The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten.
Tang San hurriedly got dressed and rushed straight to Nuoding City.
He caught a bullock cart along the way and made it back to Nuoding City before noon. Then he charged straight to Yu Xiaogang's dormitory.
Inside, Yu Xiaogang was pacing back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back.
Hearing a noise outside, he whipped around, his eyes fixed on the doorway.
The door swung open.
For a moment, they stared at each other.
Smiles bloomed across Yu Xiaogang and Tang San's faces at the same time.
Yu Xiaogang spread his arms and stepped forward with an awkward pigeon-toed gait, ready to give his beloved disciple a big hug.
Who could have guessed that Tang San would drop straight to his knees? His eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Yu Xiaogang and cried out excitedly, "Dad..."
The air fell utterly silent.
Yu Xiaogang's outstretched arms froze in midair, and a few enormous question marks seemed to pop above his head.
Who was Xiao San calling Dad?
Tang San wanted to slap himself. He hurriedly corrected himself. "Teacher, I'm back."
After experiencing Tang Hao's abrupt departure without a word, he now cherished Yu Xiaogang as a teacher more than ever.
He had to keep his teacher here. He absolutely couldn't let Yu Xiaogang run off too.
Yu Xiaogang didn't dwell on that outrageous slip of the tongue. He bent down, brushed the dust off Tang San's knees, and spoke gently.
"Xiao San, you're back. That's what matters."
Their separation had lasted less than a day, all told.
Anyone who didn't know the story and happened to pass by would have thought the two had been separated for decades and were starring in some grand, tearjerking family-reunion show.
After their brief sentimental moment, Yu Xiaogang's expression tightened. He grabbed Tang San and headed outside.
"This place isn't safe. Xiao San, we're leaving right now. We're going to Suotuo City!"
Half an hour later, the two arrived at the carriage house in Nuoding City.
Suotuo City was a long way from Nuoding City.
If they went on foot, it would probably take them a month or even two to get there.
To make their escape as quickly as possible, Yu Xiaogang planned to rent a carriage.
"Boss, how much to go to Suotuo City?"
Inside the carriage house, the owner picked his teeth and sized up the man before him, who was fidgety and spoke like an old palace eunuch.
"It's a long way. It'll take more than twenty days. Fifty Gold Soul Coins, and I won't budge by a single copper!"
At that, Yu Xiaogang's nasal voice shot up an octave. "Fifty? Why don't you just rob me? Twenty at most!"
The shrill, yin-yang voice made the owner shudder.
After a fierce bout of haggling, they settled on thirty Gold Soul Coins.
"Fine. Thirty it is."
The owner could see Yu Xiaogang was ready to find someone else if he didn't agree.
He'd quoted a sky-high price to begin with.
Any profit was better than none.
Once they had agreed on a price, the owner brought out the carriage.
"Hop in, you two."
Yu Xiaogang looked at the carriage's high step and hesitated.
In his current state, climbing up that high would make his lower half hurt again.
Tang San understood at once and crouched down. "Teacher, step on me."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes grew hot.
What a good disciple! Now that's what it means to honor your teacher!
He didn't stand on ceremony. Carefully stepping on Tang San's back, he stuck out his rear and shuffled into the carriage like a clumsy penguin.
Tang San sprang up at once, dusted himself off, and climbed into the carriage after him.
Hidden in the shadows, Tang Hao saw the whole thing and squeezed the wine flask in his hand to pieces in a fit of rage!
That damn eunuch!
How dare he use the son of the mighty Clear Sky Douluo as a stepping-stool!
He took a deep breath. If that useless man hadn't had some theoretical knowledge to teach Xiao San, he would have brought his hammer down on him already.
With a crack of the whip, the carriage rolled out of Nuoding City, kicking up a cloud of dust.
As for Su Chen, he hadn't given the pair of defeated strays a second thought.
He was busy stuffing his face around the city with Xiao Wu.
Ah Yin sat quietly inside the Soul Tool, sunk deep into despair.
Su Chen didn't rush her.
Some things had to be figured out on one's own.
Once Tang Hao's true colors showed a little more, Ah Yin would naturally understand who the real benefactor was who had saved her from a living hell.
The carriage jounced along the road.
The journey of more than twenty days was pure torment for the teacher and his disciple.
With some of his lower parts missing, Yu Xiaogang had to sit with his legs spread wide. It was an utterly ridiculous posture.
Tang San sat across from him. Looking at his teacher's awkward pose, he wanted to laugh but didn't dare, so he could only hold it in until his face turned red.
"Xiao San, what are you laughing at?" Yu Xiaogang glared, his right hand unconsciously lifting into a delicate orchid-finger pose.
He was becoming more and more like a palace eunuch.
"N-Nothing," Tang San hurriedly lowered his head. "I was thinking of something happy."
"What happy thing?"
"I'm about to go to a new academy."
Yu Xiaogang snorted and rubbed the root of his thigh, spinning a grand promise. "Xiao San, Shrek Academy is no ordinary place. It was founded by my brother Flender. It only takes monsters, not ordinary people. Once you've grown stronger, we'll settle our old and new scores together!"
A sinister glint flashed through Tang San's eyes. He nodded firmly.
"Don't worry, Teacher. I haven't forgotten the humiliation Su Chen brought down on us for a single moment."
"One day, I'll grind his bones to dust!"
Throughout the journey, Yu Xiaogang hardly dared drink any water.
Every time he needed the toilet, he had to find an empty thicket and squat down.
Once, Tang San accidentally stumbled upon him. Seeing his teacher in a perfect "auntie squatting to poop" pose, Tang San stood there, utterly bewildered, for a long time.
More than twenty days later, outside Suotuo City.
Flender had received word that Yu Xiaogang was coming, and he was so excited that he even neglected his shabby general store.
Every day, he waited at the city gate for Yu Xiaogang to arrive.
The carriage stopped. Tang San jumped down first, then turned to help Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang stepped down carefully with his pigeon-toed gait.
Flender hurried forward, arms spread wide, ready to give him a warm hug—then abruptly hit the brakes.
He noticed Yu Xiaogang's awkward, fidgety walk. He looked like a young lady.
"Xiaogang, what happened to your legs? Got hemorrhoids?" Flender asked, baffled.
Yu Xiaogang's old face flushed. He coughed twice, then spoke in his nasal voice. "Flender, long time no see."
Flender jumped and took two steps back, digging at his ears. "Xiaogang, did a donkey kick you in the throat? You sound like a palace eunuch."
Yu Xiaogang's face turned an ashen green. He ground his back teeth together. "It's a long story. Let's get back to your academy first!"
Looking at Yu Xiaogang's awkward gait, Flender stroked his chin, deep in thought.
How come, after all these years, this old brother of mine has acquired the bearing of an empress?
"Flender, carry Xiao San and me back. My legs can't handle a long walk."
Flender nodded and summoned his Martial Soul. Then he picked up one of them in each arm and flew toward Shrek Academy.
A moment later, the three landed.
Tang San stared at the sight before him, utterly dumbfounded.
How was this an advanced academy? It was nothing but a rundown village!
The gate didn't even have a decent signboard. A few crooked characters hung from a wooden frame, creaking whenever the wind blew.
Tang San turned to Yu Xiaogang, his eyes full of question marks. "Teacher, is this the advanced academy you said only takes monsters?"
This place wasn't even as good as the latrine at Notting Academy!
"Xiao San, an academy's worth isn't in its surroundings, but in the people who teach there. The mountain need not be high; with an immortal, it becomes famous."
Yu Xiaogang couldn't save face, so he could only force out an explanation.
Tang San thought about it and agreed. His teacher's Invincible Theory was what mattered most.
He immediately lowered his head and said respectfully, "Teacher, I understand."
Seeing this, Flender couldn't help but praise him. "Xiaogang, you've taken on a fine disciple."
Yu Xiaogang lifted his chin slightly. His right hand unconsciously formed an orchid finger, and he gave a delicate little hum. "Of course."
Flender's mouth twitched violently at his effeminate, haughty manner.
The three of them walked side by side into the ramshackle village.
Tang Hao, who had secretly escorted them the entire way, let out a long breath.
He had watched his son suffer hardship and exhaustion along the road, and he had seen Yu Xiaogang's mutilated body. His heart was a jumble of emotions.
Perhaps it was because he remembered that he wasn't much better off himself.
After seeing his son settled, Tang Hao turned around and gazed into the distance, toward Holy Soul Village.
For once, a hint of tenderness appeared on his road-worn face.
"It's been years since I last came to see you."
"Ah Yin, you must have grown taller by now, right?"
"Wait for me. I'm coming back to see you."
Tang Hao tugged at his tattered cloak, picturing Ah Yin's gentle smile in his mind.
In this cold world, only that cave, only that plant, could bring him the slightest comfort.
Then, with a flicker, he turned into a streak of darkness and sped toward Holy Soul Village.