Yu Xiaogang's Reputation Takes a Hit, Li Pei Successfully Becomes His Disciple

After hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, even Shangguan Li laughed. Yu Xiaogang was truly shameless. Earlier, he had said he only wanted to teach Tang San and had no energy to instruct other students, yet now he wanted to take Xiao Wu as a disciple too. He truly deserved the top spot on the Douluo scumbag rankings.

Xiao Wu said, "Grandmaster, didn't you say you didn't have the energy to take on another disciple? Why do you want to accept me as one? Why don't you take Li Pei as your disciple instead?"

Xiao Wu still liked Li Pei quite a bit. After all, they were the only two girls in the dormitory.

Xiao Wu's words put Yu Xiaogang in an awkward position, and Tang San, standing to the side, had no idea what to say to break the silence.

Yu Xiaogang was an old hand, though, and quickly replied, "It isn't that I don't want to take a second disciple. It's just that Li Pei needs to focus on cultivating and reach the level where she can obtain a Soul Ring. If I teach her theoretical knowledge now, it may delay her progress. So I want to wait until she reaches the level where she can acquire a Soul Ring. At that time, I will definitely accept her as my disciple."

Yu Xiaogang's sophistry was practically flawless. Not only did he explain why he had not taken Li Pei as a disciple, but he also perfectly disguised himself as a great teacher.

Xiao Wu said happily, "That's wonderful! I'll tell Li Pei when we get back. She was so disappointed when she returned to the dormitory just now. She'll be so happy when she finds out."

Yu Xiaogang panicked. He had never intended to accept Li Pei as a disciple, so naturally he could not let Xiao Wu tell her about this.

"Little San, Xiao Wu, keep this from everyone. We'll give Li Pei a surprise when the time comes."

In truth, Yu Xiaogang believed that, with Li Pei's level-four Innate Soul Power, it would take her at least three or four years to reach the point where she needed a Soul Ring. By then, if Tang San and Xiao Wu had become geniuses, he could take them away from Nuoding Junior Academy. Besides, children often had poor memories. Perhaps they would forget about it after a few years.

Tang San said, "Of course, Teacher. You're so considerate. You've even thought so much for Li Pei's sake."

Li Pei had treated him well these past few days, so Tang San considered her a good girl, even if her appearance was ordinary. But Yu Xiaogang was different. Li Pei was merely a student he had met once, yet he was already considering her future. Tang San felt that Yu Xiaogang was truly kindhearted.

Xiao Wu nodded along at the side. Seeing Tang San and Xiao Wu's expressions, Yu Xiaogang's vanity stirred again. As expected, children are so easy to fool.

Xiao Wu said, "All right, Grandmaster. Let me think about it." On the surface, Yu Xiaogang expressed understanding, but inwardly he thought, Once Little San obtains his First Soul Ring and becomes stronger, you'll surely be delighted to join my school.

Soon, Tang San and Xiao Wu left Yu Xiaogang's room, and the matter of taking disciples was settled for the time being. Things would have remained peaceful, if not for Xiao Wu's loose tongue.

After returning to the dormitory, Xiao Wu ran over to Li Pei. Li Pei disliked Xiao Wu, but Tang San seemed rather fond of her. If Li Pei showed too much dislike, Tang San might dislike her as well. In any case, Li Pei and Xiao Wu got along reasonably well.

Li Pei asked, "Xiao Wu, what is it? Why are you so happy?" Li Pei especially wanted to know what had happened after Xiao Wu left with Tang San.

Xiao Wu said excitedly, "Li Pei, listen to me! Grandmaster said he wants to accept me as his disciple. What should I do?"

After hearing Xiao Wu's words, Li Pei was consumed by jealousy. She had personally gone to ask Yu Xiaogang to accept her as a disciple, only for him to reject her tactfully. Yet the moment he turned around, he wanted to accept Xiao Wu instead. At that moment, Li Pei began to harbor resentment toward Yu Xiaogang as well.

Seeing Li Pei's expression, Xiao Wu asked, "Li Pei, what's wrong?"

When Shangguan Li first saw Xiao Wu looking at Li Pei, she had not paid Li Pei any attention. But seeing Li Pei like this now—hating Xiao Wu while having no choice but to act close to her—was truly disgusting. The key was that everyone in Dorm Seven had yet to see through Li Pei's fake, scheming act.

Li Pei shook her head and replied, "I'm fine, Xiao Wu."

At this moment, Li Pei's thoughts toward Xiao Wu had changed. You're my Brother San's spare Soul Ring, and your two brothers are also an important step toward Brother San becoming a god. I'll let you enjoy these last few years of your life for now.

The next day, somehow, word spread throughout the academy that Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang had refused Li Pei's request to become his disciple, claiming he did not want a second disciple, only to turn around and want to take Xiao Wu as one.

Yu Xiaogang had not known about this at first. But that morning, when he got up, he prepared as usual to bask in the admiring gazes of the masses. Yet today, whether students or teachers, everyone looked at him strangely and pointed at him behind his back.

While eating, Yu Xiaogang heard most of what had happened. He was somewhat angry. Who had leaked yesterday's matter?

The first people Yu Xiaogang thought of were Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Li Pei. After all, they were the only ones who knew about it. It was impossible not to suspect them.

As his disciple, Tang San should not have said anything. Xiao Wu was his prospective disciple and should not have revealed it either. Li Pei was somewhat suspicious, but according to what he knew from Tang San, she should not have done such a thing either.

Still, Yu Xiaogang called Tang San to his room.

Tang San asked, "Teacher, did you talk about what happened yesterday after you went back?"

Tang San had naturally heard the rumors. "Teacher, none of us said anything." Tang San knew Xiao Wu had said something, but he could not expose her.

Li Pei was the most likely culprit, but after speaking to Xiao Wu yesterday, she had stayed in the dormitory. There was no evidence. Besides, Li Pei treated him well, and Tang San did not want to lose that kindness, so he did not expose Li Pei either.

Yu Xiaogang did not doubt Tang San's words. "Little San, go back for now. Don't listen to the rumors outside."

Tang San understood Yu Xiaogang's meaning: he was to keep a closer eye on Li Pei. "This disciple understands."

Yu Xiaogang wanted to go into Nuoding City to find the source of the rumors. Soon, when the townspeople saw him, a wave of discussion broke out.

"You there, look! That's Yu Xiaogang, that so-called 'Grandmaster.'"

"This Yu Xiaogang is something else. He only takes exceptionally gifted students. One has level-seven Innate Soul Power, and he even wants to take one with Innate Full Soul Power. It's just a pity for that child with level-four Innate Soul Power, to have actually set her sights on someone like him."

"One of the Ten Core Competitiveness Theories says there are no useless martial souls, only useless Soul Masters. Then he should be taking students with low Innate Soul Power. After all, Innate Soul Power shouldn't matter in front of the Grandmaster."

"He makes it sound so nice, but isn't he a useless man himself? Yet he still wants to be the teacher of genius Soul Masters. How ridiculous."

"I hope that child with Innate Full Soul Power hasn't become his disciple yet. Otherwise, a generation of genius will be taught into trash by the Grandmaster."

"So Yu Xiaogang only accepts geniuses, yet he still touts that line about there being no useless Soul Masters. If he wants to prove his theory, he should take a useless disciple."

Such disparaging words about Yu Xiaogang spread through every street and alley of Nuoding City. At first, Yu Xiaogang could endure it, but after a week, the rumors had not diminished. Instead, they spread further and further. Forced by the rumors to stay indoors, Yu Xiaogang finally could not bear it any longer.

Yu Xiaogang called Tang San, Li Pei, and Xiao Wu into his room again.

When Shangguan Li saw Yu Xiaogang's haggard appearance, she felt unbelievably satisfied. In her previous life, she had never been able to stand Yu Xiaogang's hypocritical face.

Yu Xiaogang said, "Li Pei, are you willing to become my disciple? I am not accepting you because of these rumors. I wanted you to cultivate your Soul Power first, and I had always planned to take you as my disciple when it was time for you to obtain a Soul Ring."

Li Pei looked at Tang San in disbelief and asked, "Brother San, is that true?"

Tang San said, "It's true. Teacher had always intended to accept you as his disciple."

But what he thought was, Li Pei, I'm sorry. Brother San will treat you well when the time comes.

Tang San understood that this was absolutely not a good time to take on a disciple. He also knew clearly that accepting Li Pei now was nothing more than using her as a shield. But to quell the rumors about his teacher, Li Pei could only be wronged.

Li Pei said emotionally, "Teacher, please accept Li Pei's bow." Li Pei did not kneel to Yu Xiaogang. Yu Xiaogang was somewhat displeased, but for appearances' sake, he could only accept her.

"Raise your head."

Yu Xiaogang had thought that once he accepted Li Pei as his disciple, the rumors would disappear. In fact, they did die down for a while. But although they briefly vanished, how could people's mouths be controlled?

Tang San and Yu Xiaogang simply had not expected that this incident would mark the beginning of Yu Xiaogang's reputation becoming worse and worse.