"Teacher, I've disappointed you," Tang San cried, his voice choked with emotion. "I am ashamed of your expectations. I failed the entrance exam for Shrek Academy. I…" As he spoke, his eyes turned red, and his entire body began to tremble uncontrollably. He was still on the ground, his upper body bowed in a position of complete submission, like a subject kneeling before his monarch. It was clear that in Tang San's mind, Yu Xiaogang held the highest possible status.
"Little San, get up quickly," Yu Xiaogang said, deeply moved by his disciple's display of loyalty. He hurried forward and used his one remaining hand to help Tang San to his feet. The two then embraced each other tightly.
At that moment, the blacksmith shop owner, having heard the commotion, stepped outside. He was met with an explosive and somewhat awkward scene. Just as he'd suspected, Tang San was at the center of the drama, but he never expected someone to show up for him this early in the morning.
Seeing the owner emerge, Yu Xiaogang and Tang San separated.
"What's going on here?" the owner asked tentatively, keeping his expression neutral.
Yu Xiaogang gestured for Tang San to stand aside. He straightened his wrinkled clothes, stepped forward, and extended his left hand to the owner. "Hello," he said. "I am Tang San's teacher." As he moved, the empty sleeve of his right arm swung back and forth, immediately catching the owner's eye.
Tang San's teacher? And he's disabled?
the owner thought.
"Hello," the owner replied, shaking the offered hand. He generally felt a sense of friendliness toward people with disabilities, even if this man was the teacher of the troublesome boy in his shop. Though the owner looked burly and intimidating, he was, in fact, a kind and passionate man at heart. If he weren't, he never would have offered Tang San a job, let alone lent him money. However, Tang San's subsequent actions had soured that initial goodwill.
Yu Xiaogang's stiff face broke into his signature ugly smile, which made the owner slightly uncomfortable. He glanced back at Tang San and then said, "Tang San is my disciple. I'd like to take him with me. I hope you won't make things difficult."
He was determined to get Tang San out of here immediately. A blacksmith shop was no place for a talented young man. In his opinion, Tang San still had immense potential that needed to be developed; he couldn't afford to neglect his cultivation.
"Hehehe," the owner chuckled and nodded. "Since you're his teacher, you're his elder. You can certainly make decisions for him," he said agreeably. "I'm not an unreasonable person. The thing is, Tang San borrowed some money from me, and he still hasn't paid it back." "As long as you settle his debt, you can take him with you anytime you like."
Throughout the conversation, the owner kept a kind smile on his face.
"Hmm?" Yu Xiaogang's brow furrowed slightly.
Tang San is working here. Shouldn't he be earning money? Why would he owe the owner?
he wondered.
Could it be that this shady boss tricked him with some unfair terms? Tang San is young; he might have fallen for it.
With that thought, Yu Xiaogang made up his mind. He had to get to the bottom of this. If Tang San truly owed the money fairly, he would naturally pay it back. Although Yu Xiaogang's reputation in the Spirit Master world wasn't great, he wasn't the type to run from a debt. But if his disciple had been bullied by a black-hearted boss… well, even if his spirit power was low, he still knew a thing or two about fighting.
This bold line of thinking was fueled entirely by Yu Xiaogang's tendency to bully the weak and fear the strong. He could feel the faint fluctuations of spirit power from the owner and judged him to be around level ten, no more than fifteen at most. Against such a weak opponent, Yu Xiaogang felt brave. If he were facing a Spirit Emperor or Spirit Saint, or even a Spirit Ancestor over level 30, he wouldn't dare say a word.
"Excuse me," Yu Xiaogang said, placing his left hand behind his back and puffing out his chest. His tone became firm. "Could you explain how my disciple came to owe you money?"
"How do I say that?" the owner replied, his expression immediately turning grim. He had spoken calmly and respectfully out of consideration for the man being Tang San's teacher, but this guy showed no respect at all, even speaking to him with a questioning, accusatory tone.
"It's simple," the owner said bluntly. "Tang San borrowed ten Gold Soul Coins from me, and he hasn't paid them back yet!" He then added, "If you don't believe me, you can ask him yourself!"
At this, Tang San shrank back, a guilty look on his face. In this situation, he had no way to argue. But his guilt wasn't because he felt remorse for not repaying the debt; it was because the owner had an IOU for the money he borrowed. He had written it himself. In fact, the owner hadn't even thought to ask for one, but Tang San had insisted on it to show he intended to pay it back quickly. Who could have known that he would lose it all after getting beaten in the Soto Soul Fighting Arena that night?
Yu Xiaogang turned and looked at Tang San, who simply lowered his head and said nothing. Yu Xiaogang's face darkened; he immediately understood what had happened. There was no point in arguing anymore. The priority was to pay the money and get Tang San out of here. His disciple was in a terrible state and desperately needed to rest.
"How much did he owe you? I'll pay it back for him," Yu Xiaogang declared, swinging the empty sleeve of his right arm violently, as if the gesture made him look majestic.
The blacksmith owner held up ten fingers. "Let's not worry about the extra stuff. Just give me ten gold soul coins."
"Just ten?" Yu Xiaogang frowned. "Are you looking down on me?"
Do you think I don't have the money? he thought, his pride stung. He pulled a purse from his pocket and, under the owner's strange gaze, counted out twenty gold soul coins.
"Here are twenty gold soul coins," he announced. "From now on, my disciple and you have nothing to do with each other!"
Huh? The blacksmith owner was completely baffled.
Is this guy crazy?
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