Chapter 11: The Deal
"Are you alright?" Lin Yang turned and asked.
Zhao Bufan shook his head blankly, staring dazed at the corpse lying before him, his heart a whirlwind of emotions.
With just one move, a Two-Ring Great Soul Master had died just like that?
Just how strong was this "Boss" of his?
He then saw Lin Yang walking toward the corpse of the Blazing Fire Azure Wolf, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Forget it, at least keeping his life was already quite good.
Soon, Lin Yang walked over holding a Soul Bone with red patterns.
Looking at that magnificent Soul Bone, a flash of heat and infatuation flickered in Zhao Bufan's eyes.
Was this the legendary Soul Bone?
However, he only took a couple of glances before withdrawing his gaze; he knew very well that he had no fate with this Soul Bone.
Not to mention he was currently injured; even if he weren't, he was no match for Lin Yang.
Even if Lin Yang took the Soul Bone directly, he wouldn't say a single word of protest.
Unexpectedly, Lin Yang sat down in front of Zhao Bufan, placed the Soul Bone between them, and said in a deep voice,
"This is a hundred-year Right Leg Bone. What are your thoughts?"
Zhao Bufan pursed his lips, a trace of bitterness appearing at the corners of his mouth.
"Boss, you should absorb it. Whether it was the Blazing Fire Azure Wolf or Zhao Zhuo, you contributed the most. This is what you deserve."
"I... just now, my eyes were blinded by the Soul Bone, and greed clouded my heart, making me want to keep it for myself," Zhao Bufan said with a look of shame on his face, followed by a hint of lingering fear.
"If it weren't for you, I would be dead by now."
Lin Yang looked at Zhao Bufan and nodded slightly in his heart.
Facing a Soul Bone, Zhao Bufan's reaction was only human.
"This is only a Hundred Year Soul Bone; it's not of much use to me."
Hearing this, Zhao Bufan snapped his head up, looking at Lin Yang with a face full of shock.
A Soul Bone? Not of much use?
Boss, has your mind gone fuzzy? Have you started talking nonsense?
This is a Soul Bone, a Soul Bone!
Zhao Bufan roared in his heart.
However, at that moment, he also suddenly realized something: Lin Yang didn't seem... to care about this Soul Bone.
That meant he still had a chance.
Thinking of this, he said stutteringly,
"Bo... Boss, you mean..."
A smile appeared on Lin Yang's lips. "This Soul Bone was dropped because of you, but it's undeniable that I also put in effort."
Zhao Bufan nodded; there was no doubt about that.
"So... if you want it, you have to trade something for it."
"Boss, are... are you serious?"
Lin Yang countered, "Is there any need for me to lie to you?"
Boom!
It was as if a clap of thunder had exploded in Zhao Bufan's mind.
He felt as if the wrinkles in his brain had instantly smoothed out, leaving only one thought echoing in his mind.
Trade for this Soul Bone at all costs.
"I'll trade," Zhao Bufan blurted out.
"Alright, what are you going to trade for it?"
"gold coins," Zhao Bufan said without hesitation.
"Thirty thousand gold coins plus a soul hunting token. This is my entire fortune that I can produce."
After speaking, Zhao Bufan looked at Lin Yang, his heart pounding with anxiety.
This value was indeed quite low compared to a Soul Bone, but he was already putting everything on the line, including his father's 'inheritance.'
Lin Yang quickly calculated in his head. The price was indeed low, but it was still reasonable.
If placed in an auction, it could easily sell for a hundred thousand gold coins, and even then, it would be a rare find.
Most importantly, this Soul Bone was dropped because of Zhao Bufan. No matter how much it sold for, it was pure profit for him, so why look a gift horse in the mouth?
"Deal. But I want it paid in full at once; I don't accept installments."
"No problem," Zhao Bufan agreed immediately.
Lin Yang looked at Zhao Bufan with a playful expression. "I didn't expect that a major tycoon was hidden among the Work-Study Students."
"Sigh," Zhao Bufan gave a bitter smile.
"Boss, I won't lie to you. My father was also a Soul Master. Years ago... he was in the bandit business, specifically targeting nobles and landlords. That's how these gold coins and the soul hunting token came about."
"Unfortunately, one cannot walk by the river without getting their shoes wet. My father was set up, his foundation was damaged, and he died shortly after."
"Before he died, he told me everything and urged me to become a proper Soul Master."
As he said this, Zhao Bufan appeared quite calm. Only when mentioning his father did a flicker of mockery and sorrow pass through his eyes.
"I didn't have the strength, so naturally, I didn't dare to use a single cent of that money, or even let it be seen."
"I was just afraid that one day someone would find out and it would spark their envy."
Lin Yang was extremely surprised. He had guessed that Zhao Bufan certainly wasn't from a farming family.
He had thought it might be some destitute noble, but he hadn't expected it to be a bandit.
But then again, what did that have to do with him?
Getting the benefits in hand was what mattered.
Moreover, gold coins were much more useful to him than a Hundred Year Soul Bone.
Lin Yang tossed the Soul Bone into Zhao Bufan's arms. "Hurry up and absorb it. I'll protect you."
"Boss..."
Zhao Bufan's pupils trembled. He hadn't expected Lin Yang to give him the Soul Bone so decisively.
Wasn't he afraid that he would go back on his word?
But thinking of Lin Yang's strength, he immediately felt relieved.
Picking up the still-warm Soul Bone, a flicker of heat surged in Zhao Bufan's eyes.
Although the process had been somewhat convoluted, this Soul Bone had still ended up in his hands.
He then unhesitatingly pressed it against his right leg and began to refine it.
With Lin Yang protecting him, he didn't need to worry about his safety.
The speed of refining the Soul Bone was very fast. In less than half an hour, the refining was complete.
Zhao Bufan's Soul Power also successfully broke through to Rank 12. This speed saved him at least half a year of time.
"Boss, where are we going next to find a Spirit Beast?"
Zhao Bufan was eager to try, wishing he could find a Spirit Beast right now to practice on.
Lin Yang glanced at the sky and decided to set up camp and rest first.
The two moved their position and found a relatively secluded cave to use as a resting place.
That night, while eating their dry rations, Zhao Bufan chattered away about many things.
There were worries about the past and aspirations for the future.
Lin Yang listened quietly, responding with a word or two every now and then.
He knew that too much had happened today. Under the great ups and downs, Zhao Bufan's pent-up emotions had found an outlet to vent.
The two took turns keeping watch and spent the entire night safely.
The next day, as dawn broke, the two set off once again on their journey to find a Spirit Beast.
Without Zhao Zhuo's timid and hesitant dragging them down, their pace was very fast.
They reached the mid-to-back section of the Soul Hunting Forest almost before noon.
This was basically a paradise for hundred-year Spirit Beasts, and even Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts might appear.
Ordinary Soul Hunting Groups wouldn't come to this place to seek death.
Along the way, Zhao Bufan gained a new understanding of Lin Yang's strength once again.
It wasn't just strong; it was terrifyingly strong.
Those Spirit Beasts that made his heart tremble couldn't even last two moves against Lin Yang.
Moreover, he also discovered a hobby of Lin Yang's: he really liked cutting off the heads of Spirit Beasts... Zhao Zhuo had been the same. Thinking about that head with eyes that would not close still made his heart feel a chill.
"Boss, have you thought about which Spirit Beast to choose?"
In the dense forest, the quiet atmosphere around them made Zhao Bufan instinctively lower his voice.
Lin Yang's gaze swept across the surroundings as he said calmly, "Golden Extreme Beast."