Several days passed, and the time for enrollment at the Soul Master Academy had finally arrived.
Early in the morning, outside Gucao Village, Yang Yunhai sat on an ox cart filled with vegetables, holding his bedding as they made their way toward Nuoding City.
In the past few days, his injuries had fully healed. With the help of Chang Gongdi, the village chief's son, he officially registered under the Spirit Hall. He even received the subsidies for January and February. Including the additional aid the village chief provided before he left, Yang Yunhai now had two full gold soul coins. As long as he spent wisely, it would be enough to support him at the academy for several months.
Moreover, considering that the school was Nuoding City's Junior Soul Master Academy, mostly attended by nobles, if others found out he was a reserve soul master under the Spirit Hall, and the only one to join before graduation, they might look down on him due to his weak talent and strength. Worse yet, he might be isolated or even targeted.
So, when he left for the academy, no one from the village chief's family saw him off. Instead, two villagers going to the city to sell vegetables took him along.
"I will repay you," Yang Yunhai murmured, glancing back at the village entrance. Remembering the chief's parting words, he was deeply moved and turned his eyes forward again.
Several hours later, the ox cart came to a stop with a creak. The gates of Nuoding City appeared before them.
The three jumped off the cart and quickly set up a small roadside stall using wooden planks.
Then, led by one of the villagers, Yang Yunhai entered the city.
After asking for directions, they headed straight for the academy.
About 30 minutes later, the gates of Nuoding Academy came into view.
"Huh? What a coincidence?" Yang Yunhai was stunned. Standing at the academy gates were three people.
An old man and a young boy in simple clothing, and a third man in a tidy uniform holding a Spirit Hall certificate, who was hurling insults.
"What? Not convinced?"
"Your clothes are covered in patches. I say you're from Beggar Village, am I wrong? I think you'd better go find a place to beg! Nuoding Academy doesn't just accept anyone!"
"Get lost! Now!"
As he spoke, he reached out and shoved the old man in the chest.
His voice was so loud and aggressive that even from a distance, Yang Yunhai could hear it clearly.
"The chief said the gatekeeper at Nuoding Academy has a foul temper, it's true!" the villager beside him muttered.
"Should we wait and see before going over?" he added. As a common villager, he didn't dare offend the academy's gatekeeper, though he inwardly despised the man for insulting an elderly person like that.
Yang Yunhai stayed silent, his eyes carefully studying the young boy.
When the gatekeeper moved to strike, the boy reacted swiftly. His right foot stepped forward, catching the man's left foot, and with a well-timed push to the gut, the gatekeeper lost his balance and fell.
"That really is Tang San, a classic scene," Yang Yunhai thought, eyes shifting to the boy's raised left arm.
Despite the distance, he could clearly see the way the boy's sleeve bulged, then dropped, his fingers tensing. From this angle, it was obvious.
Especially the fingertips that protruded from the sleeve, pointed right at the gatekeeper's throat.
"Incredible," Yang Yunhai silently marveled, even as someone who had lived two lives and seen much of the world.
Tang San's courage and his thought process, truly admirable.
If his eyes weren't deceiving him, that motion had clearly been the act of unlocking a hidden sleeve dart.
Everything happening now was exactly as described in the original story, anyone familiar with it could see it coming.
And now he was witnessing it in person.
At the gates of a soul master academy, with people watching, Tang San had the nerve to attempt a silent kill using a hidden weapon?
Did he not consider the consequences? What about old Jack or the two nearby strangers, kill them too? Even if he did, there were still several streets leading to the academy.
What about the townsfolk who saw them arrive?
Four bodies lying outside the academy, how would that be handled? How long would it take? If not dealt with, was he planning to flee back to the village?
Tang San didn't know whether Tang Hao was secretly watching him, so he clearly hadn't thought this through. If Tang Hao didn't intervene, and Jack, who brought Tang San to the academy, ended up dead on enrollment day, and Tang San vanished too...
Wouldn't that raise suspicions?
Could the investigators not piece it together?
Even someone like him, who had only watched a few dozen episodes of Detective Conan and a couple crime films, could figure that much out.
Wasn't Tang San originally from the Tang Sect, a secretive martial organization? And wasn't he 29 when he jumped off the cliff in his past life? Didn't he learn anything about emotional control or evasion?
Shouldn't he have just remembered the insult and planned a quiet revenge in the middle of the night?
Killing in public? In broad daylight? How reckless!
It made no sense, completely illogical. Yang Yunhai couldn't help but rant inwardly as his gaze moved to the side and he gave a subtle nod.
"No need," he said while glancing toward the approaching middle-aged man with a buzzcut.
"Enough. Stop it!" came the man's slightly hoarse voice.
"That guy looks like an academy instructor," Yang Yunhai said quietly, which the nearby villager overheard.
It must be Yu Xiaogang. No wonder he was portrayed as a mysterious figure in the story, the way he held his hands behind his back, the air of depression tinged with authority. Judging by his features, he probably looked good in his youth. No surprise he managed to win over both Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong.
Yang Yunhai couldn't help but make a mental note.
In the eyes of women, a man's aura only adds to his appeal if he's already good-looking. If Yu Xiaogang were ugly, no way would he have charmed both of them. After all, neither Bibi Dong nor Liu Erlong lacked wealth.
As for intelligence and knowledge, those mean nothing next to good looks and money.
After all, looks are innate. Intelligence and education? Those can be bought.
"Instructor?!" the villager finally snapped out of his amazement at how a young boy like Tang San had taken down a grown man.
He quickly followed Yang Yunhai's gaze and looked the instructor over, his face lighting up with relief.
"This instructor looks pretty kind. I don't think he'll give those two trouble. Maybe he won't make things hard for us either."
He tucked the bedding under his arm and turned back. "Xiao Hai, let's go."
Yang Yunhai nodded and began walking.
By now, Yu Xiaogang had already read Tang San's Spirit Hall certificate taken from the gatekeeper.
His eyes scanned Tang San deeply before turning to the gatekeeper and saying coldly:
"This is your first warning. It will also be your last. Do it again, and you're out."
Just a freeloader who hadn't taught a single class in years, yet acted like he ran the place. The gatekeeper cursed inwardly, but outwardly, he bowed quickly and stepped aside.
Yu Xiaogang didn't have the authority to fire him, but the headmaster did, and they were friends.
Only then did Yu Xiaogang look down at Tang San, taking his hand and forcing a small smile.
"Let's go inside."
"Please wait, instructor!" A rushed voice interrupted.
Tap tap tap, Yang Yunhai was pulled forward quickly, stopping in front of Yu Xiaogang.
"What is it?" Yu Xiaogang paused, frowning slightly as he looked at the villager in front of Yang Yunhai.
The man shrank back under the soul master's cold gaze. He had assumed the instructor who helped a poor boy earlier would be kind and helpful, but now it seemed he was rather stern.
He quickly let go of Yang Yunhai's hand and pulled out a certificate from his coat, handing it over respectfully.
"Instructor, this child from our village also awakened spirit power this year and has a working-student spot. Would you be able to bring him in for enrollment as well?"
Yu Xiaogang didn't respond. He didn't nod either. He simply reached out and took the certificate, expression unreadable.
Blue Silver Grass, innate spirit power 0.5 rank.
A trace of disdain flashed in his eyes. He handed the certificate back to Yang Yunhai and said blandly:
"Just follow me."
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