"Poor Xie Xie."
Lu Li looked at Xie Xie lying motionless on the ground and gave a helpless smile. The boy's talent hadn't exactly shone before, and now he'd suffered such undeserved misfortune.
What a miserable life.
As he thought this, he hoisted Xie Xie onto his back and headed for Eastsea Academy again.
"Teacher Lu Li, you're back... Huh?"
"Why has Xie Xie passed out too?"
Wei Xiaofeng had come to Zhang Yangzi's dorm to see what was going on. Seeing Xie Xie on Lu Li's back, he couldn't help staring wide-eyed.
"Xie, what happened to you?"
He asked in bewilderment. One after another, they were passing out. Was he next?
Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi were also stunned, realizing that something was amiss.
"I'm not sure myself."
"Come on, Xiaofeng. Give me a hand. Let's take them to the infirmary."
Lu Li shook his head and looked at the laziest of the three, Wei Xiaofeng.
He was sure Tang Wulin was safe, but he couldn't say the same for Xie Xie. To be safe, they should take him to the infirmary for a quick checkup.
After all, neither Tang San's divine sense nor Di Tian's methods were something an 18th-level Soul Master could withstand.
"Sure thing, Teacher Lu Li!"
Wei Xiaofeng rolled up his sleeves, hoisted Xie Xie onto his back, and headed for the infirmary with Lu Li.
"..."
"Hm? This kid again."
In the infirmary, Doctor Su Yuntao glanced at Lu Li, then immediately fixed his gaze on Tang Wulin.
"Now there's another one who's passed out. Looks like we need to do a better job protecting kids these days..."
He muttered as he examined the two boys. Only after finishing his checks did he turn to Lu Li.
"You must be Lu Li, the teacher in charge of Class Zero. You certainly look the part. I'm Su Yuntao. I've heard a lot about you."
"Mm..."
Lu Li nodded slightly, but hearing the man's name still gave him pause. It was a name he knew very well.
"Teacher Lu Li, what do you think happened to Wulin and Xie Xie? They keep passing out one after another..."
"Could I be next?"
Wei Xiaofeng stood nearby, looking like a nervous new recruit. He asked without thinking.
"You do have a unique way of looking at things. Instead of worrying about that, you should focus on improving your cultivation."
Lu Li smiled helplessly. In the original story, this kid hadn't even been an important supporting character. He hadn't expected him to start worrying about the Son of Destiny.
You'd better just focus on cultivating.
"Where am I...?"
Just then, a voice sounded.
Tang Wulin slowly opened his eyes, sounding utterly confused. He even felt as though all his strength had been drained from him.
"You're awake already?"
Doctor Su Yuntao asked in surprise. He hadn't even figured out what was wrong, and the boy had already woken up. This kid...
Could he really be a genius?
"Teacher, Xiaofeng?"
"Why am I in the infirmary?"
Tang Wulin sat up without thinking and looked blankly at Lu Li and Wei Xiaofeng. He fell silent.
What had happened?
He remembered going out with Xie Xie and stopping by an auction. Then they'd run into a man in black...
"Teacher Lu Li, where's Xie Xie?"
"Where is he?!"
His eyes flew open, and he hurriedly asked. Xie Xie had shielded him earlier. Please, let him be all right!
"Wulin, Xie Xie's lying in the bed beside you. You both passed out, but there's nothing wrong with either of you."
"Tell me, what happened?"
Lu Li pointed to Xie Xie, unconscious in the next bed, reassuring Tang Wulin before asking him what had happened.
"Thank goodness Xie Xie's okay..."
"Big Brother Lu Li, this is what happened. We ran into a man in black outside. Xie Xie tried to protect me, but the man knocked him down with a single look. I think the same thing happened to me."
"After that, I don't remember anything."
Tang Wulin shook his head, his voice bitter.
He didn't understand.
Why did everything go wrong whenever he went out?
Ever since Old Tang had appeared, nothing had gone smoothly. First he'd passed out, then his life had been in danger, and now he'd even been attacked...
Damn Old Tang!
"What! Xie Xie was that brave!"
Hearing that Xie Xie had fearlessly stepped in to protect Tang Wulin, Wei Xiaofeng regarded him with newfound respect. No wonder he'd accepted him as a friend. Sure, he was as weak as a rookie, but he had guts!
Still...
Didn't Xie Xie usually lose to Wulin?
"You two were unlucky."
"There was a large-scale battle in Eastsea City earlier. I was busy at the time, so I couldn't get to the scene right away."
"I didn't realize you and Xie Xie were among the victims."
Lu Li put on a grave expression, but when his gaze passed over Xie Xie, he couldn't help sighing to himself.
This guy really did deserve to be called the best second male lead in the history of the Douluo Calendar. He might not be strong, but...
He was loyal to a fault!
"Teacher Lu Li, is Xie Xie going to be okay?"
"Doctor Su, can you help him wake up soon?"
Tang Wulin looked pleadingly at Lu Li, then turned to Su Yuntao. His friend had passed out protecting him. He had to be all right!
"Don't worry, kid. Since you've woken up, he's probably fine too. You two had the same bad luck, after all."
"Uh, I mean, you were both unfortunate... Anyway, you're about the same, so I'm sure you'll both be fine."
Su Yuntao stumbled over his words as he hurried to explain.
"That's a relief."
Tang Wulin's face darkened, but he silently let out a sigh of relief. As long as Xie Xie was all right.
Lu Li could only smile helplessly as he looked at poor Xie Xie on the bed and shook his head.
Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were very different.
"..."
Fortunately, Xie Xie slowly woke up not long afterward. Like Tang Wulin, he opened his eyes in a daze.
And the first thing he said was Tang Wulin's name:
"Tang Wulin! Are you okay...?"
Xie Xie sat up almost at once, his excitement plain to see. Only after he saw Tang Wulin safe and sound beside him did he relax.
But when his eyes soon moved to Lu Li and Wei Xiaofeng, he looked confused again.
"Teacher Lu Li, Xiaofeng, um..."
"Where are we?"
"..."
"Xie Xie, I admit you're better-looking than me."
"You got knocked out by a mysterious man in black just for protecting your friend. Haji Xie, you're something else!"
On the way back, Wei Xiaofeng gave Xie Xie a thumbs-up and said sincerely,
"Xie Xie, thank you."
Tang Wulin smiled gratefully at him and spoke warmly.
"You're my friend."
"Protecting you is what I should do."
Xie Xie smiled with a look that said, "That's what friends are for." But the smug look on his face was impossible to hide.
"Then thank you."
"My friend."
Tang Wulin smiled brightly.
"And me!"
"I'm your friend too, you know. Xie Xie, I'm looking forward to the day you protect me. Just don't make me wait too long."
Wei Xiaofeng chimed in cheerfully, speaking with earnestness.
"You?"
Xie Xie snorted. He remembered Wei Xiaofeng telling him that if he was bad at something, he should just practice more. With a cold laugh, he replied,
"In your dreams!"
"Xie Xie, you're asking for a beating again."
Wei Xiaofeng's expression hardened. It seemed Xie Xie had no idea how formidable he was!
"Hah! Idiot."
Xie Xie scoffed and looked away.
"..."
Lu Li smiled as he watched the kids getting along. They really were an interesting bunch.
It was just a shame...
Lu Li's gaze passed over Tang Wulin. Because of Tang San's divine sense, he still needed to keep a close eye on him.
"I just hope Gu Yue, with her astonishing wisdom, can make Tang San use up more of his chances to intervene."
Lu Li soon parted ways with the kids. He glanced back at the dormitory building, thought of Gu Yue, and shook his head with a smile.
He hoped...
She really would be clever!
"..."
Meanwhile.
In a private dormitory at Eastsea Academy, Di Tian had finished testing Tang Wulin. He knelt respectfully before Gu Yue, his face full of loyalty.
"Lord, I've fulfilled your expectations! Just as you predicted, Tang Wulin is the son of Sea God Tang San!"
"The Sea God has left a safeguard in this boy."
Di Tian spoke respectfully.
"Mm. Just as I thought."
Gu Yue showed little surprise.
In fact, when that aura erupted in Eastsea City earlier, she had sensed the distinctive presence of the ocean.
Tang San...
Just as you descended into the mortal world with your divine sense ten thousand years ago, even now, ten thousand years later, do you still see the Douluo Continent as your own private garden?
"Lord, since Tang San has left a safeguard in him, should I keep a low profile from now on?"
"I'm no match for him."
Di Tian looked troubled and self-reproachful as he sighed.
If only he were a little stronger. Then he could serve his lord better and contribute more to the revival of the Dragon Clan.
He had failed his lord.
"Gods are still gods. Di Tian, it's only natural that you can't defeat him. The result of this test was good, too."
"Keeping a low profile is the best course. You're right to think that way."
Gu Yue looked at him and spoke calmly.
"But..."
"I don't believe his power is limitless."
A gleam of wisdom flashed in her eyes, and she gave a cold laugh.
"You mean...?"
Di Tian wasn't stupid. He immediately understood what she meant.
"Exactly. Back when the Divine Realm still existed, Tang San was secretive even when he descended to the lower realms. He didn't use much of his power, either."
"Now that the Divine Realm is gone, how much power can he use through his child?"
"I'm seventy percent certain."
"He can't intervene many times!"
Gu Yue spoke as if victory were already assured.
"So, Di Tian."
"Find a suitable opportunity and attack him once more."
"I think..."
"The result won't disappoint me."
Gu Yue's expression was calm as she spoke.
"Your wisdom is truly admirable, Lord!"
"Your subordinate will obey your command!"
Di Tian answered respectfully, then vanished in a flash. The girl was left alone, smiling as she sat on the bed.
Her eyes held an unmistakable depth. Through the window, she gazed at the place where her opponent had fought Di Tian earlier, and boundless killing intent flashed in her eyes.
"Tang San."
"Let's see which of us will have the last laugh."
"..."
Before you continue