"Luo Sanpao, help me bite through these Blue Silver Grass vines!"
At Yu Xiaogang's command, Luo Sanpao began to tear at the Blue Silver Grass binding him. However, the grass was already crystallized, its hardness comparable to metal. How could Luo Sanpao possibly bite through it with ordinary teeth?
"Ah!!"
Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang let out a scream, cursing at his own Martial Soul: "You stupid pig, aim carefully!"
Hearing his master's scolding, Luo Sanpao's eyes were filled with grievance. The Blue Silver Grass was bound so tightly against Yu Xiaogang's body; no matter how careful the beast was, it was bound to bite some flesh in the process.
"Don't waste time. You can't break free," Tang San said impatiently.
After this pathetic display, Tang San felt even more contempt for Yu Xiaogang. Even if his Martial Soul was a pig, he shouldn't be insulting it like this in the middle of a battle.
'Luckily, I didn't become this old bastard's disciple,' Tang San thought. 'Otherwise, my lifelong reputation would have been ruined by this good-for-nothing. It's utterly shameful.'
As the saying goes, "A teacher for a day is a father for life." Tang San didn't want to have two useless fathers at the same time.
Perhaps influenced by Lin Mu's earlier comments, Tang San now harbored a slight resentment towards his own father, Tang Hao, as well.
After being accidentally bitten several times by Luo Sanpao, Yu Xiaogang finally gave up and vented his anger on the poor creature.
'If my Martial Soul hadn't mutated into this pig-like form, would I have become a useless piece of trash?'
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Yu Xiaogang gave Luo Sanpao a severe scolding right there. Faced with his master's abuse, Luo Sanpao whimpered, feeling extremely wronged.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's powerless rage, Lin Mu couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
He couldn't even work together with his own Martial Soul, yet he still had the nerve to call himself a master.
"Gangzi, even if I gave you a chance, it wouldn't be of any use."
Lin Mu picked up the soul tool belt and the heavy money bag from the ground. He smiled contemptuously. "The outcome is decided. These are all ours now."
Seeing his belongings taken away, Yu Xiaogang felt utterly dejected; he was now completely penniless.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he hurriedly shouted, "I still want to gamble with you!"
"You have nothing left. Why would I gamble with you?"
Seeing that Yu Xiaogang was already hooked like a desperate gambler, Lin Mu's lips curled into a wicked smile, but on the surface, he pretended to be indifferent.
"I have another brother, no, two brothers! They can give me money," Yu Xiaogang hurriedly said, desperate to win back his dignity.
Hearing this, Lin Mu immediately guessed which "two brothers" he was referring to, it must be Flender and Liu Erlong. He just hadn't expected that in Yu Xiaogang's words, Liu Erlong would be referred to as a "brother" who could lend him money.
He really didn't understand why exceptional women like Liu Erlong and Bibi Dong liked this kind of guy.
"Then we'll talk about it when you've actually raised the money."
"No! Let's make the bet first," Yu Xiaogang insisted. "We'll bet on whether Tang San can reach Level 30 within six years. If he doesn't, you and Tang San will both have to cooperate with my research and publicly declare yourselves my disciples. Otherwise, I'll give you 10,000 Gold Soul Coins."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes gleamed with shrewdness. He didn't believe this guy wouldn't be tempted by the lure of 10,000 Gold Soul Coins.
Lin Mu simply described him with one word:
"Idiot."
10,000 Gold Soul Coins was a lot, but in six years, Lin Mu would at least have reached the Soul Emperor level. Why would he be short of 10,000 Gold Soul Coins then?
Moreover, this good-for-nothing was pushing his luck. It was one thing to be eyeing Tang San, but he was even trying to take advantage of Lin Mu himself. His skin had to be as thick as a city wall.
Hearing Lin Mu's insult, Yu Xiaogang blushed but pressed on. "How about 100,000 Gold Soul Coins?"
In reality, Yu Xiaogang didn't know if Flender and Liu Erlong could come up with 100,000 Gold Soul Coins, but at this point, he couldn't care less.
In his view, it was simply impossible for Tang San to reach Level 30 within six years, especially since Tang San was a Blue Silver Grass Soul Master. The cultivation speed of such a weak Martial Soul would naturally be slow.
If he won, he could gain two genius disciples in one fell swoop. Since Lin Mu was already powerful, Yu Xiaogang wouldn't even need to teach him much; he could just bask in the reflected glory.
"Gangzi, give up on that idea. I have no connection with you, and I never will."
Lin Mu's tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
Putting aside the unequal nature of the bet, the idea of him becoming Yu Xiaogang's disciple was absolutely impossible.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang could only back down. "Let's change it. If I win, Tang San must publicly claim to be my disciple. Is that alright?"
"Okay. 100,000 Gold Soul Coins. Sign and seal it."
Lin Mu was cautious, lest Yu Xiaogang renege later. With a written agreement, he could rightfully ask Liu Erlong and Flender for the money in the future.
In no time, both parties completed the signing and sealing.
Yu Xiaogang looked at the agreement in Lin Mu's hand, which already had his fingerprint on it. He suddenly had a strange premonition.
"Why is there only one copy? Where's mine?"
"One is enough," Lin Mu said, leaving no room for argument.
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang instantly realized he'd been tricked, but the die was cast. He had to gamble, even for the slightest possibility of vindication.
"Xiao San, this soul tool is for you."
Lin Mu slowly stepped forward and placed the "Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night" belt into Tang San's hands.
Lin Mu already had his own wristband storage tool. Though it was less than five cubic meters, it was enough for his needs for now.
"Master..."
Looking at the precious soul tool in his hands, Tang San was deeply moved, and a sense of guilt welled up within him.
Previously, he had been dissatisfied with his Master betting him like a commodity, but he hadn't expected that his Master had done all this specifically to obtain this storage soul tool for him.
Moreover, his Master was definitely trying to teach him a lesson: 'As long as the outcome is right, the process doesn't matter.'
After some internal reflection, Lin Mu's position in Tang San's heart rapidly rose, even subtly surpassing Tang Hao's.
One was an irresponsible biological father, the other a Master who wholeheartedly cared for him, which was better? Anyone would know the choice.
[Main Quest completion reached 10%. Reward: Soul Power increased by one level.]
Feeling his Soul Power break through to Level 48, Lin Mu's lips curled into a slight smile. Compared to an inanimate object, the improvement of his own strength was the most important thing.
Lin Mu patted Tang San's shoulder, his expression turning serious. He said earnestly, "Little San, your best reward to me is simply to cultivate diligently."
"Master, I will definitely cultivate diligently from now on and heed your teachings."
Seeing his Master's concern for him, Tang San was deeply moved and secretly vowed to repay his Master's kindness in the future.
Seeing this scene of deep affection between master and disciple, Yu Xiaogang felt superfluous. Dejected, he turned to leave.
But he hadn't gone far when he realized something was wrong.
Lin Mu had won the soul tool from him in a gamble and then given it to Tang San, claiming all the credit and goodwill for himself using Yu Xiaogang's treasure.
"I've lived for decades, and I've actually been outsmarted by a mere brat!"
Yu Xiaogang belatedly realized the full extent of the manipulation, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. Was this guy really only a teenager?
Lin Mu watched Yu Xiaogang's departing figure, a smile playing on his lips.
'The real show is yet to come.'