Chapter 36

"Old Qian, I was a bit too hasty just now, don't take it to heart."

Wu Xiaode patted Qian Mingkui's shoulder and said softly.

This fat man isn't easy.

In this world, men of his age are the easiest to bully.

Because he has elderly parents to take care of, children to raise, a house and a car to maintain, and a whole family to support.

Everything falls on his shoulders.

Even if he is scolded to the point of being covered in bruises, he dares not say a word, and he dares not quit his job no matter how much he suffers, because he needs to earn money to support his family.

Moreover, Qian Mingkui has to raise his daughter alone.

"Brother Xiaowu, if it doesn't work, I'll mediate. Let them move the things from our house; it's better than resorting to violence." Qian Mingkui said.

Wu Xiaode shook his head.

In peacetime, if someone gets hurt or killed by random violence, they will definitely spend several years or even decades in prison without any problem.

These guys will pull out weapons at the slightest provocation; sooner or later, something serious will happen.

No...

Wu Xiaode matured earlier than his peers. When others were still in class, he was already hanging out on the streets. He was also better at observing and summarizing than those hooligans, and he quickly had an idea.

He reached out and lightly pressed on the stone wall.

"In the future, I'll take care of this martial arts school, so you don't need to come here anymore. Oh, and don't collect protection money around here anymore. You're young, why not find a job in a factory and earn money?"

His hand sank into the wall, leaving a deep handprint several inches deep.

The hooligans looked at the handprint and then at Wu Xiaode.

They slowly put down their knives.

One hooligan hesitated, "Brother Yi, this..."

The leader, Lu Yi, raised his hand to stop him from continuing.

He stared at Wu Xiaode and said sternly, "Friend, you just take care of yourself. Why do you have to talk about finding a job in a factory? Do you think everyone has your skills?"

At this moment, Xiao Shi came out to get a broom and was given a meaningful look by Lu Yi.

"Xiaowu, let it go," Qian Mingkui said worriedly.

Wu Xiaode found it a bit amusing.

Hooligans are like a pack of hyenas, always looking for the softest part of their prey to bite.

He has seen this kind of thing many times.

The world is a dangerous place.

—Should I take action?

Suddenly, two lines of icy text appeared on the Book of the Dead:

"After this short rest, your soul power has recovered by 1 point."

"Current soul power: 8/8."

A new force faintly emerged in Wu Xiaode's body and then slowly subsided.

Wu Xiaode decided not to take action.

At 3 points of soul power, his physical strength was several times that of an ordinary person.

Now he has 8 points of soul power.

He has improved too quickly and might not be able to control his strength well.

A casual move could easily take out these hooligans.

—They may be the dregs of society, but I can't just take lives so easily.

Forget it.

Give them a chance to think it over.

If they refuse to change, it's their own fault.

Wu Xiaode thought for a moment and then said,

"I heard you collect money to ensure peace."

"Of course, we are honored by the trust of the villagers. We are here to do this job," Lu Yi said cautiously.

"How much does the martial arts school pay you each month?"

"Are you going to pay for him?"

"Yes, give me a number."

"Like this." Lu Yi opened his palm.

"Five hundred?" Wu Xiaode asked.

The hooligans on the other side laughed.

"Five hundred? Not even enough for us to eat. It's five thousand!" Lu Yi said.

Wu Xiaode walked over with his phone and said, "Come, let's transfer the money."

Lu Yi was taken aback and gave a signal to his subordinates to be careful.

"Really transfer the money?" He also took out his phone.

Wu Xiaode said nothing and transferred five thousand yuan to him.

—The money was handled by Zhao Junyu and transferred to his balance.

Seeing the money transferred so smoothly, Lu Yi thought there was a chance and said,

"Alright, we're not unreasonable people. In the future, if anything happens at your martial arts school, we'll take care of it—oh, we charge per person. Since you're part of the martial arts school, you'll have to pay an additional two thousand five hundred."

"Fine." Wu Xiaode smiled.

Lu Yi looked at the money on his phone and found no fault with what the other party said.

—After all, he was there to collect money, not to kill anyone.

"Alright, next month—"

"Wait, Brother Yi, he broke my nose." A subordinate reminded him.

"Oh, right, look, my brother, you hit him. Shouldn't you pay for his medical expenses?" Lu Yi asked.

"No problem, give me a number." Wu Xiaode said.

"Ten thousand."

"Here."

The money was transferred again.

Ding!

That's fifteen thousand yuan gone.

Lu Yi looked at the money on his phone and a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Attack together, take him down—

No!

That's a serious crime, I can't afford it.

He turned to leave but accidentally saw Wu Xiaode's phone switch to the balance page.

Five, six, seven... seven digits.

Lu Yi took a deep breath, his feet rooted to the ground, unable to move.

"Go!"

He suddenly shouted, moved his body, turned around, and walked out the door.

Halfway through, he stopped and said in a hoarse voice, "Master Qian, let's call it a day. In the future, we won't collect protection money from your martial arts school. We'll go our separate ways."

He didn't look back and led the hooligans out, even closing the door behind them.

Wu Xiaode was a bit surprised.

—This little hooligan is quite something!

Wu Xiaode turned to Qian Mingkui and said, "Alright, the hooligans won't cause trouble anymore."

Qian Mingkui was extremely excited and bowed repeatedly, "Brother Xiaowu! They really won't come back?"

"No, they won't."

"What if they change their minds?"

"Rest assured, they really won't." Wu Xiaode said meaningfully.

Give them an hour.

If they can figure out the situation within an hour and respectfully return the money, he will spare their lives.

Wu Xiaode was about to speak when the Book of the Dead opened, showing two lines of icy text:

"Helping Qian Mingkui awaken his soul power is one thing, and helping his martial arts school deal with the hooligans is another. You have earned the praise of the founder's spirit again."

"The founder's spirit is about to descend."

In the next moment.

Wu Xiaode felt as if he was about to lose the sensation of his body.

"Again, this familiar feeling..."

He groaned, and his body was completely out of control.

Soon.

His entire demeanor changed.

Although he was still standing in the same place, he exuded an indescribable gloomy aura.

"Boy, you did well. I originally planned to teach you a set of plum blossom桩 techniques, but now it seems the reward isn't enough," Wu Xiaode said, his tone completely changed.

If before his voice was full of the youthful vigor and the caution of an orphan, now it was cold and沧桑.

—It was as if another person had entered his body and was speaking through his mouth.

"Sir, if you have something to say, just say it."

Wu Xiaode responded with his mind.

"I have a request. When Qian Mingkui faces the midnight twelve o'clock event for the first time, don't interfere," the founder's spirit said.

"I originally wanted to help him a bit, but since you say so, I have no objections."

Wu Xiaode hesitated for a moment and then reminded, "The first time is dangerous. Are you sure you don't want me to help him?"

"Our school has great virtue. As long as he is on the right path, he will be blessed by heaven. Boy, you don't need to worry."

Blessed by heaven...

So confident?

"Alright, I have no objections." Wu Xiaode said.

The founder's spirit changed his tone and said, "But in the future, you can help each other—will you be willing to help him a bit?"

"Sure." Wu Xiaode agreed readily.

"So quick?"

"He's a good person, and he suits my temperament. I also need a helper."

"Since that's the case, fine, I'll pass it on to you."

Wu Xiaode watched himself walk to the weapon rack, draw a long sword from it, and said,

"Boy, you helped Qian Mingkui awaken his innate power, drove away the hooligans, and agreed to do something for me."

"I'll teach you a set of sword techniques."

"This set of sword techniques has only two moves, taught by a divine being in the past, with immense power. It is not to be passed on lightly without great fortune. Look—hmm?"

He was talking to himself when he suddenly looked up at the sky.

The sky was full of heavy, leaden clouds.

Rain was about to come.

All was silent.

Wu Xiaode's lips curled, his expression full of sarcasm, and he said coldly,

"Showing your head but not your tail."

He strode into the main hall of the martial arts school, jumped onto the altar in the center, and reached for a wooden sword next to the statue.

The statue was of a long-haired man wearing a hood, riding a horse, with a sword at his waist and a spear tied to his back.

"Hey! Brother Xiaowu, that's an old antique. Be careful, don't damage it, it's disrespectful to the founder," Qian Mingkui shouted from a distance.

Wu Xiaode's cold eyes glanced over, and he said, "Descendants of the Qian family, practice your skills well, and don't meddle in other matters."

He rubbed the wooden sword, and the wood instantly split, revealing a sharp long sword.

"That statue had a sword inside?" Qian Mingkui's eyes widened.

"Just a spare weapon, not a treasure sword."

Wu Xiaode took the sword, jumped down from the altar, and ran out to the training ground.

Wind.

A cold wind began to rise.

Thunder rumbled continuously in the sky.

"Boy, have you offended anyone?" the founder's spirit asked.

"Someone tried to kill me."

"And then?"

"I took a trip to the gates of hell and came back." Wu Xiaode said.

"Hmph, no wonder you awakened the ability of the undead—fortunately, I can possess you to help you." the founder's spirit said.

Wu Xiaode said, "Your meaning is..."

"They're coming!"