Lan Yu crouched beside Yu Xiaogang, who lay there like a dead dog, and spoke with a teasing lilt.
Yu Xiaogang, who had still been grumbling angrily, fell silent the instant he heard that, as if Lan Yu had hit a sore spot. He could only turn his face away.
"Damn, I really guessed right? Don't tell me your third Soul Ring was only a hundred years old too?"
"Looking at how weak and feeble you are, you don't seem like the sort who could withstand a Thousand-Year Soul Ring."
"Enough! Stop talking! So what if that's true? So what if there's a flaw in my Soul Power? My theoretical knowledge is more than enough to make up for it all!"
Yu Xiaogang suddenly roared, humiliated and furious.
"You've still got enough strength to yell?"
Lan Yu scoffed and slowly got to his feet, looking down at him with contempt. "Yu Xiaogang, I'm about to 'scratch your back' for you!"
"Y-You... What are you going to do?!"
Yu Xiaogang's face changed dramatically. He squirmed and struggled on the ground like a maggot.
Just as Lan Yu's Soul Power surged and he was about to make his move—
With a loud bang, the door—already warped from Yu Xiaogang crashing into it—was kicked down from outside.
"Damn it! If you're going to open the door, at least open it properly!"
Wang Hu, who had been watching Yu Xiaogang's sorry state, stared at the completely ruined wooden door and couldn't help wailing.
The newcomer was a middle-aged woman in a teacher's uniform.
At Wang Hu's wail, her weathered face twitched. She cleared her throat awkwardly, swept her gaze around the room, and asked, "Where's that bastard Yu Xiaogang? How dare a teaching director bully children!"
Who was this?
Seeing the puzzled look on Lan Yu's face, Wang Hu hurried over and whispered in his ear.
"She's Su Yue, our academy's star teacher."
"She doesn't get along with Yu Xiaogang?" Lan Yu asked curiously under his breath.
"They don't just not get along. The two of them are like fire and water.
"Teacher Su used to teach at Fasno Intermediate Academy. Our dean promised her the position of teaching director to persuade her to join us.
"But by the time she arrived, Yu Xiaogang had also come to seek the dean's help."
Wang Hu noticed Su Yue glancing over at him, and lowered his voice even further.
"I heard the dean was a huge fan of Yu Xiaogang. To make his idol look good, he turned around and gave him the teaching director position instead."
"Teacher Su knew the job had been taken from her. She was upset, of course, but it wasn't enough to make her fall out with them.
"But Yu Xiaogang just sat on the job without doing a thing. Every day he put on airs and coasted along, doing nothing but spout his theories.
"What's worse, plenty of the other teachers at the academy practically worshiped him and constantly sang his praises.
"They used Teacher Su as a stepping stone time and again, saying things like, 'How dare a teacher from the provincial capital compete with The Wise One for a position?' The dean turned a blind eye."
How disgusting.
Lan Yu furrowed his brows and pointed at the man on the floor. "Teacher Su, this is Yu Xiaogang."
Su Yue looked disbelieving, but still walked over and bent to look at the man on the ground. When she saw Yu Xiaogang's distinctive explosive hairstyle, she burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Yu Xiaogang, so this is what you look like now!"
When the man on the ground didn't make a sound, Su Yue snorted, planted her hands on her hips, and called toward the doorway, "Come on in, everyone! This is the Wise One you all praise so much!"
Yu Xiaogang, who had been lying face-down and pretending to be dead, stiffened at her words.
How could he possibly face those people?
At that thought, Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth and decided to pretend to faint.
Lan Yu had no desire to be gawked at like a monkey. As more and more people crowded into the room, he immediately gathered his things and left Dorm Seven with the two girls.
"Could The Wise One... actually have passed out?" a young teacher said hesitantly.
At that, several older teachers beside him looked toward the purple boar still writhing on the floor. For a moment, they exchanged bewildered glances.
If he'd fainted, how could his Martial Soul still move on its own?
A Soul Elder losing to a Soul Master was one thing, but couldn't he at least make his fainting act convincing?
Now he'd lost every scrap of dignity.
As Yu Xiaogang was carried out, he heard the crowd's jeers and laughter. His face turned green.
He couldn't stay at Notting Academy. He had to leave.
He could only go find Er Long! Hopefully, Xiao Han wouldn't blame him for rekindling their old romance.
He'd heard Flanyue had a few promising students. He could bring them over too when the time came... Heh heh.
Lan Yu, today you treated me like I was nothing. One day, you'll be reaching for the stars just to catch up with me!
Thinking this, Yu Xiaogang's lips curled into a strangely self-assured smile, though his eyes remained shut.
It would've been better if he hadn't smiled. The two male teachers carrying him instantly broke out in goose bumps. Their hands jerked, and they nearly dropped him.
Early the next morning, Lan Yu arrived at the academy for class and heard that Yu Xiaogang had left. He paused in surprise.
"Big Brother~ What's wrong?" Tang Shan moved closer, slipped her arm through his, and asked softly.
"Nothing."
Three years slipped by in the blink of an eye.
A carriage traveled along the road to Suotuo City.
"Big Brother, how much longer until we reach Suotuo City?" Tang Shan rested her head lightly on Lan Yu's shoulder, her voice soft and sweet.
"Not long now." Lan Yu glanced out the window and stroked the Soul Power dragon tail resting across his lap, the corners of his mouth lifting.
"Brother Lan Yu... why are we going to Suotuo City?" Xiao Wu, seated on Lan Yu's other side, suddenly asked.
After three years together, Xiao Wu had fully become part of the family. She had accepted Ah Yin as her godmother, which naturally made Lan Yu her older brother. Still, she wasn't quite used to calling him that.
"Our final destination is Heaven Dou Royal Academy in Heaven Dou City. Suotuo City is just a stop along the way."
Choosing Heaven Dou Royal Academy was something Lan Yu had decided after careful consideration. For one thing, there was Ah Yin's strength. At nine years old, he was already level twenty-nine, and his Second Soul Ring was around four thousand years old. His future Soul Rings would only grow older.
For another, Heaven Dou Royal Academy was eager to recruit talents like them—"wild" geniuses with no backing.
And after asking around over the past few years, he'd learned that the story was unfolding almost exactly as it had in the original. The second and third princes had both been killed, the fourth prince Xue Beng was arrogant and domineering, and the eldest prince Xue Qinghe was as gentle as jade.
That meant once they joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy, both the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and Spirit Hall would assume they belonged to their respective sides, saving them a lot of trouble.
Most importantly, this would give him a chance to get close to Dugu Yan and pave the way to obtaining an Immortal Herb in the future.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
"That's right. But before that, I have to take you back to Star Dou Great Forest."
"Why? Don't you want me anymore? Godmother said you had to take good care of Xiao Shan and me."
Xiao Wu moved closer to him, her eyes reddening as she put on a pitiful look.
Looking at the cool beauty's plaintive expression, Lan Yu sighed. "Heaven Dou Royal Academy alone has three Soul Douluo teachers, not to mention Heaven Dou City itself!"
At that, Xiao Wu fell silent.
"Be good. Once I find a way to conceal your aura, I'll come straight back for you, okay?"
Lan Yu put an arm around the back of her head and pressed his forehead to hers, softening his voice.
Xiao Wu felt the warmth of Lan Yu's breath and blushed. Her reply was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
"Mm~"
Tang Shan had been feeling sad about Xiao Wu leaving, but when she caught sight of them, she immediately bit down on her pink lip.
Don't be upset, Tang Shan...
Once Xiao Wu leaves, Big Brother will belong to me alone.
Then... heh heh...
At the thought, the corners of Tang Shan's mouth curved upward before she realized it.