The deal

"Are you all right?" Lin Yang turned to ask.

Zhao Bufan shook his head blankly, staring dazedly at the corpse lying before him, a jumble of flavors churning in his heart.

Just one move, and a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster had died, just like that?

Just how strong was this "boss" of his?

Then he saw Lin Yang walk toward the Blazing Fire Wolf's corpse and sighed inwardly.

Forget it. Keeping his life was already good enough.

Soon, Lin Yang returned with a Soul Bone marked with red patterns.

Looking at the magnificent Soul Bone, a trace of burning desire and fascination flashed through Zhao Bufan's eyes.

Was this the legendary Soul Bone?

But after just two glances, he withdrew his gaze. He knew perfectly well that this Soul Bone was not meant for him.

Never mind his current injuries-even uninjured, he would be no match for Lin Yang.

Even if Lin Yang took the Soul Bone outright, he would not utter a single word of objection.

Unexpectedly, Lin Yang sat down in front of Zhao Bufan, placed the Soul Bone between them, and said in a low voice,

"This is a hundred-year right leg bone. What do you think?"

Zhao Bufan pressed his lips together, a hint of bitterness appearing at the corners of his mouth.

"Boss, you should absorb it. Whether it was the Blazing Fire Wolf or Zhao Zhuo, you contributed the most. You deserve it."

"I... I was blinded by the Soul Bone just now. Greed clouded my heart, and I wanted to keep it all for myself." A little shame appeared on Zhao Bufan's face, along with a greater measure of lingering fear.

"If it weren't for you, I would already be dead."

Watching Zhao Bufan, Lin Yang gave a slight inward nod.

Faced with a Soul Bone, Zhao Bufan's reaction was only human.

"It's only a hundred-year Soul Bone. It's not much use to me."

At those words, Zhao Bufan jerked his head up and stared at Lin Yang in shock.

A Soul Bone? Not much use?

Boss, have you gone muddleheaded and started spouting nonsense?

This is a Soul Bone! A Soul Bone!

Zhao Bufan roared inwardly.

But at that moment, something suddenly occurred to him: Lin Yang seemed... not to care about this Soul Bone.

Which meant he still had a chance.

At that thought, he stammered,

"B-Boss, you mean..."

A smile touched Lin Yang's lips. "You were the one who got this Soul Bone to drop in the first place, but there's no denying I contributed too."

Zhao Bufan nodded. That was beyond question.

"So... if you want it, you'll have to trade something for it."

"Boss, are... are you serious?"

Lin Yang countered, "Do I have any reason to lie to you?"

Boom!

It was as though a thunderclap had exploded in Zhao Bufan's mind.

He felt as if all the folds in his brain had instantly smoothed flat, leaving only one thought echoing through his mind.

Get this Soul Bone at any cost.

"I'll trade," Zhao Bufan blurted out almost immediately.

"Sure. What will you trade for it?"

"Gold Soul Coins," Zhao Bufan said without hesitation.

"Thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins and a Soul Hunting Writ. That's everything I can offer."

Having said that, Zhao Bufan looked at Lin Yang, his heart bobbing up and down with uncertainty.

That was indeed a low price compared with a Soul Bone's value, but he was already staking his entire fortune, including his father's "inheritance."

Lin Yang quickly did the sums in his head. The price was indeed rather low, but still acceptable.

At auction, it could easily sell for a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, and even then, money could not guarantee one.

Most importantly, Zhao Bufan was the one who had gotten this Soul Bone to drop. Whatever Lin Yang sold it for would be pure profit, so why ask for a bicycle on top?

"Deal, but I want it paid in full, all at once. No installments."

"No problem," Zhao Bufan agreed immediately.

Lin Yang looked at Zhao Bufan with a hint of amusement. "To think there was a wealthy man hiding among the work-study students."

"Ah." Zhao Bufan gave a bitter chuckle.

"Boss, I won't lie to you. My father was a Soul Master too. In his earlier years... he worked as a bandit, specifically targeting nobles and landlords. That's where these Gold Soul Coins and the Soul Hunting Writ came from."

"Unfortunately, walk along the river often enough, and your shoes are bound to get wet. Someone set a trap for my father and damaged his foundation. He died not long afterward."

"Only before he died did he tell me everything and urge me to become a proper Soul Master."

Zhao Bufan remained very calm as he spoke. Only when he mentioned his father did a trace of mockery and grief pass through his eyes.

"I had no strength, so naturally, I didn't dare spend a single coin of that money. I didn't even dare let anyone see it."

"I was afraid someone might discover it one day and grow green-eyed."

Lin Yang was extremely surprised. He had guessed that Zhao Bufan was certainly not a farmer's son.

He had considered that he might be some down-and-out noble, but never expected him to be a bandit's son.

But again, what did that have to do with him?

Getting the benefits into his hands was what mattered.

Besides, Gold Soul Coins were far more useful to him than a hundred-year Soul Bone.

Lin Yang tossed the Soul Bone into Zhao Bufan's arms. "Hurry up and absorb it. I'll stand guard."

"Boss..."

Zhao Bufan's pupils trembled. He had not expected Lin Yang to hand him the Soul Bone so readily.

Wasn't he afraid Zhao Bufan would renege on the payment?

But when he thought of Lin Yang's strength, he immediately felt reassured.

Picking up the still-warm Soul Bone, Zhao Bufan's eyes filled with burning desire.

Though there had been a few twists and turns along the way, this Soul Bone had still ended up in his hands.

Without hesitation, he pressed it against his right leg and began refining it.

With Lin Yang standing guard, he had no need to worry about his safety.

Refining the Soul Bone went quickly. In less than an hour, he had finished.

Zhao Bufan's Soul Power also successfully broke through to rank twelve, saving him at least half a year.

"Boss, where are we going to look for Soul Beasts next?"

Zhao Bufan was eager to try his hand, wishing he could find a Soul Beast to practice on right now.

Lin Yang glanced at the sky and decided to make camp and rest first.

The two relocated, finding a relatively secluded cave in which to rest.

That evening, as they ate their dry rations, Zhao Bufan chattered on about many things.

There were troubles from the past, as well as hopes for the future.

Lin Yang listened quietly, occasionally offering a word or two in response.

He knew that too much had happened today. Through those dramatic ups and downs, Zhao Bufan's pent-up emotions had found an outlet.

They took turns keeping watch and passed the entire night safe and sound.

The next day, at the first glimmer of dawn, the two were already setting out once more in search of Soul Beasts.

Without Zhao Zhuo's timid hesitation holding them back, they moved quickly.

They reached the middle-to-rear section of the Soul Hunting Forest before noon.

This place was essentially a paradise for Hundred-Year Soul Beasts, and even thousand-year Soul Beasts could appear.

Ordinary Soul Hunting groups would not come here to court death.

Along the way, Zhao Bufan gained yet another new understanding of Lin Yang's strength.

He was not merely strong; he was terrifyingly strong.

Soul Beasts that made even Zhao Bufan's heart quail could not last two moves against Lin Yang.

He also discovered a particular habit of Lin Yang's: he really liked cutting off Soul Beasts' heads...

It had been the same with Zhao Zhuo earlier. Even now, thinking of that head with its eyes still open in death sent a chill through his heart.

"Boss, have you decided what Soul Beast to choose?"

In the dense forest, the hushed surroundings made Zhao Bufan instinctively lower his voice.

Lin Yang swept his gaze over their surroundings and said evenly, "Golden Extreme Beast."