Preparing a Barbecue

The next day.

After washing up and eating breakfast, Jiang Bai left the inn and headed slowly toward the western part of the city.

The farther west he went, the quieter the streets became.

This area was close to Nuoding Academy. Most of the residences belonged to academy faculty, while the shops served the academy.

There were few pedestrians. Now and then, he saw several students in gray academy uniforms hurrying past, books in their arms and the vigor and focus unique to youth on their faces.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, a tall archway appeared ahead.

Above the archway, four vigorous characters stood clearly visible in the morning light: Nuoding Academy.

It was class time, so the entrance to the academy was rather quiet.

Only a uniformed gatekeeper leaned against the iron gate, yawning.

Jiang Bai did not enter directly.

He took a Gold Soul Coin from his Storage Bracelet and spun it on his fingertip. Under the sunlight, the coin gleamed enticingly.

He walked slowly toward the iron gate.

Hearing his footsteps, the gatekeeper looked up and was visibly stunned when he saw Jiang Bai.

The youth before him was lavishly dressed and carried an extraordinary bearing. He did not look like an academy student, nor did he resemble an ordinary visitor.

"Young master, may I ask what business you have here?" The gatekeeper rose to his feet, his attitude fairly polite.

Jiang Bai lightly tossed the Gold Soul Coin in his hand.

The gatekeeper's eyes lit up at once.

He subconsciously swallowed, his gaze shifting back and forth between the Gold Soul Coin and Jiang Bai's face.

"I want to ask about someone." Jiang Bai's voice was calm. "Is there a teacher in the academy named Yu Xiaogang? People call him Grandmaster."

"Grandmaster? Oh, you mean Grandmaster!" The gatekeeper nodded repeatedly, the smile on his face turning ingratiating. "Yes, yes, there is someone like that. What do you need him for? Shall I notify him for you?"

"No need." Jiang Bai shook his head. "I only want to know where he usually is. Where is his office?"

The gatekeeper hesitated. By the rules, he should not casually reveal information about academy staff. But that Gold Soul Coin was simply too tempting!

He looked around, and only after confirming that no one was nearby did he lower his voice.

"Grandmaster—he's usually in his own office and rarely goes out. His office is—"

"But his temperament is a little strange. He doesn't like being disturbed—"

"Fine, thanks." Before he could finish, Jiang Bai tossed him the Gold Soul Coin and turned to leave.

The gatekeeper hurriedly caught the coin and clenched it tightly in his palm, his face breaking into a broad smile. "Take care, young master! Come again if you need anything!"

Jiang Bai did not look back.

He walked slowly along the academy's outer wall.

When he reached a street along the side of the academy, he found several restaurants and teahouses there.

Jiang Bai entered the cleanest-looking three-story restaurant, went straight up to the third floor, and requested a private room by the window.

The room was not large, but its window faced directly into Nuoding Academy, offering an excellent view.

From this angle, he could clearly see the side of the main teaching building.

Jiang Bai ordered several dishes. After the waiter finished serving and left, he closed the door to the private room and walked to the window.

He extended his right hand, palm upward. Soul Power circulated, and the phantom of a crystalline Seven-Story Glazed Pagoda slowly spun above his palm. Immediately afterward, the first level of the pagoda lit up with crimson radiance.

The light receded, revealing a small Fire Dragon covered in crimson scales like molten lava.

The Fire Dragon had shrunk itself to the size of a child. Its four dragon claws gripped the windowsill steadily as its reddish-gold dragon eyes looked at Jiang Bai with a questioning expression.

Jiang Bai pointed at the leftmost window on the third floor of the academy opposite them. "Eldest, do you see that window?"

The Fire Dragon followed his finger, then nodded.

"There's someone in that office." Jiang Bai's voice remained calm, yet it carried a certain chill. "He wears a black robe, has a short flat haircut, and looks like a middle-aged scholar."

The Fire Dragon tilted its head, not quite understanding its master's meaning.

"I want you to pay him a visit." Jiang Bai continued, "Fly in and burn him with fire. Don't burn him to death. Of course, if he's too weak and burns to death on his own, then that's not our fault. The important thing is to torment him. Make him suffer!"

The Fire Dragon blinked and asked, "Master, why don't you go yourself?"

Jiang Bai fell silent for a moment before saying, "I'm afraid of getting hammered."

The Fire Dragon: "..."

A distinctly human-like expression appeared in its reddish-gold dragon eyes.

"Is there a powerful expert guarding that place?" the Fire Dragon asked again. "Then won't I get hammered too?"

"What are you afraid of?" Jiang Bai patted the Fire Dragon's head. "Shrink down a little more before you fly over. After setting the fire, return straight to the pagoda. Who could discover you? Even if someone notices, they'll only think it was an accidental fire or the prank of some fire-attribute Soul Master. Who would imagine that a thousand-year soul beast did it?"

That seemed to be true?

The Fire Dragon thought about it and felt that it made sense.

"Fine." The Fire Dragon nodded its little head. "I'll go now."

Crimson Soul Power light flowed over its body, and it shrank once more until it looked like a slightly larger, oddly shaped little red bird.

Then it flapped its wings, silently flying out the window.

After circling twice over Tiantou, it flew toward the window on the third floor of the academy opposite them.

Jiang Bai stood by the window, watching the Fire Dragon fly away, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

This was not an honorable method. It was even somewhat despicable. But he did not care.

Since Bibi Dong had attacked him, she had already earned herself a death sentence!

As her former lover, Yu Xiaogang had earned himself one as well!

Jiang Bai was no saint. He repaid grudges with grudges and hatred with hatred. Since he could not defeat Bibi Dong for now, he would first collect some interest from the man she loved.

Nuoding Academy, Yu Xiaogang's office.

Yu Xiaogang sat at his desk, several thick notebooks and documents spread out before him.

He wore a black robe faded white from washing and kept the same unchanging crew cut.

His face was still stiff and expressionless, but a closer look revealed a rare, almost fanatical gleam in his eyes.

These had been the proudest days he had experienced in many years.

Not only had he accepted a disciple with Innate Full Soul Power, but the boy was also an excellent experimental subject with Twin Martial Souls!

Not long ago, he had personally taken Tang San to the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain Tang San's first Spirit Ring.

A four-hundred-year Datura Snake, perfectly suited to the control-system development path of Blue Silver Grass.

More importantly, this hunt had completely verified his great theory!

At this moment, he was organizing the data and observation records from the hunt, preparing to incorporate them into his theoretical system.

He seemed to see the future: Tang San becoming a Title Douluo, his Twin Martial Souls shocking the continent!

And he, Yu Xiaogang, as Tang San's teacher, would be honored as the "Father of Theory," invited back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, treated as a distinguished guest by the Pope's Palace, while all those who had once looked down on him would have to bow their heads and seek his guidance—

Just then, the light outside the window seemed to dim.

Yu Xiaogang raised his head in confusion and looked toward the window.

"Whoosh—!"

A mass of scorching flames burst in through the window without warning!

The flames were crimson and incredibly hot. In an instant, they tore through the half-drawn curtains and descended upon him from above!

Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted sharply!

For the first time, a clear and intense expression of terror appeared on that stiff, corpse-like face that had always remained calm!

He wanted to dodge, but his body reacted too slowly. Although he was a two-ring Soul Grandmaster, he was not skilled in combat, and his physical abilities were far inferior to those of Soul Masters at the same rank.

"Ah!!!"

A shrill scream rang out!