Tang San: "???"
"If you're in no mood to cultivate, how can your state of mind improve?"
"If your state of mind doesn't improve, how can your Soul Power circulate?"
"If your Soul Power can't circulate better, how can your level rise?"
Chen Mo patted Tang San on the shoulder and said earnestly:
"So, it's all that woman by your side's fault!"
"Women are poison, little brother! You can't handle them!"
After hearing this, Tang San looked puzzled at first, then thoughtful. Finally, he slapped his thigh, his eyes frighteningly bright.
"I get it! I get it! Big brother, I get it!"
Tang San said excitedly, "Big brother, I understand! I'll go back and cut ties with Xiao Wu right now!"
Chen Mo nearly burst out laughing. He hurriedly grabbed him. "Hey, hey, hey, Xiao Sanzi, that's not the right way to do this!"
Tang San froze. "Huh? It's not? Then what should I do?"
With an "I have your best interests at heart" expression, Chen Mo said earnestly:
"Think about it. Xiao Wu is your friend. If you cut ties with her, wouldn't that hurt your friendship? It wouldn't sound good if word got out, either."
"Then... what should I do?" Tang San scratched his head.
"Leave it to your big brother."
Chen Mo patted his chest. "With a little maneuvering, I'll bring her straight over to my side."
"That way, she won't be able to interfere with your training anymore. You can cultivate in peace, and your Soul Power will shoot up until you reach the pinnacle!"
Tang San's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. "Good! Good! You're right, big brother! Big brother, sorry for the trouble!"
"Leave it all to me." Chen Mo smiled and patted Tang San's shoulder. "Come on, let's keep drinking and celebrate our reunion as brothers!"
"All right!" Tang San raised his cup and drained it, a silly smile on his face.
Looking at Tang San, who looked as though he would help count the money after being sold, Chen Mo secretly reveled in his satisfaction.
Oh, Tang San, Tang San. With that IQ of yours, once the Idiocy Aura shines on you, you probably can't even measure up to a pig.
That evening, Chen Mo took Tang San back to the academy, then returned to his rented courtyard.
He took out his diary and wrote down that evening's conversation exactly as it had happened.
[Year X, month X, day X. Clear weather. Night.]
[I took Tang San to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion for drinks tonight and got him drunk.]
[I activated the Idiocy Aura and asked him what level I was.]
[He guessed 15, 18, 22, and 25. I smiled without answering.]
[He took a deep breath and asked, level 30? I told him to be bolder.]
[He went straight to wishing for a Titled Douluo. I sprayed all my wine in his face. I told him to guess, not make a wish.]
[I told him I was level 46 now. He was completely dumbfounded, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.]
[The system notified me that Tang San's IQ had dropped by 50%. He immediately dropped to one knee and hugged my leg, crying and begging me to teach him.]
[I said the woman by his side was affecting his cultivation, and that women were poison. He saw the light and wanted to cut ties with Xiao Wu.]
[I stopped him and told him to leave it to his big brother. I'd bring Xiao Wu to my side so she wouldn't interfere with his training anymore.]
[He was so moved that he kept saying, big brother, sorry for the trouble.]
[Hehe, oh, Tang San, Tang San. You're still helping me count the money after being sold.]
As he finished writing the final word, a flash of light passed over the diary.
[Ding! Diary generated. Distributing copies...] [Copy recipients: Xiao Wu, Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, Hu Liena.] [Rewards obtained: free attribute points ×8, mental strength +15, charm +10.]
At that moment, the heroines in various places all received their diary copies.
At Nuoding Academy, Xiao Wu was cultivating in her dormitory when she suddenly received a diary copy.
She opened it and looked, freezing at first. Then, the more she read, the redder her face became, until she finally burst out laughing.
"Tang San... Tang San actually wanted to cut ties with me?!"
Xiao Wu laughed so hard she couldn't straighten up. "That idiot! He actually believed it!"
After she finished laughing, she thought of Chen Mo saying in the diary, "Bring Xiao Wu to my side." Her heartbeat instantly quickened, and her face grew even redder.
At the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Yan rolled around on her bed laughing after reading the diary.
"The Idiocy Aura is way too powerful!"
Dugu Yan spoke between laughs. "That idiot Tang San had his IQ cut straight in half! Big brother sold him, and he even helped count the money!"
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong burst out laughing the moment she read the diary.
"Pfft, hahaha!"
After she finished laughing, she muttered:
"But... isn't this guy Chen Mo way too shameless? Saying women are poison, getting Tang San to cut ties with Xiao Wu, then taking over himself?"
In the Star Luo Empire, Zhu Zhuqing's lips twitched after she read the diary.
"IQ reduced by 50%... kneeling on one knee and hugging his leg... crying and begging for instruction..." Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath. "This Chen Mo plays far too dirty, doesn't he?"
At Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong wore a complicated expression after reading the diary.
"The Idiocy Aura... can lower other people's IQ..." Bibi Dong murmured. "Such an ability is simply unheard of."
At Spirit Hall, Hu Liena first laughed uncontrollably after reading the diary, then felt a little anticipation.
"He said women are poison, and he wants to steal the woman by Tang San's side..." Hu Liena hugged the diary, her face faintly flushed. "What about me? When will he come steal me?"
In Nuoding City, inside the rented courtyard.
Chen Mo put away his diary and looked at the moon outside the window, a wicked smile curling his lips.
Early the next morning, Chen Mo practiced his punches for a while in his rented courtyard.
The Blue Silver Emperor extended a few branches from the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse and wound them around his wrist, moving along with him as though learning martial arts from him.
Chen Mo smiled and rubbed the Blue Silver Grass's leaves. "You little thing, you really do love learning."
The Blue Silver Grass rubbed against his palm, looking very pleased with itself.
Once he was ready, Chen Mo locked the door and headed toward Nuoding Academy.
He planned to find Tang San today and, while he was at it, see just what sort of character that Yu Xiaogang was.
As soon as he reached the edge of the academy's sports field, Chen Mo saw Tang San standing beside the track with a middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man was plain-looking and wore a drab gray robe, but his eyes were bright as he excitedly patted Tang San's shoulder.
Chen Mo stopped and hid behind a tree to eavesdrop.
"Xiao San, you must remember: in this world, there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters!"
Spittle flew as Yu Xiaogang spoke. "Although people look down on your Blue Silver Grass, under my guidance, you will definitely become a Titled Douluo in the future!"
Tang San nodded solemnly. "Yes, Teacher!"
Hearing this, Chen Mo couldn't hold back and let out a snort of laughter.
That laugh rang out especially loudly across the quiet sports field.
Yu Xiaogang's face instantly darkened.
He whipped his head around and looked toward the source of the laughter.
A youth stepped out from behind the tree. He stood around 1.6 meters tall and wore clothes that, though old, had been washed clean. His face was extraordinarily handsome, and a faint, ambiguous smile still curved his lips.