"Teacher, I—I didn't!"
Tang San was utterly speechless. If they had said earlier that he'd stolen his cultivation technique, he would've known to prepare an excuse in advance.
But now, how was he supposed to know what would happen in the future?
Tang San was terribly nervous and kept trying to explain:
"I wouldn't do that. How could I ignore Grandpa Jack's life and death?"
"Grandpa Jack took care of me from the time I was little. I've always thought of him. Teacher, you saw for yourself at Notting Academy how close Grandpa Jack and I were!"
"Was I already putting on an act in front of you back then? That can't be!"
"Hm?"
Only then did Yu Xiaogang frown unconsciously.
He recalled their time at Notting Academy. When the gatekeeper looked down on that old man, Tang San had seemed ready to step in.
It seemed Tang San hadn't been quite so indifferent to Old Jack.
But the Light Screen wouldn't lie. Yu Xiaogang pressed him: "If that's so, how do you explain what the Light Screen said?"
"I don't know..." Tang San said nervously, glancing around.
Fortunately, Xiao Wu was quick to react and hurriedly spoke up:
"Grandmaster, the question on the Light Screen is whether Xiao San gave anything in return. It didn't say anything else!"
"I've met Old Jack. He's already very old."
"Maybe Old Jack passed away sometime in the future, and my brother was away on some business, so he didn't have time to repay him!"
"If that's what happened, then the answer would still be right, and my brother wouldn't be so bad."
"Don't you think?"
Xiao Wu looked at Ning Rongrong, then at Zhu Zhuqing.
Both girls got along well with Xiao Wu. After hearing her out, they softened their attitudes a little.
Ning Rongrong nodded. "Xiao Wu has a point. Maybe Third Brother didn't refuse to repay him—something unexpected happened, and he didn't have time!"
"I think so too!" Zhu Zhuqing said. "Third Brother even gave us Immortal Herbs. He isn't selfish."
"He probably just didn't get the chance!"
With everyone adding their thoughts, that explanation seemed quite plausible.
Tang San nodded too, putting on a remorseful expression. "Even if I didn't get the chance, that's still my fault."
"The tree longs for stillness, but the wind won't cease; the child longs to care for his parents, but they are no longer there..."
"Grandpa Jack, I, Tang San, have failed you!"
"Now that I know, I'll return to Holy Soul Village as soon as I can and repay you. I won't let us miss each other again!"
At this point, with Tang San acting so sincerely, Yu Xiaogang couldn't press him any further.
He sighed. "Perhaps you really didn't get the chance..."
"Xiao San, I was wrong to blame you. How could I doubt your gratitude and sense of duty?"
"You're the most loyal and filial of all. You'd surely share whatever you had with your teacher and father, wouldn't you?"
Tang San froze for a moment. Something about that sounded wrong.
But to keep up appearances, he still nodded. "If I have even a bite to eat, I'll make sure Teacher gets a lick!"
"Teacher, I, Tang San, stand tall between heaven and earth. I'm absolutely not the sort of villain who forgets a kindness!"
"Good, good disciple, good child..." Only then was Yu Xiaogang satisfied. He lovingly patted Tang San's head.
The students from the other academies who had been watching all scratched their heads, looking puzzled.
"Huh? Did we get it wrong again?"
"Damn, so the question had a trap! We have to pay attention to other information to get the answer right!"
"That's right. I said all along that Tang San couldn't be that bad. Which of you were insulting him?"
The students from the other academies hurriedly tried to save face with one another, looking awkward.
Listening to them, Tang San felt nothing but cold contempt. He muttered to himself:
These people insulted me so badly earlier. They all deserve to die!
Once I use the Q&A Game to rise to power, I'll make them pay!
He had made it through another round and continued staring at the Light Screen.
As before, the Light Screen gave a brief introduction to Old Jack, but revealed no other crucial information.
It needed to save material for the questions that would come later. If it revealed too much, there wouldn't be much left to ask.
Not far away, Song Ye watched Tang San's performance and found it laughable.
"Tang San, Tang San, you're not a bad actor."
"Too bad the Q&A Game won't stop after just a few questions. Your true nature will be exposed sooner or later..."
Song Ye had no idea whether a later question might directly expose Tang San's identity as a transmigrator.
Tang Hao was hidden in the shadows.
He watched the Light Screen and wasn't particularly bothered, though he did frown slightly.
"Ah, I still thought too highly of Xiao San."
"I knew it. We're noble Soul Masters. Why should we care whether these commoners live or die?"
"From now on, I need to answer according to the logic of a normal Soul Master. That's how I'll get the answers right!"
Holy Soul Village.
"What?"
Old Jack stared at the final answer, utterly astonished.
"Xiao San didn't give me anything?"
"I never expected the boy to give this old man anything, but it still chills the heart a little..."
"Ah, Xiao San, Xiao San. I took care of you for so long back then, and you've just forgotten about me?"
"When you had diarrhea, your father didn't do a thing. I was the one who brought you paper!"
At the thought, Old Jack shook his head helplessly.
He had lived for decades and had seen plenty of people turn cold when it came to repaying kindness.
But when it actually happened to him, it still hurt. He even regretted having cared for Tang San so devotedly back then...
Beneath Life Lake.
Di Tian sensed a trace of Soul Power entering his body and turning into cultivation for the Spirit Beasts. It amounted to roughly one to five years' worth of cultivation.
Di Tian sneered. "As expected, rewards based on human Soul Power Levels don't suit us Spirit Beasts."
"And when it says one level, that doesn't mean a fixed amount of energy. One level for a Titled Douluo is vastly different from one level for an ordinary Soul Master."
"Still, it's better than nothing..."
The other Ferocious Beasts nodded as they absorbed the energy. It really didn't amount to much cultivation for them.
Even the Silver Dragon King looked a little surprised. "This energy seems extremely pure. It might help my injuries."
"Unfortunately, there's too little of it. If there were enough, perhaps it could help me recover quickly!"
Di Tian was delighted to hear that. "Hm? My lord, is that true?"
"In that case, King of Ten Thousand Demons, you're the most cunning! Analyze the questions carefully when answering from now on!"
"Try to help my lord recover as much as possible!"
King of Ten Thousand Demons replied respectfully, "Yes, Beast God!"
Everyone and every Ferocious Beast continued watching the Light Screen, waiting for the next question.
Over in Spirit City, the matter of Tang San had come to an end.
Most of the people were still focused on the Q&A.
A new question appeared on the Light Screen:
[The Man Faced Demon Spider was an important source of nourishment on Tang San's path to growth in his early years!]
[And Yu Xiaogang was Tang San's mentor, providing him with a training plan!]
[Question: Who contributed more to Tang San's growth over the course of his life, Yu Xiaogang or the Man Faced Demon Spider?]
Before you continue