A Three-Year Agreement

"Oscar, is yours a food-type martial soul?"

Ming Dashan stared at the sausage in Oscar's hand and asked curiously.

Support soul masters were relatively few, and food-type soul masters were even rarer. Talents like these were all the more scarce.

Food-type martial souls not only provided support but could also be eaten directly, without any cooking or preparation. They were especially convenient when fighting in the wilderness.

In an army, a Food System Soul Master at the Soul Grandmaster level could meet the supply needs of at least twenty people.

Back at his intermediate academy, Ming Dashan had met several food-type teachers. Every one of them was a treasure to the academy, and their salaries were much higher than those of other teachers.

"Oscar, give me a sausage to try."

Yu Chen spoke with easy familiarity.

In all his years, he had never eaten a Food System Soul Master's soul skill.

"Sure."

Oscar nodded.

But a moment later, hesitation appeared on his face.

"When I use my soul skill, I have to recite a special soul incantation. You can't laugh at me."

Back at the junior academy, every time he used his soul skill, it brought the whole room down with laughter.

He had tried changing the incantation, but no matter what he did, whenever he used his first soul skill, his mouth would involuntarily recite those words. He couldn't change a single one.

Eventually, he simply stopped using his soul skill in front of others.

Seeing Oscar's bashful look, Yu Chen patted his chest. "Don't worry. I've had professional training. Under normal circumstances, I don't laugh."

"All right."

Oscar took a deep breath, his gaze growing much more serious.

A moment later, he raised his right foot and stamped it on the ground, pinching his left thumb and middle finger together.

Soul power surged, and a warm yellow glow gathered in his right palm.

"I Have a Big Sausage!"

As his words fell, a sausage as thick as a forearm appeared out of thin air in his hand.

The sausage was steaming hot, its flesh-colored casing glistening with oil. It even gave off the aroma of meat and spices.

In both appearance and smell, it was exactly like the sausages sold at street stalls.

Yu Chen pressed his lips tightly together, his cheeks puffing out as more and more air built up in his chest.

Finally, he couldn't hold it in.

"Hahahaha!"

Yu Chen clutched his stomach and doubled over, his shoulders shaking with laughter. Tears nearly spilled from his eyes.

It wasn't that there was anything wrong with Oscar's incantation. Rather, the delicate pose of his fingers was simply too effeminate.

A man with a full beard struck a seductive pose and shouted something so forceful...

It was impossible not to laugh.

"Hey! You just said you wouldn't laugh at me!"

Oscar stamped his foot in anger.

Watching Yu Chen laugh, the light in his eyes dimmed, and his nose began to sting.

Sure enough, wherever he went, someone would always laugh at this soul skill of his.

It had been the same at the academy, and it was still the same outside.

"My name isn't Hey. It's Yu Chen."

Having mostly finished laughing, Yu Chen straightened up and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand.

He reached out, took the sausage, and bit into it.

"Hmm?"

The instant the sausage entered his mouth, it turned into a warm current that slid down his throat and into his stomach.

The energy seemed alive. The moment it reached his stomach, it spread through every limb and bone, warm and comforting, instantly easing the fatigue in Yu Chen's body.

"What an amazing soul skill!"

Yu Chen smacked his lips, still able to taste the lingering meat aroma.

After absorbing his second soul ring, he had traveled continuously, consuming quite a bit of soul power and stamina.

Yet after eating just one sausage, he felt half full.

Normally, when he ate rice, he needed at least ten large bowls.

One of Oscar's sausages could actually replace half a meal. Its effect was simply amazing.

And that didn't even account for its healing effect. If he suffered a minor injury, eating a sausage would help him recover considerably.

It could fill his stomach and provide support. To Yu Chen, this was nothing short of god-tier support.

Yu Chen looked at Oscar, his eyes brightening.

Sure enough, as a soul master with innate full soul power, Oscar's talent surpassed ninety-nine percent of support soul masters.

Out in the world, what faction wouldn't scramble to claim a genius like him?

"Uncle Dashan, this sausage is really good. You should try one too."

Yu Chen lifted his chin toward Ming Dashan.

Seeing this, Oscar quickly raised his hand, and another steaming sausage appeared in it.

He offered the sausage with both hands and bowed slightly. "Senior, thank you for saving me. I don't have any money. All I can offer you is this sausage."

"It was no more than lifting a hand."

Ming Dashan spoke calmly and reached out to take the sausage.

He took a bite. The sausage melted in his mouth, and a warm current slid down his throat.

A moment later, Ming Dashan narrowed his eyes slightly.

He could guarantee that this was the best food-type soul skill he had ever eaten.

Back in Heaven Dou City, he had eaten the soul skills of several Food System Soul Masters. The effect of Oscar's first soul skill was better than even the skills of some Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors.

Ming Dashan took another look at Oscar.

This bearded boy was worth far more than he had imagined.

"Oscar, you just said you were still a child. May I ask how old you are?"

Ming Dashan asked curiously.

A "child" with such a thick beard looked awkward no matter how he viewed it.

"Senior, I'm eleven this year. I just graduated from a junior soul master academy."

Oscar answered honestly.

"Eleven?"

Ming Dashan exclaimed, his eyebrows rising.

Support System soul masters cultivated far more slowly than other battle soul masters. This was common knowledge throughout the soul master world.

For a Support System soul master, reaching rank twenty before the age of twenty was already considered good.

Yet Oscar had reached rank twenty-one at eleven. Among Support System soul masters, calling someone with that speed a genius was no exaggeration.

"Oscar, what are your plans for the future? Also, you came to the forest alone to hunt for a soul ring. Where are your teachers and parents?"

Ming Dashan asked with concern, his tone much gentler than before.

At those words, Oscar's expression fell.

He lowered his head and tugged at the hem of his clothes. "I don't have parents. I've been an orphan since I was little."

He had grown up in an orphanage. At six, he had awakened with innate full soul power and obtained his first soul ring with Spirit Hall's help.

Only by relying on his soul master stipend had he managed to finish his junior academy courses.

Originally, he had planned to join Spirit Hall after obtaining his second soul ring.

But a month ago, someone had smashed up the Spirit Hall branch in his city, leaving him no choice but to go hunting for a soul ring alone.

He hadn't expected to encounter something like this and nearly lose his life.

"As for my future plans..."

Oscar thought for a moment. "I plan to take the entrance exam for an intermediate academy."

"Do you have an academy in mind?"

Yu Chen said earnestly, "We're planning to go to Heaven Dou City and apply to the Heaven Dou Royal Intermediate Academy. If you're willing, we can go together."

Yu Chen had his own calculations.

Oscar's sausage martial soul would be a tremendous help to him.

Not only could it heal injuries and restore stamina and soul power, but it could also fill his stomach, and it tasted good.

Right, his second soul skill could also neutralize poison.

If he wanted to travel in the future, his party certainly couldn't do without a cook.

"I'd better not."

Oscar shook his head, his voice dropping. "Heaven Dou City is so far away. I can just find an academy in Suotuo City or Barak City."

In truth, he no longer had enough money to travel to Heaven Dou City.

Hunting for a soul ring had consumed most of his savings, and what little remained wouldn't even cover the travel expenses.

Besides, he had heard that many students at academies in big cities were nobles, all draped in gold and silver, speaking with their noses pointed at the sky.

If a commoner like him squeezed his way in, he would probably invite plenty of trouble.

If he ended up ostracized and bullied, life would probably be even harder than it had been at the junior academy.

"Oscar, with talent as good as yours, it'd be a shame not to develop it in a big city."

Yu Chen patted his shoulder.

"Besides, as the saying goes, a kindness as small as a drop of water should be repaid with a gushing spring. We saved your life. Surely you can't justify not pledging yourself to us!"

The corners of Yu Chen's mouth lifted, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"What? Yu Chen, you actually... you actually like men?"

At those words, Oscar suddenly jumped back a step, clutching his collar with both hands, his face filled with horror.

He stared at Yu Chen with wide eyes, his lips trembling. "We're out in the middle of nowhere. Y-you can't try anything! I might not be able to beat you, but I... I can still scream for help!"

As he spoke, he kept shrinking backward.

"Get lost, you idiot!"

Yu Chen cursed with a laugh. "I'm a normal man. I'm not interested in you. What I meant was that you should at least work for me for three years."

"Your sausages taste great, so from now on, I'll leave my meals to you. As for tuition and accommodation fees, I can take care of those for you."

As he spoke, Yu Chen turned to glance at Ming Dashan.

Ming Dashan folded his arms across his chest and nodded subtly.

He had the same thought.

A genius Support System soul master like this, a commoner orphan with no backing or ties—failing to recruit him would be simply indefensible.

Yu Chen taking the initiative to keep Oscar around saved him the effort.

"Three years?"

Oscar lowered his head and quickly worked out the figures in his mind.

Three years wasn't long. It was just enough for him to finish an intermediate academy.

Besides, the Heaven Dou Royal Intermediate Academy was one of the best academies in the entire Heaven Dou Empire.

Its teachers, resources, and cultivation environment were countless times better than those of other academies.

If he could really get in and graduate three years later, his prospects would be far better than if he kept muddling along on his own.

"All right. I accept."

Oscar raised his head and spoke firmly.

He had lived alone since childhood, making him much more quick-witted than others his age. Naturally, he was also quite skilled at reading people's expressions.

Yu Chen had offered to take him to Heaven Dou City, help him get into the academy, and even cover his tuition and accommodation fees.

This was hardly employment. He clearly wanted to help him.

"Yu Chen, do you really think my sausages taste good?"

Suddenly, Oscar asked again.

In all his life, this was the first time someone had praised him for his soul skill.

"Of course."

Yu Chen patted his stomach. "Of all the food-type martial souls I've ever eaten, your sausage ranks first."

"Good! In that case, I'll go to Heaven Dou City with you!"

Oscar smiled.

His martial soul had finally earned someone's recognition, and he felt much more at ease.

"One correction. We're in a debtor-creditor relationship now, so you should call me Boss."

Yu Chen folded his arms across his chest and deliberately put on a stern face.

"Yes."