The gatekeeper glanced sideways at the work-study student certificate Old Jack handed over and sneered.
"Holy Soul Village? That poor village that supposedly produced a Soul Saint? It can send two work-study students this year? I think this certificate's fake! Move along, move along. Don't block the gate!"
Old Jack's face flushed red with anger. He was about to argue when a slightly hoarse voice came from behind him.
"What's going on?"
The newcomer was of average height, with short black hair and an ordinary appearance. His eyes held a hint of lazy weariness, yet also an air of intelligence.
Gu Han turned at the sound and saw that it was Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.
The moment the gatekeeper saw Grandmaster, his face transformed into a sycophantic smile. He handed over the certificate.
"Grandmaster, look. Two work-study students have come from Holy Soul Village at once. I think there's something wrong with this certificate. It might even be fake."
Grandmaster took the certificate and glanced over it. His gaze then fell on Tang San and Gu Han, lingering especially on Gu Han for a moment as a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
He said calmly to the gatekeeper, "The certificate is genuine. Leave this to me."
"Old sir, I'll take these two children and enroll them. You can rest assured."
"All right, all right. Thank you, teacher. Xiao Han, Xiao San, study hard at the academy, and remember to come home for the holidays." After saying that, Old Jack set off toward Holy Soul Village.
Gu Han and Tang San nodded firmly at Old Jack's retreating figure, then followed Yu Xiaogang.
Soon, they reached an office. Once they had entered, Grandmaster turned his gaze back to the two children and looked at Tang San first.
"Your name is Tang San? Your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, and your Innate Soul Power is level seven?" He sounded as though he were asking, but his tone was certain.
Tang San's heart jolted. He nodded.
After receiving his answer, Yu Xiaogang turned to Gu Han, his expression even more complicated.
"Gu Han, you have a Mutated Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power?"
He paused, as though gathering his thoughts. "Both your talents are extraordinary, especially yours, Tang San."
"It's rare enough for Blue Silver Grass to possess Soul Power. If my guess is right, you have Twin Martial Souls."
"Gu Han, though your Mutated Martial Soul is a pair of scissors, you have Innate Full Soul Power. That's something I've never heard of."
"I hope you'll let me take you on as my students."
When Tang San heard the words Twin Martial Souls, his guard shot up.
Only Tang Hao knew this secret of his. No one else had ever learned it.
How does he know I have Twin Martial Souls? Should I get rid of him? I can't let anyone else learn this secret.
At that moment, a Small Iron Arrow suddenly appeared in Tang San's sleeve, ready to shoot through Yu Xiaogang's neck at any moment.
Suddenly, Gu Han felt a chill beside him. He turned to see Tang San glaring at Yu Xiaogang, murder in his eyes. After thinking it over, Gu Han realized what was going on.
Looks like Tang San doesn't want Yu Xiaogang to live. That won't do. Yu Xiaogang can't die; he'll be useful later.
"Karma Sight."
Gu Han secretly concealed his Soul Ring. In an instant, he saw a red thread connecting Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, with a faint golden thread of karma hidden beneath it.
But Gu Han had no time to think. He hurriedly raised the Karma Scissors and snipped at the red thread.
Snip!
A soft click echoed in Gu Han's ears. But this time, the result was completely different from before: a tiny strand of the red thread remained connected.
This has never happened before. What's going on today?
Whoosh—
A sharp whistle cut through the air. Gu Han quickly exited Karma Sight and followed the sound. An iron arrow had struck the wall right behind Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang clutched his neck in pain, blood slowly seeping between his fingers.
Seeing this, Gu Han gained a fresh understanding of his Martial Soul. There were things he couldn't change entirely; he could only shift them onto a different track.
Yu Xiaogang should have died this time. But because Gu Han had interfered, the arrow had veered off course and only wounded him.
Tang San stared at the Sleeve Arrow that had missed. He clearly couldn't understand why he, who had never missed before, had failed to hit his target at such close range.
Still, he had no intention of trying to kill Yu Xiaogang again. For some reason, the killing intent in his heart had weakened considerably.
That was Gu Han's doing.
[Ding, ding, ding! Congratulations, Host, on saving Yu Xiaogang's life. Reward: 50 Magic Modification Points. You need 50 more Magic Modification Points to unlock the System Shop.]
Hearing the voice in his mind, a flicker of delight crossed Gu Han's face.
He hadn't expected Yu Xiaogang to still want to take them both as students, even after being injured.
Gu Han spoke at once, his tone firm. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm used to being on my own. I have no plans to take a teacher for the time being."
He knew Grandmaster's theories came from the Spirit Hall. They were of no help to him, and with the system and the Karma Scissors at his disposal, he didn't need anyone to teach him.
A trace of disappointment flashed in Grandmaster's eyes, but he didn't press the matter. He turned to Tang San, showing no malice despite Tang San having tried to kill him.
Yu Xiaogang said his famous line: "Tang San, do you also think Blue Silver Grass is a Trash Martial Soul? You should know that there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters."
"And you have another Martial Soul as well. In battle, it can often catch your opponents off guard."
When Tang San heard Yu Xiaogang say, "There are no useless Martial Souls," the words struck a chord with him. The hostility in his gaze toward Yu Xiaogang began to fade.
Seeing Tang San's expression change, Grandmaster knew the time was right. He said gently,
"If you're willing, I can teach you how to use your Blue Silver Grass."
Tang San took a deep breath and didn't hesitate any longer. He knelt on both knees and respectfully performed the ceremony of accepting a teacher. "Teacher."
A gratified smile appeared on Grandmaster's face. He helped Tang San up. "Come on. I'll take you to the Academic Affairs Office to register."
When Gu Han heard Yu Xiaogang say, "There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters," he looked thoroughly disdainful.
Gu Han followed behind in silence. Watching the thread of karma between the master and disciple ahead grow firm again, he curled his lips into a faint smile.
After they finished the enrollment procedures and collected their dormitory keys and uniforms, Grandmaster left with Tang San, apparently eager to begin teaching him right away.
Following the label on his key, Gu Han headed alone for the work-study students' dormitory—Dorm Seven.
Before you continue