Interesting.
Zhou Tong realized that the original story had begun to unfold. Tang San and Xiao Wu had already obtained their Soul Rings, and had very likely become Yu Xiaogang's disciples.
He had collected his Spirit Hall subsidy and then headed to Notting Academy.
Now that he was a Soul Master, he could actually graduate directly from the Soul Master Academy.
But he hadn't decided where to go, so for the time being, he was still at Notting Academy.
As soon as he returned to Notting Academy, Zhou Tong saw that a crowd of students had gathered around the training field, each of them wearing an excited expression.
Curious, Zhou Tong squeezed into the crowd.
It turned out Xiao Wu was battling Xiao Chenyu.
There was no suspense. Xiao Wu utterly crushed Xiao Chenyu, leaving everyone astonished.
The farce ended quickly, and Zhou Tong turned to leave.
However, a figure stepped out of the crowd and abruptly blocked his way.
"You're Zhou Tong?"
"I'm Grandmaster's disciple. My name is Tang San."
"How dare you insult Grandmaster?"
"I'll challenge you on Grandmaster's behalf. If you lose, I'll make you kneel before him and kowtow in apology."
Zhou Tong turned to look. A thin boy stood in front of him, his face dark and sinister, as if he were about to kill someone at any moment.
The contemptuous curl at the corner of Tang San's mouth especially laid bare what he was really thinking.
In Tang San's eyes, a teacher was a father for life. Since Zhou Tong had dared to mock his teacher, he had already chosen the path to his own death.
Making Zhou Tong kneel and kowtow was simply Tang San showing magnanimity.
After all, so many people were watching in the academy. If Tang San actually killed someone, it would be a huge hassle.
Even if he wanted to kill Zhou Tong, he'd be better off doing it when nobody was around.
Tang San had lived two lives, yet behaved like an animal in both. He had a murderous streak and wanted to kill people over the slightest disagreement.
Now, he had simply learned to hide it.
But Zhou Tong just laughed. "You tell me to fight, and I have to fight you?"
"You giant baby, what the hell goes on in that head of yours?"
Zhou Tong looked at Tang San as if he were an idiot. This guy thought he could bully Zhou Tong into a fight. How could Zhou Tong possibly fall for that?
Tang San was such a giant baby. He'd come up with a high-minded excuse just so he could throw his weight around, but Zhou Tong wasn't going to indulge him.
He wanted to see what this ridiculous Tang Biesan was planning.
"Don't dare?"
"You're scared!"
Tang Biesan knew exactly how to provoke people. He believed that kids this age were the easiest to rile up, and that using a few tricks to deal with Zhou Tong was perfectly reasonable.
Once Zhou Tong took the bait, he would beat him senseless, maybe even use a Hidden Weapon to cripple him in secret. He could also seize the chance to establish his reputation.
Two birds with one stone.
Zhou Tong laughed again.
"You giant baby, you've got criminal tendencies."
"You keep provoking people and talking about killing them. Did a door slam on your head?"
"Go see a doctor before it's too late. Don't go around biting people like a rabid dog."
"Besides, you say I have to kneel if I lose. What happens if you lose?"
"Are you going to lose, pat your ass, and walk away, you giant baby?"
"And even if I lose, so what? Who the hell are you to make me kneel?"
"Look at you. You've got a human body, but you act like a dog, always yapping about making people kneel."
Tang Biesan had mocked him, and Zhou Tong immediately sneered back. He wasn't about to go easy on Little Scumbag.
His retort was reasoned, pointed, and full of bite. Everyone burst out laughing.
"This Tang San's already throwing his weight around at such a young age."
"So this is the disciple Grandmaster took in?"
As the crowd murmured, Tang San's face darkened. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Then what would it take for you to agree to a match?"
He felt that Zhou Tong was incredibly difficult to deal with. He hadn't taken the bait and had even exposed his scheme.
Tang San was seething. As long as Zhou Tong agreed to the duel, he would teach him a proper lesson.
"Zhou Tong, what would it take for you to accept his challenge?"
Xiao Wu, standing beside them with her chubby cheeks, said coldly.
"If you want to fight, fine. We'll use only our Martial Souls. If you lose, give me your belt."
"If I lose, I'll pay you ten Gold Soul Coins."
Zhou Tong calmly pointed at the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges at Tang San's waist as he spoke.
"That's a Soul Tool. It's worth way more than ten Gold Soul Coins!"
"Why do you have so many conditions for a Soul Fighting match?"
Xiao Wu stepped forward, singing the same tune as Tang San. It was irritating to watch.
Zhou Tong genuinely hated this lovesick rabbit.
She wasn't very bright and had been fooled by Tang San until she was like a dog, snapping at people without thinking.
He sneered. "If you don't want to Soul Fight, then get out of my way."
"If you provoke me, you'll pay the price!"
"You're the ones who asked for this. Whether I agree or not is up to me."
His taunts set the crowd roaring with laughter.
"Hahaha, Zhou Tong's got guts!"
"Exactly! You're the ones who started trouble. Do you think everyone else has to let you do whatever you want?"
Quite a few people had long since taken issue with Tang San and Xiao Wu. The two of them were far too domineering.
They were delighted to see the pair made fun of.
"I accept," Tang San said.
He was confident. In his previous life, he had stolen the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapon techniques and the Mysterious Heaven Skill. He had every confidence he could deal with a kid his own age.
"Good. It's a deal."
Tang San hadn't even considered the possibility that he might lose.
He had Hidden Weapons and the Mysterious Heaven Skill to protect him, along with a Mandala Soul Ring. How could he lose to a little brat?
In fact, he thought he could beat Zhou Tong in just a few moves.
Then he would restore Grandmaster's reputation.
In Tang San's eyes, Grandmaster was a true master of theory.
After all, just by looking at a single Spirit Hall certificate, Grandmaster had known that Tang San possessed Twin Martial Souls. His theories had to be sound.
As for Zhou Tong, he had acted on his own and ignored Grandmaster's advice, getting a Soul Ring by himself. What an idiot.
Today, Tang San would trample him underfoot and make a name for himself.
"Then let's begin," Zhou Tong said calmly. A pale golden vine appeared in his hand, ready to strike at any moment.
Since Tang San was delivering a Soul Tool right to him, why would he turn it down?
And so, under everyone's gaze, Zhou Tong and Tang San stood in the middle of the training field.
"Zhou Tong, you'll regret it for the rest of your life if you don't become Grandmaster's disciple!"
Tang San's eyes were icy. A common Blue Silver Grass appeared in his hand, and a yellow Soul Ring hovered beneath his feet.
"Tang San, life is long. What the hell do you know? You're the one who's going to regret this!"
Zhou Tong nearly laughed himself to death.
Tang Biesan had been deceived by Yu Xiaogang, yet he thought he'd struck gold.
Once he learned the truth, he would regret it like hell.
"Zhou Tong, Martial Soul: Thunderous Hell Vine, Level 13 Battle Soul Master!"
"Tang San, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, Level 13 Control Soul Master!"
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