Tang San's Second Father? (Two-in-One)

Inside the office, sunlight spilled through the half-open curtains onto the mottled floor, casting interwoven patterns of light and shadow.

Yu Xiaogang sat behind the broad desk, his gaze blazing as he stared at Tang San standing before him.

His toothless mouth strained into a somewhat comical yet deeply gratified smile.

"Exceptionally gifted and so clever as well... it seems I must be stubborn for once!" Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled slightly, as though he was excited by his own decision.

Yu Xiaogang's voice was like old tree bark rubbing together—rough and marked by the passage of time.

He deliberately assumed the air of a reclusive sage. The swivel chair beneath him let out a creak, as though cheering him on, until his back completely blocked Tang San's view.

Then, at that very moment, Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and, as though gathering all his strength, uttered words shocking enough to stun Tang San's mother for a hundred years. "No matter how you put it, you are the third person in the past hundred years to possess Twin Martial Souls!"

The moment those words fell, they struck like a bolt from the blue, instantly plunging Tang San's mood from the clouds into an abyss. His initial excitement was drenched in ice water in that instant.

A sharp killing intent flashed through his eyes. His left hand instinctively moved behind his back, his fingertips lightly touching the hidden weapons concealed beneath his clothes.

Silently, he recited the Tang Sect's double-standard rule to himself:

"The first rule of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record's general outline! Never let anyone you cannot completely trust know the extent of your true strength!"

Just moments ago, Tang San had thought this pretentious Grandmaster might be of use to him. Now, however, his heart churned violently and killing intent boiled within him. This "Grandmaster" was like a ticking bomb, capable of exposing his secrets at any moment. Such a threat could not be allowed to remain!

In an instant, he felt that the bald man before him had crossed his bottom line. He was simply courting death! He had already embarked upon the Path to Death!!

Tang San frowned tightly, regret flashing through his eyes. His gaze became as cold as ice, while remorse surged through his heart like a tide.

He gritted his teeth in secret, a firm resolve ringing in his heart. He should have crippled this bastard back then. Even if the man had only guessed a tiny bit, he absolutely could not be allowed the chance to speak!

Tang San was already prepared. To protect his secret, he considered whether he should act in the shadows, even if that action stained his hands with blood. In that office filled with sunlight and shadows, the atmosphere instantly became tense to the extreme.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Fortunately, Gangzi moved surprisingly quickly and did not overdo his act. Before Tang San's killing intent could fully solidify, he turned back around in his swivel chair, a mysterious, profound smile on his face. His gleaming bald head was especially eye-catching beneath the light.

"Are you wondering why I know that you possess Twin Martial Souls?" Gangzi's voice was low and powerful. His eyes seemed able to see through people's hearts as he stared directly at Tang San.

Tang San's brows were tightly furrowed like two crossed swords. Though he tried his best to remain calm, he could not hide the traces of killing intent leaking from him.

He stood there silently, waiting for the bald Grandmaster's explanation. Yet his left hand behind his back had already clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning white, silently revealing the tension and determination in his heart.

His mind raced as he considered how to dispose of Yu Xiaogang, this potential threat, without drawing attention.

Yu Xiaogang, however, remained unhurried. He reached out and picked up the certificate from Spirit Hall on the desk, a hint of smugness appearing in his eyes, as though everything was under his control.

"It is because of this certificate," he began slowly. "I once conducted an in-depth investigation into 647 people who possessed Blue Silver Grass martial souls. Of them, only sixteen had soul power. And among those sixteen, not one had soul power exceeding Rank One. Yet you possess Innate Full Soul Power at Rank Ten."

He paused, his gaze becoming even deeper, as though recalling the course of his research. "According to one of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul that I researched—Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the quality of one's martial soul—Blue Silver Grass clearly cannot meet this condition. Therefore, I am certain that you possess another martial soul."

At this point, Yu Xiaogang's voice rose slightly, excitement flashing in his eyes. "And it must be an extremely powerful martial soul!"

His words were like a stone falling into a lake, stirring ripples through Tang San's heart. Shock and unease rapidly spread within him.

Tang San's gaze narrowed slightly, while a storm raged in his heart.

Soul power? he wondered silently. Even now, he did not know whether this so-called soul power had some connection to the Mysterious Heaven Skill he cultivated. But this bald Grandmaster had actually developed these so-called Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul?

It sounded rather intimidating, as if it were truly impressive, but Tang San knew he would not be so easily fooled.

After thinking it over carefully, he realized that Yu Xiaogang's words did not seem entirely unreasonable. Though the Blue Silver Grass martial soul was regarded as worthless, the hammer martial soul in his left hand was incomparably powerful.

In any case, he had no resources to lose. He might as well listen to what this bald Grandmaster had to say first. If this fellow dared to toy with him later, then he should not blame Tang San for being ruthless! If this bastard dared to play him, Tang San would make sure he died a miserable death!

Having reached a decision, Tang San showed nothing on his face. To test whether Yu Xiaogang truly possessed profound knowledge, he first raised his own question, his voice calm but faintly provocative.

"Everything has exceptions. Why can't I be one of them?"

Tang San sneered inwardly. If this bald man could not answer, or merely brushed him off, or even stammered through an excuse, then he was probably a fraud—a crooked nobody not worth mentioning! When that happened, he should not blame Tang San for being ruthless. Tang San would make him understand the price of deceiving him! He was ready at any time to walk the Path to Death!!

Who would have thought that Yu Xiaogang actually possessed precious information from Spirit Hall? He directly laid out scroll after scroll before Tang San, looking utterly confident, as though he were lecturing an ignorant country brat.

These materials contained facts that someone like Little Scoundrel, born in a remote village, could never have known. Yu Xiaogang used them as examples, presenting evidence one by one to prove his point.

"That is right! Everything has exceptions!" Yu Xiaogang's voice was firm and powerful as his blazing gaze met Tang San's.

"In the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, Twin Martial Souls have appeared in only two cases over the past hundred years, but Innate Full Soul Power has appeared in nineteen individuals!"

As he spoke, he flipped through the information in his hands. Every word revealed how intimately familiar he was with these records.

"I carefully studied every one of their martial souls. Every single one was powerful. Even the youngest among them has now reached the level of a Soul Grandmaster!" Yu Xiaogang's tone carried an authority that brooked no doubt.

"Among those nineteen, five were special cases. They possessed Mutated Spirits.

"And based on my years of research into Mutated Spirits, I can assert that no martial soul can mutate in conjunction with a Blue Silver Grass martial soul!" Yu Xiaogang's voice became even firmer, and his eyes were almost burning, as though he were discussing the work he loved most.

"Your Blue Silver Grass martial soul, according to my observations, is the most ordinary Blue Silver Grass. There is nothing special about it.

"Therefore, I can be completely certain that my judgment is correct!" Yu Xiaogang's final conclusion struck like a hammer against an anvil, clear and forceful, forcing Tang San to reassess the seemingly ordinary bald Grandmaster before him.

At this moment, Tang San, who knew nothing about martial souls, was left dumbfounded and confused by Yu Xiaogang's thorough analysis.

Though his understanding of martial souls remained shallow, based on what he currently knew, Yu Xiaogang's argument appeared to contain no logical flaws as a whole.

Tang San slowly withdrew the clenched fist behind his back, his fingers gradually uncurling one by one. The vigilance and hostility in his heart slowly faded as well.

He pondered inwardly. Not bad. This fellow really did seem to have some substance. He had supporting data, proven examples, and a clear conclusion. All the key elements were there—barely enough to make one believe him.

At that moment, Tang San felt as though he were the Protagonist who had just left the beginner's village and was about to encounter a tremendous opportunity in life.

Naturally, he would seize such an opportunity tightly and learn the precious knowledge this Grandmaster possessed by any means necessary.

In this regard, Tang San possessed uniquely endowed Talents and determination!

Born into the Tang Sect, he was intimately familiar with this!

With that thought, Tang San did not hesitate in the slightest. He bent both legs and slammed his knees heavily against the ground with a bang.

His gaze fixed resolutely on Yu Xiaogang, the determination and devotion in his eyes as unwavering as when he had first entered the Tang Sect.

Yu Xiaogang deliberately put on a bewildered expression, though inwardly he was already ecstatic. Pretending to remain calm, he asked, "What are you doing?"

Tang San did not answer. Instead, he directly demonstrated his resolve through his actions.

Without hesitation, he lowered his head and knocked it against the floor three times, each kowtow firm and decisive, as though expressing his deepest respect and determination to this Grandmaster.

Those three kowtows reflected not only Tang San's thirst for knowledge, but also his unwavering faith in his own future.

At the sight of Tang San like this, Yu Xiaogang was overjoyed. He feigned composure on the surface, but the satisfaction and delight in his eyes could not be concealed. This Kid not only had some talent, but also some sense. Looks like those beatings he took before weren't for nothing. Today, I actually got two geniuses for free! Yu Xiaogang secretly rejoiced, feeling that he had truly found treasure.

After finishing his kowtows, Tang San immediately shouted, "Please accept me as your disciple!!" His voice was loud and filled with sincerity, echoing through the room.

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang finally could not suppress his laughter. His laughter was full of delight and teasing. "Haha, silly Kid, why kowtow when becoming a disciple? Don't you know that is the etiquette for paying respects to monarchs and parents? A bow is enough. Get up." As he spoke, he waved his hand, signaling Tang San to rise.

Yet Tang San's eyes remained firm and serious. He replied, "A teacher for a day, a father for life!! You deserve my kneeling worship!!" As he spoke, the corners of Tang San's lips curled up slightly. He secretly thought that saying this made Gangzi his second father—and a father closer than his own! This way, Gangzi should be more generous than his previous father and teach him everything without holding back, right??

Tang San desperately wanted to grow stronger, because he knew that outside the door was an enemy he hated to the bone—an enemy he wished could die hundreds or thousands of times! The father from before could not help him fulfill his wish. Now, you should have some ability, right??

Seeing the determination in Tang San's eyes, Yu Xiaogang's joy grew even greater. He knew that he was definitely taking this disciple, and that this disciple would become his proudest work.

Before long, Yu Xiaogang felt that he had finally succeeded in taking in the relatively agreeable genius before him. He coughed twice, cleared his throat, and gestured for Tang San to come closer.

A shrewd gleam flashed in his eyes as he began asking about Blade, the one outside.

"Ahem, come a little closer. From now on, I'll call you Xiao San." Yu Xiaogang's voice held a trace of warmth. "By the way, Xiao San, are you familiar with Blade outside?"

Tang San obediently stepped closer. The moment Yu Xiaogang mentioned Blade, his body tensed instantly. He clenched his teeth and lightly tightened his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Though Tang San was furious inside, his tone remained surprisingly calm. "Fairly familiar, I suppose. Teacher, why are you asking about him?"

Yu Xiaogang rolled his eyes. Clearly unaware of the deep hatred between Tang San and Blade, he was merely making plans for his next genius disciple. He continued laying the groundwork for his scheme and began his Grand Plan of persuasion.

"Blade seems to have quite a bad temper. As your teacher, I saw that you came from the same place and were brought here together by that old gentleman, so I wanted to learn about him through you. That would also make it easier for me to look after him while I'm at it.

"And this way, both of you can study well here and look out for each other."

Yu Xiaogang's words carried the concern of an elder, as though he truly spoke only out of care and consideration for his students. His expression was sincere, and his eyes held expectations for the future, seemingly unaware of the turmoil his words had stirred in Tang San's heart.

Upon hearing this, Tang San immediately understood the intentions of the bald teacher he had just acknowledged. He clearly wanted to recruit Blade as his disciple.

The thought flashed through Tang San's mind, and his expression could not help changing slightly.

How could that be allowed? Tang San gritted his teeth inwardly. If he really let Blade enter their school, not only would Blade take away his teaching resources, but Tang San would also have to watch that guy—whom he could only swallow his anger around—wandering about beside him every day? Wouldn't Tang San's status plummet?

If Blade really became a disciple, then in this three-person master-disciple group, wouldn't Tang San have to be Yu Xiaogang's son while also becoming Blade's grandson? Just thinking about such a situation made Tang San's teeth itch with rage!!

He was the protagonist!

At that thought, the fury in Tang San's heart was like dry grass set ablaze, instantly roaring into an inferno.

He began searching through every bad record Blade had in his mind. He racked his brains for anything that could smear or slander him, determined to make his teacher Gangzi—who had his eye on what was already in his bowl while still looking at the pot—understand that Blade was definitely not someone he could easily control!!

He couldn't handle him!

At this moment, Tang San was like a resentful wife about to catch her husband in bed with another woman. Faced with her husband's betrayal, his heart was full of jealousy and resentment. That bitterness and unwillingness intertwined, making his gaze sharp and cold, as though he were ready to unleash a storm at any moment.