Tang Hao Appears (Third Update)

"What happened?!" Xue Qinghe released the aura of one in authority and sternly questioned the Dark Soul Guards around him.

But everyone knew perfectly well who was behind this explosion.

The moment Xue Qinghe spoke, a Dark Soul Guard immediately stepped forward and dropped to one knee. "Your Highness! This subordinate detected abnormal Soul Power fluctuations here and mistakenly believed the other party to be assassins targeting you. There have been wave after wave of assassination attempts these past days. For Your Highness's safety, this subordinate had no choice but to use a soul skill... I acted rashly without determining these people's intentions and disturbed Your Highness. Please forgive this subordinate!"

"What assassin would come to an academy?" Xue Qinghe rebuked lightly, then waved his hand. "Do not let it happen again. Withdraw."

"A'li, I'm sorry. My people failed to investigate properly and thought someone was attacking me, so they accidentally injured your sister." Xue Qinghe stepped over the toppled shelves, walked to Nan Li's side, and crouched down to apologize.

Nan Li knew Xue Qinghe was putting on an act for her. She was helping Dan Hong stop the bleeding and said nothing.

Xue Qinghe called again, "A'li."

So annoying. Nan Li closed her eyes. When her scarlet eyes opened again, Jiang E Li had taken over and answered Xue Qinghe.

Nan Li was furious in the Sea of Consciousness. "What an act. Doesn't he get tired of it every day?"

Ever since Dan Hong had helped repair part of her soul's injuries, Nan Li had always controlled this body. This was the first time she had voluntarily handed control over to Jiang E Li. Don't ask—she was simply too angry.

Nan Li had deliberately downplayed Xiao Wu's presence, but what she did not know was that Blood Pierce Douluo in the air had already noticed Xiao Wu.

Elder Ci Xue transmitted his voice in a thin line, warning, "Your Highness, the little girl on the ground carries the aura of a Soul Beast."

Xue Qinghe suddenly looked up and turned to stare directly at Xiao Wu on the ground.

***

Tang San spoke with Xue Qinghe in the meeting room for a while. He discovered that although the other party intended to recruit him, he had no plans to clear his teacher's name. It seemed he, too, was someone unable to distinguish jade from stone.

Thinking of how his teacher's efforts over so many years had yet to receive recognition, Tang San sighed inwardly.

"Student Tang San, please wait." Ling Yuan caught up from behind him, blocking his path with a faint smile.

"My young master said the terms you proposed can still be discussed. We sincerely wish to recruit a talented young Soul Master like you..."

"There is no need." Tang San spoke calmly.

"Our young master came all the way from Heaven Dou City after hearing there was a Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power. We came from so far away—you can't make us come all this way for nothing, can you?" Ling Yuan restrained her expression, but inwardly cursed Tang San viciously. My young master thinks highly of you, yet you're still playing hard to get!

Upon hearing this, Tang San's expression softened slightly, but he still did not relent. "I appreciate your goodwill, but I already have a teacher. I'm not the only gifted Soul Master. You may seek someone else."

"Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty!" Ling Yuan's Martial Soul was the Fire Kite, and her temper was just as fiery. Tang San had refused again and again, and Ling Yuan no longer held back. Soul Power at the level of a Titled Douluo erupted as nine majestic Soul Rings appeared one after another. She raised her hand and struck at Tang San!

Tang San had not expected her to attack at the slightest disagreement. In his urgency, he pushed Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to its limit and tried to evade.

But he had overestimated himself. Ling Yuan merely pressed her Soul Power downward, and Tang San was instantly knocked unconscious. Blood flowed from his seven orifices as he collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again!

The nine Soul Rings beneath Ling Yuan's feet pulsed rhythmically. She looked coldly at Tang San lying on the ground, then walked toward him. "Hmph, how ungrateful."

"You dare injure my son!" A deep voice suddenly rang out, as though exploding in the sky.

Dark clouds covered the clear sky, and the enormous shadow of a hammer appeared on the ground.

Ling Yuan froze at the sound. She had not even noticed someone approaching!

The next instant, a man clad in ragged robes appeared in midair. Vast Soul Power pressed down upon Ling Yuan like the heavens themselves.

"Which senior is here? Please show yourself!" Ling Yuan was pressed so hard she could not straighten her body. She frantically circulated her Soul Power and shouted those words with all her strength. She was a Titled Douluo—what kind of person could possibly be stronger than her?!

A fierce gust swept in. Ling Yuan raised her head with difficulty and saw a massive black hammer crashing down upon her. She did not even have time to react before she was struck unconscious and sent sprawling to the ground!

The newcomer was Tang Hao. He had spent the past few days in the valley with Ah Yin and had only returned today. Yet the moment he stepped into Nuoding Academy, he discovered someone bullying his son!

They were courting death!

Tang Hao's eyes brimmed with fury as he looked at Ling Yuan as though she were already dead.

"My lord, my lord—" A guard at Xue Qinghe's side came looking for Ling Yuan.

Tang Hao picked Tang San up from the ground and coldly glanced at the woman nearby. I'll spare your life for today!

Yu Xiaogang had been in his room studying Tang San's future path when he suddenly heard two consecutive loud explosions. Books were shaken from the bookshelf and scattered across the floor.

He went outside to inspect the situation.

The storage room was beside the stairs on the top floor, while Yu Xiaogang's room was at the farthest end on the other side. Standing outside his door, he could only see a noisy crowd gathered around the staircase.

An academy teacher approached him with an apologetic expression. "Sorry, Master. There was a minor accident, and we are handling it."

Yu Xiaogang was immersed in Martial Soul research and rarely concerned himself with such matters. Hearing this, he simply gave a quiet "Mm," nodded, and returned to his room.

Yu Xiaogang picked up the books scattered across the floor one by one, wiped them clean, and returned them to the bookshelf. He had not even finished sorting half of them when another knock sounded at the door.

Bang, bang, bang.

Before Yu Xiaogang could speak, the person outside let himself in.

Yu Xiaogang frowned, but the moment he saw Tang San in Tang Hao's arms, his expression changed sharply. Forgetting the books on the ground, he hurried forward and asked, "What happened?"

Tang Hao had already checked Tang San's condition on the way there. It was nothing serious. "He was knocked unconscious."

Yu Xiaogang had Tang Hao place Tang San on his bed. He wiped the dirt from Tang San's face, pulled over a blanket to cover his disciple, and only then seriously looked at the newcomer.

Seeing that Yu Xiaogang's concern did not seem feigned, Tang Hao's anger subsided somewhat. "Hello, Master. I am Xiao San's father, Tang Hao."

"Tang Hao? Hao..." Master's calm expression changed drastically. "You... you are Hao..."

Tang Hao raised a hand to stop Yu Xiaogang. "There is no need to mention that old title again. I know you have taken Xiao San as your disciple. As his father, I should have come to meet you long ago."

"However, Xiao San was nearly taken away by force today." Tang Hao's gaze suddenly sharpened, his eyes fixed on Yu Xiaogang.

--

In the Original Work, Tang Hao met Yu Xiaogang after the end of the first school year. The timing was changed here, so consider it a personal setting.