Soul Hunting Forest, that night.
After searching all day, Yu Xiaogang and his disciple Tang San still hadn't found a suitable Soul Beast. They pitched a tent beneath a big tree and scattered a circle of insect repellent around it.
Tang San went into the tent to rest, while Yu Xiaogang kept watch outside.
Tang San was asleep when he suddenly heard fighting outside. He was startled and immediately got up.
He opened the tent flap and saw his teacher, Yu Xiaogang, fighting two monkey Soul Beasts.
The monkey Soul Beasts were incredibly fast. Luo Sanpao was no match for them at all.
"Teacher!" Tang San cried out.
Yu Xiaogang immediately said, "Hurry up and pack. We need to leave! Both these Soul Beasts are over five hundred years old. We're no match for them!"
Tang San didn't bother with anything else. He quickly packed the important things and said, "I'm ready, Teacher! Let's get out of here!"
"You go first. I'll cover our retreat!" Yu Xiaogang shouted.
Tang San quickly retreated in the opposite direction. He had barely taken a few steps when he heard a muffled groan behind him. He turned to look.
One of Yu Xiaogang's arms had already been clawed by a monkey.
Seeing Tang San run off, Yu Xiaogang finally stopped holding back. He waved his hand, and Luo Sanpao let rip with a thunderous fart.
The two monkeys immediately fled, driven off by the stench. But they didn't go far. They climbed up the surrounding trees and stared down at the two men.
"Damn it, I didn't expect these monkeys to target us!" Yu Xiaogang cursed under his breath. "They shouldn't be showing up here!"
As he spoke, the stench dissipated, and the two monkeys quickly charged down. To make matters worse, an even larger monkey appeared directly ahead of them.
"Not good!" Yu Xiaogang's face changed dramatically at the sight of the big monkey. "This one is over seven hundred years old!"
Tang San's heart skipped a beat. Seven hundred years, plus the two five-hundred-year-old monkeys behind them—there was no way he could handle that many!
These monkeys were speed types. Even if he used his Hidden Weapons, Mysterious Jade Hand, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Purple Demon Eye, he and Yu Xiaogang could only just manage to deal with the two five-hundred-year-old ones by working together. That was all!
The seven-hundred-year-old one would definitely kill them!
It's over!
Is this where I die today?
In the blink of an eye, the seven-hundred-year-old monkey charged at them, moving incredibly fast.
Without activating his Purple Demon Eye, Tang San saw only a black blur flash past him. A gust of wind brushed his ear, and behind him, Yu Xiaogang let out a scream!
Tang San didn't need to turn around to know Yu Xiaogang must have been struck in a vital spot. Otherwise, he wouldn't have screamed so terribly!
"Xiao San! Run!" Yu Xiaogang cried out with difficulty.
Tang San didn't answer. He spun around and sent several Hidden Weapons flying, but the monkey dodged them with ease!
It's over!
Tang San wailed inwardly. He was still too weak, and his Hidden Weapons were nowhere near as powerful as they had been in his previous life!
I'm going to die here today!
The three monkeys left the gravely wounded Yu Xiaogang behind and pounced on Tang San together!
At this critical moment,
a streak of sword light exploded like lightning!
"Ee-ee-ee!" Amid the monkeys' shrieks, Tang San watched as all three charging monkeys were chopped to pieces!
Tang San was completely dumbfounded!
"You little newborns dare hurt my brother? You're asking for death!"
A familiar voice came from behind him. Tang San whipped around, and sure enough, it was Zhang Tianyu!
He had come to save him at the crucial moment!
At that instant, Tang San's eyes filled with tears of excitement!
"Tian Yu! I can't believe it was you! Thank you for saving me!"
"We're brothers. What's there to thank me for?" Zhang Tianyu smiled warmly. The smile made his already handsome face look even more handsome!
In Tang San's eyes,
that smile made all creation lose its color, and the sun and moon go dark!
Only then did he realize how charming Zhang Tianyu was!
Tang San suddenly felt his heart race!
No!
What is this feeling?!
This feeling is wrong!
Tian Yu is just my good friend!
Even though he showed up at the critical moment and saved me, I should only feel grateful to him for saving my life.
So why...
Why has this weird idea suddenly popped into my head?
"Are you all right?" Zhang Tianyu asked as he walked closer.
Feeling Zhang Tianyu's presence, Tang San grew even more flustered!
This!
This is even more wrong!
No! I have to throw this strange idea out of my head!
Zhang Tianyu is only my brother and friend!
"I didn't realize you were this powerful!" Tang San quickly changed the subject. "I can't believe you took care of those monkeys so easily! You're amazing!"
"It was nothing. They were only newborns." Zhang Tianyu put away his Wood Sword and asked again, "Are you all right?"
Tang San shook his head. "I'm fine. It's just that my teacher..."
He turned around, only to find that Yu Xiaogang was lying motionless on the ground.
Startled, Tang San hurried over to check on him. Yu Xiaogang's eyes were shut tight, his face was bluish-black, and his lips were pale and bloodless. He lay completely still on the ground.
There wasn't even the slightest rise and fall of his chest from breathing!
Tang San panicked. He quickly reached out to feel Yu Xiaogang's breath, then jerked his hand back as if he'd been shocked!
He wasn't breathing!
Yu Xiaogang wasn't breathing!
He was dead!
No!
Tang San felt as if he'd been struck by lightning!
He couldn't believe his teacher had died just like that!
I only just got a new teacher!
Goddamn it!
Those damn monkeys!
"How is Grandmaster?" Zhang Tianyu's voice came from behind him.
Tang San's nose stung, and his eyes immediately reddened. "Teacher... he... there's no saving him."
Zhang Tianyu stepped forward and checked Yu Xiaogang's breath. Then he sighed. "Alas, I'm sorry I got here too late. Brother, please accept my condolences."
Tang San burst into tears.
As if the scene had suddenly shifted, Tang San had stopped crying. He asked Zhang Tianyu, "How did you get here from so far away so quickly?"
Zhang Tianyu said something, but Tang San didn't hear him. He asked, "Huh? What did you say?"
Then Tang San opened his eyes.
The sky was just beginning to grow light.
So it had only been a dream.
Tang San sat up, feeling a little lost.
For some reason, he felt a little disappointed.
Of course, he wasn't disappointed because Yu Xiaogang hadn't died. He was disappointed because Zhang Tianyu hadn't come.
If Zhang Tianyu had really come, how wonderful that would have been!
When he stepped out of the tent, he saw Yu Xiaogang sitting beneath a tree, resting with his eyes closed.
Hearing the movement, Yu Xiaogang opened his eyes. "You're awake?"
"Yes, Teacher. There's still some time before dawn. You should get some rest too."
Yu Xiaogang nodded and went into the tent.
Tang San sat outside the tent and, as usual, began circulating his energy and breathing steadily, cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill and Purple Demon Eye.
But this time, no matter how he cultivated or tried to control himself, he couldn't calm his mind.
For some reason, Zhang Tianyu's face kept popping into his head.
This is bad!
Tang San's expression grew complicated. What's happening to me?
Before you continue