Blade: You're in the Way

Before long, Tang San's words poured forth like a flood. Determination gleamed in his eyes, as though he wanted to vent all the resentment he had bottled up for so long in one go.

His voice rose and fell, every word like a sharp blade aimed directly at Blade's flaws.

"Teacher, you have no idea what he's like. He's stubborn to the extreme! He's no different from a madman—when he loses it, he doesn't recognize anyone, not even family!" Tang San said indignantly, his eyes nearly spitting fire.

He waved his arms as he described Blade's violent tendencies. "Someone like him is nothing but a disaster! He won't bring anything good to the academy or to you, Teacher!"

Tang San continued exposing Blade's background. "Teacher, did you know? Blade is an orphan. He lacked love growing up! That's why he only knows how to solve problems with his fists. Other than beating people up, what else can he do?!"

He sneered and said disdainfully, "How could someone like him possibly listen to you, Teacher?"

Tang San went on and on, his mouth like a runaway train barreling forward as he constantly listed Blade's many faults. Gangzi, standing to the side, was dumbfounded. He had never expected Tang San to have such a huge grudge against Blade.

To interrupt this "accusation," Gangzi hurriedly found an excuse and sent Tang San to register his and Blade's student information.

Yu Xiaogang watched Tang San's departing back and pondered to himself. Although most of Tang San's words had been negative, he felt much more at ease.

After all, knowing someone's weaknesses meant having a better grasp on how to control them.

The corners of his lips curled upward into a smug smile, as though he could already see the day when he successfully had Blade firmly in his grasp.

In Yu Xiaogang's eyes, a single-minded student like Blade was simply a gift from heaven—there was nothing easier to control.

He was unlike those students who seemed obedient on the surface while hiding countless little schemes inside. Those people wore hypocritical masks, making them impossible to read and truly difficult to handle.

Blade was different. His personality was straightforward, his goals clear, and he possessed an almost obsessive love for fighting. In Yu Xiaogang's eyes, that was precisely a valuable quality needed for martial training.

Blade's simplicity and directness made Yu Xiaogang feel immensely at ease. He did not have those complicated, ever-changing thoughts, so Yu Xiaogang did not need to guess the intentions behind his every action.

A student like that only needed a little guidance to become a sharp sword in his hand.

Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly. Recalling how Blade had beaten him badly before, he could not help but feel a little apprehensive.

At the time, he had truly thought Blade was his enemy and had been filled with fear toward him.

But now, after learning more about him, Yu Xiaogang, as the Grandmaster, had regained his confidence.

He knew that Blade's lack of love and fear of strangers were exactly the weaknesses he could exploit.

He considered himself cold and heartless toward women, but for a disciple who could help him become famous across the continent, he was willing to devote himself wholeheartedly.

As long as he gave Blade a little care and let him feel long-lost warmth, Blade would naturally come to see him as a father, just like Tang San did.

Add some understanding and affection on top of that, and wouldn't Blade obediently listen to him?

Yu Xiaogang became increasingly convinced. A child like Blade—unless his heart was truly made of stone, unless he was already dead—how could he possibly remain unmoved by Yu Xiaogang's sincerity?

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, as though he could already see the genius disciples he had cultivated making their names known across the continent.

He sat there with a face full of anticipation, quietly waiting for Tang San to bring Blade inside.

Ambition and expectation gleamed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes. He was already prepared to welcome his second genius disciple.

Meanwhile, Tang San pushed open the tightly shut door, and his entire demeanor changed almost instantly.

The gritted teeth and ferocious expression he had worn while quietly slandering Blade behind the door earlier now seemed like nothing more than an illusion.

He gently closed the door, moving as tenderly as though he were protecting a fragile treasure.

In an instant, Tang San's expression became innocent and sincere. He quietly stopped beside Blade, afraid that his arrival would disturb Blade's peaceful contemplation with his eyes closed.

He waited patiently until Blade's blood-red eyes slowly opened and noticed his presence. Only then did Tang San cautiously say:

"Brother Blade, I've officially acknowledged the Grandmaster as my teacher. Teacher really wants to talk with you, so I'll go register your student information now.

If you're willing, I can open the door for you. If you don't want to go yet, you can wait here for me. Once I'm done, I'll come back for you, all right?"

Blade's thoughts gradually pulled away from his deep contemplation of the mission. A trace of amusement flickered in his blood-red eyes as he stared intently at Tang San, as though trying to see through his heart.

Time passed in silence. A moment later, the corner of Blade's mouth slowly curved upward, carrying both mockery and teasing.

Then, his bandage-wrapped fingers suddenly pressed lightly against his sharply defined face. A burst of crazed, hoarse laughter erupted at once, echoing through the corridor and sending chills down one's spine.

"Hehehehahahahahaha!"

Before long, the laughter abruptly stopped. Blade lowered his hand, still wearing that amused yet sinister smile. His voice was low and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Teacher?"

His gaze remained fixed on Tang San's face, and an inexplicable interest colored his tone. "Tang San, you always manage to bring me unexpected surprises."

A more obvious mocking smile formed on Blade's lips, and his words carried a trace of disdain.

"One piece of trash found another piece of trash."

As his words fell, the air seemed to grow a little more tense and subtle.

Tang San's expression instantly turned as ugly as if his mother had just died. His body trembled involuntarily, rage surging in his chest and nearly drowning his reason.

He clenched his back teeth so hard they nearly shattered, just like his newly acknowledged father's, while his fists tightened and his knuckles turned white from the force.

Yet despite the fury filling every cell of his body, Tang San forcibly held himself back.

He knew his own strength. He knew he was no match for Blade.

And the father he had just acknowledged was clearly an expert in theory. The facts had already proven that he was no match for Blade in actual combat either.

Tang San desperately suppressed the rage that was on the verge of erupting in his heart. He secretly cursed Blade, cursing him thousands upon thousands of times, wishing Blade would be cut into a thousand pieces and die ten million deaths.

Yet even amid his fury, he was thinking: his teacher had seen through his Twin Martial Souls based on nothing more than a certificate. Such insight was far beyond what an ordinary person could possess.

Compared to what that damned Blade had secretly observed during the Spirit Awakening, it was like heaven and earth apart!

How could his teacher possibly be useless! Besides, he, Tang San, was the Protagonist. There was no way everyone around him could be trash!

After calming down slightly, Tang San forcibly squeezed out a smile and said in a flattering tone:

"Cough, cough, Brother Blade, you must be laughing at me. So, do you still plan to go in and see Teacher?"

His voice carried a trace of barely perceptible respect, but his eyes concealed a hint of resentment and anticipation.

At his words, an uncontrollable flash of madness passed through Blade's blood-red eyes. His gaze was as sharp as a blade, stabbing straight at Tang San.

Because Tang San was putting on an act in front of him now, his reactions were no longer pure, and the Portrayal Progress gained was not much.

Yu Xiaogang, on the other hand, was a perfect opportunity to earn Portrayal Progress! Gangzi's debt would have to be repaid in full!

Blade's gaze was cold as he disdainfully glanced at Tang San, as though he were looking at an insignificant ant.

A trace of icy killing intent colored his voice. Four simple words left his mouth, yet they struck Tang San's heart like a thousand-pound hammer.

"You're in the way."

The words were light, yet filled with unquestionable authority.

Blade's voice was low and powerful, every word seeming to have been soaked in icy water, sending chills down one's spine.

Tang San's body trembled involuntarily. He hurriedly retreated several steps and made way, a flash of fear and helplessness passing through his eyes.

Blade merely snorted disdainfully and strode toward the room where Yu Xiaogang was, leaving Tang San standing there with an embarrassed expression.