ATPnovel Chapter 98 One stubborn thread becomes a double-edged sword
Chapter 98 One stubborn thread becomes a double-edged sword
Notting City, a branch of the Spirit Hall.
The sun was shining brightly, and the breeze was gentle; it was the perfect time to collect the money.
Tang San felt incredibly refreshed, as if his Ren and Du meridians had just been opened. As a esteemed Soul Master, even though he was only a newly graduated Grand Soul Master from the junior academy, the monthly stipend of one gold soul coin from the Spirit Hall had become one of the few highlights in his otherwise mundane life.
"One gold soul coin..."
In order to break through his bottleneck, Tang San had previously bought pills from the unscrupulous merchant Li Fulan, which depleted his savings. But with this money, even if he couldn't afford pills, buying some fine iron to forge hidden weapons would be excellent.
The Rain of Pear Blossom Needles are already taking shape. With just a little more work... hehe, even a Soul Master will be in for a world of hurt.
Filled with anticipation for a bright future, Tang San strode into the gates of the Spirit Hall with an air of indifference.
The main hall of the branch hall wasn't very large, but it exuded a solemn and dignified atmosphere. The black marble floor was polished to a shine, and the banner of the Spirit Hall hung on the walls, with the pattern of a giant sword and shield crossed in the center gleaming in the sunlight. A faint scent of sandalwood permeated the air, emanating from some incense burner, though it was unclear which one.
Behind the counter sat an elderly man with gray hair, his head bowed as he flipped through a thick ledger. He wore reading glasses, and the eyes behind the lenses were cloudy and deep, as if hiding countless secrets.
"Hello, is Deacon Su Yuntao here? I'm here to collect my monthly allowance."
Tang San knocked on the counter with utmost politeness, wearing the standard "I'm a good student" smile.
Master Matthew, behind the counter, adjusted his reading glasses, looked up from the thick ledger, and his eyes revealed a kind of benevolent gaze—no, a gaze directed at a young person looking at a fat sheep. A gentle smile spread across his wrinkled old face, like a neighbor's grandfather about to give his grandson candy.
"Oh, it's Tang San. Come, come, have a seat."
Matthew stood up from behind the counter, slowly walked to the coffee table, and personally poured Tang San a cup of tea. The teacup was imprinted with the Spirit Hall's logo, and the tea had a faint, pleasant fragrance.
"Have some tea first, to soothe your throat."
Tang San accepted the teacup, flattered but secretly uneasy. He had come to the Spirit Hall to collect his allowance several times before; when had this old man ever been so polite?
Matthew returned to the counter with a smile, pulled out a long parchment from the drawer. The parchment was as thick as an arm when rolled up and half a meter long when unfolded, and it was covered with tiny, densely written characters.
"Perfect timing, your bill is ready too."
"bill?"
A huge question mark appeared above Tang San's head, and he almost dropped the teacup in his hand.
"Master, are you mistaken? I'm here to collect money, not to return it."
"No mistake, no mistake."
Matthew moistened his fingers with saliva and expertly flipped through the ledger. Each page was densely covered with writing, using some kind of shorthand notation that Tang San couldn't quite understand. The old man's fingers flew across the pages, his movements as practiced as if he'd been doing this his whole life.
"Look, according to Article 233 of the Supplementary Terms of the Heaven Dou Empire's Youth Soul Master Support Program, given that you previously chose 'Spirit Hall Credit Payment' when purchasing the 'Basic Soul Power Amplification Capsule' specially supplied by 'Li's Alchemy Workshop'..."
Matthew cleared his throat and read in a announcer's tone:
"The principal is thirty gold soul coins, with a monthly interest rate of thirty percent. According to Article 17, Paragraph 3 of the Spirit Hall Financial Services Regulations, interest is calculated using a compound interest method. As of today, interest has been accrued for twelve months."
He pushed up his reading glasses and pointed to the numbers in the ledger with his finger.
"After a year of compound interest... oh no, I mean reasonable financial value-added service fees, the total amount of principal and interest you need to repay is—"
Matthew paused, his smile growing even more benevolent.
"Six hundred and ninety-eight gold soul coins. Let's round it up to seven hundred gold soul coins."
"How many?!"
"puff--!"
Tang San spat out a mouthful of tea, almost drenching Matthew's old face. His eyes widened, and his Purple Demon Eyes nearly activated automatically in fright.
Seven hundred gold soul coins?!
Even if you sold him, he wouldn't be worth this price!
His blacksmith father, Tang Hao, could barely earn three gold soul coins a year! Even if he stopped eating and drinking from now on, relying solely on the one gold soul coin monthly stipend, it would take him...
Fifty-eight years? !
Fifty-eight years!
He's only twelve years old! By the time he pays off this debt, he'll be seventy! He'll have saved up for his funeral!
"This...this is impossible!"
Tang San's voice was trembling, and his mind was blank.
"I just signed a document... I just bought a few pills... How could I owe so much money?"
"Yes, it takes effect once signed."
Matthew was still smiling, like a kind old grandfather telling a bedtime story. He pulled out another yellowed piece of paper from under the counter, on which Tang San's signature was clearly visible, along with his bright red handprint.
"Look, this is the IOU you signed back then. It's in black and white, and there's no deception between young and old."
Tang San took the paper with trembling hands, and upon closer inspection, he felt dizzy and disoriented.
The IOU clearly states: Borrower: Tang San; Loan amount: 30 gold soul coins; Monthly interest rate: 30%; Compound interest; If the loan is not repaid on time, the Spirit Hall has the right to take all legal means to recover the debt, etc.
At the very bottom, there was a line of text so small it was almost illegible: The right to interpret this agreement belongs to the Spirit Hall.
How could I not have seen it clearly?!
Tang San felt like crying but had no tears. He remembered how that unscrupulous businessman named Li Fulan had earnestly tried to sell him something about "installment payments," saying things like "consume now, pay later," and "young people should dare to invest in themselves." At the time, he was so focused on breaking through his limitations that he hadn't paid any attention to those densely packed terms and conditions.
I signed the document without really understanding what was going on, and pressed my fingerprint on it without even realizing it...
I've been tricked by capitalists?!
"Young people, you need to be rational when it comes to spending."
Matthew patted Tang San on the shoulder earnestly, with an expression that said, "I'm doing this for your own good."
"But it's alright, the Spirit Hall is merciful. Look, here's a 'Talent Introduction Agreement'."
He pointed to a kind-looking young man next to him who was writing furiously.
The young man was tall and burly, with a square face that exuded honesty and simplicity. He gripped the pen tightly in his hand and was carefully signing his name—Zhou Tiezhu—on a contract.
"Look at Tiezhu, he's so enlightened."
Matthew's voice carried a hint of approval.
"As long as you sign this indenture... cough, service contract, promising to serve the Spirit Hall for life, not only will the 700 gold soul coins be wiped out, but your monthly allowance will also be doubled!"
Zhou Tiezhu looked up, a silly, happy smile on his face.
"My mother said that following the Spirit Hall means you'll have plenty to eat!"
His eyes shone with a simple, contentment, as if securing a stable job at the Spirit Hall was the greatest honor of his life. After signing his name, he carefully blew on the ink, afraid of smudging it.
Tang San looked at the contract, his hand trembling slightly.
Reason told him that this deal was a good one. Just by signing, his 700 gold soul coins debt would be instantly wiped clean, and he'd have a stable income guarantee in the future. In this world where strength reigns supreme, it's always good to have powerful backers!
Moreover, the Spirit Hall has such abundant resources; once I become a formal member, my cultivation speed will definitely be much faster than if I were to cultivate alone. Perhaps in just a few years, I could become a Soul King, a Soul Emperor…
but……
The image of that dejected blacksmith suddenly flashed through my mind.
The old man sat by the fire, clutching a gourd of wine in his hand, his eyes cloudy and unfocused. The firelight illuminated his weathered face, making the scars on his face appear particularly menacing in the flickering flames.
"Little San, remember this: never join the Spirit Hall."
The usually taciturn man spoke for the first time, his voice hoarse like a rusty iron gate.
"Your mother... died at their hands."
As he spoke, a deep-seated hatred flashed in his father's eyes—a look Tang San had never seen before. The usually listless man who only knew how to forge iron and drink seemed to transform into a completely different person in that instant.
Tang San's hand froze.
This is very embarrassing.
On one hand, there is a huge debt of seven hundred gold soul coins; on the other hand, there is the hatred of killing one's mother.
What do you call this? Family, this is called being stubborn to the point of being blocked at both ends!
Silence spread through the hall.
Behind the counter, Matthew continued to smile at Tang San, but his cloudy old eyes revealed a shrewd calculation. He had seen too many young people like this—burdened with debt, desperate, and ultimately forced to sign indentures, becoming pawns of the Spirit Hall.
This Tang San was no exception.
But he didn't expect—
"I won't sign."
Tang San took a deep breath and slammed the pen on the table.
His eyes sharpened, like a newly drawn sword.
"I will pay back the money, but I will absolutely not sign a contract of servitude."
The air in the hall froze instantly.
Zhou Tiezhu looked up blankly, staring at Tang San in disbelief. In his mind, joining the Spirit Hall was a dream come true for countless people, and this kid actually refused? Had he lost his mind?
The smile on Matthew's face slowly disappeared, replaced by a businesslike indifference.
"Oh?"
He stood up from behind the counter and slowly walked to Tang San. Although he was just a decrepit old man, the temperature in the entire hall seemed to drop several degrees when he released the soul power pressure belonging to a Great Soul Master.
The pressure wasn't too strong; it wouldn't be a problem for a Soul King or Soul Emperor level expert. But for Tang San in his current state, it was enough to make it difficult for him to breathe.
"Young man, it's only right to pay back debts."
Matthew's voice turned cold.
"If you don't sign, then we'll have to take legal action. Or... you can offer something of equal value as collateral."
Sensing that imposing aura, Tang San subconsciously reached for his waist.
Hidden there was his prized hidden weapon—a silent sleeve dart. At this distance, he was confident he could silence the old man instantly if he so desired. The dart contained poisoned silver needles; even a Soul Master would suffer greatly from it.
But...and then what?
This is a branch of the Spirit Hall. Guards stand at the entrance, and who knows how many powerful figures are hidden inside. Having killed someone, can he escape Notting City?
He still dreams of going to Shrek Academy, and he has a promise to find Xiao Wu...
Don't act impulsively.
Tang San gritted his teeth and removed his hand from the silent sleeve arrow.
With great reluctance, he pulled a heavy iron box from his pocket. The box was about the size of a palm, silver-white in color, and covered with intricate patterns.
This is a simplified version of the Rain of Pear Blossom Needles technique, which took him three whole months to complete. Only he knows how much effort he put in and how many sleepless nights he stayed up.
"This is a high-level concealed weapon that I crafted myself."
Tang San's heart was bleeding, but he remained calm on the surface.
"Its power is immense, enough to pierce through a Soul Master's defenses. I'll use it to pay off my debt."
Matthew took the iron box and examined it from all angles. He tapped the surface, making a crisp "clang" sound, and then brought it closer to smell it.
"A lump of iron..." He curled his lip, looking disgusted. "The craftsmanship is alright, but it's just a lump of iron. Five gold soul coins, I guess."
"Five?"
Tang San almost jumped up.
"The cost of materials alone is more than that—"
"You claim to have pierced through a Soul Master's defenses, what proof do you have?" Matthew interrupted him. "Arguments are meaningless. How do I know you're not just bragging?"
Tang San took a deep breath.
"I can demonstrate."
Matthew raised an eyebrow, showing some interest.
"Okay, show me."
He beckoned, and a guard came out from the doorway. The guard was wearing heavy armor, with a blue soul stone embedded in his chest.
"This is standard armor from our Spirit Hall, with a defense level equivalent to a full-force attack from a Soul Master. If you can break through it, I'll give you thirty gold soul coins for this iron lump."
Tang San took the iron box and adjusted the angle.
His fingers gently pressed the mechanism on the surface of the box, and the hidden tracks began to slowly rotate. This was a top-tier hidden weapon recorded in the Xuan Tian Bao Lu; even the simplified version was not to be underestimated.
"Step back."
He said in a deep voice.
Matthew and Zhou Tiezhu tactfully retreated behind the counter.
Tang San aimed at the armor and pressed his finger down sharply.
"Hiss hiss hiss hiss—!!"
A series of sharp, whistling sounds rang out.
Thirty-six silver needles shot out from the box like a storm, slamming heavily onto the armor. Each needle emitted a sharp whistling sound, tracing a silvery trail in the air.
"Jingle bells—!"
The sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the hall.
When the smoke cleared, Matthew leaned forward to take a look and immediately gasped in shock.
The chest area of the armor was riddled with tiny holes. Although it wasn't completely pierced, the protective soul stone had shattered, and the blue light was rapidly dissipating.
If the person wearing this armor is...
It's probably already turned into a hornet's nest.
"this……"
Matthew's expression changed, and his gaze toward the iron box became more solemn.
"Hmm... the craftsmanship is indeed quite good." He clicked his tongue. "Forty gold soul coins, I suppose."
"You just said thirty..."
"The price has gone up," Matthew said matter-of-factly. "I didn't know it was so valuable before. Since it's worth so much, it needs to be re-evaluated."
Tang San was speechless.
This old fox!
But forty gold soul coins were better than five. He gritted his teeth and handed over the iron box.
"make a deal."
Matthew happily accepted the iron box and quickly scribbled a few lines in the ledger.
"Forty gold soul coins. After deducting one gold soul coin for this month's subsidy, you have six hundred and fifty-nine gold soul coins left." He pushed up his reading glasses and looked at Tang San with a smile. "From now on, the subsidy for each month will be deducted in full until the debt is paid off."
Tang San took a deep breath.
659 Gold Soul Coins...
Even if one gold soul coin is deducted every month, it will still take nearly fifty-five years to repay.
I'll be working for the Spirit Hall for the rest of my life.
As Tang San walked out of the Spirit Hall gate, he touched his empty arms and looked up at the still bright sunshine.
The sunshine was still the same sunshine, the breeze was still the same breeze, but his mood had plummeted from heaven to hell.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.
I've been set up by capital.