First Soul Skill

He ignored the stench and filth, clutching Jiang Chen by the shoulders and shaking him nonstop.

"Mm?" Jiang Chen finally woke up and slowly opened his eyes.

Chapter 22: First Soul Skill

When he saw Old Jack shaking him, Jiang Chen was confused at first, but soon remembered that he had been absorbing a Soul Ring.

"Hey, Grandpa, did you fart? It stinks!" Jiang Chen covered his nose, looking disgusted.

Old Jack's beard bristled as he snapped, "You're the one who farted! Tell me, did you fall into the latrine last night? How could you come back and go to sleep without washing up? Do you expect Grandpa to wash your bedding for you?"

Faced with Old Jack's scolding, Jiang Chen could only laugh foolishly. "Grandpa, hurry along. I'll wash myself and the bedding later, so you don't need to worry."

Old Jack shook his head and was just about to leave, leaning on his cane, when he suddenly turned back and said,

"I'm going to the neighboring village to get you a work-study student spot. Remember to have dinner ready for me when I get back."

"Got it. You'd better hurry along, Grandpa," Jiang Chen urged him.

Looking at Jiang Chen, filthy from head to toe, Old Jack shook his head and walked out.

As soon as Old Jack left, Jiang Chen excitedly leaped out of bed. But when he saw the layers of black gunk covering his body, his little brows knitted tightly.

The smell was beyond description—hundreds of times worse than a latrine. If Jiang Chen's stomach hadn't already been empty, he would have thrown up by now.

The layers of muck clung to him like sludge. They stank, felt awful, and even made him itch a little.

Although he wanted to check out his Soul Skill right away, he had no choice but to put that thought aside for now.

He carried his bedding outside, grabbed soap for bathing and washing clothes, then left the courtyard and headed for the river to clean up.

He lived in the middle of Holy Soul Village, and the moment he stepped outside, the stench hit like a wall. A gust of wind swept through, and the whole village filled with the foul smell.

"Damn, did someone's latrine explode? Why does it stink so bad?"

"Which bastard came to poison our village? I'll teach him a lesson!"

"Dad, get up and have some porridge. Huh, what's that smell? It stinks!"

Jiang Chen clutched his bedding, his face turning red as he listened to all the cursing. He felt terribly embarrassed.

He lowered his head, nearly hidden beneath the bedding, and hurried toward the edge of the village.

"So it was that kid Jiang Chen! Good heavens! Did he really fall into a latrine?"

"Uh... looks like he did. Just look at all those clumps of black stuff stuck to him. Ugh... I can't take it."

They'd found him out!

Jiang Chen's little face grew even redder, and he broke into a run. It was so damn embarrassing—now he'd never be able to wash away the shame, even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

Once he'd made a name for himself, this latrine incident might become the biggest stain on his life!

The thought left him utterly dejected.

What happened? Tang San stared blankly at Jiang Chen, who was running off with his bedding. Listening to the villagers' chatter, he wore a strange expression too.