Tang San: The Guy Who Has Groveling and Calling Someone Dad Etched Into His Genes

The afternoon sun filtered through sparse clouds, casting dappled light and shadow across the slightly weathered stone paths of Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.

Lin Xia wandered aimlessly through the campus, Larvitar swishing his short tail as he followed closely at Lin Xia's side. His red eyes vigilantly swept over the surroundings, as though he too could sense his Master's Inner Heart unrest.

"Sigh..."

A helpless sigh escaped Lin Xia's lips, breaking the brief silence.

It wasn't that Lin Xia didn't want to stay here.

Though Nuoding Academy was only a junior academy, for an orphan who had just awakened his Martial Soul and possessed only Innate Level 8 Soul Power, it at least offered shelter and a relatively stable environment.

Learning the most basic Soul Master knowledge, slowly cultivating and accumulating Soul Power, even hunting down his first Soul Ring—those had all been part of his initial plan.

"But Yu Xiaogang..."

Whenever he thought of that face, always stiffly serious and inexplicably arrogant, Lin Xia's head began to throb.

That relentless persistence was even more disgusting than gum stuck to the bottom of a shoe.

He had been rejected for more than ten days straight without losing heart. If only he devoted that persistence to researching Martial Souls.

Instead, he used it to force this suffocating master-disciple relationship on him.

Of course, the most important thing was that Lin Xia didn't dare gamble!

"That guy who has groveling and calling someone dad etched into his genes..."

All sorts of Tang San's actions from the original novel flashed through Lin Xia's mind, especially his almost twisted reverence and dependence toward his master, Yu Xiaogang.

If Tang San decided Lin Xia had stolen the hard-won fatherly love that should have been his, then with Tang San's personality, who knew when an hidden weapon might end up embedded in Lin Xia's forehead!

Lin Xia had no interest whatsoever in gambling with his own life!

More importantly, after all his explorations these past days and his constant companionship with Larvitar, Lin Xia had gained a deeper understanding of the true nature of Martial Souls.

A Martial Soul was an extension of a Soul Master's soul and bloodline, an existence intimately connected to the source of one's life.

Only by truly sensing, understanding, and communicating with the characteristics of one's own Martial Soul could one find the path of growth best suited to oneself.

Otherwise, blindly trusting others—especially someone like Yu Xiaogang, whose own abilities were a complete mess yet who insisted on applying his theories everywhere—could ruin even a top-tier Martial Soul with immense potential in no time!

"Larvitar..."

Lin Xia lowered his head and glanced at the Little Guy by his feet.

He was grunting as he tried to lift a gray stone by the roadside, one slightly larger than his fist. His adorably clumsy appearance was enough to make anyone laugh.

Yet Lin Xia knew full well the terrifying potential contained within that tiny body!

"Sandile... Tyranitar... the Sandstorm Monarch who truly shakes the earth!"

As a devoted Pokemon fan, Lin Xia understood better than anyone what Larvitar's evolution line represented.

It wasn't merely a change in appearance, but a qualitative transformation in power!

Growing stronger by eating Mineral Ore?

In the Douluo World, that was practically a god-tier talent tailored specifically for him!

As long as he could grow smoothly, once Larvitar learned skills like Dig, wouldn't all the Ore Veins under heaven become an all-you-can-eat buffet for the two of them?

Imagining the joyful future of freely chewing through rare mineral deposits, the last traces of Lin Xia's attachment to Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy instantly vanished into thin air.

Lin Xia took a deep breath, and his gaze turned resolute!

Leave. He had to leave!

Since he could no longer stay at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy, he could only set his plans in motion ahead of schedule!

He would go to Gengjin City, the Metal Capital!

It was said that the region where it stood and the surrounding areas contained unimaginably abundant metal Ore Veins!

Iron Ore and copper ore were merely appetizers. There were even occasional rumors of Mithril, Adamantite, and legendary Rare Metal being found there.

That place was practically a paradise tailored for him and Larvitar!

Having made up his mind, Lin Xia hesitated no longer.

He turned around and led Larvitar swiftly toward the academy gates.

As he passed the dormitory, Lin Xia quickly packed his few worn clothes, all the money he had painstakingly saved by pinching every coin from his Work-Study Student allowance, and several better-quality Mineral Ore pieces he had been reluctant to eat into a half-worn backpack.

"Let's go, Larvitar!"

Lin Xia lightly patted Larvitar's little head. The Little Guy seemed to sense Lin Xia's relief and anticipation after making his decision, and he let out a cheerful cry.

"Yoji!"

(Brothers, if they fought, who would win?)

At the same time, Tang San had just been driven out by Yu Xiaogang's shout, which had been suppressing humiliation and rage. His mood was equally gloomy. He couldn't understand why his Teacher had reacted so badly when he had merely asked a few questions about Soul Skills!

Just as the frustration in Tang San's chest refused to subside and he reached the area near the teaching building, his gaze suddenly froze!

At the end of his line of sight was Lin Xia, who had only recently emerged from his Teacher's room!

The direction he was heading... was the gate?

He was leaving the academy?!

The thought pierced Tang San's mind like a flash of lightning.

Immediately afterward, another thought rose uncontrollably. This person possessed such unusual talent, yet he had humiliated his benefactor like this and even treated his Teacher's teachings with contempt...

If he were allowed to leave just like that, where would that leave his Teacher's dignity?

A trace of coldness flashed through Tang San's eyes, mixed with anger at being slighted and the determination to defend his Teacher's authority.

His feet unconsciously shifted direction. His Internal Strength gathered slightly as he prepared to speed up and catch Lin Xia. At the very least, he had to stop him and demand an explanation—or perhaps... teach him a "profound" lesson.

However, just as Tang San moved and was about to give chase—

"Little San!"

A clear, sweet voice rang out like silver bells, filled with irrepressible excitement. A petite pink figure spun lightly before him like a gust of wind, blocking his path.

Xiao Wu's watery Big Eyes brimmed with expectation, while her fair little hand unceremoniously grabbed Tang San's arm.

"What are you spacing out for?"

Xiao Wu pouted in displeasure.

"You promised me that you'd go shopping with me this afternoon! Look, the sun's already starting to set! Come on, come on! I heard that the new general store in town got loads of pretty, cute little trinkets!"

Feeling the force on his arm and the girl's warm presence, more than half the chill Tang San had built up melted away like snow beneath the sun.

The cold expression on his face stiffened for a moment. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as intense conflict surged within him.

On one side was defending his Teacher's authority.

On the other was the girl before him!

Lin Xia was about to disappear around the corner by the academy gates.

"Xiao Wu, I..." Tang San tried to explain, but his gaze could not help drifting once more toward the direction where Lin Xia had vanished.

"Oh, come on! What are you staring at so intently?"

Xiao Wu unhappily rose onto her tiptoes and deliberately used her little head to block Tang San's view. Puffing out her cheeks, she said:

"If we don't leave now, all the good stuff will be snatched up by someone else! Are you coming with me or not? You have to keep your word!"

Looking at Xiao Wu's Pretty Face, filled with a small threat and boundless anticipation, Tang San's final deliberation quickly reached its conclusion.

His Teacher's dignity was important, and Lin Xia's lack of tact was infuriating, but... how could he disappoint Xiao Wu?

Besides, it simply wasn't worth breaking his promise to Xiao Wu over a Lin Xia who was destined to leave and seemingly incapable of stirring up much trouble.

Tang San made his decision in an instant.

"Let's go. I'll take our Sister Xiao Wu shopping."