Tang Ya Signs a Repayment Agreement, and He Becomes Her Creditor (Please Bookmark and Request More Chapters)

Lin Fan looked up in confusion, then turned to Tang Ya with a light laugh.

"How about this? I'll write an IOU. Pay me two Gold Soul Coins each month, and I won't charge interest. Keep paying until you've returned all fifty. What do you say?"

"Sure, no problem," Tang Ya said without hesitation.

"Teacher Xiaoya, are you sure about this? Even if it's only two Gold Soul Coins a month, I feel like there's a catch."

Seeing how readily Tang Ya had agreed, Bei Bei tried to talk her out of it.

"Bei Bei, what catch? Once I become a Soul Elder, I can afford two Gold Soul Coins a month."

Tang Ya sounded delighted.

What trap was Bei Bei talking about? This was clearly her lucky day.

Seeing how determined she was, Bei Bei covered his face in frustration. He couldn't shake the feeling that this fellow named Lin Fan was up to no good.

Lin Fan withdrew his Martial Soul with a thought, and the Explosive King Mecha vanished. He quickly descended to the ground.

Tang Ya was surprised to see that the person before her was around young Yuhao's age.

She took another look. He was a handsome young man with refined features, and her cheeks warmed slightly. It was a pity he was so cold-hearted.

Bei Bei sensed that Lin Fan was even stronger than young Yuhao. Just look at the Thousand-Year Mandala Snake.

Even Bei Bei might not have been able to defeat that Thousand-Year Mandala Snake Soul Beast, let alone an ordinary Soul Master.

Huo Yuhao stared in astonishment. The other boy was barely older than he was. His hands curled into fists as he thought, I hope I can be as strong as him someday.

Lin Fan took a sheet of paper and a pen from his bundle, wrote out the IOU, and held it out to Tang Ya.

The three of them came over and read the IOU Lin Fan was offering.

Tang Ya took it and asked,

"I just need to sign my name, right?"

Lin Fan looked at her and said,

"That's right."

"All done. Here you go."

Tang Ya read the IOU carefully, signed her name, and handed it back.

The terms were exactly as Lin Fan had said: no interest, and two Gold Soul Coins a month. She could pay that off easily.

"Mm. Here."

Lin Fan took back the IOU and offered her a short blade.

Tang Ya accepted the blade, which was about as long as a kitchen knife, and said,

"Thank you!"

Lin Fan replied,

"You're welcome. It's only right."

Tang Ya took the blade and walked straight to the Mandala Snake. She drove it through the snake's mouth, ending its life.

A purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring rose from the Mandala Snake's body.

Tang Ya turned excitedly toward Bei Bei.

Bei Bei nodded and urged her,

"Hurry and absorb it! Brother Lin Fan encountered this one right on the edge of the Star Dou Forest. Who knows if we might run into a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?"

Tang Ya grinned.

"All right, keep watch for me. I can't believe my luck! Soul Elder, here I come."

With that, she sat cross-legged beside the Mandala Snake and drew the Thousand-Year Soul Ring toward herself to begin merging with it.

Tang Ya's smile faded as she focused all her attention on absorbing the Soul Ring.

An hour later.

Having successfully absorbed the Soul Ring, Tang Ya let out a long breath.

Her figure seemed more slender, and her complexion and features had improved markedly. She looked prettier than before, and her skin had taken on a healthy glow.

"I did it!"

Tang Ya sprang to her feet in excitement. As she channeled her Soul Power, two yellow Soul Rings and one purple one rose swiftly from beneath her feet.

The purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring stood out most of all. From this moment on, she was officially a Soul Elder.

"Congratulations, Xiaoya!"

"Congratulations on becoming a Soul Elder, Teacher Tang Ya."

Bei Bei and Huo Yuhao walked up to congratulate her.

"Mm-hmm!"

Tang Ya answered with a smile. Then she turned to Lin Fan, her eyes bright with joy, and said gratefully,

"Thank you, Lin Fan."

If they hadn't met Lin Fan, things could never have gone so smoothly, and she certainly wouldn't have become a Soul Elder so soon.

"You're welcome. It was just a transaction. I'll be going now. Bye, see you next time."

Lin Fan spoke modestly.

He turned, picked up his map again, and set off toward Shrek Academy in the distance.

Tang Ya watched him in puzzlement and asked,

"Lin Fan, where are you going? And where am I supposed to bring you those two Gold Soul Coins each month?"

Lin Fan waved and answered,

"Shrek Academy."

Tang Ya's eyes lit up. She hurried after him and asked,

"Shrek Academy? Are you going there to enroll as a new student?"

"Yes," Lin Fan said quietly.

Tang Ya brightened at the news and suggested,

"Oh! Lin Fan, let's go back together. We're from Shrek Academy too. How about we keep each other company on the way?"

"All right. Let's go together."

At her invitation, Lin Fan stopped. After a moment's thought, he turned back to Tang Ya and agreed.

That meant he wouldn't have to keep checking his map as he walked.

By then, the sky was beginning to darken. Shadows spread around them, and faint Soul Beast cries could be heard in the distance.

Camping in the Star Dou Great Forest was clearly a bad idea. Soul Beasts could appear at any time.

The four of them pressed on, pausing now and then as they hurried toward the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.

An hour later.

They left the Star Dou Great Forest and made camp beside a stream to rest. They would head back first thing in the morning.

The spot was over ten kilometers from the Star Dou Great Forest, far enough from danger that Soul Beasts were unlikely to appear.

Half an hour later, Huo Yuhao had grilled several fish and handed them out.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei promptly took theirs, sat on tree stumps before the fire, and dug in with delight.

Lin Fan glanced at them, then at the grilled fish Huo Yuhao had made for him. Is it really as good as they say?

He took a bite. The fish tasted decidedly ordinary, and he spat it out.

The meat had a strong fishy smell. A little salt and some perilla leaves hadn't been enough to get rid of it.

Lin Fan couldn't understand how Tang Ya and the others found it delicious enough to eat with such relish.

He tossed the fish aside and took several portions of beef fried rice from his bundle, each packed in an insulated container.

He had made the beef fried rice that morning. It tasted about as good as something from a street stall, and the containers had kept it hot. It was far better than Huo Yuhao's grilled fish.

He tossed the other three portions to his companions, catching their attention at once.

The three opened the containers and found fried rice inside. The moment the lids came off, a tempting aroma rose from them.

Tang Ya's keen nose caught the scent. Her eyes lit up as though she had discovered a peerless delicacy, and she looked at Lin Fan.

"Lin Fan, what is this? It smells even better than the grilled fish I'm holding, and it looks delicious!"

Lin Fan smiled and answered,

"It's beef fried rice. I made it this morning. Eat it while it's still hot, before it gets cold."

"Wow! Your beef fried rice is so good!"

Tang Ya's eyes shone. She glanced at her grilled fish, then back at the fried rice. Suddenly, the fish didn't taste nearly as good.

She lowered her head and kept eating in big mouthfuls. As she chewed, she thought, Nothing beats beef fried rice! He's handsome and can cook, too. If he were mine, maybe I could... No, no, no! How can I think that?