Boss Huang quickly demonstrated the remaining seven moves of the eating technique.
Had it been someone else, being able to remember half of it was already good enough, but he was demonstrating to Tang Ling who had Precise Instinct. Although Boss Huang only demonstrated it once, Tang Ling remembered all the remaining seven moves in his mind.
When he tried it out himself, he was able to achieve more than 80% similarity.
“Hmm, not bad.” Ding Ling, whose hands were tucked in her sleeves, was enjoying the free time after the meal with a cup of warm milk in front of her. She was not stingy with her praise for Tang Ling after judging his performance.
“Hmm, you aren’t so useless after all.” Ding Dong also raised her head up to praise him in the midst of her cleaning.
Tang Ling did not mind at all since he had already tasted the benefits!
The complete moveset of the eating technique could boost his digestion rate by a hefty 20% on top of his original numbers and he had not even performed the moves perfectly.
“I want to have another look.” While enduring the pain, Tang Ling squeezed the words from between his teeth when he looked at Boss Huang.
The old fox looked more and more mysterious in his opinion.
How did he know the complete moveset of the eating technique? Do I know him from somewhere? He…he tricked me into becoming his servant and brought me to Dvesha Moha, yet he corrected my techniques and even taught me some of his own. What’s going on? Shouldn’t he be making things difficult for me?
However, Tang Ling could not delve into his messy thoughts at the moment. He longed for any opportunity that could make him stronger.
Since Boss Huang was willing to teach him, why should he not learn? At least, Tang Ling still had not sensed any hostility from him, and on top of that, he did not feel any negative emotions from him either.
This time around, Boss Huang chuckled at Tang Ling’s request. He squinted his eyes, took a sip from his tea and replied, “Where’s the money?”
“Add it to the debt.” Tang Ling bellowed in pain without hesitation.
“Add it to the debt?” Boss Huang stroked his chin while he considered the proposition.
Tang Ling could not hold on to the energy any longer. The energy was fading and the pain started to melt away. He had to start cultivating. Therefore, while Boss Huang was taking his sweet time, Tang Ling started cultivating.
He never thought a simple breakfast would provide such a substantial amount of energy. After a quick round of cultivation, the vortex in his dantian was just a little shy from being completed.
If he finished the breakfast, would he be able to form the vortex completely?
Tang Ling widened his eyes at the food in front of him with a burning gaze, but he could not eat anymore for the day. The human body had a limit for energy absorption. Despite being a huge eater and even if he had many ways around it, one of which was the little seed, Tang Ling’s body still had a limit.
Sadly, he realized he could no longer eat the food filled with energy. At the same time, he realized that Boss Huang had tricked him again. It was almost impossible for him to not waste the food!
Tang Ling’s face crimsoned and started to heat up as he dared not look at Boss Huang’s face, but when he opened his eyes, the man’s cunning face came closer and was literally right in front of his.
“What the…?” Tang Ling bolted up in shock. He felt uncomfortable when the middle-aged man propped his chin on both his hands and observed him at such a close distance.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” Boss Huang shook his head as he stood up. He calmly sat down on the seashell chair beside Tang Ling. “Your Thousand Satin Skill is quite traditional. I’m quite surprised you didn’t deviate in cultivation.” Pity filled his face as though he utterly felt sorry for Tang Ling for not deviating in his cultivation. It was a resentful face to look at.
Tang Ling held back his urge to challenge Boss Huang to a fight because he would probably lose terribly to the old fox. A quick calculation later, he estimated that Boss Huang might be 10 times harsher than how Su Siao had beaten him up in the past. After he calmed down, he asked, “You know about the Thousand Satin Skill?”
“Surprised? There might be only…hmm, less than a handful of people in this whole wide world who know more than me, Huang Dao, but it depends on what topic it is. If it’s a topic that I’m good at, I, Huang Dao, am the most knowledgeable person in the world,” Boss Huang sipped his tea and declared confidently.
Tang Ling sized Boss Huang up and was rendered speechless by his boastful words. If there was a boasting competition, the old fox would surely be one of the best braggarts. Tang Ling refused to believe that Boss Huang, a single individual, had a more capable intel-collecting network than the big factions outside.
However, even if he refused to believe that, Tang Ling knew that Boss Huang was powerful and had a veil of mystery over him. At least, he was stronger than anyone that Tang Ling had seen so far, and was even more powerful than the Tiger Generals.
For some reason, Tang Ling had a hunch that the old fox was terribly powerful. Since he acknowledged Boss Huang’s strength, Tang Ling did not call out his bragging. He looked at the man with a flattering smile. “Boss, what do you think? About the eating technique…”
“It’s fine if you want to add it to the debt, but you have to remember you already owe me 27 Black Sea coins.” Boss Huang looked bitter as if he was in a difficult situation. He then shook his head and sighed. “You have to know that I’m not rich either.”
Speechless, Tang Ling also realized that there was no one better at lying without blinking than Boss Huang. He was not rich? If he was not rich, how did he own a five-story building in Darkness Port? If he was not rich, how did he afford such a luxurious breakfast?
However, arguing with Boss Huang about lying was futile. After all, Tang Ling was also a cunning fox himself and also knew how to lie without blinking. He showed a very sincere and somewhat sad expression as he said, “I understand your difficulties, Boss. I’ll work harder. I’ll do anything for you. I’ll even throw in my life and…”
“Wait a minute! Hold up!” Boss Huang stopped Tang Ling’s revolting confession and bolted to his feet. “I like being practical. Since you want to increase your debt, you’ll have to make sure you know the rules around here first. Or more precisely, the rules that I’ve set for you.”
“What will that be?” Tang Ling was a little confused, but he felt like he had sunken deeper into the hole. What about his battle of wits and strength with Boss Huang? How did he fall to Boss Huang’s pace now?
However, Boss Huang was literally a walking treasure chest. Tang Ling would hate himself if he did not try his best to stay around him and exploit the useful information from the man. Did Boss Huang not just claim to be the most knowledgeable man in the world? He might even know where Zero was.
With that in mind, Tang Ling finally calmed down.
“Follow me,” Boss Huang straightforwardly replied Tang Ling’s question, so the young boy followed him without saying anything.
…
In the smithing area, the average-sized space had a corner filled with all kinds of minerals and rocks as well as all kinds of tools were hanging on the wall in another corner.
The most eye-catching thing was in the center, where there was a strange machine that resembled an octopus. It had a transparent cover over it and it reminded Tang Ling of the mysterious technology that the Underground owned at a first glance.
The eight limbs of the octopus were actually tubes that were connected to eight giant hearths in the smithing room. Even though no one was around and no smithing was happening, the eight hearts were burning violently, thus the temperature in the room was unbearingly hot.
In the center of the octopus where the transparent cover was, sat a Universal Source Rock that was half the size of a grown man.
Tang Ling once again realized how luxurious Boss Huang’s life was.
“Have a look. This is my work station.” Boss Huang put his hands together and sauntered around the smithing room as he pointed at the eight hearths and said, “I’m old now and my body is failing me, so taking care of eight hearths is a little demanding.”
You’re old and your body is failing you? Fine, you are the boss. Whatever you say goes.
Tang Ling was grumbling ceaselessly in his mind, but he showed a sad and touched look. Obligingly, he responded, “Boss, what do you need of me?”
“Nothing much. I’m never a harsh and cruel person. Even though you owe me money and have to work for me a hundred years, I’m still merciful, but look, since you are increasing the debt, so…” Boss Huang also showed Tang Ling a piteous expression.
A hundred years! Tang Ling clenched his teeth when he was reminded about the duration.
Boss Huang immediately interchanged his pitiful look for a calculative one. “I actually have a schedule planned for you. You’ll help me in the smithing business eight hours a day, and as a reward, you’ll get an hour of free time every day and an hour of reading in my private library on the third floor.
“You can go wherever you want in that hour of free time, and if you are free during other times, you can do whatever you like in the house, like help Ding Ling with her cooking or Ding Dong with her chores…”
This is what you mean by not being harsh!? The veins popped and twitched on Tang Ling’s forehead before he quickly interrupted Boss Huang by asking, “Without any pay?”
“You owe me money, boy.” Boss Huang blinked at him.
“But I have to work for a hundred years and I don’t even get any basic pay?” Tang Ling was hoping that he could get some money to spend on essentials.
“Are the meals you’re having here terrible?” Boss Huang looked at him innocently.
“The meals are great.” The words were ground out from between Tang Ling’s clenched teeth. He had to admit that the food that Boss Huang provided him with was even better than his own vicious beast meat.
“Are you having trouble staying here? You know, Darkness Port is a messy place. In the most chaotic district, you’ll have to pay two Black Wind coins even if you sleep on the street.” The innocent expression on Boss Huang’s face grew even more intense.
“I…don’t have any trouble,” Tang Ling also admitted that he slept well in the house.
“Great. I thought you signed the 100-year contract without a second thought just because you want to be a freeloader at my place. Look, I don’t care about your vicious beast meat or whatever. The fish that you ate just now is a Level 5 vicious beast from the sea. The egg is a Level 4 vicious avian egg and the seaweed juice is the essence extracted from the fruit of a Level 3 vicious plant. The ray is a Level 7 vicious beast and even though the mantou is dipped in its body ink, it’s still…
“Isn’t this your plan?” Boss Huang smiled. He literally looked like a cunning fox.
Tang Ling’s heart sank. Boss Huang had seen through all his plans, his schemes, and everything else that he had in mind, and the man did not even care.
So, what was Boss Huang after?
With that in mind, Tang Ling frowned, no longer having to hide his thoughts. “What do you want then?”
