Tang San: How Cold the World Can Be~

Tang San stood up, his expression utterly changed.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he was panting like an ox!

Tang San really did look like a great plow ox, huffing and puffing for breath as he stared fearlessly at Zhao Wuji, without the slightest trace of respect.

He looked at Zhao Wuji as though the man owed him five million.

The barrage of questions left Zhao Wuji dumbfounded. Everyone else looked at one another, each seeing shock in the others' eyes.

They could all read the same message:

"What the hell, Tang San, have you fucking lost your mind?"

After a moment of bewilderment, Zhao Wuji was quickly overcome by a surge of fury:

"Tang San, what do you mean by that? I've been negotiating here for so long. Are you fucking blind?"

Zhao Wuji simply couldn't understand. He thought back over everything he had just said and done, but couldn't find even the slightest mistake.

So what gave Tang San the right to accuse him?

Tang San still refused to back down:

"Teacher Zhao, what gives you the right to hand that Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent over to that old hag so easily, after I spent so long fighting tooth and nail to bring it down?"

"Aren't you a Soul Saint? Why are you afraid of her knowing a Soul Emperor?"

"Is this how you lead your students? Bullying the weak and fearing the strong, cowering at the first sign of trouble..."

Tang San threw caution to the wind, pinning every insult he could think of on Zhao Wuji. He was like a mad dog now, biting anyone he caught.

Zhao Wuji's face darkened, and a trace of coldness entered his eyes. His presence erupted, and the mighty pressure of a level 76 Battle Soul Saint shot forth in an instant!

His target was clear: Tang San!

In an instant, Tang San felt the pressure in the air around him grow immense. His legs involuntarily buckled beneath him, and he fell to the ground, drenched in sweat. The Hidden Weapons he had always taken pride in were completely useless now.

Only then did he understand how ridiculous his self-satisfaction at having defeated Zhao Wuji had been. Zhao Wuji had merely been going easy on them.

"Old hag?" Zhao Wuji laughed. "Tang San, do you know who that old hag you're talking about is?"

"That's Chao Tianxiang, the Snake Granny of the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny! She's famous throughout the martial world for paying back the slightest grudge!"

"Her own strength may not be all that high, but her husband is a Soul Douluo! There are even rumors that he's already got one foot in the Titled Douluo realm!"

"I'd already come up with a reason to negotiate on Little Ao's behalf, but you ruined everything with one sentence!"

Tang San froze. His lips moved, but he never dared make a sound.

"Do you think Chao Tianxiang is easy to deal with? If I didn't give the Soul Ring to her granddaughter, once her husband arrived-" Zhao Wuji paused, his gaze once again stabbing toward Tang San like a sword. He glared fiercely into his eyes and said:

"You'd all die!"

"What gives you the right to throw everyone's lives away just to save face?!"

"Tang San, this isn't your home, and I sure as hell have no obligation to indulge you!"

"If you want to die, I won't stop you!"

The words came fast and sharp, leaving Tang San hanging his head in shame, rooted to the spot.

Zhao Wuji was furious. If Tang Hao hadn't threatened him, he would have kicked out a black sheep and useless fraud like Tang San long ago.

Besides, no matter how formidable your father was, weren't you still just a Soul Grandmaster?

What gave you the right to act so arrogantly before a Soul Saint like me?!

Tang San hung his head, the overbearing air on his face completely gone, replaced by a certain caution.

He instinctively looked toward Xiao Wu. It had practically become a reflex: whenever something like this happened, Xiao Wu would step forward and put in a few words for him.

But what he saw was Xiao Wu standing beside Jiang Qin, rising on tiptoe and leaning sideways to whisper in his ear, looking quite intimate.

Reason told him that Xiao Wu probably just had something to say to Jiang Qin, but Tang San felt a bone-deep chill, and a sense of desolation filled his heart.

At last, with no hope of help, Tang San finally lowered his proud head and said stiffly to Zhao Wuji:

"Teacher Zhao, I'm sorry. I was reckless, I..."

Tang San looked thoroughly unwilling and utterly insincere, making Zhao Wuji sick just looking at him:

"No, no, no, don't say another word. I can't accept that. If you're going to apologize, you should be apologizing to Jiang Qin and Oscar!"

Zhao Wuji was sickened. Tang San looked so aggrieved, as though he had been forced to apologize, as though someone had bullied him.

Hearing this, Oscar immediately began heaving long sighs and lamenting:

"My Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent!! That would have been my third ring!"

"Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo~"

When Zhao Wuji had been angry just now, he still hadn't dared act up, but now that Zhao Wuji had spoken, he naturally had to air his grievances.

Jiang Qin nodded along and chimed in:

"That's right, that's right. From what I observed, this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was no ordinary specimen. It might very well have awakened a flight-enhancing Soul Skill!"

Jiang Qin spoke in a level tone, as though merely stating a fact, without any emotion.

But Oscar only grew louder when he heard that:

"Boo-hoo-hoo!!! My Soul Ring!"

"My flying Soul Skill!"

"My Flying Big Sausage~"

He sobbed and wailed pitifully, full of grievance. Though he named no names, everyone understood whom Oscar was referring to.

For a moment, everyone turned their eyes toward Tang San, the same teasing look on their faces.

With no other choice, Tang San had barely finished apologizing to Zhao Wuji, his back not yet straightened, when he bowed to Oscar:

"Little Ao, I'm sorry. It's all because I tried to show off..."

His expression was still strained this time, but he suppressed some of his dissatisfaction and tried to look sincere.

Oscar, however, gave him no face at all and went right on howling.

"My Soul Ring~"

"My Flying Big Sausage~"

Embarrassment showed on Tang San's face as he froze in that position, unable to decide whether to straighten up or stay bowed.

He looked around, but not a single person came to his rescue.

By now, Zhao Wuji was growing impatient with the noise. He glanced at the sky and waved a hand:

"All right, what are you howling for?"

"We'll just find you another one tomorrow. Stop howling!"

"Hurry up and make camp before the sun goes down. It's not safe here at night!"

Zhao Wuji spoke irritably, and with a few words he set everyone to work pitching tents.

Even Tang San knew that a night in the Star Dou Great Forest wasn't so easy to get through...

That night, a cold wind howled through the Star Dou Great Forest, and the occasional shrill cry came from every direction, deeply stirring those who heard it.

Tang San was in his tent, sighing again and again and crying out in pain, his face contorted with suffering.

During the day, he had forced himself to pretend he was fine to show off. After that and such intense emotional upheaval, he could no longer hold on.

Xiao Wu rinsed a towel in water and wiped the sweat from Tang San's forehead. She set the towel aside and said helplessly:

"Brother, why did you have to do that?"