The Gossiping Oscar

Seeing Xiao Wu's reaction, Ning Rongrong couldn't help but chuckle, asking with a hint of mischief, "Oh? Xiao Wu can testify? How will she testify?"

Although Zhu Zhuqing's face remained expressionless, a tiny curve appeared at the corner of her mouth, and a rare smile flashed in her eyes.

Xiao Wu's face turned even redder. She stomped her foot and scolded, "Third Brother! What are you saying!"

Then he turned around and ran two steps forward, his back to the crowd.

Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, who seemed to wish she could disappear into the ground, and a helpless smile curved his lips.

Oscar patted Tang San on the shoulder. "Okay, okay. Let's go, let's go eat, I'm starving."

Tang San nodded and continued walking forward with Oscar.

Xiao Wu walked back from the front, took Tang San's arm, the blush on her face had not completely faded, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing walked behind, talking in hushed tones, occasionally letting out a soft laugh.

The five of them arrived at the cafeteria. As soon as Tang San stepped through the cafeteria door, he looked up and saw a familiar figure in the corner.

Yu Xiaogang.

She wore a light purple robe with a small flower embroidered on the collar. Her long hair, which she had deliberately grown out, was tied back with a ribbon. Her chin was smooth, and her face appeared to be made up, making her look fair and delicate.

Yu Xiaogang sat at one end of the long table, with a bowl of rice and a small dish of side dishes in front of him, but he didn't move. He just stared blankly out the window, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

Tang San got his food and walked up to Yu Xiaogang: "Teacher, I'm here."

Yu Xiaogang turned his head, saw Tang San, and his eyes lit up for a moment, but quickly dimmed again. "Xiao San, why are you only coming now? Didn't you apply for graduation four years ago?"

Tang San sat down opposite Yu Xiaogang: "I've been traveling around these past few years and have been to many places, which is why I'm only coming now."

Yu Xiaogang nodded, his gaze sweeping over Tang San's face, a hint of dazedness flashing in his eyes, as if he had remembered something.

"What level is your Soul Power now?" Yu Xiaogang asked, his voice much higher than before.

"Level 49," Tang San answered truthfully.

Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened, he opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back, simply nodding calmly and saying, "Not bad."

Tang San was slightly taken aback. In the past, Yu Xiaogang would have given a long and detailed analysis upon hearing such a level. But today, Yu Xiaogang didn't say anything at all.

Something's not right. Something's extremely wrong.

Yu Xiaogang raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Tang San and around the cafeteria, as if he were looking for someone.

Then he looked at Oscar, his tone tinged with urgency. "Oscar, have you seen Flender recently?"

Oscar was eating a steamed bun when the question startled him. He patted his chest twice before swallowing.

He glanced at Yu Xiaogang, his lips twitching. "No. The dean has disappeared these past few days; we can't even find Teacher Zhao."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes. He lowered his gaze and gently rubbed his fingers on the table. His fingers were much thinner than before, and his nails were neatly trimmed.

Tang San's lips twitched slightly. He lowered his head to eat, not daring to look at Yu Xiaogang again.

Xiao Wu, carrying her meal, came to Tang San's side, lowered her head, focused on the food in her bowl, and pretended not to see anything.

The cafeteria fell silent for a moment, with only the clatter of bowls and chopsticks and the occasional chirping of birds from outside the window.

Yu Xiaogang finished eating first, gave Tang San a few words of advice about cultivating diligently, and then stood up and walked outside. His light purple robe fluttered gently behind him, his waist swayed slightly, and his steps were lighter than before.

Tang San watched Yu Xiaogang's figure disappear at the cafeteria entrance, then lowered his head, but he could no longer eat.

Oscar leaned closer and whispered, "See that...?"

Tang San gave Oscar a look that signaled him to stop. Oscar shrank back, swallowed the rest of his words, and lowered his head to eat his steamed bun.

Tang San suddenly remembered something, put down his chopsticks, and turned to look at Oscar.

"Oscar, are there only five of us students in our academy?"

Oscar shook his head and mumbled, "There are two more. One is named Dai Mubai, and the other is named Ma Hongjun."

When Tang San heard the name "Dai Mubai," he caught a glimpse of Zhu Zhuqing's body tense slightly. Her dark eyes lowered, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her fingers unconsciously clenched her chopsticks, her knuckles turning white.

Tang San asked, "Where are they?"

Oscar continued, "Two days ago, Boss Dai was on a date with twins in Suotuo City when he got beaten up. He's still injured and probably quite shaken. He's locked himself in his dorm room now."

Oscar sighed, his face filled with righteous indignation, and clenched his fist. "Once he's healed, let's avenge him together, shall we? We're from the same academy, after all; we can't let others bully him."

Tang San deliberately feigned a puzzled expression and asked Oscar, "Twins? Is Dai Mubai with heterochromia and his Martial Soul is the White Tiger?"

Oscar was taken aback. "How did you know? Do you know him?"

Tang San replied calmly, "He was probably beaten by me."

Oscar suddenly felt like he must have forgotten to check the almanac before going out today; it was just not a good day to talk. Oscar held up his hand and made a zipping gesture to his mouth, indicating that he would keep quiet.

Tang San glanced at Oscar, a slight smile curving his lips, and deliberately asked, "That day Dai Mubai was with a pair of twins, acting very arrogantly, so I couldn't stand it and beat him up. Does he often have a good time in Suotuo City?"

Oscar, who had just closed his mouth, was forced to open it again by this question. His eyes darted around, and after checking Tang San's expression to make sure it wasn't a test, he relaxed and perked up again.

"Of course!" Oscar's voice rose a few decibels, tinged with the excitement of gossip. "Boss Dai a well-known womanizer in Suotuo City, he goes through one woman after another. Do you know what he said? 'Women aren't population, they're resources.' And another one, 'This one today, that one tomorrow, that's how you live a worthwhile life.' Classic, right?"

Oscar launched into a long, detailed account of Dai Mubai's romantic escapades, from the twins to the three sisters, his voice vivid and animated, like a storyteller. Each story was recounted with rich detail, as if he had experienced them firsthand.

Zhu Zhuqing listened from the side, her face growing increasingly gloomy and cold.

At first, her lips were only slightly pursed, then her brows furrowed, and finally her whole face looked as if covered with frost. The chopsticks in her hand rested on the bowl and she didn't move them again.

His dark eyes revealed no emotion, but the chill emanating from his very bones made Ning Rongrong, who was sitting next to him, shiver involuntarily.

Oscar was engrossed in his story and didn't notice anything amiss. When Oscar finally finished recounting Dai Mubai's romantic history and took a big bite of his steamed bun with satisfaction, Zhu Zhuqing stood up.

"I'm not feeling well, so I'm going back to my dorm first. You guys enjoy your meal." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was as cold as ice, and her face was expressionless.

After saying that, Zhu Zhuqing turned and left quickly, as if she were fleeing something. In a few breaths, Zhu Zhuqing's figure disappeared at the entrance of the cafeteria.

Apart from Tang San, everyone else stared in astonishment at Zhu Zhuqing's departing figure.

Oscar asked in a low voice, a hint of guilt and confusion in his tone, "Did I say something wrong?"

Tang San shook his head, his tone casual. "No, I don't think so. Maybe she really isn't feeling well. Girls, you know, they have their periods every month."

Xiao Wu kicked Tang San under the table. Tang San didn't change his expression, picked up his bowl, and took a sip.

No one asked about the other Ma Hongjun anymore. They'd already seen so many oddballs today; they didn't want another one to appear who was even more bizarre.

After finishing their meal in silence, everyone got up and returned to their dormitories to meditate and cultivate.