Chapter 37: Planning for Tang San's Second Soul Skill
"Not at all, not at all!"
"I'll definitely watch it carefully!"
The bloodstains on Xiao Chenyu's neck were still seeping out, and he shook his head hastily upon hearing Tang Chuan's words.
"It's not just about looking."
"Cleaning, maintaining order, helping with order deliveries—do whatever work is available. I hope I'm not putting you through that?"
Tang Chuan spoke calmly, while Xiao Chenyu shook his head repeatedly.
"I'm not wronged!"
"I'm not wronged!"
"It's what we should do."
Xiao Chenyu was filled with grief and indignation, but as someone under someone else's roof, he had no choice but to bow his head.
Tang Chuan raised his chin and gave Tang San a look.
Tang San understood, and with a slight movement of his Spirit Power, the Blue Silver Grass wrapped around everyone slowly faded away, and the sea of Blue Silver Grass that filled the cafeteria also surged towards the door and windows.
"Clean up the floor first."
Tang Chuan pointed to the scattered bamboo cups and the remaining fragments of Blue Silver Grass: "Restore everything to its original state before the bell rings for the end of class, and resume normal business."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chenyu dared not be negligent.
Struggling to his feet from the lingering entanglement of the Blue Silver Grass, he growled at his still-paralyzed underlings Liu Long and Ling Feng, "What are you all standing there for!"
"Didn't you hear me?"
"Get up and get to work!"
"Yes, boss."
With long faces, Liu Long and Ling Feng helped each other to their feet. Gone was any of their previous arrogance. They obediently began picking up the broken bamboo cups and cleaning up the trash.
Xiao Chenyu clumsily picked up the overturned tables and chairs, his face burning with embarrassment.
He felt like all the students around him were staring at him like needles, but he didn't dare to lose his temper.
He had never done such rough work since he was a child.
While picking things up, he stole glances at Tang San, who was standing by the shop entrance with his arms crossed and his eyes cold.
If he slowed down even a little, his gaze would sweep over the wound on his neck, which startled him and made him move even faster.
"Alright, mistress, relax."
Tang Chuan looked at the group of people who had begun their labor reform and whispered to Tang San, "Let them do it first. There's something I want to discuss with you about Blue Silver Grass."
He pulled Tang San to the relatively quiet inner side of the shop and took out iced tea and roast meat from the counter.
"Eat something first."
Tang San picked up the roasted meat, took a bite, and then drank a sip of iced tea. His anger did indeed subside a bit.
He looked at Tang Chuan and asked in a low voice, "Brother, why won't you let me give him a hard time?"
"Someone like him won't learn his lesson unless he's left with a scar!"
Tang Clan Rules: All Tang Clan disciples must not easily provoke trouble, but if anyone takes the initiative to infringe, they will be dealt with swiftly and decisively.
In Tang San's eyes, Xiao Chenyu's trouble for his brother was a death sentence.
If it weren't for the fact that his brother still had to study at Notting Academy, Tang San would have slit Xiao Chenyu's neck without hesitation if they were in the wild.
"Mistress, I understand what you're thinking."
"But often, solving problems doesn't necessarily require the most drastic measures."
Tang Chuan smiled, took a sip of iced tea, and said slowly, "Xiao Chenyu is the city lord's son. If we really do anything to him, we'll be in big trouble."
"Our foundation is still weak, so we shouldn't make too many enemies, especially those with powerful backgrounds."
"Let him stay at the shop for a month."
"Firstly, no one will dare to cause us any more trouble. Secondly, the fact that he's bringing us customers is the best form of advertising, much more effective than handing out flyers."
Tang San nodded thoughtfully; his brother always thought further ahead than he did.
"I understand, brother."
"Um."
Tang Chuan put down his cup and patted Tang San on the shoulder: "The main reason I asked you to come here today is to talk to you about the Blue Silver Grass."
"The other woman"
"You've had your first spirit ring for a while now. When you use your Blue Silver Grass Spirit, do you experience any particular sensations?"
"Especially your perception of those Blue Silver Grass seedlings you scattered?"
"Yes, brother."
Upon hearing this, Tang San thought about it carefully and nodded.
"I can vaguely sense their presence, especially those that are close by, like... like tentacles extending out."
"If you concentrate, you can probably cover about half a mile around the plant."
"It can also vaguely sense subtle changes in the environment around the plant, such as the wind blowing through the grass, animals passing by, and so on."
"Just as I thought."
A knowing glint flashed in Tang Chuan's eyes: "This matches my prediction."
"Your Blue Silver Grass Spirit has a good foundation, its vitality is much stronger than that of ordinary Blue Silver Grass, and its perception is an innate advantage."
"So, the mistress."
He paused, looked into Tang San's eyes, and said solemnly, "I have an idea about your second spirit ring."
"This idea might mean that your second soul skill won't significantly boost your direct combat power, or it might even have no offensive power at all."
"Can you accept this?"
"Able!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Tang San nodded firmly and said, "Brother, I'll listen to you."
"I'll work hard in whichever direction you tell me to cultivate. I trust you, and I'll choose any soul skill you want."
For Tang San, his brother's wisdom and foresight had been proven time and again.
He trusted the growth path his brother had personally planned for him more than a powerful offensive soul skill.
He firmly believed his brother's words that Blue Silver Grass could advance him to the rank of Blue Silver Baron.
Now that his brother has ideas about his second soul skill, he is even less unwilling.
"Good."
Tang Chuan felt a warmth in his heart as he looked at the unwavering trust in Tang San's eyes, and patted the back of his hand: "Then let me tell you in detail."
Tang Chuan pulled over a stool and asked Tang San to sit down.
He bent down and pulled out a piece of scrap paper from under the counter. He drew a simple outline of Nottingham on it, and then drew a few small circles around the Academy, the east and west sides of the city, and the city gate.
"Look."
"Tang's Iced Tea is currently sold at these locations in Nottingham, and it takes about half an hour to go there and back."
"Moreover, part-time students have to attend classes during the day, so they don't have much time to go out and set up stalls."
"And Tang's Takeout."
Tang Chuan tapped the Notting Academy on the scrap paper with the tip of his pen: "Currently, takeout can only cover the Academy premises, and orders can only be placed in advance at the cafeteria for delivery."
"But what if we want to expand our operations to Nottingham City in the future?"
"This advance booking model doesn't work well. It's extremely inconvenient for people to relay messages back and forth, and it's easy to make mistakes and mix up orders when there are many."
"Brother, what should we do?"
Tang San stared at the circle on the scrap paper, his brows slowly furrowing: "My Blue Silver Grass and its offspring can only transmit within one kilometer so far..."
"That's why we need your second soul skill."
"I want you to choose a soul skill that can enhance the information transmission properties of Blue Silver Grass."
"The goal is to enable you to connect with a wider range and a greater number of Blue Silver Grass seedlings, and to transmit information over extremely long distances through the network formed between the seedlings."
"So."
Tang Chuan pointed to the dotted lines connecting the small circles on the scrap paper: "If you scatter Blue Silver Grass stalks along the way and use them as relays, wouldn't that allow for timely communication?"
[end of the chapter]