Tang Hao Seized the Work-Study Student Slot

Tang Hao said nothing, quietly waiting for him to continue.

Tang San summoned his Blue Silver Grass and said, "I awakened the Blue Silver Grass martial soul."

"Hmph!"

Tang Hao stared at the Blue Silver Grass, stunned for a moment before letting out a cold snort. Then he lay back down and went back to sleep.

Seeing this, Tang San felt a surge of grievance and disappointment. Other children who awakened something as useless as a stinky mudball at least had grandfathers who loved them. But what about him?

Tang San unwillingly added, "I awakened Innate Full Soul Power."

Tang Hao lay there without moving. Several minutes later, he finally turned over and looked Tang San directly in the eye.

"Do you really want to become a soul master?"

Tang San hesitated for a moment, then nodded heavily. "I do!"

"Blue Silver Grass is one of the most useless martial souls. Even with Innate Full Soul Power, it's meaningless. Just live as an ordinary person from now on."

After saying that, Tang Hao ignored Tang San, utterly disregarding his feelings, as though Tang San were not his biological son.

Tang San desperately wanted his father's approval, so he shouted, "I have another martial soul!"

The next second, Tang Hao's eyes flew open. He turned around and stared fixedly at Tang San.

"Y-You... what did you say?"

Seeing the change in Tang Hao's attitude, Tang San hurriedly summoned his Clear Sky Hammer martial soul.

"My son, my good son!"

Tang Hao stared excitedly at the powerful Clear Sky Hammer and gripped Tang San's shoulders tightly. "Remember, use the hammer in your left hand to protect the grass in your right hand. Forever."

Tang San was overwhelmed with excitement and did not think too deeply about Tang Hao's sudden change.

When he had awakened Blue Silver Grass, Tang Hao had treated it with utter disdain.

Yet after he awakened the Clear Sky Hammer, Tang Hao acted like a real father and showered him with affection.

This absurd father-and-son pair remained excited for quite a while.

Tang San said, "Dad, Grandpa Jack's grandson also awakened Innate Full Soul Power."

Tang Hao found it hard to believe. Could a chicken really produce a phoenix?

"What martial soul did he awaken?"

"A stinky mudball martial soul."

"..."

Tang Hao fell silent. Sure enough, a chicken could never produce a phoenix.

"That's just another trash martial soul like Blue Silver Grass. Don't take it to heart. Focus on cultivating well in the future."

Tang San said worriedly, "Dad, I heard each village only has one work-study student slot. Our family may not be able to scrape together the tuition..."

Tang Hao understood what Tang San meant. The work-study student slot in Holy Soul Village would certainly be arranged by old Jack, the village chief, for his own grandson.

He asked, "Little San, have you made up your mind? Do you want to attend a soul master academy?"

Tang San nodded heavily.

"Good. You don't need to worry about it. Leave everything to Dad." After saying that, Tang Hao opened the door and left.

Tang San was confused. "Could Dad be going to borrow money?"

Old Jack hurried home anxiously. When he saw Jiede sitting on the kang bed, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Little De, why didn't you tell me you were back? I've been searching everywhere for you!"

Jiede gave an awkward chuckle. "Sorry, Grandpa. I was so busy studying my martial soul that I forgot about it."

"Hmph!"

Old Jack glared at him and took a Spirit Hall certificate from his robes.

This was the work-study student slot granted by Spirit Hall, and the blank space on it had not yet been filled in with a name.

Old Jack placed the certificate on the table and said, "Deacon Su Yuntao said I should choose one work-study student slot between you and Tang San."

"Oh? So who are you choosing, Grandpa?" Jiede lifted his chin.

"Give it to Tang San. Forget about you, sigh..."

Old Jack shot him a sidelong glance, then sat in his chair and sighed.

"Sigh, I'm so pitiful. My own grandpa doesn't love me and instead loves someone else's child. Boohoohoo..."

Jiede pretended to wipe away tears, though there was not the slightest trace of tears on his face.

The grandfather and grandson fell silent together for half a minute before they could no longer hold back their laughter.

"You brat!"

Old Jack laughed. "Fine, it makes no difference who gets this certificate. Later, I'll go to the neighboring village and get another work-study student slot."

"Grandpa, Tang San's family hasn't even asked you for help. There's no need to go through all that trouble," Jiede said unhappily.

"Tang San is still so young. If I don't help him, who will?"

Old Jack said helplessly, "Should we rely on that drunkard Tang Hao to help him? He doesn't even cook meals. Can we count on him?"

Jiede curled his lips. "His own father doesn't even care about him, so why do you? Tang San isn't your son!"

"Hey, you little brat!" Old Jack raised his cane as if to strike him.

Jiede shouted, "I don't care! This work-study student slot is mine anyway."

Just then, the door suddenly opened, and Tang Hao walked in. The stench of alcohol and sour sweat hit them head-on.

He looked at Old Jack and said coldly, "I want this work-study student slot!"

Jiede instinctively shrank back. He already possessed soul power and was highly sensitive to the aura of those above him. On top of knowing that Tang Hao was secretly a formidable figure, he naturally felt afraid.

Old Jack shielded Jiede behind him and glared furiously. "Tang Hao, what do you mean?"

"It means nothing. I just think my son has better talent and deserves this slot." Tang Hao spoke indifferently.

"You mean you want to snatch this work-study student slot from me?" Old Jack demanded in disbelief.

"Snatch? Don't make it sound so ugly." Tang Hao casually reached for the certificate on the table.

Although Old Jack had already planned to help Tang San obtain a work-study student slot, that was something he had chosen to do willingly.

Now that Tang Hao had come to take it by force, Old Jack naturally could not accept it. He reached out and grabbed Tang Hao's sleeve.

But would Tang Hao care?

Would a dignified Titled Douluo care about an ordinary person?

With a casual tug of his sleeve, he pulled Old Jack to the ground.

Jiede cried out, "Grandpa! Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"

Jiede helped Old Jack up and seated him in the chair. "I'm fine."

Anger surged in Jiede's heart. He looked straight at Tang Hao. "Uncle Tang, how could you treat my grandpa like that? Over the years, he's helped your family countless times."

Yet when Tang Hao spoke, it was as though he were discussing something completely insignificant.

"I never asked him to. Everything he did was voluntary. What does it have to do with me?"

Jiede took a deep breath. "Grandpa had already planned to borrow a work-study student slot from the neighboring village so Tang San could enroll. Don't you feel even a little guilty?"

Tang Hao froze for a moment, then tossed the certificate back and said to Old Jack, "That's even better. It saves trouble. When the time comes, just take Little San with you to enroll."

Jiede wanted to see even a trace of guilt on Tang Hao's face, but there was none.

Tang Hao no longer paid attention to the grandfather and grandson and turned to leave.

A trace of bitter irony rose in Jiede's heart. His grandfather had cared for Tang San and his father for so many years, only to receive this in return.

In the original story, Tang Hao had even told Old Jack to get lost. He had never regarded him as anything important.

"Grandpa, your kindness has been completely wasted!"

"Forget it. For the sake of poor little San, I'll still help him."

Old Jack sighed.

"With a father like that, little San has it hard."

Jiede's head throbbed with anger. Tang San and Tang Hao were birds of a feather. He had never seen Tang San show any filial respect toward Old Jack either.

If not for Old Jack's support, Tang Hao would have starved Tang San to death long ago.

Suddenly, Jiede thought of something.

That damned Tang Hao wouldn't be eavesdropping outside on Grandpa's and my next conversation, would he?

No, I have to put on an act.

He immediately reddened his eyes and said angrily, "I'm going to Soto City to tell my dad! I'll have him come back and seek justice for us!"

Old Jack cautioned, "Little De, don't mess around. If your father finds out, it'll stir up the entire village. That wouldn't be good. Matters between neighbors are best settled harmoniously."