Murdering someone was one thing. Destroying them from within was another.
Now this was what it meant to destroy someone from within.
Not only did you shatter their dignity, you denied their expertise, grinding the knowledge they took pride in beneath your heel.
"Pfft—"
Yu Xiaogang was so enraged that he spat out a mouthful of blood.
This time, he had truly damaged his foundation.
"Teacher!"
Tang San cried out and hurriedly caught Yu Xiaogang, who was on the verge of collapsing.
He looked up at Su Yun, the killing intent in his eyes almost tangible.
"Su Yun! I'll remember this humiliation!"
"One day, I'll make you pay a hundredfold!"
Faced with the Chosen One's impotent fury, Su Yun merely picked at his ear.
"Sure, sure. I'll be waiting."
"But before that, shouldn't you think about what you're going to have for dinner?"
"After all..."
Su Yun pointed at the slop bucket beside them:
"You don't even have enough money to buy steamed buns anymore, do you?"
With that, he stopped paying attention to the pair of beaten dogs, took Xiao Wu—who was still staring in a daze—by the hand, and turned to walk into the blacksmith shop he had just bought.
"Close the door."
"What a nuisance."
Night deepened.
In the study of the side courtyard, Su Yun wrote furiously.
There was so much material for today's diary that he had to organize it properly and try to land a critical hit on Dong'er.
[Year X, Month X, Day X. Night. In an excellent mood.]
[Today I taught Yu Xiaogang a lesson. The subject was "How to Spot Trash."]
[The old geezer really does have terrible taste.]
[Even a half-finished piece I slapped together could make him kneel down and sing "I Surrender." If he saw a genuine Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon, wouldn't he call me Daddy on the spot?]
[But then again, it was only to be expected.]
[In this era, when Soul Tool technology has been lost, his pitiful store of knowledge is only enough to fool country bumpkins like Tang San.]
[Speaking of which, Bibi Dong really had it rough back then.]
[Not only did that old beast Qian Xunji rob her of her innocence, she was also fooled in love by a spineless coward like Yu Xiaogang.]
[Here's a joke: Yu Xiaogang left Bibi Dong back then because he thought he wasn't good enough for her.]
[What a load of crap!]
[He was insecure! Cowardly! Afraid of dying!]
[He was afraid Qian Xunji would kill him, so he ran off overnight, hauling a train on his shoulders, and left Bibi Dong alone in Spirit Hall to face that beast of a teacher.]
[And they call that devotion? True love?]
[That's what you call a scumbag!]
[If it were me...]
[Hmph. Even if I died, I'd take a bite out of Qian Xunji first!]
[What a pity. Dong'er really did meet the wrong people in this life.]
[But it's all right. She has me now.]
[I'll show her what a real man looks like.]
[Of course, that's assuming she stops sending people to watch me sleep...]
[Being spied on while I sleep is seriously weird, okay?!]
Spirit City, Pope Palace.
The hall was brightly lit.
Bibi Dong sat in the broad papal chair, holding the diary in her hand. She had not turned a page in a long while.
Her gaze lingered on the line, Even if I died, I'd take a bite out of Qian Xunji first!
For some reason, her eyes grew warm.
All these years.
Ever since that incident, everyone had told her to think of the bigger picture, to endure humiliation for the sake of Spirit Hall.
Not once had anyone stood in her shoes and spoken up for her.
And no one had ever said they would risk their life for her.
Even the man she had once loved deeply had chosen to run away.
But now, this cheap disciple she had known for only two days, this cheeky little brat who was usually all smooth talk and no sense, had written those words in his diary.
Even if it was only a diary.
Even if he might have just been bragging.
Still, a crack had appeared in Bibi Dong's heart, frozen for so long.
A thread of warmth quietly slipped inside.
"Foolish boy..."
Bibi Dong closed the diary, gently stroking its cover with her fingers. The corners of her mouth lifted in a tender smile she did not even notice.
"You're all talk."
"If you'd really dared to bite Qian Xunji, perhaps I wouldn't have felt so utterly hopeless back then."
She rose and walked to the window, gazing toward Notting City.
The killing intent in her violet eyes had faded, replaced by a faint sense of anticipation.
"Gui Mei."
Ghost Douluo emerged from the shadows.
"Your Excellency."
"Pass down my orders."
Bibi Dong's voice was still cool, but no longer quite so cold:
"Keep a close watch on things in Notting City."
"Don't let that lunatic Tang Hao hurt him."
"And one more thing..."
Bibi Dong paused, a hint of unnatural red crossing her face:
"Stop the surveillance while he's sleeping."
"I'm not watching."
Gui Mei: "???"
Your Excellency, didn't you say to monitor him from every angle, leaving no blind spots?
Why the sudden change of heart?
Women really were fickle!
Ghost Douluo did not dare think too deeply about it. He could only lower his head and accept the order respectfully:
"Yes."
The Pope's thoughts really were harder to fathom than the Abyss!
On the western side of Notting City, in a secluded blacksmith shop.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The dull blows echoed through the cramped shop. Waves of heat rose from the furnace, making it hard to keep one's eyes open.
Tang San stood bare-chested, swinging the hammer that was far too heavy for him and striking the red-hot iron over and over.
Sweat ran down his tender cheeks and dripped onto the scorching anvil, hissing as it instantly evaporated.
He was smithing.
For those few Copper Soul Coins in wages, for a roast chicken he could buy to help his teacher regain his strength.
The future God King had no choice but to start working for a living ahead of time.
"This is the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer..."
Tang San gritted his teeth, his gaze resolute.
Though life was hard and Su Yun was despicable, he believed that if he persevered, the iron in his hands would eventually become a divine weapon, and his life would eventually turn around.
Heaven, when about to bestow a great responsibility upon a person, first makes them suffer in mind and toil in body.
That was what he told himself.
But just as he was immersed in his self-congratulatory, hard-working mode, a commotion came from the street.
Through the dusty window, he saw that familiar, flashy, luxurious carriage that made his teeth ache with hatred.
Beside it, Su Yun was holding Xiao Wu's hand, with a line of servants behind him carrying armfuls of bags and parcels.
"This is the finest silk shop in Notting City, right? Let's take a look inside."
"Xiao Wu, this pink dress is nice. Wrap it up."
"This white one is nice too. Wrap it up."
"What? There are new styles as well? I'll take them all!"
Su Yun waved the Gold Soul Coin Card in his hand, looking just like a nouveau riche taking his mistress shopping.
"Brother Su Yun, you've bought too much! I can't wear it all!"
Xiao Wu said she didn't want any, but her face had blossomed into a smile, and her rabbit ears were bouncing with delight.
"If you can't wear it all, just leave it out to look at."
Su Yun patted her on the head, his tone so doting it was outrageous:
"Your big brother's rich. I do what I want."
Inside the blacksmith shop.
Tang San's hand froze in midair, still gripping the hammer. The little flame of determination he had just rekindled shattered in an instant.
"Crack."
He could almost hear his heart breaking.
He sweated buckets amid the smoke and heat, pinching every coin for the sake of a single steamed bun;
Su Yun spent money like water amid fine clothes and rich food, throwing around a fortune just to make a beauty smile.
At that moment, Tang San finally understood one thing:
Sometimes, the gap between people was greater than the gap between a person and a dog.
"Damn capitalist!"
Tang San brought his hammer down hard. Sparks flew, illuminating his face twisted with jealousy!
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