Trash Is Trash, Internal Strife, Ning Rongrong's Cruel Tongue

"No, no, no. Trash is trash." Zhao Linchuan cut him off directly, shaking a finger as he said:

"Someone like you, who never even stepped through the intermediate threshold of the path of a Soul Master, who will remain trapped at the low level for life, unable to personally grasp how the world of high-level Soul Masters operates or what the essence of power truly is—"

"—is unworthy, and utterly unqualified, to be called a 'Master.'"

His analogy was sharp and cruel. "It is like a person trapped in a dark valley for their entire life, who has never laid eyes on the vast ocean and has only heard of rushing rivers from others."

"No matter how many illustrated books about water they pore over, no matter how long they sit there daydreaming, how could they truly understand what raging waves are?"

"How could they presume to declare the mysteries and might of the tides?"

"A sparrow that has never flown beyond towering mountains in its life—how could it know how magnificent the world appears through a swan's eyes?"

"Peering at the sky from the bottom of a well, yet babbling about the universe—is that not laughable?"

"You... you... Pfft—!" Yu Xiaogang was so enraged by those heart-piercing words that blood surged backward through his veins, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.

He pointed at Zhao Linchuan, his finger trembling, yet he could not say a single word. Only boundless humiliation and rage burned and exploded within his chest.

Zhao Linchuan no longer looked at his miserable state. His gaze swept over the battered Shrek group before finally settling on Zhao Wuji, who was forcibly holding back his anger. His tone returned to its earlier calmness.

"You are planning to participate in the group soul-fighting competition at the Suo Tuo Great Soul Arena, right?"

Zhao Wuji nodded. "That's right."

"Mm..." Zhao Linchuan nodded thoughtfully, then turned and walked back to Qian Renxue's side, standing side by side with her.

He swept his gaze around the area. His voice was not loud, but everyone heard it clearly:

"Remember my name. Zhao Linchuan."

"Perhaps in a few days, we'll meet on the Soul Arena stage. When that happens..."

A cold, openly provocative smile curled across his lips. "Don't piss your pants from fright."

After saying that, he seemed to recall something. His gaze fell once more on Yu Xiaogang, whose face was ashen and whose eyes were vacant, as he delivered the final blow:

"Oh, right. And you—don't call yourself 'Master' anymore."

"A piece of trash like you bearing that title is simply an insult to the word 'Master.'"

Afterward, Zhao Linchuan took out a bag of Gold Soul Coins and tossed it to the vendors. Then, with a casual kick, he shoved aside Xiao Wu, who was still sprawled in the middle of the road and groaning.

He then left side by side with Qian Renxue, never looking back as he disappeared around the corner of the street beneath the humiliated, furious, yet helpless gazes of the Shrek group.

Only after their figures had completely vanished did Yu Xiaogang's body, which had been holding on by sheer force of will, finally collapse. His Legs gave out, and he fell to his knees.

"Pfft—!"

Another huge mouthful of blood, mixed with fragments of internal organs, sprayed wildly from his mouth and stained the ground before him red.

He lowered his head, both hands digging fiercely into the cracks between the stone slabs. Even as his nails split and bled, he felt nothing.

Endless humiliation, resentment, and despair at having his disguise completely torn away gnawed at his heart like venomous snakes.

A silent, beast-like roar erupted in his heart:

Strength! Strength!! It's all because of strength!! You damned beasts! Just because I'm weak, all of you look down on me! Trample me! Deny everything about me!!

Just wait! All of you, just wait!! One day, I'll make you... I'll make every last one of you kneel at my feet!!

"Teacher, are you alright...?"

An hour later, in Suotuo City, inside Flender's general store.

Flender painfully worked his abacus as he complained to Zhao Wuji, who sat across from him:

"Old Zhao, what exactly happened? Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on those Little Monsters?"

"Now look at this. They directly forfeited today's group soul-fighting match. Not only did the deposit go down the drain, but all the later betting profits are gone too!"

"Do you know how many Gold Soul Coins we've lost?" He clutched his chest as though the money had been carved straight out of his heart.

Zhao Wuji furrowed his brows and explained gruffly, "Boss Flender, you didn't see what happened yourself! That woman... there's something strange about her!"

"Her movement technique was absurdly fast, and her control over Soul Power was terrifyingly refined. I couldn't figure out her fighting style at all."

He paused, deliberately avoiding Flender's probing gaze. "If we had truly fought, I... I wasn't certain I could win."

That was a lie, because he had simply been scared.

He changed the subject and shifted the blame:

"Besides, you're the Dean. Instead of keeping close to your own students, you slipped away early by yourself for that so-called 'business negotiation.'"

"Now that something has happened to the students, you can't dump all the responsibility on me alone, can you?"

"You!?" Flender was left speechless. His eyes widened as he pointed at Zhao Wuji, so angry that even his glasses went crooked. "Well, well, Zhao Wuji! Haven't seen you in a few days, and your temper has grown, huh!"

"Come on, then. Stop flapping your gums and come outside with me. Let me see how much you've improved these past few years!"

"Hmph!" Zhao Wuji snorted coldly, folded his arms, and turned his head away, clearly unwilling to take the bait.

Just then, the door was pushed open. Yu Xiaogang walked in with a pale face and Unsteady Steps, his body swaying back and forth.

Seeing this, Flender forgot all about arguing with Zhao Wuji. He hurried over to support him and anxiously asked, "Xiaogang, how did it go? What did that Clear Sky Douluo say? Do we still have to get beaten up?"

Yu Xiaogang Lean On the Door Frame and took several breaths before weakly saying, "The Clear Sky Douluo said that from now on, he would do his best to secretly follow and protect Little San. Something like what happened today... won't... won't happen again."

Flender let out a slight sigh of relief and nodded.

Zhao Wuji, however, shuddered reflexively and unconsciously drew his neck in.

Suddenly, a shrill Female Voice and fierce arguing came from the second floor. "—It's because you're all too useless!"

Flender's brows drew together, and impatience appeared On Body his face. "Ning Rongrong again? What is she making a fuss about now?"

Yu Xiaogang sighed, exhaustion written across his face. "Let's go up and take a look. We can't let them clash internally again."

The two quickly went up to the second floor.

There, Ning Rongrong was pressing an ice pack against her still red and swollen cheek. With her other hand, she pointed at Oscar, who had lowered his head in silence, her words as cruel as blades:

"With you like this, you think you deserve to say you like me!!?"

"You couldn't even touch a single finger of theirs. You were sent flying like trash, so what makes you think you dare like me?"

"When that woman hit me, where were you? Other than standing there like a block of wood, what else can you do?"

"Heh, a toad dreaming of Emerald Swan meat—pure wishful thinking!"