Returning the Favor in Kind

Luo Chuan forced out four Golden Hairs, each over ten centimeters long. He took a deep breath and looked at Tang San, who held the Clear Sky Hammer and was about to deliver the final blow. Rage erupted in his eyes. "Try your own weapons for yourself."

With a wave of his right hand, Luo Chuan sent the four Golden Hairs flying.

Tang San's face filled with terror. No matter what, he had never expected Luo Chuan to force the Golden Hairs out.

The four Golden Hairs shot toward his left and right shoulders, beneath his ribs, and the left side of his waist and abdomen.

Tang San instantly put away the Clear Sky Hammer and waved his Mystic Jade Hand. At the same time, he lowered his head, and an arrow suddenly shot from his back toward Luo Chuan.

But the arrow was blocked by the intact lotus platform. Luo Chuan did not even glance at it. His figure flickered, and when he appeared again, he was already before Tang San.

He slowly raised his hand. Every movement was extremely slow, yet it left behind layer upon layer of afterimages.

Tang San did not dare defend against Luo Chuan's palm strike at all. He would rather take the blow than be hit by the Golden Hairs.

But how could Luo Chuan let him have his way? As his palm struck out, Soul Power surged forth. Tang San felt the Soul Power in his body suddenly stagnate for an instant, directly interrupting even his attempt to catch the Golden Hairs.

Luo Chuan forcibly drove the four Golden Hairs into Tang San's body, even placing them in exactly the same positions.

Bang!

Tang San flew backward more than ten meters before hitting the ground. He rolled several times before finally stopping.

Luo Chuan began panting as well. A golden glow shimmered across his body, and his injuries rapidly healed.

Everything had happened in the blink of an eye.

Luo Chuan looked coldly at Tang San, who was convulsing on the ground, and spoke in an icy voice. "I don't know whether, when you plotted against me, you ever considered what would have happened if I hadn't reacted in time.

"The first time, there were two needles. If I hadn't caught them, Zhu Zhuqing might have suffered only superficial injuries.

"But the second time, if I had dodged, those four golden needles would have taken half her life!"

"I hurt Xiao Wu, and you were angry. I understand that. That's why I never fought back. Did you really think all I could do was dodge?" Luo Chuan slowly walked toward where Zhu Zhuqing had originally been standing. Behind that spot was a solid wooden fence.

"Even solid wood couldn't withstand the twisting of those golden needles. No surprise there—your golden needles were bought from me, weren't they? I never expected you to use them on me." Luo Chuan's expression remained calm, but every word shook the hearts of everyone present.

Zhao Wuji strode over to the fence. At its center was a golden needle curled into a ball, gradually twisting and warping. It had carved several centimeters-deep cuts even into the solid wood. Luo Chuan had been confident he could dodge all five Golden Hairs, but because of Zhu Zhuqing, he had only dodged one.

"Hiss..." Zhao Wuji sucked in a cold breath, then looked at Luo Chuan as if he were a monster. How had he forced out such golden needles?

The needles were as thin as hairs, sharper than blades, and most importantly, they could curl up on their own.

Once this thing entered a person's body, it would be carving out their flesh!

No wonder that kid was still sprawled on the ground, trembling all over and drenched in cold sweat.

No wonder Luo Chuan had reacted so strongly. Just imagining that thing entering one's body was enough to send chills down one's spine.

Zhu Zhuqing's face was pale. She had even imagined what it would be like if those things had entered her body.

"Second on the Heavenly Ranking. With a temperament and strength like this, are you worthy?" Luo Chuan showed Tang San no mercy. If they had not been at the academy, and if he had not been wary of Clear Sky lurking in the shadows, he might even have felt the urge to kill Tang San.

"Ding! By defeating Tang San, second on the Heavenly Ranking, despite having lower cultivation, and causing several Heavenly Ranking prodigies to initially doubt the Heavenly Dao Ranking, you have obtained the reward—Character Summoning Card! System space activated.

Character Summoning Card: Randomly summons a Peerless Douluo to pledge loyalty to the host."

Luo Chuan had originally wanted to berate Tang San a little more, but the system's voice filled him with delight.

Damn it, I've had to hold myself back ever since coming to Douluo. Now I finally have a powerful backer!

System, use the Character Summoning Card!

Luo Chuan's mood suddenly improved. He then looked at Zhao Wuji and said, "T-Teacher Zhao, are we still fighting after this?"

"I concede." Zhu Zhuqing conceded directly. Ning Rongrong then spoke softly as well. "I concede too. Hurry and get some rest."

Since they had all conceded, Luo Chuan naturally would not stay any longer. He did not even look at Tang San. That guy had brought this upon himself. If I killed you now, you'd have no choice but to obediently stretch out your neck.

He focused on the system's response in his mind. The summoning effect of the Character Summoning Card had now ended.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, for drawing Sky-Supporting Douluo—Yun Ming! Character memories are being implanted. The summoned character will arrive at the host's side within three days."

Three days. Luo Chuan felt a wave of lingering fear. Luckily, he had not impulsively killed Tang San, or he would have ascended on the spot. Just endure for three more days.

No one stopped Luo Chuan as he left. The golden light that had never faded from his body made it obvious that the injuries inside him were severe.

"Xiao Ao, give me two of your big sausages." Zhao Wuji did not go after Luo Chuan. Flender had explained in detail last night just how monstrous Luo Chuan was.

Leaving aside his cultivation talent, his martial soul alone had countless marvelous uses. Fire, healing, Destruction, defense...

Therefore, Zhao Wuji was not worried about Luo Chuan's safety. Tang San was the one who needed care.

"N-No need. I... I can do it myself!" Tang San was still stubborn. The moment he heard he was expected to eat Oscar's big sausages, he immediately struggled to get up.

But he could not stand at all in his current state. In the end, Dai Mubai had to help him up. Then, gritting his teeth, he pulled a Golden Hair from his left shoulder.

Even Zhao Wuji's teeth hurt from watching the process. One could imagine just how furious Luo Chuan had been at the time.

It was only an assessment. Not only was Xiao Wu's injury largely her own fault, but it was not even serious. Luo Chuan's final blow had merely looked somewhat rough. Yet Tang San had refused to let it go.

With his left shoulder freed, Tang San's left arm finally felt a little better. After catching his breath, he found that his clothes were already soaked through with sweat.

But he could not rest. A lump of flesh had already bulged from his right shoulder. The Golden Hair had tangled itself together, twisting his muscles into a knot. Just looking at Tang San's expression showed how agonizing it was.

Originally, there had been no trace of the Golden Hair after it entered the muscle. But now, as Tang San pulled it out, it was like extracting a long blade twisted beyond recognition. His left shoulder was already a bloody mess.

Soon, Tang San pulled the Golden Hair from his right shoulder as well.

He carefully stored away the golden bead formed by the curled Golden Hair, then took another breath and moved toward his waist.

As everyone watched Tang San pull out the Golden Hairs one by one, there was little pity in their hearts.

The only time Luo Chuan had fought back against Xiao Wu, they had all seen the hollow look in his eyes. Therefore, Luo Chuan bore little responsibility for Xiao Wu's injuries. Tang San's wounds, meanwhile, were entirely self-inflicted.

Zhu Zhuqing watched it all with particular indifference. If Luo Chuan had not blocked the Golden Hairs for her, she would have been the one suffering such agony.

And the culprit was Tang San!

If Zhao Wuji had not yet announced the results of their assessment, she would have left immediately.

After finally pulling out all four Golden Hairs, Tang San was completely drained. He collapsed limply onto the ground.

Zhao Wuji showed no pity either. Instead, he said to Dai Mubai, "Mubai, arrange the dormitories.

"Xiao Ao, go invite Teacher Shao Xin to treat them."

Tang San lay limp on the ground like a dead dog, yet he still looked toward Ning Rongrong. "Please... please take Xiao Wu back to the dormitory."

Ning Rongrong nodded upon hearing this and did not refuse. Although she also disliked Tang San's actions, Xiao Wu had done nothing wrong.