However, Xiao Yan did not want to argue with this gatekeeper, so he decided to see what the gatekeeper would do next. If the gatekeeper continued to be unreasonable, he would not let him off easily.
Old Jack's eyes flashed with a trace of anger, but he still gritted his teeth and took out the certification issued by Suo Yun Tao, the steward from the Spirit Hall, handing it to the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper took the certification, looking it over from top to bottom. "The Blue Silver Grass? And full innate soul power? Ridiculous, ridiculous, this is truly the greatest joke in the world!"
The gatekeeper laughed loudly, clutching his stomach. "I've been working as a gatekeeper here for four years, and I've never heard of any student with full innate soul power. This kid's martial soul is the Blue Silver Grass, and he's supposed to have full soul power? I think this certification from the Spirit Hall is definitely forged by you."
"You..." Even though Old Jack had a good temper, he couldn't hold back any longer. "You're deliberately making things difficult for us. Fine, you wait here. I'll go find the steward from the Spirit Hall. Xiao Yan, let's go."
As he spoke, Old Jack turned around, leading Xiao Yan to walk back toward the city.
The certification from the Spirit Hall was naturally not fake, and the gatekeeper knew that. However, those who came to deliver new students usually had to offer something extra, especially if they came from a commoner background. As the saying goes, "It's easier to deal with the King of Hell than with the little ghosts." This was the idea behind his behavior.
But his thinking was clearly contradictory—first he demeaned Old Jack and Xiao Yan, calling them beggars, but then he wanted them to offer him something.
Wasn't that even worse than begging?
Not to mention, neither Old Jack nor Xiao Yan had realized this point yet, even though anyone with a bit of sense could have figured it out with a reminder.
The gatekeeper was a little uneasy in his heart, knowing that if the people from the Spirit Hall really came, he wouldn't be able to handle it.
Of course, he also believed that the people from the Spirit Hall would never come just because of two country bumpkins questioning the academy.
As his thoughts darkened, his words also turned harsher. "Holy Soul Village? I think it's more like Beggar Village."
"What did you say?" Old Jack suddenly turned around, his words cutting deep. The gatekeeper had just touched the pride that was most important to him.
Old Jack had once fallen out with Tang Hao over a similar issue. Now, hearing the gatekeeper's disrespect, especially coming from someone who wasn't even from the village, he found it intolerable.
Old Jack turned back and glared at the gatekeeper. Under his intense gaze, even Tang Hao would have been shocked into silence. The gatekeeper was so frightened that he stepped back three steps.
However, the gatekeeper quickly regained his composure and cursed himself in his mind. "It's just an old man. What am I afraid of?"
"What's the matter? You don't like it? I said you're from Beggar Village. Is there something wrong with that? Just look at this poor kid. His clothes are torn and ragged. I think you should go beg somewhere. Our Notting Academy isn't a charity. Get lost, get lost."
As he spoke, the gatekeeper raised his left hand and was about to push Old Jack away, trying to get them to leave.
Xiao Yan suddenly stepped in front of Old Jack, blocking the gatekeeper.
At Old Jack's age, if he were pushed down, he could very well end up injured or worse—older people were more prone to accidents.
Xiao Yan looked up at the gatekeeper. "How can you be so disrespectful to the elderly and young? Aren't you afraid of retribution?"
The gatekeeper was initially surprised at the speed of the child, but when he heard his words, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Retribution? Just the two of you..."
Before he could even finish thinking about calling them "beggars" again, he suddenly felt his legs go weak. With a thud, he fell to his knees in front of Xiao Yan, and immediately felt an excruciating headache. Thud, thud, thud—he started banging his head against the ground, as if kowtowing to Xiao Yan, howling in agony.
Old Jack looked at the sudden change in the gatekeeper, stunned. "What happened to this gatekeeper? Could it really be retribution?"
Xiao Yan chuckled inwardly. If there was truly retribution in this world, then there would be no need for moral codes and ethics to control people.
This entire situation was, of course, caused by him.
Just as the gatekeeper's attitude grew increasingly hostile, Xiao Yan secretly activated his Blue Silver Emperor martial soul, summoning thin, hair-like vines that shot out immediately, striking three acupuncture points on the gatekeeper's body: Chong, Hujiao, and Zixiao.
Now that Xiao Yan's strength was at the Soul Saint level, dealing with the gatekeeper was as easy as flipping his hand.
Xiao Yan stepped aside, allowing the gatekeeper to continue kowtowing, as if making amends for his disrespect.
At this moment, the gatekeeper felt his head pain lessen significantly. When he looked up and saw Old Jack and Xiao Yan, a wave of panic surged in his heart.
He recalled all the benefits he had taken from others and all the evil deeds he had done since arriving. Could it be divine retribution?
Xiao Yan said, "I told you before, you do not do good deeds, and now you've received retribution. If you continue to be rude and unreasonable, it won't be so simple next time."
The gatekeeper crawled forward on his knees, falling at Xiao Yan's feet. "Little brother, what should I do from now on? Please show me the right path."
The pain from earlier had made him feel like he was in a fight for his life, as if a god were punishing him.
The gatekeeper now felt that Xiao Yan was a god incarnate, and he desperately wanted to redeem his sins.
Xiao Yan gently patted the gatekeeper's shoulder twice as he used his internal strength, "From now on, do good deeds and make up for your wrongs. If you do enough good, you'll be able to rid yourself of the evil on you."
The gatekeeper nodded repeatedly and kowtowed three times before Xiao Yan.
After his kowtows, the gatekeeper was shocked to feel his legs regain strength and slowly stood up.
This miraculous change made the gatekeeper even more respectful toward Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile inwardly. This too was his doing.
When he had lightly patted the gatekeeper earlier, he had shaken loose two thin Blue Silver Emperor vines from the gatekeeper's legs.
The Blue Silver Emperor vines in the gatekeeper's head would slowly dissipate on their own after three to five months.
However, if the gatekeeper didn't repent within these months, then Xiao Yan would have no qualms about being more ruthless.
Although the gatekeeper was despicable, Xiao Yan thought that it was best to advise him first so he wouldn't miss the opportunity to change. Killing should be a last resort.
But while bad people could be taught, enemies had to be eliminated.
The gatekeeper should be grateful to have met Xiao Yan. If he had met Tang San, he would have followed the Mystic Heaven Book and been directly sentenced to death. Today, he would have likely died here.
"What's going on?" At that moment, a hoarse voice rang out, and all three looked toward the source.
The gatekeeper saw the newcomer, and although there was a large gash on his forehead, he still smiled and bowed, saying, "Master, you're back."
Xiao Yan glanced at the newcomer. He was a man of medium build, slightly thin, probably in his forties or fifties, with short black hair. His appearance was very ordinary, but he carried a special aura. His eyes had a lazy and somewhat decadent expression as he stood with his hands behind his back.
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(End of Chapter)