If It Weren't for Brother Yun, I'd Be Finished

"You ugly freak, why are you stopping us for no reason?"

"No, Master, what are you coming over for now? The two of us will never take you as our teacher, so stop wasting your effort."

Ye Yun's tone was blunt. "Your own cultivation doesn't even reach Soul Elder, and your ability is only half-baked at best. What makes you think you're capable of teaching us?"

"And are those theories of yours really things you researched? Do you really have the ability to study such high-level things?"

Yu Xiaogang's face went pale, as if Ye Yun had struck a sore spot. Flustered and furious, he said, "Of course I researched them!! They're the fruit of my hard work!!"

Ye Yun let out a few disdainful sneers.

"Then tell me, where did those theories that don't match your actual level come from? Don't tell me other people volunteered to be your test subjects. Not even a three-year-old would believe that."

Wang Sheng and the others beside him also began chiming in, their words merciless.

"Exactly, exactly. I heard long ago that this Master doesn't have any real ability at all and just coasts through his days."

"If it weren't for his friendship with the academy principal, he probably would've been kicked out of Nuoding Academy long ago."

One comment after another rang out, leaving Yu Xiaogang not the slightest bit of dignity.

Being openly refuted and mocked by a group of children in public, Yu Xiaogang could not save face. His expression shifted between livid and pale.

He clenched his palms, never expecting that after taking the initiative to lower himself and come forward to speak, this would be what he got in return!

Damn it!!

His gloomy gaze swept over those mocking him, as well as the child who had made him unable to step down in front of everyone.

You actually dare question me! Once I train Tang San into a powerful soul master, even if you beg me to accept you as my disciple, I won't agree!!

Yu Xiaogang restrained his expression, took a letter from his robes, and handed it to Tang San.

"Little San, your father asked me to teach you. This is his letter. You can take a look."

Tang San suspiciously reached out and took the envelope. After opening it, he carefully read through its contents.

After confirming that the handwriting was correct, his brows knitted tightly. He turned to look at Ye Yun beside him, his tone filled with confusion.

"The handwriting really is my father's, but why would he arrange this? Brother Yun..."

Ye Yun raised his hand and gently patted his shoulder, comforting him aloud. "This is your father's intention. How you choose in the end is up to you. It isn't convenient for me to interfere with your decision."

"I can only remind you: don't! get! tricked!"

As he spoke, his eyes kept flicking toward Yu Xiaogang. He was only short of saying the man's name outright.

Yu Xiaogang's fist tightened. He gave a cold snort and did not argue, but the look he gave Ye Yun was full of displeasure.

After struggling inwardly for a while, Tang San ultimately decided to follow his father's arrangement. He said nothing more and followed Yu Xiaogang toward the second floor.

Ye Yun, Xiao Wu, Wang Sheng, and the others did not ask any further about the matter. In any case, it was Tang San's own choice.

After eating and drinking their fill, the group went to class.

When it came to knowledge related to soul beasts, Ye Yun listened with great interest, as if he were listening to a novel.

As for Xiao Wu beside him, she had grown up in the Star Dou Forest since childhood and knew soul beasts' habits like the back of her hand, so from the start of class, she had been lying on the desk asleep.

After finally waiting until class ended, everyone returned to the dormitory to rest.

Before long, Tang San pushed the door open and walked in. As soon as he entered, he went straight to Ye Yun's side.

Noticing that Tang San was somewhat excited, Ye Yun felt a little puzzled. Had this Yu Xiaogang drugged him or something?

"Little San, what did Yu Xiaogang say to you?"

"Teacher said that my Blue Silver Grass is relatively weak in combat power by itself, so later on, I can pair it with poisonous soul rings to make up for the innate shortcomings of my martial soul."

Tang San recalled the advice Yu Xiaogang had just given him, his tone carrying a hint of trust.

In his view, Yu Xiaogang understood many kinds of soul master knowledge that others did not know. That previous mad appearance of his was probably just what people called a genius being misunderstood by the world.

But before he could stay happy for long, he saw Ye Yun looking at him with a strange expression.

"Brother Yun, is something wrong?"

"What do you think the characteristics of Blue Silver Grass are?"

Ye Yun did not choose to say it outright. Instead, he guided him step by step to discover it for himself.

After thinking carefully for a while, Tang San said, "Its vitality is tenacious, and Blue Silver Grass can be seen in all kinds of places."

"Exactly. Its vitality is tenacious. The advantage of Blue Silver Grass is that wildfire can't burn it out; it grows again when the spring breeze blows."

"You don't build up its life force and toughness, and instead build up poison attributes for it?"

"It's like your dad being a blacksmith, but making your dad go do embroidery. Could he figure that out?"

As those blunt words entered his ears, the joy on Tang San's face vanished completely.

Thoughts spun rapidly in his mind, and he instantly realized the flaw within it.

Indeed! The fundamental strength of Blue Silver Grass lay in its endless vitality and resilient nature. Abandoning its own innate talent to forcibly take the path of poison was completely going in the wrong direction.

Thinking back to how fully he had agreed with Yu Xiaogang's suggestion just now, Tang San felt a lingering chill of fear.

If Brother Yun had not reminded him, he might have followed the man's reasoning and ruined the foundation of his martial soul for nothing.

"Ding. Tang San has developed gratitude toward his family. [Harmony] Energy +20."

Even Xiao Wu, who had never gotten along with Tang San, could not help mocking him from the side.

"That teacher of yours is a real fraud. And your dad too—leaving you with a teacher like that. I really don't know what he was thinking.

"If it weren't for Brother Yun, you'd have gone off to regret it forever."

Tang San's face was full of bitterness. What could he do? He had already acknowledged the man as his master, so could he really betray his sect now?

Besides, his father was just an ordinary person. Maybe he had also been tricked by that old... that fraud.

"Brother Yun, then what should I do? He said he would take me to obtain a soul ring in a few days..."

"Isn't that simple? Tomorrow, go find the dean and the others and have them take you to get your soul ring first.

"Once you've added your first soul ring, what's he going to do, take it off you?"

Tang San froze. Right, why had he not thought of that? Brother Yun really was Brother Yun. His mind worked fast.

Then he immediately looked at Ye Yun and said seriously, "Brother Yun, I'll go to the academy library first to look through the classics and check which hundred-year soul beasts are suitable for Blue Silver Grass, so I can choose the most suitable soul ring in advance."

"Go on, go on. Read carefully, and don't get misled by crooked theories again."

Ye Yun waved lazily, his expression casual.

Tang San said no more. He turned and hurried toward the academy library, his mind set on studying soul beast materials.

The dorm instantly fell quiet. Xiao Wu sat to the side, bored out of her mind as she swung her two little legs.

She blinked her bright, watery eyes, tilted her head slightly, and leaned straight against Ye Yun's shoulder.

"Brother Yun, the academy is so boring and stuffy. Can we go out and stroll around the streets of Nuoding City?"

Ye Yun nodded. "But let's make a trip to the Spirit Hall branch first."

He had his own plans. Going out to wander around was only incidental. His real purpose was to go to Spirit Hall to complete his soul master registration and collect the monthly subsidy for a rank-ten soul master.

There was no helping it. He was too poor. Even the food he ate had pitifully little oil in it. How was that any different from being in prison?

Everyone said Spirit Hall was sinister, cunning, and wildly ambitious, but it could not be denied that it was genuinely generous toward low-level commoner soul masters.

Without Spirit Hall, countless ordinary children would never have had the chance to awaken their martial souls or step onto the path of cultivation in their entire lives.

Free martial soul awakenings, unified registration, basic subsidies—these were real chances given to the lower classes to turn their lives around.

The two soon arrived at the Nuoding City Spirit Hall branch, smoothly completed their soul master registration, received their official soul master certificates, and each collected a heavy Gold Soul Coin.

With a gold coin in hand, Xiao Wu instantly perked up. She bounced along the road, full of curiosity about everything on the street.

Whenever she saw some novel snack, she would buy it without hesitation to try it.

"Brother Yun, this is super tasty! Hurry and try it!"

Xiao Wu held up a candied hawthorn skewer she had taken a bite from and excitedly brought it to Ye Yun's mouth.

Ye Yun looked at the tooth marks and saliva left on the skewer, his face full of disgust, and raised a hand to push it back.

"Hmph~ If you won't eat it, I will. Nom."

Xiao Wu puffed out her cheeks and angrily gnawed on the candied hawthorn by herself.