Tang Wulin Borrows Money (Seeking Recommendations, Collections, and Chasing Updates) Testing the Waters

School let out in the afternoon.

Most of the students had already left the classroom.

Fang Yuan propped his elbow on the desk.

He rested his cheek in his palm.

His fingertips scrolled across the news interface on his Spirit Guidance Terminal.

"Mom, what exactly happened this morning?"

"Why is all the news saying someone from our school killed members of the Law Enforcement Team in the street?"

"How would I know? I brought you back to the classroom at noon to sleep!"

Gu Yuena packed up her textbooks without even lifting her head, giving a slight shake.

"Fine."

Fang Yuan curled his lip, his fingertip stopping on the news page.

According to the report, there had been no eyewitnesses at the scene.

The surveillance footage had only captured the back of a girl in a school uniform.

Even the Law Enforcement Team members on duty had suffered a mental attack and become like witless children.

He made his own guess.

Apart from his mother, who else in all of East Sea City could pull off something so unseen and unfelt?

But he did not expose her.

His mother and the human race were already on opposing sides. Killing a member of the Law Enforcement Team was hardly a big deal.

"Little Fang Yuan, what do you want to eat tonight? Seafood, or some kind of cuisine?"

Gu Yuena closed her textbook, casually ruffled his hair, and smoothly changed the subject.

"I haven't had anything sweet in ages. I want pancakes!"

Fang Yuan immediately tossed the news to the back of his mind, his eyes lighting up.

Since his mother did not want to say, he was too lazy to keep asking.

"Eat fewer desserts. Watch out for cavities," Gu Yuena said with a stern face.

Fang Yuan's eyes instantly dimmed. His eyelids drooped, and he gave a small "oh."

"But—"

Seeing his wilted look, the corners of Gu Yuena's mouth curved slightly. "You can have some tonight. I'll take you to buy them on the street."

"Mom, you're the best!"

Fang Yuan broke into a grin at once and leaned over to rub against her arm.

"All right, all right. Time to go home."

Gu Yuena lightly tapped his forehead with her fingertip, laughter in her eyes.

The two had just reached the classroom door when footsteps sounded behind them.

"Fang Yuan, Gu Yue! Wait a second."

Tang Wulin hurried after them and stopped in front of the two.

His fingers picked at the hem of his school uniform, and he hemmed and hawed, his face a little red.

"What? You want to go challenge Class One early?"

Fang Yuan scratched his head and asked.

"No... I just wanted to discuss something with you."

Tang Wulin's gaze drifted around, and for a long while he could not get the words out.

"If you have something to say, say it. My little Fang Yuan still has to go home and eat."

Gu Yuena frowned slightly, a hint of impatience in her tone.

"Gu Yue, don't rush him." Fang Yuan tugged at her hand.

Gu Yuena pressed her lips together and stopped urging him.

Tang Wulin took a deep breath, as if he had made some enormous decision.

"Fang Yuan, Gu Yue, do you still have money?"

"I want to... borrow some money from you."

"No."

Gu Yuena answered coldly without even thinking.

"Aren't you a blacksmith at the Blacksmith's Association? How could you be short on money?" Fang Yuan asked, a little curious.

"I... My cultivation has been stuck lately. I need to buy some heavenly treasures to break through." Tang Wulin's voice grew softer and softer, his head nearly buried in his chest.

Fang Yuan's heart stirred.

It was coming.

The first seal of the Golden Dragon King was about to loosen. He would need heavenly treasures to buffer and suppress it.

According to the original plot, the Blacksmith's Association should have provided him with resources. How had he still ended up needing to borrow money?

Could it be that he hadn't passed the third-rank blacksmith exam yet?

"How much do you want to borrow?" he asked unhurriedly.

"Five hundred thousand... Federal Coins."

Tang Wulin held it in for a long while before finally saying the number.

"No."

Gu Yuena spoke again, her tone firm and decisive.

"Classmate Gu Yue..." Tang Wulin grew anxious and quickly turned his gaze to Fang Yuan, a hint of pleading in his eyes.

"Classmate Wulin, what rank blacksmith are you right now?"

Fang Yuan did not respond to the matter of borrowing money. Instead, he asked something else.

"I'm a second-rank blacksmith right now. I just need to go to the Blacksmith's Association tomorrow for certification," Tang Wulin answered honestly.

Fang Yuan nodded and turned slightly.

He leaned close to Gu Yuena's ear and lowered his voice.

"Mother, this little guy's bloodline isn't ordinary. I think you can lend it to him."

"It depends on what he'll use to pay it back."

Gu Yuena raised her brows slightly without opening her mouth. A thread of spiritual power transmitted directly into his mind.

"Think this through. Five hundred thousand is nothing to us, but for an eight- or nine-year-old child like him, even selling him wouldn't be worth that amount.

Besides, I don't see anything special about his bloodline. Little Fang Yuan, how did you know?"

Fang Yuan froze for a moment.

Spiritual transmission?

With his spiritual power at the Spirit Sea Realm, he should logically be able to do it too.

When they got back, he would have to ask Mother to teach him.

He steadied himself and also tried focusing his mind to transmit back, but unfortunately, he failed. He could only keep speaking in a low voice. "Don't worry, Mother. I know what I'm doing. I won't waste your money."

"So you do know you're spending Mother's money."

Gu Yuena raised a brow and smiled.

"Mother..."

Fang Yuan scratched his head, not knowing what to say.

He was only six. How could he have his own little treasury?

"All right, all right. Mother's money is your money."

Gu Yuena rubbed his head.

The two of them whispered to each other for ages without saying anything aloud. Tang Wulin stood where he was, not knowing where to put his hands or feet.

"So... are you lending it or not?" Tang Wulin muttered softly.

If Xie Xie had not spent all his pocket money, he would never have swallowed his pride and come to someone he had only just met to borrow money.

"I can lend you the money," Fang Yuan finally said. "But what will you use to pay it back? Five hundred thousand isn't a small sum."

Hesitation appeared on Tang Wulin's face. He opened his mouth, but no words came out for a long while.

"Since we're classmates, I won't charge you interest."

Fang Yuan continued, "But when borrowing money, there has to be some collateral or guarantee, right?"

That question left Tang Wulin completely stunned.

He was just an eight- or nine-year-old student. Other than the bit of money he had saved from taking forging jobs, what valuable things could he possibly have on him?

How did little brother Fang Yuan understand so much? Interest, collateral—he sounded like a little adult.

"I... I'll use myself as the guarantee!"

He gritted his teeth and raised his head. "Once I pass the third-rank blacksmith exam, I'll definitely be able to earn enough money to pay you back!"

"Fine." Fang Yuan smiled. "Go back first. I'll have someone draw up a contract. Once you sign it, I'll give you the money."

He knew full well that Tang Wulin's life was precious.

Lending him money was, in plain terms, helping him stabilize the Golden Dragon King's seal.

If this kid one day had his body blown apart by that power somewhere no one was around, and the Golden Dragon King's power ran rampant out of control, where else would Mother go to wait for the complete Golden Dragon King origin?

He had no time to prop up some enemy; he was only prioritizing the bigger picture.

"Great! Thank you, Fang Yuan!"

Tang Wulin's eyes lit up, and he let out a heavy sigh of relief.

"Oh, right. I've already arranged things with the people from Class One tomorrow, so remember to get ready."

"After school tomorrow afternoon, meet at the Indoor Training Ground!"

After saying that, he waved, turned around, and quickly ran off.

"Little Fang Yuan, you're really lending it to him?"

Gu Yuena pinched his cheek. "The money's coming out of your allowance."

"Uh..."

"Mother, when have you ever given me an allowance?"

Fang Yuan looked utterly puzzled.

"Starting now!"

"I'll give you one million Federal Coins every month as your allowance."

Gu Yuena chuckled.

"Thank you, Mother!"

Fang Yuan excitedly threw himself into her arms.

"All right, all right, stop acting spoiled. If we go too late, the dessert shop will be closed."

Gu Yuena took his hand, her fingertips warm.

The two of them walked down the corridor toward the stairwell. The setting sun slanted in through the windows, stretching their shadows out long.