The Spot Was Really Traded for Your Mother

"You dare curse my son?!"

Killing intent erupted from Tang Hao, frightening Old Jack into grabbing Chu Chen. But Chu Chen stood perfectly straight.

Soul Force formed an invisible barrier before him, blocking all of it.

His expression did not change. There was even a hint of a smile on his lips.

"Uncle Tang, why are you so worked up? As long as you don't hurt anyone in Holy Soul Village, the oath won't cost you anything, and Tang San will be fine. Or were you planning to take revenge afterward?"

The last question was delivered lightly, but it shook Tang Hao to the core!

Because he had considered making Chu Chen and his grandfather pay for today's humiliation once Tang San was safely enrolled!

But the oath Chu Chen demanded would close off that path.

Tang Hao's chest heaved. He stared at Chu Chen with bloodshot eyes, as though he wanted to swallow the arrogant brat whole.

Yet he did not dare attack. It was not the villagers he feared, but the possibility that the oath would truly come down on Tang San.

Twin Martial Souls were his entire hope, his only means of returning to the sect. He could not risk them.

Time passed in oppressive silence.

The villagers held their breath. Even their murmurs had stopped.

At last, Tang Hao forced two words through clenched teeth.

"...I swear."

With that, Tang Hao closed his eyes. When he opened them again, only cold killing intent remained.

"I, Tang Hao, swear that until Tang San fulfills the three conditions Chu Chen has set, I will not harm anyone in Holy Soul Village!"

"If I break this oath... may my son Tang San's Martial Souls be destroyed and may he be a cripple for life. And every time I use Soul Power, may my Martial Soul turn on me and leave me in unbearable agony... Are you satisfied now?!"

"Absolutely!"

Chu Chen finally smiled, though something unreadable lingered in his eyes.

He had caught the little loophole in Tang Hao's oath.

He would not harm anyone in Holy Soul Village... So outside Holy Soul Village, the oath did not bind him?

Who could he possibly be targeting? What a mystery!

But Chu Chen was not afraid. As long as Tang Hao posed no danger to Holy Soul Village, especially Grandpa Old Jack, nothing else mattered. At worst, he would pull out a Fire Thunder Seed and blow the bastard up. Who was afraid of whom?!

A knowing smile appeared on Chu Chen's face.

"Then from this moment on, the Work-Study Student Spot at Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy belongs to Tang San."

"Grandpa, give them the enrollment document!"

When Old Jack did not move, Chu Chen hurriedly sent his voice across the distance with Soul Force.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I have another way to enroll..."

Old Jack jumped at the voice that suddenly appeared in his head. Only after recognizing it as Chu Chen's did he breathe a sigh of relief.

With a long sigh, Old Jack finally took the neatly folded document from his coat.

It was the work-study enrollment certificate Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy sent each year, carrying Holy Soul Village's annual hopes.

The moment Old Jack held it out, Tang San snatched it away. He quickly scanned the text and, after confirming everything was in order, showed his first genuine smile in days.

"Dad, let's go..."

His steps were so light that even his injuries seemed to have stopped hurting.

"Wait."

Tang San had barely started to leave when Chu Chen's unhurried voice rang out.

Tang San stopped. A sense of foreboding rose in him as he stiffly turned to face Chu Chen's faint, unreadable smile.

"I just thought of something."

Chu Chen spoke slowly, his tone utterly casual.

"Now that you have the spot, I can collect on the first condition whenever I want, right?"

"How about you fight me?"

Tang Hao's brows drew sharply together. Tang San looked just as unwilling.

"What's wrong?"

Chu Chen tilted his head, looking innocent.

"I said I'd tell you once I'd decided. I never said when that had to be. I've decided now. Is that a problem?"

"You..."

Tang San went pale. He instinctively guarded his still-aching chest, then gritted his teeth and forced himself to speak calmly.

"Chu Chen, you said the condition had to be a 'physical object.' A fight... isn't a physical object!"

"Oh, I see. Then I'll make it easier for you!"

Chu Chen smiled, sending a chill through Tang San.

"You only need to take one punch from me. How about it?"

"One punch?"

Tang San froze.

Even Tang Hao frowned, unable to tell what Chu Chen was up to.

"That's right. Just one punch."

Chu Chen raised a finger to demonstrate.

"I throw one punch at you. Whether you can take it or not, the first condition counts as fulfilled. Sounds like a bargain, doesn't it?"

"Well..."

Tang San hesitated.

If he only had to take one punch, it might be doable.

He was injured, but the Mysterious Heaven Skill protected him. Even at the first level, it could form a faint layer of true energy within his body. One punch... he should be able to withstand!

Pride surged through Tang San at the thought.

"Fine! I agree!"

"Xiao San!"

Tang Hao barked, unease flashing through his eyes.

"It's all right, Dad."

Tang San straightened his back, his gaze firm.

"It's only one punch. I can take it."

He then turned to Chu Chen.

"Chu Chen, you said it yourself. One punch in exchange for one condition."

"Of course."

Chu Chen nodded, then walked up to Tang San and slowly raised his hand.

His fingers curled into a fist, and then... he punched!

There was no flourish or overwhelming presence. It looked like an ordinary straight punch. But all the Four-Stage Dou Qi hidden within his body had gathered in that fist!

"Oh no!"

Tang Hao's pupils contracted. His senses as a Titled Douluo told him at once that something was wrong, but before he could intervene, Chu Chen's fist slammed squarely into Tang San's chest!

Pfft!

Tang San's confident expression twisted in pain. His feet left the ground, and he flew backward.

Blood sprayed from his mouth, splattering all over Chu Chen.

"Xiao San!!!"

Tang Hao roared and flashed forward like lightning, catching Tang San before he hit the ground.

Looking down, he saw that Tang San's face was deathly pale. Blood kept spilling from the corners of his mouth, and part of his chest had visibly caved in.

At least three ribs were broken!

"Chu! Chen! You're! Dead!"

Tang Hao snapped his head up, his eyes red as blood. Terrifying killing intent swept through the courtyard like a tangible storm!

"Don't forget your oath, Uncle Tang!"

Chu Chen showed no fear. He slowly withdrew his fist, a faint smile still on his face.

"There. The first condition is fulfilled. You can go now!"

With that, he paid Tang Hao and Tang San no further attention and led a bewildered Old Jack back inside.

After closing the door, Chu Chen immediately used Soul Force to draw all the blood from his clothes. He gathered it into a fresh drop and stored it in the Flame Ji Ring.

I wouldn't trust anyone in your family to keep their word, oath or not. So... I'll take your mother in exchange for that spot instead!