Li Jin was rather speechless.
Those two, Haji Gang and Haji San, had clearly suffered quite a bit during their Soul Hunting trip, and now they were hissing at him. They really could not stand to see him doing well.
Fine, then!
He did need to register at Spirit Hall. A Soul Master could collect one Gold Soul Coin a month, and there was no reason to turn down free money.
Tang San wanted to show him a hundred-year Soul Ring, so he would show Tang San a million-year Soul Ring.
"Since we're all going to Spirit Hall, let's go together. So what if it's a hundred-year Soul Ring? I'm very satisfied with my own Soul Ring anyway."
Excitement appeared in both Yu Xiaogang's and Tang San's eyes.
They could practically already see Li Jin weeping bitter tears because he did not have a hundred-year Soul Ring.
Yu Xiaogang: Li Jin, you will definitely regret not taking me as your master.
Tang San: Li Jin, you will definitely regret not taking my teacher as your master.
The three entered Nuoding City together and passed a restaurant called Truly Full of Flavor.
In the alley beside the restaurant, they could see a ragged beggar with filthy, disheveled hair lying on the ground, his body crippled. A hood completely concealed his face, and a broken bowl sat before him.
Yu Xiaogang pointed at the beggar and said pointedly:
"Little San, do you see? This is the difference between heaven and earth that separates Soul Masters from ordinary people. Soul Masters can collect subsidies from Spirit Hall: one Gold Soul Coin for a Soul Master, ten for a Soul Grandmaster, and a hundred for a Soul Elder. Once you become a Soul Master, you will never be reduced to a beggar."
"With my guidance, I will certainly make you the strongest Soul Master. I will take you across the class divide and free you from the bottom rung for good."
Tang San looked at the beggar, whose head was lowered and whose face was hidden beneath a hood. He sensed something familiar about him.
But inwardly, he shook his head.
That can't be my dad. My dad is the blacksmith in Holy Soul Village. Even if he's fallen on hard times, he wouldn't be reduced to begging.
Tang San unconsciously scratched his back again. Although Yu Xiaogang's combat prowess was rather pathetic, his theoretical knowledge was still extensive. With admiration on his face, Tang San said:
"Teacher, I believe in you."
"No one can rival your theories. Certain people just don't recognize quality when they see it. The day will come when he regrets it."
Li Jin rolled his eyes.
This master-disciple pair was really too much. One put down a beggar to elevate himself, while the other put him down. Their personalities were truly vile.
Li Jin shook his head, took out three Copper Soul Coins, and tossed them into the beggar's broken bowl.
"Yu Xiaogang, he's already disabled. Flaunting your superiority as a Soul Master at a time like this isn't very decent."
Thinking of the dignity he had lost at Brother Scar's hands, Yu Xiaogang now declared haughtily:
"Beggars are inferior people. We Soul Masters stand high above them. Li Jin, it seems you've only absorbed a Soul Ring, but haven't adjusted your mindset yet."
"If you take me as your master now, I can teach you what it means to have the proud backbone of a Soul Master."
Li Jin grew increasingly disgusted with Yu Xiaogang. Ignorant and arrogant-that was simply a true portrait of the man.
He shook his head. "I'll always remember the road I came from. So what if I've become a Soul Master? That's no reason to put myself high above others."
"Yu Xiaogang, you and I will never walk the same road."
With that, Li Jin quickened his pace toward Spirit Hall.
Li Jin's undisguised disdain darkened Yu Xiaogang's expression, and he snorted coldly.
"Three strikes and you're out. This was the second chance I gave you. Fine, Li Jin. Don't regret it later."
"Without my guidance, that Trash Martial Soul of yours, the Koi, will only make you the most useless Soul Master."
"Little San, let's go. Once we reach Spirit Hall, show off your hundred-year Soul Ring and dazzle Li Jin's eyes blind."
Then Yu Xiaogang and Tang San also hurried toward Spirit Hall.
Only then did the beggar lying on the ground with his face hidden beneath a hood raise his head, his body trembling. His features twisted together as he ground his teeth.
He was none other than Tang Hao.
When he had heard Yu Xiaogang call him an inferior person, Tang Hao had been so furious that he wanted to smash him to death with a hammer.
And Tang San had actually failed to recognize him.
He was his biological father, not some cousin of a father.
This left Tang Hao deeply dejected. The son he had raised could not even recognize him.
But he also felt somewhat fortunate.
With his body crippled like this, if he really did reveal himself to Tang San, someone with Tang Hao's fierce pride would rather kill himself on the spot.
Damn Qian Xunji, damn Spirit Hall! Even after six years, the injuries you left me with could still reduce me to this state.
Once my son Little San grows strong, he must tear your Spirit Hall out by the roots, sparing neither chickens nor dogs, to vent the hatred in my heart.
And that damned Li Jin actually gave me money. He really took me for a beggar! Once my body recovers, you'll be the first one I hammer to death!
"Pfft..."
Just as Tang Hao developed the intent to kill Li Jin, his old injuries flared up yet again. Stagnant blood scattered through his body, tugging at his organs and making him spit out another mouthful of blood.
His eyes rolled back. This time, it was not just one arm and one leg; most of his body went numb. Urine and feces poured out beneath him, and a foul stench rose from his body.
He screamed wildly in his mind:
Ahhhhh... damn it! I, the mighty Clear Sky Douluo, actually can't control my bowels or bladder! Qian Xunji, Spirit Hall, did you leave me with old injuries or put a curse on me? Why have I become like this? There's absolutely no pattern to these flare-ups!
There had not been much money in Tang Hao's broken bowl to begin with.
Now that Tang Hao had soiled himself, the overpowering stench made passersby give him an even wider berth.
Meanwhile!
Spirit Hall, Nuoding City!
In an office on the second floor, Ma Xiunuo saw Yu Xiaogang. Out of consideration for the Elder Command Token he carried, Ma Xiunuo immediately stepped forward to greet him, his face wreathed in smiles as he politely cupped his hands in salute:
"Ah, Grandmaster. What wind has blown you to Spirit Hall today? It isn't time to collect the Soul Master subsidy yet."
Ma Xiunuo's respectful manner restored some of Yu Xiaogang's lofty sense of superiority.
He was the Grandmaster, after all!
The creator of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul!
He deserved to be revered by the masses!
Feeling thoroughly pleased, Yu Xiaogang cast a sidelong glance at Li Jin. You'll have plenty to regret in a moment!
Then he placed his hand on Tang San's shoulder.
"I've brought my disciple to register as a Soul Master. As for that unrelated child, he's also here to register as a Soul Master."
Ma Xiunuo glanced at Tang San, who was dark-skinned, thin, and ordinary-looking, and offered a perfunctory compliment.
"So he's the Grandmaster's disciple. One look tells me he's a dragon among men, with a promising future."
Then he looked at Li Jin, dressed in red, tall and straight, with skin like ice and bones like jade and a handsome face. Even standing there casually, he made people unable to resist looking twice. A smile appeared on Ma Xiunuo's face.
"Good children, release your Martial Souls."