving."
Tang San turned and walked off. Anyone could tell just how sincere his apology was.
"Tang San, please wait!"
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