If You Can't Pay Back the Money, Soul Rings and Soul Bones Will Have to Do

"It's because Spirit Hall gives out too few Gold Soul Coins."

Xiao Wu grew a little shy under Han Yu's scrutinizing gaze. She lowered her flushed little face, her two fair, delicate hands twisting together as she spoke awkwardly.

"So?"

So?

Han Yu propped his head on his hand and tilted it as he looked at Xiao Wu.

"So, for my meals from now on... at worst, at worst, Sister Xiao Wu will give you..."

Xiao Wu spoke softly at first, but as she went on, she straightened her back and raised her head to look at Han Yu, looking as though she was ready to stake it all.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Han Yu hurriedly cut her off, then continued.

"How about this? I'll lend you some Gold Soul Coins. What do you say?"

Xiao Wu looked at Han Yu in surprise and spoke.

"Really?"

"Really."

Han Yu smiled and nodded. Then he took ten Gold Soul Coins from his Soul Tool and tossed them up and down in his hand as he continued.

"I can lend them to you, but I'll have to charge interest. Twenty percent a year. That's not too much, is it? Think about it. Once you become a Soul Grandmaster, you'll be able to collect ten Gold Soul Coins every month. And if you reach Soul Elder, you'll get a hundred."

Han Yu's words echoed in Xiao Wu's ears like a devil's whisper. How could the little rabbit, already so foolish, work any of that out? It was a mere twenty percent. At worst, she would just pay him back later.

"Of course, if you can't pay it back, you'll have to use something else instead."

Han Yu sat on the bed with his legs crossed, looking at her with a smile on his face, like a big bad wolf luring a rabbit.

"Hmph, what does Sister Xiao Wu have to be afraid of?"

Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed. She gave a cold snort, rolled her eyes, and tucked the ten Gold Soul Coins from Han Yu's hand into her clothes.

Ten Gold Soul Coins weren't much, only as much as Spirit Hall gave a Soul Grandmaster in a month, but if he planted the idea that money was easy to obtain in Xiao Wu's mind...

Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

The Soft Bone Rabbit's Soul Bone Skills, Teleportation and Invincible Golden Body, were enough to make anyone green with envy. Han Yu naturally wanted to get his hands on skills that could be called invincible.

Time passed quickly. Before long, Tang San, Wang Sheng, and the others had eaten their fill and returned to the dormitory. Not long after that, the lights went out.

Somewhere in Nuoding Academy, a figure in a black cloak stood hidden in the darkness, looking at the empty training ground. The figure raised his head and stared at a dormitory, murmuring under his breath.

"A juvenile Soul Beast dares to come to the human world? A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone..."

The figure vanished in an instant, as though he had never been there. No one in Nuoding Academy noticed a thing. Only a man in a black cloak entered a roadside tavern that was still selling liquor and silently drank the liquor in his hand.

Soon, the day came for Tang San to accompany Yu Xiaogang to the Soul Hunting Forest and absorb a Soul Ring. Tang San had lived up to Yu Xiaogang's expectations, spending all his free time cultivating and finally reaching level ten.

On the evening before their departure for the Soul Hunting Forest, Yu Xiaogang arranged to meet Han Yu and Tang San in the dormitory for a discussion.

"Han Yu, tomorrow I'm taking Little San to the Soul Hunting Forest to get him a Soul Ring. Would you like to come?"

Yu Xiaogang's normally stiff face was cheerful now, with none of its usual lifeless appearance.

"No."

Han Yu sat in a chair with his legs crossed on the table, chewing on an apple as he turned Yu Xiaogang down.

His little tree Martial Soul couldn't obtain Soul Rings, something Yu Xiaogang didn't know. Moreover, he had never shown that black Soul Ring to anyone, so he still hadn't gone to Spirit Hall to have his Martial Soul appraised.

His identity was now tied to Tang Hao. If he rashly went to Spirit Hall, his peaceful days would probably come to an end.

"Teacher, in that case, my Blue Silver Grass can also take an animal Soul Beast's Soul Ring."

Tang San closed the book in his hands and questioned Yu Xiaogang like a model student.

"That's right. My research and discoveries have shown that Plant-type Martial Souls can absolutely absorb animal Soul Beasts' Soul Rings."

Yu Xiaogang nodded, a look of pride appearing deep in his eyes.

"What about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? Does that count as a Beast Martial Soul?"

Han Yu, still seated in his chair, tossed the apple core into the trash and glanced at Yu Xiaogang as he spoke mildly.

Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened. He seemed not to know how to answer and fell into thought.

"Besides, if a Martial Soul is a blade, what kind of Martial Soul would that be? A Tool Martial Soul, right? But have there ever been any Tool Soul Beasts on the Douluo Continent?"

Amused by his own argument, Han Yu chuckled. He stood and bent forward slightly, looking into Yu Xiaogang's somewhat flustered eyes.

"So just absorb the Soul Beast you need to absorb. There's no need to worry about any of that."

With that, Han Yu paid no mind to Yu Xiaogang's face, which alternated between ashen and pale. He turned, waved a hand behind him, and walked away.

"Teacher, Teacher!"

Yu Xiaogang watched Han Yu's departing back, unable to contain the breath he had been holding in his chest any longer. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and blood welled from his mouth. Tang San was horrified and hurried over to support him.

"Little San, tell me... am I really good for nothing?"

Supported by Tang San, Yu Xiaogang turned to look at him, his eyes indescribably haggard. His hand trembled as he reached for Tang San, then drew back again, as though afraid Tang San would reject him.

Tang San shook his head, sighed, and spoke.

"Teacher, you don't know. My older brother has treated me well since we were little. Maybe sometimes we don't understand the methods he uses, but I can guarantee that he absolutely has my best interests at heart."

"Perhaps."

Having taken the blow, Yu Xiaogang spoke softly, dejection hanging over his entire body.

The room fell silent. Even the things Yu Xiaogang had wanted to tell Tang San seemed to be stuck in his throat now, and he couldn't get a single word out.

Seeing this, Tang San could only sigh silently and stay by Yu Xiaogang's side to comfort him.

Before daybreak the next morning, Yu Xiaogang took Tang San to the Soul Hunting Forest. After they returned from this trip, Tang San became a full-fledged Soul Master.

During the time since Tang San had left for the Soul Hunting Forest, nothing much had happened, aside from Xiao Wu owing Han Yu more and more money.

Then, today, Wang Sheng and the others were late returning after finishing their work as work-study students. Xiao Wu lay on her bed, gave a burp, and counted on her fingers how many Gold Soul Coins she owed Han Yu.

"Ten... twenty... thirty... It's only been such a short time, and I've already spent more than thirty Gold Soul Coins."

Xiao Wu spread her arms and legs out on the bed in the shape of the character "大" and stared silently at the ceiling. Even the rabbit doll she had just bought, lying beside her, didn't seem quite so cute anymore.

"Finished counting?"

Sitting nearby, Han Yu couldn't help finding Xiao Wu's predicament amusing.

"I can't work it out!"

Xiao Wu murmured to herself as she lay on the bed. She could only collect one Gold Soul Coin a month now. How long would it take her to pay it back?

(A shout-out for a book written by a group member: Douluo: Destroy the World? I, the Savior.

It's mainly about pulling stunts and tormenting the world. Give it a look.)