What Kind of Expression, What Kind of Look Is That?

Gangzi's state of mind shattered.

The boomerang he had thrown back then had now struck him squarely in the face. It hurt—terribly, unbearably—so much that he even felt the urge to flee Nuoding City.

This was hardly surprising.

Back in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, when he had been ridiculed by everyone for awakening the Pig Slave Martial Soul, this was what he had done.

When he had put on airs at Spirit Hall and deceived Bibi Dong, only to have Qian Xunji tear the lovers apart, this was also what he had done.

When he had married Liu Erlong, only for Yu Luomian to come to his door and curse him for being shameless and incestuous, he had still done the same thing.

Whenever he faced a problem he could not resolve, he was like a turtle pulling its head into its shell.

I'll run away!

Without even going out to ask around, Yu Xiaogang could guess how people outside were mocking him: carrying the title of "Master," he had declared that someone could only ever be an insect, that they would never break through to become a Spirit Master in their life.

Yet in just over two years, that person had used his actions to ram a shit-smeared mop straight into Yu Xiaogang's face.

It was as if all his theoretical knowledge was worthless. Not only had he failed to recognize true talent and recklessly judged another person's future, but even his prediction had been wrong.

This blow hurt him even more than Chen Yumo's insect crushing his self-esteem two years ago and Hook Literature shattering his fragile heart a year ago combined.

His hair, already turning gray from his growing age, rapidly became mottled white before Tang San's eyes. Yu Xiaogang seemed to have aged twenty years in an instant, all vigor drained from him, leaving behind only a useless old fool.

He could not do it. He could not do anything.

Not only had Chen Yumo utterly crushed him in Martial Soul and talent, but even the theoretical knowledge he had taken such pride in was worthless.

"I think I've become trash." Yu Xiaogang's weak voice reached Tang San's ears.

Tang San: ...

His heart ached!

"Teacher, how could you be like this? You were once such a proud man!" Tang San cried out in anguish.

"Proud?" Yu Xiaogang repeated the word softly, then laughed at himself.

"What use is pride? I'm ultimately just trash, unable to break through Rank 30 for my entire life, inferior even to an insect. What can my theories and knowledge do for me?"

After saying that, Yu Xiaogang actually covered his face and began crying in utter humiliation.

"I can't do anything..."

Seeing Yu Xiaogang truly become so despondent, as though his spine had been broken, Tang San could no longer concern himself with respect for his teacher.

He understood that no words of comfort would help at a time like this. Only a sharp wake-up call, only scolding Yu Xiaogang awake, could make him pull himself together again.

Forgive me, Teacher. Please forgive your disciple's offense!

In a flash, Tang San put on an enraged expression, grabbed Yu Xiaogang's collar with both hands, and forcibly made him look straight into his eyes.

"What kind of expression is that? What kind of look is that? And what are those tears for?" Tang San's tone was stern, carrying a hint of disappointment at his failure to live up to expectations.

"Can tears help you evolve your Martial Soul? Can they save your Luo Sanpao?"

Yu Xiaogang bit his lip and stared blankly at Tang San, like a wronged little wife.

"Teacher, you must not give up. There are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Spirit Masters! Your disciple has always believed that you are the greatest person on Douluo Continent. As long as you pull yourself together, you will definitely be able to evolve Luo Sanpao just like Chen Yumo did!" Tang San's gaze was sincere, his tone firm.

"Don't worry, Teacher. No matter what happens, Tang San will definitely help you!"

"Xiao San!" Yu Xiaogang suddenly threw his arms around Tang San and burst into tears.

But unlike his despairing sobs from before, his heart was now filled only with gratitude toward Tang San.

"Teacher!" Tang San could not help shedding tears as well, returning Yu Xiaogang's embrace.

What a moving scene of a loving teacher and devoted disciple, a pair of star-crossed lovers...

After the two had been emotional for a while longer, Tang San finally revealed his plan.

As a master of stealing knowledge, he knew all too well how to solve problems he could not solve himself. A ready-made successful example stood right before him—if he wanted to solve Yu Xiaogang's problem, why not just ask Chen Yumo?

But Tang San was no fool. His teacher and he had offended Chen Yumo far too badly before. If they went and asked directly, they definitely would not get an answer.

Even if they coerced or bribed him into revealing the method of evolution, there was no guarantee the answer would be correct.

What if that brat bore a grudge and told them a false method for evolution? Wouldn't they be finished?

So Tang San chose an indirect approach.

"What? You want me to ask Chen Yumo how his Martial Soul evolved?" Xiao Chenyu pointed at himself with one finger, his face full of bewilderment.

"Yes, you." Tang San pointed at him expressionlessly.

"Oh, shit, how am I supposed to ask that?" Xiao Chenyu's face instantly became the Jackie Chan meme as he clutched his head with both hands, disbelief written all over it.

"Tang San, don't tell me you don't know that every Spirit Master's Martial Soul and soul skills are secrets? Rashly prying into someone else's secrets is the kind of thing that makes you mortal enemies. You want me to ask him how he evolved his Martial Soul?"

Of course Tang San knew.

But it was precisely because he knew that he wanted Xiao Chenyu to do it for him.

He had not forgotten that Chen Yumo was also one of Xiao Chenyu's Louse Swarm underlings. He had originally looked down on Chen Yumo for acknowledging someone else as his boss, but this instead made it convenient for him to ask how to evolve a Martial Soul for Yu Xiaogang's sake.

"I know you helped him before. He's also your underling. If you ask, he'll tell you." Tang San's tone was calm but resolute, leaving Xiao Chenyu no room to refuse.

At those words, Xiao Chenyu's face immediately flushed red like a monkey's ass.

He was furious enough to boil over.

But he also knew perfectly well that he could not afford to offend Tang San. He had understood that ever since two years ago.

Xiao Chenyu could also guess that the reason for asking about Martial Soul Evolution was most likely Yu Xiaogang.

Over the past two years, almost no one at Nuoding Academy had failed to notice Tang San's respect for Yu Xiaogang as his teacher. Naturally, Xiao Chenyu knew as well.

Since Tang San had already spoken up for Yu Xiaogang, Xiao Chenyu had no room to refuse. Otherwise, Tang San would definitely hold a deep grudge against him, and who knew when he might strike at him viciously.

So he had no choice but to ask.

Xiao Chenyu took a deep breath, looked Tang San directly in the eye, and spoke with a faint sneer. "Fine, Tang San. I'll ask for you. But listen carefully: Chen Yumo may be my underling, but he has no obligation to tell me the secret of his Martial Soul. Even if I can't get an answer from him, that has nothing to do with me!"

"Just go ask." Tang San's voice remained as indifferent as ever. He did not even spare Xiao Chenyu another glance before turning and walking away.

Xiao Chenyu gritted his teeth, coldly watched Tang San's retreating back, and headed in the opposite direction.

"You'd better really find out how he evolved his Martial Soul. Otherwise..."

Tang San glanced back at Xiao Chenyu, who had vanished around the corner, and a cold gleam flashed through his eyes.

For his teacher's Martial Soul, doing a few things was worth it.