After bidding farewell to Ye Miaoyun and her daughter, Lin Mu took Tang San back to Nuoding City by carriage.
[Main Quest: Take Tang San as a disciple and reshape his worldview. The greater the contrast, the richer the rewards. Completion: 9.5%.]
This trip to help Tang San hunt for a soul ring was not in vain.
As a disciple of the Tang Sect, Tang San's thinking was already deeply ingrained. To change his worldview, one could only rely on subtle influence along with some deliberate guidance.
After returning to the city, Lin Mu dropped Tang San off at Nuoding Academy, where they unexpectedly ran into Yu Xiaogang.
Compared to a few days ago, Yu Xiaogang now appeared much more dispirited. He was disheveled, looking extremely sloppy, like a beggar.
After having his disciple snatched away, Yu Xiaogang had fallen into self-doubt for a time.
However, having endured countless disdainful glances over the years, his heart had long become unshakable. Even though Tang San had already taken a master, he still didn't plan to give up.
Seeing the two appear, Yu Xiaogang's spirits lifted immediately. He quickly approached them, his eyes burning as he stared at Tang San.
Faced with Yu Xiaogang, who looked like a lecher spotting a beauty, Tang San's eyes were full of disgust.
This old geezer was truly vile.
If he hadn't met his master, he might have really been fooled by this old thing. The mere thought made him wish he could kill the old fool with a sleeve arrow.
"Brother Xiaogang, I admit the things I said to you before were indeed a bit harsh, but they were, after all, the truth. I couldn't help it. But... I truly didn't expect this matter to hit you so hard."
Lin Mu pretended to sigh.
If Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong saw Yu Xiaogang in this state, he wondered what they would think.
It was rather laughable. Who knew where Yu Xiaogang got his charm, actually making two women pine for him like this. Any of the handsome guys present could outdo him by miles.
Hearing Lin Mu's teasing, Yu Xiaogang almost spat out a mouthful of old blood. This was clearly calling him trash.
Moreover, this guy actually addressed him as 'Brother Xiaogang'—how outrageous!
Having learned from past experience, Yu Xiaogang was obviously more restrained now, not as arrogant as before. At least he didn't dare act presumptuously in front of Lin Mu.
"Tang San hasn't been at the academy these past few days... Did you go hunt for a soul ring?"
As a theoretical master who had studied countless martial souls, Yu Xiaogang believed no one understood the Blue Silver Grass martial soul better than he did.
As long as Lin Mu gave Tang San the wrong soul ring, resulting in a trash soul skill, Tang San would naturally realize who the true master was.
"That's right. We went to the Star Dou Great Forest."
Hearing this, a strange light flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes. This guy actually dared to take Tang San to the Star Dou Great Forest.
While a Soul Ancestor was formidable, in a dangerous place like the Star Dou Great Forest, they could barely protect themselves, let alone protect a Tang San who didn't even have a soul ring yet.
This guy's martial soul was just a piece of metal. Apart from using it to smash people, Yu Xiaogang couldn't think of any other attack method.
He probably couldn't even handle a thousand-year soul beast.
"Then what soul ring did you give Tang San?"
Seeming worried about provoking Lin Mu's hostility, Yu Xiaogang added, "Don't misunderstand. It's just that this is the first time I've encountered an innate full soul power Blue Silver Grass soul master. I want to study it."
"Brother Xiaogang, your little schemes can't fool me."
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's timid and hesitant demeanor, the corner of Lin Mu's mouth lifted slightly as he directly exposed him.
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly explained, "I really don't have any other intentions."
"Brother Xiaogang, why so nervous? Even if you have some ulterior motives, it's none of my business, right?"
Lin Mu changed his previous attitude, becoming understanding instead.
This left Yu Xiaogang utterly confused. How had this guy suddenly become a different person, actually considering his feelings? Was he dreaming?
Could it be that he felt guilty?
"Master..."
Tang San truly couldn't understand. For an old swindler like this, even if they didn't kill him, they should at least teach him a harsh lesson.
Seeing Tang San so obtuse, Lin Mu felt a bit helpless. No wonder he had been fooled so easily by Yu Xiaogang.
"Brother Xiaogang, how about we make a bet? Let's bet on Xiao San's first soul skill."
"How do we bet?"
Yu Xiaogang vaguely guessed this might be the other party's trap, but a drowning man wouldn't let go of any lifeline. Even if he knew it was a trap, he had to try.
After all, he had nothing left to lose. With a worthless life, he might as well go for it.
A glint flickered in Lin Mu's eyes. Since the prey had taken the bait, it was time to reel it in. He continued:
"Simple. If you can break free from Xiao San's first soul skill, I'll agree to one request of yours. Conversely, you agree to one request of mine."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang was immediately tempted. As a level 29 Great Soul Master, he didn't believe he couldn't withstand a Soul Master's first soul skill.
Moreover, with a weak martial soul like Blue Silver Grass, at most it would obtain an entangling skill.
For Blue Silver Grass's strength to restrain a Great Soul Master was absolutely impossible.
"How do I know you won't go back on your word?"
Yu Xiaogang still had some sense left. The disparity in strength between the two sides was too great. If Lin Mu lost and refused to honor the bet, there was nothing he could do.
"Aside from trusting me, do you have any other choice?" Lin Mu countered.
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang was instantly left speechless. Although it was somewhat unreasonable, he truly had no strength to resist.
On this continent, strength was always supreme. Even if Lin Mu went back on his word afterward, Yu Xiaogang had nowhere to seek justice.
"If I win, you sever your master-disciple relationship with Tang San."
After some consideration, Yu Xiaogang made this request. Having lived for decades, he now had only one obsession left: to prove his martial soul theories.
And Tang San was his best experimental subject.
Hearing this request, Tang San immediately frowned. After these past few days of interaction, he had already accepted this master.
After all, even his father hadn't treated him as well as his master—helping him hunt for a soul ring and even roasting rabbit for him.
"Brother Xiaogang, this is my best disciple."
After a pause, Lin Mu stepped forward, looking directly at the clearly lacking-in-confidence Yu Xiaogang. Slowly, he spoke: "You need to offer something that satisfies me."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang actually breathed a sigh of relief. As long as there was a need, it was fine.
After some thought, Yu Xiaogang took out a very beautiful belt. This soul tool was already the most valuable item on his person. Aside from this, he couldn't think of anything else that might satisfy Lin Mu.
Should he offer his martial soul theories?
Forget it. With this guy's perspective, he definitely wouldn't recognize their greatness.
Seeing his master treat him like a commodity, Tang San immediately felt dissatisfied. But due to his master's status, he could only keep it bottled up inside.
"This is a storage soul tool. Each gem can provide one cubic meter of storage space, twenty-four cubic meters in total. Its value is immeasurable."
After Yu Xiaogang's introduction, Tang San's eyes lit up with excitement. With this soul tool, he would have a place to store his hidden weapons in the future.