Tempering the Body with a Medicinal Bath, Tang San's Helplessness

"Master Meng, are you trying to boil me?"

Lin Qi stared at the massive cauldron before him, steam billowing from it. Seeing the raging flames beneath it, he could not help swallowing hard.

He believed Master Meng would not harm him, but the bubbling sounds still filled him with dread.

Xiao Wu anxiously grabbed Lin Qi.

"Lin Qi, you absolutely cannot go in! You'll definitely be cooked if you get in there."

Master Meng said calmly, "It only looks frightening. The temperature isn't actually that high. You'll know once you get in."

By the time I get in and find out, won't it be too late?

Lin Qi grumbled inwardly, then gritted his teeth and prepared to enter the cauldron.

"Take off your clothes. Don't let them hinder the medicinal bath's absorption."

Though the Rogue Rabbit's ears had turned red, she stubbornly refused to look away. Instead, her eyes widened even further.

"You, Rabbit, go stand guard outside," Master Meng said.

"Ah?"

Xiao Wu had wanted to stall for a while, but her body floated outside against her will.

"Hmph, what's so great about being a Titled Douluo?"

Inside the room, Lin Qi gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and jumped into the cauldron.

"Hiss!"

Master Meng had been right. The medicinal bath inside the cauldron was not as hot as Lin Qi had imagined, though it was hardly cool.

Yet while he felt scorching steam enveloping him, an icy chill also rushed straight toward his head.

The sensation of being both hot and cold was strange. It made Lin Qi want to fan himself to cool down while also wanting to put on several more layers of clothes.

"Circulate your Soul Power according to the method I taught you."

Lin Qi suppressed the various sensations, closed his eyes, and began circulating his Soul Power. At the same time, he entered the Body of Fortune state.

The medicinal bath's effects immediately became much gentler.

Warmth flowed into every limb and bone, while coolness gathered in his Sea of Consciousness.

Seeing this, Master Meng waved his Soul Power, causing the flames beneath the cauldron to burn even more fiercely.

Then, he held the chunk of Whale Rubber in his hand. Drop after drop of brilliant golden, amber-like liquid dripped from it into the cauldron.

The medicinal liquid within was immediately dyed golden-yellow. Then Master Meng opened three jade bottles, and medicinal liquids of different colors poured into the cauldron at once.

The next moment, a rich medicinal fragrance spread out, filling the entire room before drifting even farther away.

Outside the Bamboo Forest, Tang San had just arrived when he caught a whiff of medicinal fragrance.

"This is..."

Tang San detected the scent of precious medicinal herbs within that fragrance.

More importantly, as soon as he smelled it, he felt his Mysterious Heaven Skill circulate a little faster.

Tang San unconsciously quickened his pace.

Following the path through the Bamboo Forest, Tang San spotted Xiao Wu sitting on the steps outside the pavilion from afar.

When Tang San saw Xiao Wu, she also noticed him and Yu Xiaogang.

Xiao Wu frowned. Why had that annoying guy come again?

Lin Qi was still taking his medicinal bath inside. Though Xiao Wu felt that sending her outside had merely been an excuse, she still could not let anyone disturb Lin Qi.

"Stop right there. You're not allowed to come any closer."

Xiao Wu blocked Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's path.

It was also Yu Xiaogang's first time here. He had never known there was a bamboo pavilion in this place.

After being stopped by Xiao Wu, Yu Xiaogang became rather displeased.

Which teacher in the academy did not call him "Master"? Why was this little girl so rude?

"I want to see Master Meng."

Other than Master Meng's name, Yu Xiaogang knew practically nothing about him.

"Master Meng is busy. Come back later."

No matter what, Xiao Wu would not let them pass.

If she could not even handle such a small matter, she, the Reserve Soul Ring, might have to take office immediately.

Yu Xiaogang frowned. The more insecure a person was, the more arrogant he tended to be. Yu Xiaogang could not stand anyone being rude to him.

Compared with Yu Xiaogang, Tang San was far more anxious.

He felt that the source of the medicinal fragrance inside the room would definitely benefit him.

But no matter how anxious he was, he did not dare force his way inside.

He did not know Master Meng's true strength, but it was most likely beyond what he could handle now.

Having a treasure mountain before him yet being unable to obtain anything from it made Tang San feel miserable.

He had always refused to leave empty-handed, even coveting his own sect's secret manuals, let alone something belonging to outsiders.

Tang San was certain that Lin Qi was inside, and that he was most likely enjoying some kind of benefit.

Damn it, why does he get all the benefits?

"Master Meng, Yu Xiaogang has come to seek guidance on Martial Soul theory. I hope you will not hesitate to enlighten me."

Yu Xiaogang did not wish to entangle himself with a little girl. Putting on the air of a distinguished senior paying a visit, he called toward the bamboo house.

"You..."

Xiao Wu flew into a rage.

This rotten old man was truly vile. He was trying to get me killed.

"Shut up!"

Xiao Wu raised her leg and kicked toward Yu Xiaogang's head.

Though Yu Xiaogang was a Soul Grandmaster, both his combat ability and reaction speed were abysmal.

Facing Xiao Wu's sudden kick, he did not even react in time.

"Stop!"

Tang San did react. He activated the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, pulled Yu Xiaogang away, and prepared to counterattack Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu's attack on Yu Xiaogang made Tang San happy rather than angry.

Perfect. As long as I defeat her with my own strength, I'll be able to leave an impression on her, right?

I'm definitely much stronger than Lin Qi. She'll surely see who is better.

But in the next instant, an incomparably powerful pressure came from the bamboo house.

Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were both viciously pressed to the ground by that pressure.

Xiao Wu knew Master Meng had made his move.

"You two bastards, this is all your fault!"

Xiao Wu angrily snapped off a bamboo switch and lashed Tang San and Yu Xiaogang over the head and face.

"St-Stop! Do you know who I am?"

Unable to rise under Master Meng's oppressive aura, Yu Xiaogang felt deeply humiliated, especially when a little girl was whipping him.

The anger in Tang San's heart surpassed even Yu Xiaogang's.

He found this humiliation even more unacceptable, especially in front of Xiao Wu.

Yet no matter how red his eyes became or how heavily he panted, he remained pinned firmly to the ground, unable to get up at all.

Tang Hao did not intervene, because he was not here at all.

After being injured again, he had gone somewhere to treat his wounds.

And even if he had been here, he would not have dared to act. Otherwise, Leng Qing would teach him a lesson again.

"I am from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Master Meng. Do not go too far!"

Yu Xiaogang struggled futilely for a while before finally invoking his greatest backing.

But the Bamboo House remained quiet. Master Meng did not take his words seriously at all.

Golden mist spread out from the Bamboo House, then contracted again.

The next moment, a powerful gust of wind blew open the Bamboo House's doors.

Within the golden mist, two figures, one large and one small, walked out.

"Oh, isn't this Little San? The ground is so cold. Why are you lying down there?"

Tang San: ...

He struggled violently. Lin Qi's seemingly concerned words were the greatest mockery to him.

Lying helplessly on the ground before Lin Qi and Xiao Wu was, to Tang San, the greatest humiliation imaginable.

"I am from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Master Meng. Release me at once!"

Yu Xiaogang continued shouting, treating the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan as his greatest reliance.