The two gate guards' expressions changed again and again. Finally, each pulled a Gold Soul Coin from inside his robes.
Gold Soul Coins were worth far more than Silver Soul Coins; one was worth ten. These were savings they had scraped together by living frugally for months while guarding the gate. Had Han Qiu's threat to report them to Spirit Hall not scared them out of their wits, they would never have parted with the coins.
"We were in the wrong just now. Please don't stoop to our level, little brother! These two Gold Soul Coins are our sincere apology. Please be magnanimous and don't report us to Spirit Hall." One guard held the coins in both hands and presented them to Han Qiu with the utmost respect, his head bowed low.
"At least you know what's good for you." Han Qiu slowly raised a hand and accepted the two Gold Soul Coins. His fingertips rubbed their cool surfaces before he slipped them into his pocket. "I'll accept this apology money."
Tang San said nothing, his heart full of emotion.
Han Qiu... Holy Soul Village's famous simpleton-when had he become so adept at calculating what was in people's hearts?
His ability to read people and keep his opponents in his grasp was even more frightening than that of the Tang Sect's shrewd, scheming elders.
Old Jack scratched his graying head, still lost in a fog and not quite recovered from the shock.
Not far away, a lean middle-aged man stood quietly in the shadows, having witnessed the entire scene. His eyes flickered, and he marveled inwardly, This young boy is remarkably good at reading people!
The middle-aged man stepped forward at an unhurried pace and spoke in a steady voice. "The three of you, please wait. Nuoding Academy handled this matter improperly. On behalf of the academy, I apologize to you all."
With that, he swept a cold gaze over the two guards.
He had seen how the dispute between them had unfolded and had originally been about to step in and help the three people who were being harassed.
But he had never expected the child before him, who looked no more than six, to have such an extraordinary temperament.
He conducted himself with composure and experience, nothing like an ordinary child and more like an adult in his twenties or thirties who had seen the world.
Tang San and Old Jack were both taken aback when the middle-aged man suddenly appeared.
Only Han Qiu remained as calm as ever, without the slightest ripple in his expression. Others might not know who this man was, but how could he not?
The son of the Purple Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's master, Yu Xiaogang, the Grandmaster known as unbeatable in theory-his combat ability was lousy.
The two guards stood to one side with their heads bowed, meek and submissive, no longer daring to utter another word.
"There's no need. They've already apologized for what happened." Old Jack looked at the middle-aged man. He had an ordinary face and wore a plain gray robe, but his intangible bearing could not be concealed. Assuming he must be someone important at the academy, Old Jack hurriedly waved off the apology.
Tang San studied the middle-aged man closely. Catching sight of the guards, who had fallen as silent as cicadas in winter, he nodded slightly, deep in thought.
The middle-aged man glanced down at the certificate in his hand. A trace of surprise and doubt appeared on his face before he returned to normal and smiled faintly. "You're here to enroll, aren't you... Leave the two children with me. I'll take them inside."
Old Jack quickly nodded in agreement. "Then sorry for the trouble, sir."
With that, he gave Tang San and Han Qiu a few careful instructions.
Han Qiu narrowed his eyes slightly and gazed quietly at the middle-aged man. This was the guy who had won Bibi Dong's and Liu Erlong's hearts? He looked pretty ordinary.
Actually, I want a rich lady too. I want her to feed me too...
Living off a woman is pretty sweet, actually...
Han Qiu silently scrutinized Yu Xiaogang, while Yu Xiaogang studied the boy before him.
What a piercing gaze!
Yu Xiaogang's heart jolted. The look the child gave him carried an inexplicable pressure, as though it could see through the secrets buried in his heart.
He thought it over and assumed the late nights he had been pulling these past few days had given him such an illusion. How could a child possibly see through him?
But then another thought occurred to him. Innate Full Soul Power, a Vertical Eye Martial Soul... He had never heard of such a Martial Soul existing in the world.
How could it produce Innate Full Soul Power? Could he have Twin Martial Souls? Just like the child with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul beside him? Countless thoughts surged through Yu Xiaogang's mind.
Su Yuntao had come up with the name Vertical Eye Martial Soul on the spot when registering the certificate.
After Old Jack finished instructing the two boys, he turned and left. Han Qiu and Tang San followed the Grandmaster into Nuoding Academy.
"Sorry for the trouble, teacher," Tang San said respectfully.
Yu Xiaogang waved a hand and smiled faintly. "I'm not a teacher at the academy, merely an idler here. You can call me Grandmaster. That's what everyone else calls me."
"You're not a teacher?" Tang San paused in surprise, then immediately said in earnest, "Then you must be an extremely capable person!"
"Oh? What makes you say that?" Curiosity appeared in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
"Because only someone truly capable can bear the title of 'Grandmaster.' Besides, the fact that you can speak on the academy's behalf shows that you hold an extraordinary position here." Tang San spoke solemnly, enunciating every word. "Even though you don't teach here, your abilities must surpass those of most academy teachers."
The middle-aged man burst out laughing when he heard this.
Han Qiu raised a hand and rubbed his forehead, feeling helpless. As expected, a fated meeting was hard to change. Tang San and the Grandmaster had met in the end. Little San's words sounded heartfelt, but they were actually masterful. He had delivered them so seriously that he probably hadn't even realized he was flattering the man, and that was what made it so brilliant.
"You shouldn't call someone teacher so casually." The Grandmaster spoke with a smile, a sharp glint suddenly flashing through his eyes. "You have Innate Full Soul Power... and Twin Martial Souls, don't you? Your future is boundless. I'm just an idler lodging at the academy and muddling through my days. How could I be worthy of being your teacher?"
Tang San froze on the spot at those words.
Han Qiu felt a slight stir of emotion. To be fair, the Grandmaster's practical combat ability wasn't very strong-it could be considered downright garbage-and his eye for judging people was somewhat lacking too. But he could copy, and perhaps he had been very handsome when he was young...
As a transmigrator who had read the original Douluo novel, Han Qiu knew the secret of Tang San's Twin Martial Souls only thanks to his omniscient perspective.
But Yu Xiaogang had no X-ray vision or foresight. Relying solely on deductions from copied theories, he had still managed to guess Tang San's hidden trump card by taking a wild stab at it. That was a skill in itself.
"No! You're absolutely capable of it!" Tang San stood quietly for a moment before suddenly speaking with a solemn expression. "I want to take you as my master!"
"Oh? Why do you say that?" The Grandmaster raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Because you saw at a glance that I have Twin Martial Souls," Tang San said slowly. "I doubt any instructor at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy could have done that. Would you be willing to guide me in the cultivation of my Martial Souls?"
It was a decision he had made after careful consideration.
Only his father knew the secret of his Twin Martial Souls, yet the mysterious middle-aged man before him had exposed it in a single sentence. It was truly inconceivable.
That alone convinced Tang San that the Grandmaster was no ordinary person.
The Grandmaster laughed heartily. "Good, good, good! After all these years, you're the first person to come forward and ask to become my disciple. Very well, I'll grant your wish. Your name is Tang San, correct? Do you know how I could tell that you have Twin Martial Souls?"