Chapter 175: Moral Kidnapping

"Haha, it is precisely because I broke it so easily that I thought of asking you for a play. Think about it, if it's something even I couldn't break, it must be a treasure, so how could I have the nerve to ask you for it?" Nan Feihuang laughed.

Everyone thought about it, and indeed, that was the logic.

If you ask a friend for money, say a million Gold Soul Coins, you certainly wouldn't be able to bring it up, and the other party wouldn't agree either; but if you only asked for ten Copper Soul Coins to buy a meal, they probably wouldn't have the heart to refuse.

"But... but..." Tang San's expression was incredibly conflicted. He knew Nan Feihuang had good intentions, but this kindness had inadvertently morally kidnapped him.

"Hey, you surnamed Tang, what are you being stingy about? You yourself said that the Flying General saved your life twice. He is now using these two favors to trade for two of your toys; it is clearly out of consideration for you, not wanting you to feel indebted to him and affect your state of mind and cultivation. Yet you are so hesitant, actually unwilling to part with even these little things?" said a girl with fiery red hair.

She was Huo Wu of the Blazing Academy. Unlike the original work, this Huo Wu had never paid any attention to Tang San before.

After all, on the competition field, it was she who used her Fire Shadow martial soul to thrash the Blue Silver Grass, and without being provoked by that line, "What a pity, my Blue Silver Grass, fire immunity!", how could she possibly look at a loser she had defeated with any respect?

At this moment, she felt nothing but contempt. A favor was not being repaid, and Nan Feihuang wasn't even making an exorbitant demand, just asking for some small items.

"Tang San, if your heart isn't big enough, you can't become a true powerhouse. You should learn from my junior martial brother," said another cold, blue-haired woman.

She was the captain of Tianshui Academy, Shui Bing'er. Only she would call Nan Feihuang junior martial brother. The two had known each other for a long time; after all, her mother and Nan Feihuang's mother were fellow disciples in the past. For their generation to address each other as senior sister and junior brother was perfectly acceptable.

Seeing everyone speaking up for him, Nan Feihuang chuckled inwardly. He hadn't spoken earlier and chose this moment precisely for the power of public opinion, to morally kidnap Tang San.

The current Tang San was not even level forty yet and was in a timid state. He couldn't afford to lose his persona; if he left an image in everyone's mind of someone who didn't repay favors and only cared about benefits, there would be no advantage in that.

After careful consideration, Tang San smiled reluctantly, "What are you all and the Emperor saying? My hesitation just now was not because I wanted to refuse Brother Nan, but because I was considering what things would be best to give to Brother Nan. Why don't you say it yourself, Brother Nan, which two do you want?"

Carrying forward the Tang Sect immediately became a joke.

He had the intention to establish the Tang Sect on this continent. Once this persona was established, who would ever join his sect in the future?

A person like this could even ignore a life-saving favor and have a brain full of nothing but benefits. Even if he could be used in the future, he could only be a hired thug and never a trusted confidant.

"You are called Tang San, right? Since my son-in-law likes your little gadgets, you should just give them to him. If you feel the money isn't enough, at worst, I will double the rewards I originally bestowed upon Feihuang and give them to you instead," the Great Emperor Xue Ye said with some disdain. In his view, this Tang San must have felt the benefits were insufficient.

Nan Feihuang thought for a moment, "Hmm, it's that thing you hold in your hand that goes bang-bang-bang and fires crossbow bolts, and also, the one hidden in the sleeve. Is that okay, Brother Tang?"

"Zhuge Divine Crossbow and Silent Sleeve Arrow, this guy really knows how to pick," Tang San thought to himself. The Zhuge Divine Crossbow was one of the most powerful among the Tang Sect's entry-level Hidden Weapons, and while the Silent Sleeve Arrow didn't have much power, it was a great item for assassination and sneak attacks.

At this moment, under the watchful eyes of everyone, even if he didn't want to give them, he could no longer refuse.

For one, it was a fact that Nan Feihuang had saved his life twice. Repaying it was fine; he wouldn't owe him anything in the future, and he could maintain his persona, which was beneficial for establishing the Tang Sect later.

Secondly, the Tang Sect had many Hidden Weapons. The Zhuge Divine Crossbow and Silent Sleeve Arrow only belonged to the entry-level; the true essence was the Buddha Fury Tang Lotus, the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle, and the like. Giving away two entry-level Hidden Weapons would not affect the foundation of the Tang Sect.

Thirdly, although the Hidden Weapons couldn't be recovered once given away, the person could. Once he became stronger in the future, he could force Nan Feihuang to become his subordinate. Although Nan Feihuang was stronger than him now, he had Twin Spirits, and surpassing Nan Feihuang was only a matter of time. As long as Nan Feihuang also became a Tang Sect disciple, the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons would not be considered leaked.

This could also be considered a favor he was bestowing upon Nan Feihuang. At that time, he wouldn't even mind teaching Nan Feihuang the Mysterious Heaven Skill to put his mind at ease, and then use the power of the Gu Lei Kingdom to help him develop his sect. It could be called a win-win.

Thinking of this, Tang San said, "Good, then Brother Nan, I will draw these two blueprints and give them to you in a while."

"That's more like it." The people from the other academies nodded. Repaying a favor when one is owed is what a man does; the previous dawdling was nothing.

Today, forced by the situation, Tang San could only accept it. However, he could accept the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons being temporarily outside, but he would not accept them being permanently controlled by outsiders. Since they were now mastered, if the Gu Lei Kingdom was willing to become a Tang Sect affiliate in the future, then so be it; otherwise, he would only have to...

Seeing that the awarding matters had concluded, Xue Ye announced that everyone was dismissed and that starting tomorrow, they would head to the military camp outside the city to officially begin the Promotion Tournament of the Soul Master Tournament.

Leaving the main hall, Tang San walked to Nan Feihuang's side and asked, "Brother Nan, did you notice just now that there seems to be a significant conflict between the Empire and the Spirit Hall?"

Although Nan Feihuang had "inadvertently" morally kidnapped him and forced him to hand over the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons, that was because Nan Feihuang didn't know how precious the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons were to him. One who doesn't know is not at fault.

As long as Nan Feihuang joined the Tang Sect in the future, he would forgive him. For now, the two were ostensibly friends, and when there was nothing else to do, they could still exchange a few words.

Feihuang nodded, "The title is fine, but to even provide a guarantee for a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast, this is forcing us to choose between the Empire and the Spirit Hall."

"Does Brother Nan think that the Emperor is just making a show of force to the Spirit Hall, or that the two forces are already at odds in secret?" Tang San knew that Nan Feihuang was usually close to the imperial family and wanted to extract some intelligence from him.

How could Nan Feihuang not see that? He smiled slightly and said, "I don't know, but I don't have to choose anyway, because I am from the Gu Lei Kingdom. As for you, Brother Tang, you might want to start considering it carefully."

Nan Feihuang patted Tang San on the shoulder and walked away directly.

In fact, he believed that even if Tang San didn't have a deep hatred for the Spirit Hall, he would still choose the Empire's side in the end. He knew that the Spirit Hall was unlikely to recognize his path of Hidden Weapons because they were all Spirit Masters, while the Empire had mostly ordinary soldiers and needed the power of Hidden Weapons more. Only by utilizing the Empire could he obtain greater benefits to develop his Tang Sect.

(End of chapter)