At the academy gates, Ma Hongjun wore a lecherous grin. His gaze kept shifting between Lin Yan and Ning Rongrong, as if to say, "I've got plenty of experience. You know what I mean."
After all, everyone already knew that Ning Rongrong liked Lin Yan and was pursuing him. Unlike Zhu Zhuqing, who had to keep her relationship carefully hidden, Ning Rongrong didn't have to worry about anyone else's feelings.
Oscar had previously confessed his feelings to her, but he was only a support Soul Master. Ning Rongrong had simply brought up the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's rules: the partner of a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Master had to be a powerful Battle Soul Master!
Oscar had been shut down and given up on the spot...
So, these past few days, Ning Rongrong had practically laid all her cards on the table. Knowing that Zhu Zhuqing didn't dare make her relationship public, she stayed by Lin Yan's side every chance she got.
Lin Yan glanced at Ning Rongrong, then discreetly stole a look at Zhu Zhuqing, whose face had turned livid, before slowly speaking.
"We can talk about the Evil Fire later. At least it hasn't shown any symptoms yet."
"I have another bad feeling. I can't shake the sense that something unlucky is about to happen."
"Pfft!" At his words, Dai Mubai, at the front of the group, couldn't hold back a laugh. "How unlucky could you possibly get compared to Tang San?"
"Uh..."
Lin Yan looked at Tang San, who had bandages wrapped around his waist and leaned on a crutch, then silently shut his mouth.
Tang San was speechless. His face suddenly darkened until it looked as though water might drip from it.
"You dared to mock me, Dai Mubai. You have a death wish."
"No! Anyone in this group who failed to protect me or heal me has a death wish!"
Soon, the group arrived at the academy gates.
Li Yusong was sprawled on a rocking chair like an old gatekeeper. When he saw them, he greeted them.
"You're back!"
"Whoa! Who's that? How'd he get so badly hurt?"
He spotted Tang San and sprang up from his chair.
Zhao Wuji impatiently waved a hand.
"Don't ask. Where's Flender? I need to discuss getting Tang San treated with him."
"He's in the dean's office. As it happens, he asked me to tell you to bring Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Lin Yan to see him as soon as you got back."
"Got it."
"The rest of you are dismissed. You three, come with me."
Zhao Wuji glanced around the group, delivered his final instruction, then turned and headed for the dean's office.
Lin Yan walked behind the other two. As he watched Tang San's back, a crucial thought suddenly struck him!
"Oh, no! Could that guy Yu Xiaogang have arrived?"
"That explains why my eye's been twitching nonstop..."
In the original timeline, Yu Xiaogang had arrived at just this point. The moment he showed up, he'd called Lin Yan and Ma Hongjun over. Was he about to stir up trouble again?
Lin Yan pursed his lips, his expression so unpleasant you'd think he'd just seen what was going on around Tang San's waist.
Before long, they reached the dean's office. Zhao Wuji pushed the door open, and the two figures inside came directly into Lin Yan's view.
"It really is him! Unbelievable..."
The noise of the opening door drew Flender and Yu Xiaogang's attention. At once, the two of them spotted Tang San, swathed in bandages.
"Old Zhao? What happened?"
Flender hurried to his feet and rushed over, his eyes wide with exaggerated shock.
Zhao Wuji sighed.
"Something went wrong!"
"We ran into the King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape. Unfortunately, Tang San ended up seriously injured."
"What? Little San!"
At the news, Yu Xiaogang hurried to Tang San's side. Seeing the bandages around his waist and the crutch in his hand, tears immediately welled in his eyes beneath his faintly shadowed eyelids.
It was clear that, aside from treating Tang San as a test subject, Yu Xiaogang also cared for him deeply.
When Tang San saw Yu Xiaogang—the man who had been like a father to him for the past six years—the pain, grievances, and indignation he had endured these past few days surged up all at once.
He dropped the crutch tucked beneath his arm and flung himself into Yu Xiaogang's embrace.
"Teacher..."
With those two simple words, he said no more. Tears and sobs had taken over completely.
His anguished wailing mingled with every kind of emotion. Lin Yan couldn't tell exactly what was going through his mind, but Tang San was probably having a pretty hard time...
No one around them spoke. Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Ma Hongjun didn't interrupt the master and disciple, letting the two of them vent their feelings.
"Teacher, it hurts so much!"
"Little San..."
Honestly, perhaps Yu Xiaogang really did treat Tang San like his own son.
Seeing Tang San's body so badly damaged, Yu Xiaogang's eyes reddened. Breathing hard, he seized Flender by the collar.
"Flender, what the hell happened?"
"Didn't you tell me the teacher leading this trip would definitely protect Little San?"
Flender said nothing, his guilt plain on his face. He turned his head away.
But Yu Xiaogang took his anger out on Zhao Wuji instead. He shoved Tang San aside, strode over to Zhao Wuji, pointed at his nose, and launched into a furious tirade.
"You're a Soul Saint leading the group, and you couldn't even protect a few Soul Grandmasters! What the hell are you good for?"
"Do you know who Little San's father is? Do you know what Little San means to me?"
"Useless! Every last one of you is useless!"
Flender's expression changed instantly. He hurried to stop things from going any further, but it was too late.
Zhao Wuji grabbed Yu Xiaogang by the throat.
"Say that again, you bastard!"
"Who's useless?"
"Old Zhao! Don't..."
"Xiaogang's just upset about the boy. Don't take it personally."
Flender stepped forward and gripped Zhao Wuji's arm with both hands, trying to lessen his hold.
But he had miscalculated. They were both Soul Saints, and Flender, an Agile Attack System Soul Master, was only two levels higher than Zhao Wuji, a Defense System Soul Master. He couldn't stop Zhao Wuji from roughing up Yu Xiaogang.
By the doorway, Zhao Wuji glared viciously at Yu Xiaogang, whose face had turned red from lack of air.
"You're just a Soul Grandmaster, and you dare run your mouth at me? Who gave you the nerve?"
"Tang San left the group on his own and nearly dragged the rest of the team down with him. Ask him whether he has the nerve to blame me!"
"I don't know what Tang San means to you, but even if Tang Hao showed up today, I'd have a clear conscience!"
Zhao Wuji's voice boomed like a bell, and the might of a Soul Saint battered Yu Xiaogang from every direction. Even the injured Tang San was caught in the blast.
Looking at Flender, who kept trying to stop him, Zhao Wuji snorted.
"Flender, he's your friend, not mine. If he keeps snapping at people like a mad dog, I won't mind reminding him what the Immovable Wisdom King was like back in the day."
With that, he swept his hand out and flung Yu Xiaogang to the floor...
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