Five hundred Gold Soul Coins was not an amount
He cast a lingering, reluctant glance at that murky crystal, silently sighing in his heart that he would simply have to find another opportunity later. Then he turned to leave.
"If you're walking away because you don't have enough money, I can accept two hundred Gold Coins upfront and you can pay the rest slowly. Ten coins per month will do. Though there's a ten percent interest."
Xiao Wu found she despised that drawling voice. "Shameless merchant, drop dead. You're like a hand reaching out from under a coffin —Extorting money from the dead!"
Xiao Wu was quick to lose her temper, but Tang San was not so easily roused. Hearing the middle-aged man's words, he paused inwardly. Ten Gold Coins per month? Did the man know he was a Great Soul Master? Otherwise, how could he have hit upon Tang San's exact income?
Tang San was certain that throughout their exchange, the middle-aged man had not released even a wisp of Soul Power, making it impossible for him to probe their cultivation levels. If, under those circumstances, he could still guess their Martial Soul ranks, then this person was far too frightening.
If
Tang San placed a hand on Xiao Wu's shoulder and shook his head at her, signaling her not to act impulsively. He walked back into the shop and stood before the middle-aged uncle. "Deal."
"Xiao San—" Xiao Wu called out in dissatisfaction. Tang San waved his right hand behind his back, telling her to stay silent.
The middle-aged man's eyes finally opened again. Now face-to-face with Tang San at close range, his gaze dropped to Tang San's waist. "Oh? Where did you get that belt?"
Tang San's heart stirred. "My teacher gave it to me. Do you recognize this belt?"
The middle-aged man sat up from his reclining chair and stared at the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night around Tang San's waist. A peculiar light flickered in his eyes, and for a long while he said nothing.
"You're not going to change the price again, are you?" Xiao Wu popped her head out from behind Tang San, looking annoyed.
The strange look gradually faded from the middle-aged man's eyes. "So you're actually his disciple. You can take that crystal."
Tang San secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He ran his right hand over the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night, produced two pouches of Gold Coins, and handed them to the man. "I'll bring ten Gold Coins here each week from now on."
The middle-aged man waved his hand and lay back down in his chair. "No need. The crystal is a gift. It was never worth much to begin with. Go on, you two. Stop disturbing my sleep."
A gift? Tang San was stunned. The gap between this man's attitude before and after was simply too dramatic —first haggling sky-high, now offering it for free. Deep down, Tang San already understood: this seemingly sly middle-aged man must know the Great Master.
While Tang San was lost in thought, Xiao Wu had already grabbed the crystal and was hugging it to her chest without any hesitation. "Xiao San, let's go, before someone changes his mind again."
Tang San looked at her with a half-amused, half-helpless expression. "We can't just accept someone's things for nothing. Sir, please name a price."
The middle-aged man rocked back and forth in his reclining chair, this time not even bothering to speak, completely ignoring him.
Tang San looked at the crystal in Xiao Wu's arms, then at the middle-aged man. Had it been up to his usual temperament, he would never have accepted the crystal. But this particular Slab Crystal was far too important to him —if he missed this chance and someone else bought it, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
A torrent of thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning. In the end, he quietly set the two pouches of Gold Soul Coins on the floor, then left the shop with Xiao Wu.
Only after the pair had departed did the middle-aged man open his eyes once more. The shrewdness on his face had vanished, replaced by a wistful expression as he murmured to himself, "His disciple actually came to Sotuo City. At this time, with this level of Soul Power. It seems they're headed for Shrek Academy. Great Master, you old rascal —are you finally done hiding from me this time?"
Once they were out of the strange shop, Xiao Wu could no longer hold back. "Xiao San, why did you have to have that crystal? I've never seen you so desperate to get something before. That crystal's quality is so poor —what use could it possibly be to you?"
Tang San took the crystal from Xiao Wu's hands. Checking that no one was watching, he quickly stowed it inside his Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night, then took her hand. "Hurry. Let's get back to the hotel first."
They didn't even stop for lunch. Tang San hurried all the way back to the hotel, pulling Xiao Wu along. His mood was one of extreme excitement —his palm, clasped around Xiao Wu's hand, was already slick with a layer of sweat.
Xiao Wu was usually the boisterous one, but whenever Tang San grew serious, she became remarkably well-behaved. She followed him back to the Rose Hotel.
Once inside, Tang San quickly shut the door and drew all the curtains. "Come, follow me into the bedroom."
Xiao Wu followed him into the bedroom, puzzled. Tang San drew the bedroom curtains and shut the door. The excitement on his face could no longer be concealed —a hint of obsessive fascination crept into his expression, and a faint blush rose to his cheeks.
Xiao Wu instinctively tugged at the collar of her shirt, a thought flashing through her mind: He hasn't been affected by the hotel's atmosphere, has he? Is he about to lose control? No —he can't be. He's only twelve. What am I even thinking? He's my brother. How could such a filthy thought even enter my head?
(End of Chapter)