A few hours before Hanrui met Tang San.
In a decent looking inn, just outside Notting City, Xue Li is reading a book while Hanrui is talking to Xiao Wu.
"Master, why do all this acting? Why not just kill him and be done with it? Xiao Wu doesn't understand."
Xiao Wu said feeling a pang of regret at not being able to kill the one who played with her, her family and her children in the future.
"Because I don't have any hatred for the current Tang San. It's true Tang San did so many hypocritical things.
But that is a future Tang San who was trained and shaped by his experiences.
I don't want to judge him for what he will do in the future, it feels hypocritical of me, if I did."
Xue Li nodded in understanding at the side as she listened to her grandson's explanation.
While Xiao Wu had a question mark on her face as she didn't understand what he meant.
Hanrui, who noticed her reaction, shook his head and sighed, as he explained.
"My future self travelled back in time and did who knows what, in the past of this world's timeline.
Can I judge him? Can I judge the future me when I don't know what he did and why he did it? The future me experienced more life than the current me.
That is a fact, if i know what he did and what he experienced i can understand him, but i still don't have the right to judge him.
Because knowing and experiencing are two different things.
Knowing a certain thing can only make you angry, because you only know faint details.
Experiencing it on the other hand gives you a near complete picture of the situation and immense rage, if it's a bad thing and unjust.
Especially since he is not my enemy yet. So why bother making him my enemy out right? Maybe he can be used, if things fall into place." Hanrui said as he shrugged.
Xiao Wu finally understood his meaning, nodded her head.
'So, Master is trying not to be a hypocrite?' She thought.
"Anyway, this is just an experiment to see how the timeline and the Gods are reacting to the changes the current me and my future self has made.
You still have to make sure to hold your temper in. Do you understand? Xiao wu?" Hanrui said while looking at her.
"Yes Master, Xiao Wu will put on a perfect act." She reassured him, while giving him a salute.
'Why can't I bring myself to believe her? Well whatever, I just sensed a Title Douluo level being going in the academy direction.
Guess the show is on the road.' He thought as he stood up and looked at Xue Li to confirm if his guess about the title douluo was right, getting a nod from her.
"Ok, follow Nainai's orders, she will guide you when to make your entrance, I'm leaving now." He said before walking out of the inn.
Hanrui quickly walked over to the academy at a steady pace and arrived just in time to notice the commotion about to start.
"What's going on? What's this commotion about?" He asked, making the guards stiffen.
Seeing the guards not respond he continued to ask one more time.
"So, are one of you going to explain what's going on here? Or should I ask this old man first."
The guards grew nervous as they looked at him and gulped.
Hanrui noticed it while observing Tang san and his subtle movements.
'So, this is Tang San, he really looks malnourished and weak. I have a feeling there is something more but I shouldn't think too much about that right now.
Let's focus on the present. Hmm? He seems to have given up on using force because of me. Guess you don't need Yu Scamgong to save lives.' He mused.
As he was thinking, one of the guards took a deep breath and handed over the Soul Master certificate to him and started explaining.
"Elder Li, we suspect this certificate is forged and was driving the boy away and the argument escalated." the guard said, his whole body trembling.
Hanrui looked unimpressed as he stared at the guards, after taking a look at the Soul Master Certificate.
Then looking at the condition of the old man Jack and Tang San, wearing cheap and tattered clothes.
"Are you two dumb? Do you think a poor old man and a boy could forge a document that is issued by the Spirit Hall?
Or do both of you take Me for a fool? You two wanted to fill your wallet, but seeing their poor appearance you got dissatisfied and tried to drive them away.
Especially after seeing the information in the certificate which can be considered a miracle but not impossible." Hanrui lashed out,waving the certificate in front of their faces.
Seeing their thoughts exposed the guards turned pale.
"I really don't understand your stupidity, you two ordinary people without Cultivation trying to offend someone who could become a soul master in a few years.
Do you two think your lives are too easy and need excitement?" He continued making their already pale faces go paler.
'Sigh, Although I wanted to scold these 2 blind men, I really didn't expect them to treat me like this and give me a perfect reason to scold them. Thank you for that.' He thought sarcastically.
The next second the guards knelt on the ground with one knee and apologized to the duo.
Old man Jack and Tang San who was silent all this time looked at each other, then simultaneously looked at the boy who helped them.
"Don't look at me, whether you forgive them or not is your business, I'll definitely punish them once their shift is over." Hanrui shrugged at the duo as he noticed them staring at him.
'Seriously, I'm just here to observe Tang san, not you, old man.' He thought as he watched the unfolding drama.
Hanrui watched the drama until the old man got compensation before shaking again.
"Tang San, right, let's go, I'll show you to the registration office. And you two meet me after your shift is over." Hanrui ordered the guards, making them flinch but they nodded helplessly.
'we can't escape punishment after all.' The guards thought as their shoulders slumped.
'Heh, couldn't keep it in, huh little hao.' Hanrui thought as he walked ahead, feeling the spiritual sense of a Title Douluo probing him.
Just then Tang San who couldn't hold back his curiosity asked "um, who are you, why do they call you Elder Li?"
"Me? I'm just an honorary elder of the academy, I teach classes from time to time." Hanrui said making Tang san and Tang Hao freeze.
As they reached the registration office Hanrui pointed to the office and gave one last piece of advice before leaving.
"Blue Silver Grass is considered a useless Martial Soul but in my opinion, it's the most adaptable Martial Soul there is.
Don't destroy its Tenacity and Life with wrong and untested theory.
Especially yours, I think your Blue Silver Grass is somewhat special, so this is the most important advice I can give you before you start your journey as a Soul Master."
'Yu Xiaogong i know you are nearby, let's see how you manipulate this Tang san. Especially after he heard my advice.' He thought with a sly smile on his face as he sensed his presence while walking away.