Strongest Scammer: Scamming The World, One Death At A Time-Chapter 146: Better Understanding Of Emotions

Then Han Yu’s gaze sharpened. He needed controlled situations—interactions that stirred emotion without placing him at too much risk.

Maybe it was time to explore the sect again, carefully. He could observe others, subtly insert himself into conflicts or dramatic moments, and harvest the ambient energy. If someone experienced intense fear, joy, or sorrow around him, he could try to siphon it.

"And I’ll need a better understanding of these emotions," Han Yu added. "The fragments in my mind don’t explain it all."

He glanced at the old scrolls and books he had salvaged from his normal storage pouch. Most were low-grade manuals on Qi cultivation, two books on qi skills and sect etiquette—worthless to him now. But there were some books on historical battles, great sect betrayals, tragic cultivator romances.

The latter were something he could obtain easily even as servants. They didn’t need any merit points to obtain and even the servant dorms had a shelf full of them lying around. Most servants didn’t even bother to take a look as they brought them no benefits.

A few did read them as momentary entertainment and Han Yu had done the same.

Back when he was a servant, he had thought them melodramatic and useless too.

Now?

Now they were gold.

"Stories of powerful emotions... maybe I can learn how to simulate or induce them," he whispered.

A flicker of memory sparked within him when he had listened to a lecture while sweeping the ground nearby—an elder once telling stories of how ancient Cultivators used theater, music, and even painting to amplify emotions. Perhaps that was a path he could explore, too.

"But not now. Not yet."

He sat down again, trying to recover what little Soul Qi remained. His control was there. The techniques were available. But he lacked the fuel to wield them often. That made every fight, every decision, infinitely more dangerous.

"I’m like a swordsman with a blade made of candlelight," he muttered. "Fierce—but easily extinguished."

Still, he smiled. Because it was his blade. His path.

Han Yu clenched his fists and looked up at the sky again.

"Sooner or later, they’ll all see... the world doesn’t need another Qi Cultivator," he whispered, voice steady. "It needs a Soul Cultivator who’s ready to devour it."

The next few days passed with Han Yu trying to recover his depleted Soul Qi reserves. Meditation helped, but only slightly. His cultivation method required real, potent emotions—not just inner calm.

He needed energy.

And for that, he needed people.

Han Yu had kept to himself since his return to the sect, putting on the act of a changed man—quiet, composed, even humble. But despite his internal cultivation efforts, the Eight Emotions Energy refused to coalesce.

It wasn’t until a chance encounter in the herb garden that everything changed.

Han Yu had simply wanted a few spirit herbs to grind into powder for his muscle recovery after having exhausted the pills that Wu Huian had given him. That was when he bumped—quite literally—into a haughty Inner Court disciple. He had already been granted the permission beforehand by the elders too, so he wasn’t even at fault being here.

"You blind?!" the disciple snapped, brushing off his sleeves as if Han Yu had smeared filth on them. "Are you even supposed to be here?"

"I’m allowed." Han Yu blinked. "And besides that , you walked into me."

"What did you say?" the man’s eyes narrowed.

"I said you walked into me. Are your eyes ornaments?" Han Yu replied, tone flat.

The disciple’s face turned red with anger. "You—! A mere Outer Court mutt dares—!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Han Yu felt it.

A faint, invisible tendril of gray energy slowly drifted from the disciple and toward Han Yu’s chest.

SHUA

The wisp was absorbed into him, subtle and soft, but unmistakable.

Han Yu froze.

’That... was Surprise energy!’

He quickly lowered his gaze, muttered an insincere apology, and walked off before the disciple could say anything else. His mind raced.

’Wait... That energy... it came from him!’

He dashed back to his courtyard, sat cross-legged, and entered a meditative state, confirming it.

The gray-colored Eight Emotions Energy had increased.

It had to be real. It was real.

But that wasn’t all.

As he replayed the moment in his mind, he realized the disciple hadn’t just been surprised. He’d also been angry—furious. Han Yu had insulted his pride, challenged his status.

And yet, he had only received the Surprise wisp?

’Why didn’t I get the Anger energy?’

Han Yu recalled how the man’s expression had changed so fast. Surprise first, then rage.

’Maybe... the first and strongest emotion is what gets harvested. I need to provoke them—make them feel something intense, and make sure it’s focused on me.’

It all clicked in his mind.

He couldn’t just witness emotions. He had to be the cause of them.

Han Yu stared at his hands, then chuckled.

"So I’ve got to make people feel things about me, huh?"

A slow grin stretched across his face.

"Well, that doesn’t sound too hard."

He was good at that. Too good.

Back when he was still a servant, he had caused an uproar across the Outer Court more than once. Whether it was sneaking into the inner kitchens to steal steamed buns, tricking arrogant disciples into sparring matches they couldn’t win, or spreading absurd rumors about elder romances—he had been a menace.

He had been called everything from "nuisance" to "a demon in human skin."

And now?

Now that same behavior could fuel his cultivation.

Han Yu’s eyes gleamed.

"I need to bring back my antics."

Of course, he’d have to be careful this time. He couldn’t afford to bring down the wrath of the elders. But the Outer Court? That was fair game.

His mind began to spin with possibilities.

’I can start small. Annoy a few loudmouths, prank a couple of bullies. Let them spread the word. Make them react. Feel.’

He looked down at his hands again.

’The stronger the emotion, the better the harvest.’

He paused.

’Wait... can I combine them?’