After completing his Soul Master registration, Gu Yecheng left the Soul Hall and walked along the street. Seeing some street food stalls, he couldn't help swallowing his saliva.
He checked his pants pocket—aside from some loose threads, there wasn't a single copper coin. Although he had just registered his Soul Master title today, he wouldn't receive his gold coin subsidy until next month. He rubbed his empty stomach but couldn't go back now. What should he do?
His eyes brightened. He decided to find a place that needed temporary workers and work for a while, just to cover dinner. Tomorrow, Lingling should be fine.
So Gu Yecheng quickened his pace toward the street. Although it wasn't as prosperous as the city center, it had a strong demand for temporary labor.
After about half an hour, he came across a blacksmith shop, where a crowd had gathered around a boy who looked about twelve or thirteen years old.
The boy was simply dressed, about 1.7 meters tall, wearing a light blue tight-fitting outfit.
Gu Yecheng stopped to watch and see what had drawn their attention.
As he got closer, he realized they were watching the boy's blacksmithing skills.
The boy wasn't particularly handsome but had an unparalleled aura about him.
Especially noticeable was the belt around his waist, inlaid with twenty-four jade stones, which looked very precious.
Gu Yecheng observed his hammering technique—very skillful. Each hammer strike cleverly left an opening for the next.
His calves, waist, and arms worked in perfect harmony, with a sense of using momentum to maximize force.
Each swing of the hammer prepared for the next, and after every strike, the power of the following one would increase.
Soon, the large lump of iron was hammered down to the size of a fist, with most impurities beaten out.
Gu Yecheng sighed inwardly, "Indeed, masters often come from the common folk. Even a random blacksmith can be so skilled."
Wait—
"No, he should be a two-ring Soul Master stronger than myself. My Hellfire Lotus Soul is never wrong."
He clapped for the boy and decided not to watch any longer—blacksmithing was not his forte.
Just as Gu Yecheng was about to leave, a beautiful girl with sleek black hair styled into a scorpion braid appeared in front of the boy, wiping sweat from his forehead.
She wore pink clothes, had a slender waist, big watery eyes, and a slightly round, rosy face—giving off a cute and playful vibe.
But what caught Gu Yecheng's attention was not her appearance, but the unusual soul power waves radiating from her body.
How they were unusual, he couldn't say exactly, having only a superficial understanding of Soul Master knowledge learned from Aunt Ye.
"Six and a half years... I didn't expect your chaotic hammer technique to reach this level. Amazing! I believe it won't be long before you can wield the strongest... 99 strikes of 81 blows," the blacksmith shop owner praised.
The boy waved his hand and said, "Thanks for taking care of me all these years, boss. Tomorrow, Xiao Wu and I will leave for the Shrek Academy to take the assessment."
"So, I probably won't be coming here to blacksmith anymore. I hope you can understand."
The blacksmith owner laughed warmly, "What are you talking about? You never took a salary here, just your meals. And your workload is as much as three people's. I've made a good deal—I wouldn't blame you at all. Go ahead, don't worry."
Then the owner scratched his head and added, "But I've never heard of this Shrek Academy you mentioned?"
The girl called Xiao Wu complained, "Yeah, Xiao San, I really don't know what Master is thinking. Several well-known academies have accepted us unconditionally, yet he insists on this one."
The boy called Xiao San gently stroked her cheek and said, "My big sister, Master has never lied to us."
"Master says it's good... so it must be good. I'm Master's disciple, and he's my teacher."
"Master treats me like a father. I respect him and believe in him wholeheartedly."
"Say things like that in front of my teacher again, and you'll regret it. Don't forget my second soul ring comes from the Ghost Vine. This parasitic skill greatly helps my Blue Silver Grass, and it's all thanks to Master's guidance."
"Oh!" Xiao Wu nodded obediently.
Suddenly, Xiao San's eyes flashed a purple light as he fixed his gaze on someone watching them—Gu Yecheng.
"Xiao San, what's wrong?" Xiao Wu asked, puzzled.
Xiao San shook his head. "Nothing. I just feel that person is unusual. For some reason, he gives me a very dangerous feeling."
Feeling uncomfortable under the boy's intense stare, Gu Yecheng turned his head and prepared to leave. He wasn't one to fit in easily; he wouldn't shamelessly greet or try to make friends.
His stomach growled loudly. There was a noodle shop ahead. He decided to go inside and wash some dishes in exchange for a meal.
...
Back at the villa estate, Ye Lingling stood at the door holding a lunchbox, waiting for Gu Yecheng to return from the Soul Hall registration.
But it had been a long time, and he still hadn't come back. Could he have gotten lost? That seemed unlikely; though quiet, he didn't seem stupid.
The only possibility she could think of was... he might be working a temporary job outside.
Ye Lingling sighed. "What's wrong with me? He's already an adult. How could he be so hungry? Forget it, I'll go back first."
"Ah, it's Lingling!"
A woman who wasn't particularly beautiful but had a simple and gentle demeanor approached her.
"What's the matter? I thought someone was here earlier and was startled. I thought a stranger had broken in!"
Ye Lingling recognized her as Gu Yecheng's mother and hugged her tightly, tears welling in her eyes.
"Gu Yecheng is bullying me, and now he's avoiding me. If this continues, we'll have to end things."
"But I really like him. I can't bear to lose him. Aunt Gu, what should I do?"
Wiping her tears, Gu Yecheng's mother said, "Oh, a little setback scares you already?"
"Don't worry. I'll teach you two tricks to keep my son firmly under your spell—so he'll be devoted to you."
"Hmph, tonight I'll help you get back at him."
(End of chapter)
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