Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Gaming Also Requires Talent

“I’ll just tell you the truth.” Seeing Lin Shen like this, Tu Xiaodao had no other choice but to be honest, hoping sincerity could move Lin Shen.

“You want to find a way to beat Ouyang Yudu from me?” Lin Shen looked at him as if he were looking at an idiot.

Lin Shen had already told Tu Xiaodao countless times that he hadn’t mastered “Talent Theory.” Why wouldn’t this idiot believe it?

On second thought, if Tu Xiaodao didn’t believe it, would anyone else?

Unless Bai Shenfei clarified it herself, no one would believe what he said; it was very likely, as Tu Xiaodao had said, that more trouble would follow.

“You can stay, and I can be your sparring partner, but let me make this clear in advance,” Lin Shen said very seriously, “I’ll say it one more time, I, Lin Shen, have not mastered ‘Talent Theory.’ You, Tu Xiaodao, do you still want to use this Primeval Egg as payment to ask me to be your sparring partner?”

“Yes.” Tu Xiaodao was delighted upon hearing this and quickly nodded.

“If someone comes looking for trouble with me later on…” Lin Shen continued.

“Leave it to me. As long as I’m here, no one can touch a hair on your head, not even Ouyang Yudu,” Tu Xiaodao immediately guaranteed, thumping his chest.

“Two hours of sparring each day, I can take leave if something comes up and make up for it later, for a period of one month. Any objections?”

“None.” Tu Xiaodao felt it was enough; he was confident in his talent and abilities.

“Deal.” Lin Shen took Tu Xiaodao’s Primeval Egg and then wrote a contract for him to sign.

It stipulated that he hadn’t mastered “Talent Theory,” could only spare two hours a day to be Tu Xiaodao’s sparring partner, and that the limit was one month.

“Can we start right now?” Tu Xiaodao asked with anticipation, looking at Lin Shen.

“Sure, just what I need to help digest my food.” Lin Shen had just had Base Mutation Fluid, and his belly was round from drinking. It was a good time for some exercise.

When they arrived at the training ground, Tu Xiaodao couldn’t wait to draw his bizarre sword.

“You do understand that I’m just a Steel Level,” Lin Shen said, though his finger was already on the trigger of the Angel Revolver.

“I understand. I won’t use Base Mutation strength, and I’ll keep my power and speed within the Steel Level range,” Tu Xiaodao said excitedly. “You attack; I’ll defend.”

“That’s good,” Lin Shen said, taking out the Death Powder. With a flick of his hand, the Death Powder stood straight up.

He didn’t plan to get close to Tu Xiaodao. With the length of the Death Powder, he intended to keep a certain distance.

If Tu Xiaodao dared to close in, he would shoot right away.

Although he somewhat believed what Tu Xiaodao had said was true, it was still necessary to be cautious. Better safe than sorry.

Seeing Tu Xiaodao ready for battle, Lin Shen simply raised his hand and thrust.

Holding the spear at its butt end with one hand, his thrust was unpredictable as a dragon emerging from its den or a venomous snake’s strike.

It was fast, very fast.

Tu Xiaodao’s eyes lit up at this thrust. The standard was indeed high, very skillful.

He swung his sword to meet it, using the back of his blade to deflect the Death Powder.

Lin Shen quickly pulled and pushed, and the Death Powder thrust forward again.

“Good one!” Tu Xiaodao shouted, deflecting the thrust once more.

At first, Tu Xiaodao thought Lin Shen’s thrusting was impressive, but after Lin Shen continued thrusting dozens of times, Tu Xiaodao started to feel strained.

“Don’t just keep thrusting like this, use some other moves,” Tu Xiaodao urged.

“But this is the only move I know,” Lin Shen said with an innocent face. “Or, should I shoot you with my pistol?”

“You only know this one move?” Tu Xiaodao simply couldn’t believe it. How could someone only know one move?

“Up to now, in terms of martial arts, I really have trained only this one move. If I lie, may lightning strike me down.” Lin Shen swore to the heavens.

Tu Xiaodao looked at Lin Shen taking the oath, his expression as if he had swallowed a fly.

Looking at Lin Shen’s expression, it definitely wasn’t a lie, but he just couldn’t understand how it was possible for someone in the world to only learn a single move?

“I know what you’re thinking. I’ve also told you many times, I really didn’t master ‘Talent Theory.’ I know you won’t believe me anyway. But let’s not have me accompany you in practice today either. Other than this stab, I really don’t know any other techniques. Swinging wildly or whatever, I guess you don’t have the patience to watch, and I don’t feel like wasting the effort. Let’s just take a break.”

“How about this, I have some no-good little games here; how about I play with you?” Lin Shen offered.

“Fine.” Tu Xiaodao thought that it was no good continuing like this, and he might as well see what Lin Shen was up to.

Lin Shen took Tu Xiaodao to his own claw machine store and stopped in front of a machine.

“Have you played this before?” Lin Shen asked Tu Xiaodao.

“Child’s play.” Tu Xiaodao looked disdainful.

“So that’s a no then.” Lin Shen gestured to the clerk Zhao Li, “Bring me ten coins.”

“Lin, here you go.” Zhao Li quickly came over with a small basket, which held a row of ten Claw Egg Coins.

“What do you think it takes to win at this claw machine?” Lin Shen took the basket and set it aside, then put two coins in it.

“Obviously, it’s about probability. Although I’ve never played, I also know these machines are set with probabilities. After a certain number of tries, the claw tightens, and only then can it grab the egg inside.” Tu Xiaodao spoke.

“Smart. For ordinary people, that is indeed the case. Whether the claw is loose or tight isn’t so important; it’s about the probability set by the owner. Here, for example, it’s approximately ten tries for a sure win. If the probability isn’t there, no matter how likely it seems, you’ll never succeed,” Lin Shen explained as he pressed the button.

The claw descended, firmly grabbed a Base Mutation Egg, and began to lift it slowly.

It seemed like there was a good chance, but as the claw moved toward the hole to drop the prize, the Base Mutation Egg fell down, not reaching the hole.

“This game isn’t very interesting; let’s just go back to training,” Tu Xiaodao said.

“Don’t be hasty, watch me try one more time. Ordinary people have to wait for the probability, but some people don’t need to wait for it.” Lin Shen, saying this, wiggled the joystick, causing the claw inside to swing.

It was still the flick of the claw technique he was good at, and he easily grabbed a Base Mutation Egg out.

Tu Xiaodao was a bit surprised; he hadn’t expected a game for little kids to have these kinds of tricks and techniques.

“Here, give it a try,” Lin Shen offered his spot.

Tu Xiaodao stood in front of the machine, chose which Base Mutation Egg to go for, and then started to wiggle the joystick, imitating Lin Shen.

Someone who has never practiced, of course, couldn’t possibly get it right on the first try, so Tu Xiaodao came up empty, not even managing to grab the Base Mutation Egg.

“Games are not for everyone to play either; it also depends on talent. You take your time playing, I’ve got some things to take care of, and I’ll set up a place for you to stay in my yard tonight,” Lin Shen said, patting Tu Xiaodao on the shoulder before turning to leave.

“Games require talent as well?” Tu Xiaodao mused, putting more coins in and playing a few more rounds.

As he played, he pondered, “This game is quite interesting. The store owner set a probability, and under normal circumstances, you must reach a certain number of attempts before you can grab a Base Mutation Egg. But with the technique of flicking the claw, it’s possible to break the set probability; however, this requires talent and practice…”

While thinking, Tu Xiaodao seemed to realize something. His eyes fixed on the Base Mutation Eggs inside the machine, shining with light as he murmured, “Could it be that Lin Shen doesn’t want the trouble of admitting he has mastered Talent Theory, and could only hint at it through this game? He deliberately mentioned the word ‘talent,’ there’s no doubt about it. What exactly is he trying to hint at? What does Talent Theory have to do with this game?”

As he thought, Tu Xiaodao reached for more game coins, wanting to continue practicing the flick technique, but his hand grasped at nothing—the ten coins Lin Shen had brought were all used up.

“Bring me some coins,” Tu Xiaodao called out to Zhao Li behind the counter.

“How many coins would you like to buy?” Zhao Li asked with a smile.