Grandmaster: Where Did This Monster Come From? Tang San: It's Me, Teacher!

"A-Qing! You were so cool just now!"

Xiao Wu clung to Lin Qingmo's arm, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Let's see if he still dares to be so arrogant after this!"

She chattered away, her heart brimming with satisfaction.

Feeling the warmth against his arm, Lin Qingmo smiled.

"He brought it on himself."

"But..."

He deliberately paused and turned to look at her.

"You were giving advice pretty enthusiastically too, weren't you, little strategist?"

"Of course!"

Xiao Wu lifted her chin, looking rather pleased with herself.

"My judgment is spot-on. Even the flaws in his footwork couldn't escape my eyes!"

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something and leaned closer curiously.

"A-Qing, these past six months..."

She blinked her large eyes, her long lashes like butterfly wings.

"Where exactly did you go to train? You've changed so much!"

"And..."

Her fingertips curiously wound around a lock of his hair.

"Your hair and eye colors are so pretty, like ice crystals."

Of course, she knew the truth.

But at this moment, she was simply being a curious girl who cared about him.

Lin Qingmo stopped walking and turned to face her.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows over his handsome face.

He looked at her, and his gaze suddenly turned exceptionally serious.

"Xiao Wu."

"Hmm?"

"If I told you..."

His voice was low and clear, carrying a peculiar enchantment.

"That I encountered a very special Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."

"She chose to Sacrifice herself to me."

"Would you believe me?"

"!!!"

Xiao Wu's heart felt as though an invisible hand had clenched around it!

Thump! Thump!

The violent pounding made her eardrums ring.

Is he hinting at me?

Countless thoughts instantly overwhelmed her mind.

Her rosy cheeks went slightly pale, and the hand clutching his arm unconsciously tightened.

Should I tell him now?

Tell him that I am...

"Hahaha!"

Lin Qingmo suddenly burst out laughing and raised a hand to ruffle her hair.

"I'm teasing you!"

His smile was radiant, with the sly look of someone whose prank had succeeded.

"Where would so many Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts come from, sacrificing themselves everywhere?"

"I got stronger through hard work, one step at a time."

Does what I have count as cheating?

It's called a lucky opportunity!

"Come on, let's go back and rest. After that fight, I'm thirsty."

He turned around, slipped both hands into his pockets, and leisurely headed toward the dormitory area.

Xiao Wu stood there blankly, staring at his tall, straight back.

Only after a long while did she softly let out a breath.

Her tense shoulders relaxed, but a faint trace of disappointment remained.

Dummy A-Qing...

She muttered softly to herself.

Her small pink fist quietly clenched, then slowly loosened.

One day... I'll tell you myself.

I'll tell you every secret myself.

Even if he already knew them all.

She pressed her lips together and quickly chased after him.

"A-Qing! Wait for me!"

Notting Academy.

Teachers' Office.

The room was filled with the mingled scent of old books and dried plants.

Yu Xiaogang was bent over a pile of messy documents.

His brows were tightly furrowed as he examined a strange scale through a magnifying glass.

On the desk lay his famous book, Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul.

A quill rested at a certain spot, the ink already dry.

Bang—!!!

With a deafening crash, the door was violently flung open!

A figure stumbled inside, knocking over the coat rack by the door.

"Who?!"

Yu Xiaogang's hand jerked in surprise, and the magnifying glass fell onto the desk.

He looked up to see a "humanoid creature" lurch toward the desk.

Its face was covered in bruises and blood, swollen and distorted beyond recognition.

"How dare you..."

Yu Xiaogang was both startled and enraged, thinking some madman had barged in.

He instinctively threw a punch in self-defense, driving a straight fist forward!

Thud!

It landed squarely on the visitor's already towering "cheek mountain."

"Ugh—!"

The "creature" let out a miserable wail.

That punch finished him off, and he collapsed onto the floor.

Tears mixed with even more blood, pouring out in torrents.

"Who are you? Why have you trespassed here!"

Yu Xiaogang rose to his feet, taking a defensive stance as he demanded sharply.

"Tea... Teacher..."

The figure on the floor let out an indistinct whimper, barely clinging to consciousness.

"It... it's me..."

"Tang San..."

Yu Xiaogang was struck dumb, his entire body freezing in place.

"Xiao... San?"

He bent down in disbelief, moving close to that ghastly face.

He carefully studied its swollen contours and those faintly familiar brows and eyes.

"Xiao San! It really is you?!"

Yu Xiaogang's voice suddenly rose, filled with shock and fury.

He hurriedly crouched down and carefully helped Tang San up.

Everywhere he touched was bruised and swollen.

"How did this happen? Who beat you into this state?!"

Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled with anger.

Tang San was his only disciple, his hope for the future!

He was the core proof that would put his theories into practice!

Yet he had been beaten into this state within the Academy?

Tang San was helped into a chair, baring his teeth in pain with every movement.

"Grandmaster... I... I lost..."

His voice was hoarse, filled with humiliation and unwillingness.

"Lost? To whom?!"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes turned sharp as blades.

"To... a student..."

"His name is... Lin Qingmo..."

Every word Tang San spoke pulled at the wounds on his face, causing piercing pain.

"Lin Qingmo?"

Yu Xiaogang rapidly searched his memories.

He knew about the Academy's notable students and their backgrounds.

There was no such person.

"What Soul Power Level is he? What is his Martial Soul? How old is he?"

Yu Xiaogang fired off questions in rapid succession, instinctively entering analysis mode.

"I... don't know..."

Tang San shook his head painfully.

"He... didn't even summon his Martial Soul..."

"What?!"

Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted sharply as he abruptly stood up.

"He beat you into this state without even summoning his Martial Soul?!"

He knew Tang San's strength well.

Innate Full Soul Power, strange Self-Created Soul Skills, a century-old Datura Snake Spirit Ring...

Even against a Soul Master of level fifteen or sixteen, he had the strength to fight.

Someone capable of crushing him without summoning a Martial Soul...

"Could it be... his Soul Power Level far exceeds yours?"

"Or does he possess an exceptionally special physique or talent?"

Yu Xiaogang frowned deeply and paced back and forth, sinking into thought.

"He saw through your tactics completely..."

"Your movement techniques and Hidden Weapon techniques were both suppressed?"

Tang San nodded with difficulty, lingering fear still in his eyes.

Yu Xiaogang's expression grew increasingly grave.

This was not merely a matter of level suppression, but an absolute gap in combat awareness.

When had Notting Academy gained such a monster?

"This matter cannot simply be left at that!"

Yu Xiaogang stopped pacing and looked at his miserable disciple.

A flicker of heartache crossed his eyes before being replaced by sternness.

"But first, you must tell me the entire process."

"Every single detail!"

"Only by understanding your opponent can you defeat your opponent."

"This is my theory, and it is also your first lesson!"

"Now, wipe away your tears and explain everything clearly."

"Your grudge—your teacher will settle it for you!"

Tang San looked into his teacher's resolute eyes and nodded heavily.

The flames of hatred burned even more fiercely in his heart.

Lin Qingmo... this isn't over between us!