"I think there's been some misunderstanding between us." Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, the corners of his mouth twitching into a stiff smile. His voice was gentle.
"I forgot to introduce us earlier. I'm from Shrek Academy. This is our dean, Flender, a Level 78 Agility Attack System Battle Soul Saint. This is our teacher, Zhao Wuji, a Level 76 Power Attack System Battle Soul Saint. And this is my disciple, Thousand-Hand Asura Tang San, a Level 33 Control System Battle Soul Elder. As for me, I'm Yu Xiaogang, vice dean of Shrek Academy, and teacher to the Little Monsters." Yu Xiaogang spoke with considerable pride.
"And what's your Soul Power level?" Qingxi asked, a trace of mockery in her voice. She could naturally tell how strong this man was.
Yu Xiaogang froze. A flash of anger and shame crossed his eyes as he clenched both fists.
"If you're rude to my teacher again, don't blame me for teaching you a lesson." Tang San's expression turned cold as he stepped in front of Yu Xiaogang.
He had a soul that had lived for over forty years. How could he fail to notice the contempt in this girl's words?
"What? Lurking outside the Great Soul Arena wasn't enough, so now you're planning to start something inside? Friendly reminder: if you break anything, you'll be fined." Qingxi spread her hands. Last time they'd broken the floor, they'd had to pay a thousand Gold Soul Coins.
Just then, Supervisor Ao drifted by, watching them.
"Xiao San." Yu Xiaogang rebuked him quietly, then turned to Qingxi. "We came here today to challenge you to a bet."
Since she'd already broken through Level 30, it wouldn't count as Xiao San bullying her.
"What are we betting?" Qingxi's lips curved into a slight smile. Now she was interested.
"One-on-one. If you lose, you'll join Shrek Academy. I know you have Twin Martial Souls. I can help you uncover what lies within them and overcome the drawbacks of having Twin Martial Souls." Yu Xiaogang's gaze was deep as he studied Qingxi's expression, hoping to read something in it.
"And what if you lose?" Qingxi blinked, eyeing Grandmaster curiously. She wondered what else he could make up.
Twin Martial Souls, indeed!
"Well..." Flender and the others were momentarily at a loss for words. They clearly hadn't considered that possibility.
"If I lose, I'll do one thing for you unconditionally, as long as it doesn't go against my principles or what's right." Tang San thumped his chest and stepped forward.
"You?" Qingxi gave Tang San a once-over, then shook her head. "I don't want anything from you. Move!"
If these people hadn't blocked her path, she wouldn't have wanted to say another word to them.
"Hey! Little girl, don't think I don't know you bet on the Shrek Team to win all the time. This is your chance. Not just anyone gets to join us." Flender rubbed his hands together with a sly grin.
A girl so young joining Shrek Academy would be wonderful.
"So betting on you to win means I like you? Then try losing for once!" Qingxi flipped Flender the middle finger, her expression downright provocative.
What an ugly old windbag. He just wouldn't shut up.
"You!" Flender lost his composure at once. The girl had no manners at all!
"Qingxi? What are you doing here?" Just then, Yu Tianheng and Yu Feng came over carrying several bags.
They'd happened to be passing by when they saw the little girl surrounded by a few towering men. Worried they were looking for trouble, they'd come over to back her up.
"Hey! Are you guys picking on our little sister?" Yu Feng planted a hand on his hip, still holding several paper bags in the other, and puffed out his chest as he stepped in front of Qingxi, ready to defend her.
"Where did this brat come from? Don't interrupt us while we're talking to Qiankun." Flender looked displeased and used his Level 78 Soul Power to shove aside the overconfident boy in front of him.
"Ahem!" Supervisor Ao drifted by at just the right moment and murmured, "You'll be fined..."
"Flender." Yu Xiaogang pressed a hand on Flender's, signaling him not to let go. But his deep, dark eyes had settled on the young man behind Yu Feng.
"You're not hurt, are you?" Yu Tianheng looked Qingxi over from head to toe.
"They threatened me and wanted me to join their academy, even though I've already joined Heaven Dou Academy." With someone to back her up, Qingxi didn't hold back. She promptly squeezed out two tears.
"Now, now. Don't cry." Yu Tianheng set his bags on the ground, took out a lollipop, unwrapped it, and handed it to Qingxi.
"What?! You dare try to poach someone from Heaven Dou Royal Academy? Do you even want to stay in the Heaven Dou Empire?" Yu Feng's eyes blazed. Like a firecracker, he pointed at Flender and the others and let loose.
"What backwater academy are you from? Look at those clothes—you look like you were fished out of a latrine! And you threatened little Yanzi? Watch out, or Yanzi will poison you to death! You really don't know your place. You're just begging to die..."
"Hey, hey! Watch your mouth, kid." A string of insults tumbled from Yu Feng's lips. With Supervisor Ao watching nearby, ready to write them up for a fine at any moment, Flender was furious.
"Quiet!" Yu Xiaogang suddenly barked, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority.
His gaze fell on Yu Tianheng, an unreadable emotion in his eyes. "Tianheng, do you still recognize me?"
After calming Qingxi down, Yu Tianheng looked at the middle-aged man with the crew cut and frowned slightly, hesitating. "U-Uncle, what are you doing here?"
The middle-aged man before him was none other than Yu Xiaogang, who had left home resolutely after deciding Yu Tianheng had a Trash Martial Soul, and had eventually severed ties with the clan.
Yu Xiaogang stopped in front of Yu Tianheng and patted his shoulder. "Let's talk somewhere private."
Yu Tianheng fell silent for a moment, then gave Yu Feng a look before following him.
He wanted to see what his uncle had to say.
Tang San watched the young man following his teacher. He hadn't expected him to be one of his teacher's acquaintances.
"Well..." Flender's eyes shifted as he turned to Yu Feng. "Brother, it's all a misunderstanding."
Since he was Xiaogang's nephew, perhaps there was still a chance to work things out.
"Hmph. I'm telling you, this isn't over." Yu Feng's face was cold, his hands on his hips. Yu Tianheng calling him uncle didn't soften his attitude. He kept Qingxi firmly behind him.
Elsewhere, Yu Xiaogang led Yu Tianheng to an empty corner.
Yu Xiaogang stopped and turned to look at the young man, who was nearly as tall as he was. A gentle light flickered in his eyes. "Looks like you've been doing well all these years. You're almost as tall as your uncle now."
Yu Tianheng frowned, his expression complicated. "Uncle, why don't you get straight to the point? Where have you been all these years? Father...and Grandfather have both missed you."
He didn't mention himself at all.
Yu Tianheng had complicated feelings about this uncle of his.
When he was little, his father had been busy as the clan's heir, and this uncle had been the one who stayed by his side.
Unlike his grandfather and father, who cared only about his studies and cultivation, his uncle had treated him more like his own son. He'd bought him all sorts of delicious treats and fun things. He'd told him that he was a child of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and didn't need to work so hard—that his childhood should be a happy one.
For a long time, Yu Tianheng had treated the man before him like his own father.
That was until he met Yanzi, and until he could no longer keep up with her.
Even though, at first, his Soul Power had been higher than Yanzi's.
Many years later, Yu Tianheng came to understand a simple truth.
Spoil someone, and you'll ruin them.
After all, if his uncle had really cared about his nephew, why would he have told him not to work so hard at cultivation?
Sensing Yu Tianheng's distance, Yu Xiaogang froze, then sighed and patted his shoulder. "Are you blaming me, Xiaoheng? Back then, I had no choice. I was afraid you'd all be dragged into it, so I had to leave the clan."
Yu Tianheng said nothing, staring straight at him.
Seeing how cold he was, Yu Xiaogang's expression turned bitter. "Xiaoheng, don't resent your uncle. I left the sect because I'd offended Spirit Hall for certain reasons. I did it to protect you all."
Yu Tianheng still looked cold and distant from the corner of his eye.
Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly. He clearly remembered that when he'd left the clan, the child had clung to his leg and cried, saying he wanted to go with him.
Tianheng had always been the one most attached to him. How could he...
"Are you talking about the time you lured away Spirit Hall's Saintess, or the time you got together with...?" Yu Tianheng's expression was mocking.
The whole world looked down on him for it.
No matter how well you covered something up, there was no wall without a crack.
"Do you know how much ridicule the clan has suffered over the years because of you?"
"Tianheng, where did you hear all that...?" Yu Xiaogang couldn't help taking several steps back, his face paling.
How could Tianheng know about those things?
Seeing that look on his face, Yu Tianheng understood everything. He lowered his head and laughed coldly, the irony beyond words.
When he looked up again, the young man's eyes were icy and distant, full of loathing. "I'll pretend today never happened. I don't know what you're plotting this time, but take my advice: stay away from Qingxi. The people behind her aren't someone a 'Trash Martial Soul' like you can afford to offend."
Yu Tianheng turned and walked away. After a few steps, he thought better of it. His uncle had always been devious.
"Friendly reminder: her surname is Dugu, and her family specializes in poison." Yu Tianheng paused and spoke.
Dugu? A family that specialized in poison?
Yu Xiaogang froze. The two details together brought an unbelievable figure to mind.
He couldn't help shivering. If she really was that unpredictable Poison Douluo, then she truly wasn't someone they could afford to provoke right now.
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