Yu Xiaogang's Deception

Xu Yuan smiled helplessly, raising his hand to ruffle her hair: "It was just a spar, don't be so dramatic."

"How is that dramatic!" Xiao Wu looked up at Xu Yuan, unconvinced, her nose slightly wrinkled. "Didn't you see the way Tang San looked, like he'd just had an epiphany? And Yu Xiaogang, his face turned green with anger; he looked just like a cat that had its tail stepped on!"

As she spoke, Xiao Wu mimicked Yu Xiaogang's tense expression from moments ago, furrowing her brows in an exaggerated manner, which made Xu Yuan burst into laughter.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a warm glow over the two of them.

Xiao Wu chattered away about the reactions of the students on the sidelines, noting who had been stunned and who was whispering about how powerful Xu Yuan's Blue Silver Emperor was.

Looking at Xu Yuan's hair, Xiao Wu remarked: "Come to think of it, your hair paired with that Blue Silver Emperor from earlier makes you look like you walked right out of a painting!"

Xu Yuan stopped in his tracks and looked at Xiao Wu: "So, you're happy that I won?"

"Of course!" Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "You're someone I'm looking after, so of course I'm happy you won! But..."

She changed the subject, leaning in closer to whisper, "Tang San is actually quite pitiful. He was beaten so badly by you; I bet he's going to get scolded by Yu Xiaogang again when he gets back."

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Are you feeling sorry for him?"

"Not at all!" Xiao Wu immediately retorted, stiffening her neck, before muttering awkwardly, "It's just... he's had it rough. After lying in bed for half a year, the moment his wounds healed, Yu Xiaogang forced him to train every single day, as if he'd be letting down the whole world if he didn't win."

Xu Yuan looked at Xiao Wu's awkward expression and understood.

Though Xiao Wu appeared carefree, she was actually very observant.

Xu Yuan patted Xiao Wu's head: "Don't worry, he isn't that easy to break. This spar today might not be a bad thing for him."

Xiao Wu nodded, only half-understanding, and grabbed Xu Yuan's arm to keep walking: "Whatever! A win is a win, I'm treating you to carrot cake to celebrate!"

On the other side, Tang San followed Yu Xiaogang back into his office.

Tang San stood behind Yu Xiaogang with his head bowed, feeling deeply apologetic toward his teacher.

Yu Xiaogang stood with his back to Tang San, hands clasped behind him. His shoulders were slightly slumped, and his spine, usually held perfectly straight, now carried a hint of exhaustion.

The office was so quiet that the sound of the wind outside was audible. The books on Martial Soul theory lay open on the desk, but there was no longer any desire to read them.

After a long while, Yu Xiaogang slowly turned around, his gaze landing on Tang San.

Those eyes, which usually sparkled with confidence, now held a complex mix of emotions—disappointment, frustration, and, more than anything, an indescribable heaviness.

"Do you know where you lost?" Yu Xiaogang's voice was hoarse, lacking its usual sternness, sounding almost as if he were talking to himself.

Tang San pursed his lips and lowered his head: "Student... my spirit power control was inferior to Xu Yuan's, and my understanding of my martial soul is not deep enough."

He paused, his voice dropping lower: "Also, when facing the restraints of the Blue Silver Grass, I was too impatient."

Yu Xiaogang remained silent, his fingertips tapping rhythmically against the desk, creating a dull, thudding sound.

"You are right, yet not entirely." Yu Xiaogang walked up to Tang San, his gaze sharpening: "Your biggest problem is not any of those reasons; it is your heart."

"My heart?" Tang San looked up, a trace of confusion in his eyes.

Yu Xiaogang tapped the desk with more force, his voice deepening: "Your heart is too cluttered. You win one match and start thinking about the next; you lose one and rush to make up for it, letting a few words from others shake your focus. With a mindset like that, how can you ever settle down to refine your martial soul?"

He picked up the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul In-depth Development Manual from the table, flipped to a page, and pointed at the dense annotations.

Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San and said: "What I teach you is the theoretical framework, meant to let you stand on the shoulders of giants and avoid detours. But you? You either memorize it by rote or get led astray by someone else's few words, never once thinking about making this knowledge your own."

He would never admit that he had any faults; everything was Tang San's problem.

Tang San's face burned, and his fingers, clutching the hem of his clothes, tightened.

He was indeed as his teacher described. Xu Yuan's words earlier had actually made him doubt the theories his teacher taught, and thinking about it now, it was truly inexcusable.

Yu Xiaogang closed the manual, his eyes suddenly turning sharp, like two blades piercing Tang San: "Do you think Xu Yuan's Blue Silver Grass is truly unpredictable? His binding technique is essentially the spiral spirit power output mentioned in Martial Soul Control Theory, just dressed up with a fancy name! If you had fully grasped the Control System Martial Soul Advanced Guide I gave you, forget his little tricks—even the domain of a Titled Douluo would have a method for you to break!"

Yu Xiaogang slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup jump: "Did half a year in bed make you restless? Have you forgotten the promise you made to me? You said you would engrave these theories into your bones! And the result? Someone changes their style a little, and you panic, doubting these theories that have been tempered through countless trials?"

Tang San lowered his head further, his fingernails digging deep into his palms: "Teacher, I..."

"You what?" Yu Xiaogang interrupted Tang San, his tone filled with frustration at his student's lack of progress. "Xu Yuan winning was nothing more than luck. You have Twin Martial Souls; in terms of foundation, you are ten times more solid than him! You lost now because you haven't integrated theory with actual combat!"

Tang San bit his lower lip, his eyes turning slightly red: "It is this student who was restless and failed to live up to Teacher's guidance."

He felt increasingly foolish for having doubted his teacher.

Seeing Tang San admit his fault, Yu Xiaogang's expression softened slightly as he patted his shoulder: "It is good that you know you were wrong. From today on, copy my Foundations of Martial Soul Theory three times every day, and at night, draw me a breakdown of Xu Yuan's tactics, matching every step to a theoretical basis. Let me tell you, theory does not lie; only those who refuse to settle their hearts lie. Once you can turn my theories into muscle memory, forget one Xu Yuan—you could handle ten of them with ease!"

Tang San nodded vigorously: "Yes, Teacher, this student will certainly do as you say."

Seeing Tang San successfully hoodwinked, Yu Xiaogang felt satisfied; he had truly been worried that Tang San would believe Xu Yuan's words.

A gentle smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face. He turned to the bookshelf, slowly pulled out a notebook with yellowed covers, and handed it to Tang San: "This is a book I have spent ten years writing. Take it back and study it well; it will allow your strength to reach a new level."

Tang San took the notebook with both hands, his fingertips brushing against the slightly messy yet forceful handwriting on the pages, a wave of guilt and gratitude surging in his heart.

He secretly swore that he would work twice as hard and never let his teacher down again.