parentshiftbook Chapter 45 Human desires are like a boulder rolling down a mountain.
Chapter 45 Human desires are like a boulder rolling down a mountain.
The afternoon sun streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows into the special teaching assistant's office, illuminating even the finest dust particles floating in the air. Outside, the sycamore leaves rustled in the wind, and occasionally a few golden leaves swirled past the window, casting dappled shadows.
"Um...Teacher Li."
Tang San stood in front of the desk, his hands nervously gripping the hem of his clothes, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. There were faint dark circles under his eyes, and his eyeballs were covered with fine red blood vessels, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept well the night before.
The sense of disparity between watching Xiao Wu make rapid progress with the "special supply" pills while he could only struggle to earn a meager living by swinging a hammer was like an invisible hand scratching at the boy's proud yet sensitive heart.
He could even clearly recall the soul power fluctuations that erupted from Xiao Wu's body when she broke through last night. That aura made him toss and turn in bed, unable to fall asleep no matter what.
Li Fulan put down his quill pen. He had long anticipated this step; human desires are like a rolling boulder from a mountain, they never stop.
"Oh, it's Tang San. Please have a seat. What's wrong? Have you encountered a bottleneck in your cultivation?"
He casually pointed to the comfortable-looking soft chair next to him, his tone carrying the warmth of an elder caring for a younger generation.
"No...no." Tang San gritted his teeth, his tongue pressed against his palate, as if he had made a tremendous decision. He suddenly raised his head, his eyes fixed intently on Li Fulan, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice slightly hoarse, "Teacher, I want...I want to borrow some pills from you. You know, the kind...'pill loan'."
"oh?"
Li Fulan raised an eyebrow, the slight upward curve of his two sword-like eyebrows perfectly placed. He leaned back slightly in his chair, which creaked softly. His long, slender fingers were crossed in front of him, their knuckles distinct and their nails neatly trimmed. A playful smile played on his lips, as if he had seen something interesting.
"Have you thought it through? You've probably heard about the rules here, haven't you?"
"I've heard." Tang San took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. "I'd like to request an advance on three months' worth of 'Nourishing Essence Pills.'"
"Since you know, I'll just say it directly." Li Fulan slowly took out a pre-prepared parchment contract from the drawer. The parchment had a faint yellow tint, and the edges were rounded and smooth, indicating that it was of excellent quality.
He pushed the contract in front of Tang San, tapping his finger lightly on the table. "It's still nine out and thirteen back... oh no, it's three percent interest per month."
"Three...three percent profit?!"
Even though he was mentally prepared, Tang San still couldn't help but gasp when he heard the number. The cold air rushed from his throat all the way to his lungs, and his voice changed, with a noticeable tremor at the end.
"Teacher, this...this is too high! Even ordinary money lenders only charge one percent interest. My father once told me that even the most unscrupulous pawnshops in Nottingham only charge two percent...you..."
"Where is it high?"
Li Fulan's smile vanished instantly, as if the sun had been suddenly obscured by dark clouds. He frowned slightly, a small knot forming between his brows, revealing a serious expression of disappointment and frustration. His tone was tinged with heartache and questioning as he directly interrupted Tang San.
"For so many years, the price of top-grade Qi-cultivating pills has remained the same, okay? Don't spout nonsense with your eyes wide open. Do you know how difficult it is for us support-type Soul Masters to refine medicine? We have to control the heat; if we're not careful, the temperature will be too high or too low, and the whole batch of medicine will be ruined. We also have to purify the medicinal power; that takes so much effort and time. And we have to guard against the risk of the furnace exploding. Let me tell you, my junior brother had a furnace explode last year, and half his face was ruined..."
As he spoke, he tapped the table heavily with his fingers, making a "thump-thump-thump" sound. Each tap seemed to strike Tang San's heart, making his head buzz.
"Furthermore, Tang San, sometimes you should reflect on your own actions, okay? All these years, have you been diligently cultivating? Has your soul power increased? Have you been hunting soul beasts to improve your combat experience? Ask yourself honestly, do you spend more time forging iron than meditating every day? Huh?"
This series of probing questions completely baffled Tang San.
He opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, but found that his throat felt like it was blocked by something, and he couldn't utter a single word.
In that instant, countless images flashed through Tang San's mind: he was sweating profusely in the blacksmith shop for a few copper soul coins, his sweat dripping onto the scorching anvil and evaporating with a "hiss," but he wasted his meditation time.
Xiao Wu easily broke through to the next level by taking the pills as if they were candy, with a carefree smile on her face, while he was still struggling to hone the Xuan Tian Gong, practicing his skills in the middle of the night, and was as tired as a dog.
And then there are those classmates from wealthy families. After they finish their cultivation, they can go to a restaurant in the city for a good meal, while I can only eat the steamed buns that the blacksmith shop owner gives me...
Yes, is it because I haven't tried hard enough?
Am I being too narrow-minded?
How can someone who only focuses on petty gains achieve great things?
For a Soul Master aiming to become a Title Douluo, what is this initial investment? Which of those truly powerful individuals isn't willing to invest in themselves?
Seeing the growing guilt and self-doubt in Tang San's eyes, Li Fulan chuckled inwardly. This kid, as expected, is still a greenhorn, untouched by the harsh realities of life; he can be easily manipulated with just a few words. However, a timely, softening, encouraging expression appeared on his face, a smile as gentle as a spring breeze. He stood up, walked to Tang San's side, and patted him on the shoulder like a caring older brother, the pressure just right to convey warmth and trust.
"Tang San, I'm doing this all for your own good. You need to understand my good intentions. Think about it, you're in the golden age of physical growth and building your foundation. Your soul power is increasing at a rate measured in days. You might reach level 20 today, and maybe level 30 next month! The interest you're accumulating now will be nothing when you become a Great Soul Master, Soul Venerable, or even Soul Grandmaster in the future. When you look back on today, you'll thank yourself for taking that gamble."
"This is all an investment in your future! That's potential! Do you understand? You're investing in yourself!"
When Li Fulan said this, his eyes were sparkling, as if he was really thinking about Tang San's future. His tone was so sincere that even he almost believed it himself.
"Potential..." Tang San murmured to himself, the confusion in his eyes gradually being replaced by a fervent determination, as if a flame was igniting in his pupils.
That's right, he possesses innate full soul power, twin martial souls, and is the sole heir of the Tang Sect! His future is limitless! How can he be tripped up by this small sum of money? With resources, he can grow stronger faster, better protect Xiao Wu, and... pay off this debt! Yes, that's it. Everything is temporary. Once he becomes stronger, no problem will be a problem!
"Teacher, I'll sign!"
Tang San no longer hesitated, his voice filled with a do-or-die determination. He picked up the pen on the table, only to find there was no ink pad; the pen tip hung in mid-air, somewhat at a loss.
"Use this." Li Fulan pointed to a silver needle beside her, its surface gleaming coldly in the sunlight. "This kind of contract requires blood essence imbued with soul power to take effect. Let me be clear, this is a soul contract. No matter where you run to, this debt will follow your martial soul. Even if you die and are reincarnated, you'll still have to repay this debt in your next life."
He spoke casually, as if he were simply saying the weather was nice today.
Without a word, Tang San picked up a silver needle and pricked his thumb. The stinging pain of the needle piercing his flesh made him wince, but it was quickly overshadowed by the burning passion in his heart.
Bright red blood gushed out, forming a round bead at his fingertip. He mobilized the meager internal energy of his Xuan Tian Gong, injecting his soul power into the blood at his fingertip. The bead instantly became crystal clear, faintly shimmering with a pale blue light, like a miniature ruby.
"Smack!"
A bright red handprint, imbued with soul energy, was pressed heavily onto the parchment. The moment the handprint seeped into the parchment, the text on the contract suddenly lit up, as if activated by some power, before returning to its original state.
The contract is established.
Li Fulan carefully put away the parchment, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a priceless treasure, or as if he were collecting a long-term meal ticket to the future. He casually tossed three exquisite porcelain vases to Tang San. The vases arced through the air, and Tang San caught them in a flurry.
"Take this and cultivate diligently. Don't waste... your potential."
When Li Fulan said the last three words, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. Tang San didn't understand what was hidden in that smile, nor did he care to figure it out.
Just then, the office door was knocked on again, three rhythmic knocks.
"Please come in."
The door was pushed open, and a strong scent of perfume wafted out, making one's nose itch. A young man dressed in a gorgeous silk robe walked in; it was Zhang Wei.
"Teacher Li! Oh, Tang San is here too."
Zhang Wei greeted him with a beaming smile, his face radiating the confidence, or perhaps blind confidence, typical of a wealthy young man. His gaze swept over Tang San, noticing the three porcelain bottles clutched tightly in his hand, a flicker of barely perceptible disdain crossing his eyes. Three bottles of pills, really? He earns more than that in a month just on pocket money.
"Mr. Li, my family is hosting a private auction this weekend. I've heard there are many good items, rare treasures and the like collected from various places. I'd like to invite you to take a look."
As Zhang Wei spoke, he pulled a gold-embossed invitation from his sleeve and respectfully handed it over, his eyes revealing a hint of ingratiation. His posture was extremely humble.
Li Fulan took the invitation, glanced at it, and gently stroked the gold-embossed edge with her fingertips, lost in thought.
"An auction...that's quite interesting."
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Wei's somewhat emaciated face. It was a typical face of excessive indulgence, with slightly sunken eye sockets, faint dark circles under his eyes, and an unhealthy pale complexion—clearly the kind of person who didn't cultivate properly and spent his days indulging in debauchery. Li Fulan suddenly asked meaningfully:
"By the way, Zhang Wei, how's your cultivation going lately? Do you need... any special high-grade pills to help you? Like those... ones that can make you incredibly energetic, or... last longer?"
When he said the words "last longer," he deliberately dragged out the tone, his eyes conveying a meaningful look.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wei's eyes instantly lit up like two light bulbs, and he took a half-step closer in a flash. He nodded vigorously, understanding perfectly, his smile turning lewd and eager, his mouth almost reaching his ears:
"Yes! Absolutely! Dr. Li, you're a miracle worker, no, you're a god! I've been worried lately... hehehe, you know! Um... I'm always a bit... powerless in that area, you know?"
As he spoke, he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, a blush creeping onto his face.
Li Fulan smiled slightly, a smile that carried a knowing understanding of everything. He took out a black porcelain bottle from his sleeve. The bottle was completely black, its material unknown, and it felt heavy in his hand. There were no markings on the bottle. He gently placed it on the table, making a soft sound.
"Consider this bottle my 'greeting gift' to you. As for the future... we'll discuss it in detail at the auction. Don't worry, it's guaranteed to cure your ailment; one pill will last for three days."
"Oh, Teacher Li, you're too kind! Too kind!" Zhang Wei happily tucked the porcelain vase into his coat, his movements so quick it was as if he were afraid someone would snatch it away. "Then I'll send a carriage to pick you up this weekend. See you there!"
Tang San, standing to the side, gripped the three heavy bottles of "usury" pills tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white. Looking at the scene before him, at Zhang Wei's demeanor, and at Li Fulan's nonchalant smile, he felt a mix of emotions, as if a spice shop had been overturned.
Is this the world of Soul Masters?
Resources, money, connections...
Some people are born at the finish line, while others struggle at the starting line no matter how hard they try.
But it's okay.
Tang San took a deep breath and carefully put the three porcelain bottles into his bosom, pressing them against his chest, where he could feel their cool touch.
As long as I become stronger, I will have all of this.
At that time, who will dare to look down on me, Tang San?