Tang Hao Appears

When Tang San arrived at the infirmary, a faint smell of medicine still lingered in the air, mixed with the lingering fluctuations of Soul Power, like an invisible veil enveloping the simple room.

Sunlight streamed obliquely through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the floor, but it couldn't dispel the somber atmosphere in the room.

Yu Xiaogang lay on the hospital bed against the wall, the bedding beneath him somewhat disheveled from his struggles.

His face was as pale as fine Xuan paper, devoid of any color. His eyes stared blankly at the spiderweb-like cracks on the ceiling. He seemed to have been drained of all life, leaving only a flimsy shell that would fall apart at the slightest breeze.

"Teacher!"

Tang San's voice was filled with rapid breathing. He rushed to the bedside, his eyes brimming with urgency and shock.

He had never seen Yu Xiaogang like this before—gone was the same spirited man who talked about Soul Master theory, and the calm and composed man who guided his cultivation.

Even his breathing was so faint, like a candle flickering in the wind. If it weren't for the slight rise and fall of his chest, one would almost think that he was a lifeless body.

Yu Xiaogang slowly turned his head, his cloudy eyes struggling to focus on Tang San's face. His lips moved a few times, but only a dry, grinding sound came from his throat; he couldn't even squeeze out a complete syllable.

The backlash from losing his Martial Soul was like a leech, not only draining the remaining Soul Power in his dantian, but also like countless fine needles piercing his meridians and throat, making even the simplest thing like speaking extremely difficult for him.

Tang San's gaze swept over the lingering purplish-blue marks around his Teacher's neck, then fell on his arm exposed outside the blankets.

Those wounds, some deep and some shallow, were bruises from blunt force trauma, others were scabs from cuts made by sharp objects. Each one was like a red-hot iron, burning his heart.

Recalling the gloating words his classmates had relayed on the way there, "Master Yu Xiaogang 'Master Martial Soul has been destroyed," a chill ran down his spine and up to his head, making his blood seem to freeze instantly.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force, and his nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood. But that stinging pain was nothing compared to the suffocating tension and anger surging in his chest.

"It was Lin Xuan... it must have been him!"

Tang San's voice was terrifyingly low, as if squeezed out from between his teeth, each word carrying barely suppressed rage.

He couldn't understand why Lin Xuan, who had been quiet and even somewhat timid in Dorm Seven, had become so ruthless after only a month apart, and had even committed such a heinous act against his Teacher treated him like a nephew.

He never imagined that if he and his Teacher hadn't pressed him relentlessly, even enlisting the help of Soul Saint to exert pressure, how could that nine-year-old child have been forced to run away alone into the wilderness and live in a perilous forest for over a month?

Yu Xiaogang neither nodded nor shook his head, but the despair in his empty eyes seemed to deepen, like two bottomless dry wells.

He slowly raised his hand, the hand that had once written countless ingenious theories on the blackboard, now trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind. He pointed tremblingly to his dantian (lower abdomen).

That place was once the residence of Luo Sanpao, the Martial Soul, and the source of his Soul Power. Now, however, it is only a desolate wasteland, like a Ice Seal wasteland, devoid of any life.

Tang San understood instantly.

Without Martial Soul, the Teacher was completely rendered useless and unable to cultivate.

For Yu Xiaogang, who regarded the honor of Soul Master as his faith and devoted his life to the inheritance of theories, this was more painful than being killed.

Like a painter whose eyes have been gouged out, or a musician whose ears have been cut off, all pursuits and hopes crumbled the moment the Martial Soul shattered.

"Teacher, don't worry, I will definitely avenge you!"

Tang San gritted his teeth, almost breaking them, and a shadow of gloom, far beyond his years, flashed in his eyes, churning with resentment and ferocity.

"Lin Xuan, he..."

He wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Yu Xiaogang's strained voice.

"Don't..."

Yu Xiaogang finally managed to squeeze out a hoarse syllable, his breath so weak it seemed it would stop at any moment.

He paused, as if he had exhausted all his strength, before squeezing out three more words.

"He... is very strong..."

Those three short words struck Tang San's heart like a heavy hammer.

He knew his Teacher's temperament; he was always proud and arrogant, and never easily admitted defeat. For his Teacher to say that Lin Xuan was "very strong," Lin Xuan's current strength must have far exceeded his imagination.

Even Luo Sanpao, who had accompanied his Teacher for decades, was easily crushed. His newly broken-through Soul Power was probably just as his Teacher thought, utterly vulnerable in the face of absolute power.

Moreover, this had already been tested before; he was no match for Lin Xuan.

Tang San fell silent.

His clenched fist slowly loosened, leaving several crescent-shaped bloodstains on his palm, but he was completely unaware of it.

The flame of revenge in his heart did not go out; instead, it burned even brighter in silence, only now it was covered by a shell called "forbearance."

He secretly vowed that he would not only become stronger, but stronger than anyone else, strong enough to protect those around him, strong enough to make everyone who had bullied them pay a bloody price.

"Teacher, don't worry, even if you lose your Soul Power, you will still be my Teacher."

Tang San grasped Yu Xiaogang's trembling hand, the warmth of his palm attempting to transfer some strength, his expression as solemn as if he were making a vow.

"I will definitely realize your theory and spread it throughout the entire continent."

I want to show all those who once looked down on you and now mock you that even without Soul Power, you are still the greatest scholar in the Soul Master World."

"Good... good..." Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's cloudy eyes suddenly lit up, and tears welled up in his eyes, almost falling.

After becoming a cripple, his biggest worry was that Tang San would abandon him because he had lost his usefulness. Now it seems that he was worrying too much.

Since that's the case, he will devote all his remaining energy to helping Tang San reach the pinnacle.

That was his unfulfilled dream, and now he could only place his hopes on this disciple.

"Teacher, what should we do next? Should we write another letter to Dean Flender?"

Tang San suddenly thought of something, looked up and asked, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Dean Flender is the Teacher's close friend and a Soul Saint expert; perhaps he can find a solution.

Yu Xiaogang slowly shook his head, a bitter self-mockery curling at the corner of his mouth.

"It's... no use..."

He took a breath and struggled to organize his thoughts.

"His return this time... must have meant he's found... a new backer, otherwise... given his personality, he would never... return knowing we're going to deal with him."

In his view, the situation has already reversed.

Previously, they used Flender's name to intimidate Lin Xuan; now, it seems the turn of "that person" behind Lin Xuan will intimidate them.

That "person" hasn't made a move yet, perhaps because they haven't made up their mind, or perhaps they're observing the situation.

If they behave themselves and stop provoking others, they might be able to maintain some peace for a while.

But if they dare to write letters to ask for help again, as before, it would be tantamount to handing over a handle against them, as if they were afraid that others would not find an excuse to get rid of them.

Tang San also fell silent.

He finally understood what Lin Xuan had felt—the feeling that there was always a pair of eyes watching him in the dark, which made his hair stand on end and made him restless.

He used to be bold and flamboyant. Relying on the Tang Sect Secret Techniques and the guidance of his Teacher, he always felt that the people around him were either too weak to see his abnormality or wouldn't pay much attention to him.

But now, the thought that there might be a Soul Saint or higher power lurking in the shadows makes him feel uneasy all over. Even knowing that there is a wall behind him, he can't help but look back. He has become suspicious and paranoid, always feeling that there are prying eyes hiding behind walls, in corners, and on rooftops.

"Teacher, what if Lin Xuan tries to attack us?!"

Tang San said with a terrified expression.

Lin Xuan couldn't defeat the Soul Saint, and neither could he!

Why don't they run away too, and come back after finding a new backer?

"Don't worry, since he didn't kill me, it proves that he still has some fear of me and can't bear the cost of my death."

He shouldn't kill us anytime soon.

Lying on the bed, Yu Xiaogang replied with a lack of confidence, saying that he also had powerful connections. He believed that if he died, Lin Xuan would definitely suffer.

He and Lin Xuan were sworn enemies, and now that Lin Xuan could have killed him but didn't, Yu Xiaogang felt that his background was still somewhat useful.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan had just walked out of the dean's office. The afternoon sun was a bit dazzling, so he raised his hand to shield his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He didn't have much objection to the conditions proposed by the Old Dean —after all, he had caused such a commotion on the old dean's turf, Old Dean hadn't directly kicked him out, but instead communicated with him calmly, which was already quite a show of respect.

Of course, there might be some consideration for his "background" as well, but that's no longer important.

Leaving Nuoding Academy is inevitable, but not now.

He knew all too well Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's current predicament—the torment of hating someone so much that they gritted their teeth, yet being too afraid to act rashly. He had experienced it before, and now it was their turn to experience it.

He had been observing from the shadows all day, but Flender had not shown up.

Combined with what Xiao Wu had told him before—that "Flender flies out every day, but didn't show up yesterday"—he could almost conclude that Flender had already left Nuoding City.

In this way, the balance of power between him and Tang San and the others was completely reversed.

He used to be very cautious in his actions because he was afraid of Tang Hao's existence. He didn't even dare to be too flamboyant in his cultivation, for fear of attracting the attention of that Titled Douluo.

Now, it's Tang San and his group's turn to act cautiously. After all, it's his "backer" who's currently "monitoring" the entire Nuoding City.

The reason the Old Dean agreed to let him stay temporarily was because Lin Xuan had promised to keep an eye on Yu Xiaogang and the others and prevent them from sending any messages out.

To put it bluntly, it's about using invisible pressure to trap them, making them afraid to make any further moves.

Lin Xuan strolled leisurely towards Dormitory Dorm Seven, his hands in his pockets, his steps light and quick.

Blue Silver Grass's senses were already fully activated, like a fine net covering every inch of the surrounding space, and no movement could escape its perception.

Just as he reached a corner, his senses suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure— Tang Hao.

The perpetually drunk blacksmith was leaning against the corner of the wall, a gourd of wine in his hand, but his eyes were unusually clear as he gazed thoughtfully in his direction.

Sure enough, the moment Lin Xuan's senses locked onto Tang Hao, the other's figure vanished from the spot like Gui Mei.

Almost simultaneously, Lin Xuan felt a blur before his eyes, and a powerful aura instantly enveloped him, carrying a faint smell of alcohol and an undeniable sense of oppression.

But Lin Xuan showed no panic on his face; instead, he maintained his composed smile.

Deep in his mind, the long-dormant "Old Tang" mark still floated steadily, without any movement.

This thing is like a hidden masterpiece; once he encounters a deadly danger, it will immediately activate its defenses without him even having to use it.

Its lack of reaction is enough to prove that Tang Hao's actions at this moment pose no threat to it.