When the Time Came, He Would Only Regret His Choice

"By the way, Xiaosan, let me see what your first soul skill is called."

Yu Xiaogang asked eagerly.

Tang San glanced at Yu Xiaogang and replied.

"First soul skill: Blue Silver Entanglement."

"While binding the enemy, it also carries the Datura Snake's paralytic venom!"

"Good!"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes gleamed, and for a moment, he looked as though he had been brought back from the brink of death.

"Very good! I have a feeling that in the future, this move will become your greatest killing technique!"

"Teacher, you've worked hard. Your poison..."

"It's nothing, just a little poison—"

Before he could finish, Yu Xiaogang's eyes rolled back.

Thud!

He collapsed straight to the ground.

Tang San's pupils contracted.

"Not good! The poison has spread!"

He immediately pulled up Yu Xiaogang's sleeve.

Using a small knife, he first cut open Yu Xiaogang's purpling wrist.

Then he looked around.

On the spot, he began circulating the Tang Sect's inner cultivation technique, the Mysterious Heaven Skill!

"Come out!"

After circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill, Tang San finally forced the poison out through Yu Xiaogang's arm.

Watching the purple color fade from Yu Xiaogang's wrist,

Tang San let out a breath of relief.

"Thank goodness... Teacher has done so much for me, even suffering such severe poison.

How could I let him die like this?"

Soon, Yu Xiaogang's complexion gradually returned to normal as well.

After some time, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Teacher, you're awake?"

"I just..."

"The poison acted up. I detoxified you a little."

"You know how to detoxify poison too?"

Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San in surprise.

Just then, he realized that his wrist hurt badly.

Lowering his head, he looked.

"My wrist...!"

Tang San explained, "Yes, I had no better option, so I had to do this to force the poison out of your body."

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "Good child, it's just that this wound..."

He looked at the huge gash on his wrist, blood still spurting from it, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

"Next time, you don't need to make such a big cut."

He felt that if he had not woken up, he might not have died from the poison.

He might have bled to death instead.

"I'll be more careful next time."

Tang San hurriedly tightened the wrapping around Yu Xiaogang's wrist.

Mainly because he had initially doubted Yu Xiaogang's strength.

That had caused him to miss the best window for removing the poison.

After Yu Xiaogang had fainted, it was no longer the ideal time for treatment.

If the cut was too small, it would be difficult to force all the poison out.

Of course, there was another thought in his heart.

He did not want Yu Xiaogang to discover his Mysterious Heaven Skill.

That was why, while Yu Xiaogang was awake, he had not immediately forced out the poison.

"Teacher, let's hurry back. We can properly bandage you once we're back."

"Alright. Xiaosan, you're thoughtful."

Yu Xiaogang rubbed Tang San's head with gratification.

"It's fortunate I came out with you. If I had accompanied that heartless Li Zha to hunt soul beasts,

I might truly have died here for good this time."

Tang San said seriously, "It is only right for a student to save his teacher."

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "Let's go."

Tang San supported Yu Xiaogang as they headed out of the forest.

Along the way, Yu Xiaogang spoke.

"Do you think Li Zha could surpass you in the future?"

Tang San paused,

then looked seriously at Yu Xiaogang.

"I don't think it's possible."

"He has already withdrawn from Notting Academy."

"Without Teacher's guidance, even a hundred-year soul beast is a deadly challenge to him.

But with Teacher's help, I have already hunted a four-hundred-year soul beast and absorbed a four-hundred-year soul ring. He is no longer worth my attention."

"From today onward, we are people from two different worlds."

"Without Teacher's help, he will likely fade into obscurity among the masses, much less fulfill that pointless contest over the first soul ring."

After Tang San answered,

Yu Xiaogang burst into laughter.

"Good, well said! Without my help, that bastard Li Zha will only die in a soul beast's jaws. Does he really think having Twin Martial Souls makes him some absolute genius?

One ordinary red-tasseled spear martial soul and one food-type lotus root martial soul—

both martial souls are trash! He refuses to take the support path, but Xiaosan, the support you receive in the future will only grow stronger. If he isn't dead by then, he'll definitely regret the choice he made today!"

"Teacher is right. Walk slowly, Teacher."

Tang San supported Yu Xiaogang as they walked.

Although he had spoken with lofty ambition,

as if he no longer cared about anything,

every few steps, his cheek would tighten faintly.

The burning pain from that Flaming-tipped Spear grazing his skin still surfaced in his mind from time to time.

Tang San raised a hand and touched the wound.

That was when he had even used his Hidden Weapons,

yet had still felt powerless to defend himself.

That tiny wound would forever remain a thorn in his heart.

Li Zha, I still hope you live.

That way, I can make you understand that even among Twin Martial Souls, there are differences!

Master and disciple continued on their journey.

Before they had gone far, Yu Xiaogang's body suddenly went limp again, whether because the poison had flared up once more or because he had lost too much blood.

He collapsed directly onto Tang San.

Tang San's expression changed, and he struggled to carry him onto his back.

His face darkened as well.

Several days later.

A carriage bearing the Spirit Hall insignia stopped outside the Star Dou Forest.

Li Zha jumped down from the carriage and looked ahead.

The trees blocked most of the light.

The cries of soul beasts constantly echoed from the forest, while the air carried the mingled scent of earth and vegetation.

Hu Liena got down right after him.

After traveling for several days in a row, she showed little fatigue. Instead, she had kept her eyes on Li Zha.

"It's not too late to regret this now."

"You say that at least ten times a day."

"I've said it ten times, and you haven't listened even once."

Gui Mei walked over from the front of the carriage.

"Once we enter the forest, no acting on your own."

"Although ten-thousand-year soul beasts rarely appear on the outskirts, the Star Dou Forest has no fixed boundaries."

"When luck is bad, even Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts may leave the core region."

Hu Liena immediately nodded.

"I remember, Grandpa Gui. You've said it ten times every day on the road."

Gui Mei crossed his arms and glanced at Hu Liena.

"Wasn't that just like you reminding Li Zha?"

Hu Liena's face immediately turned red.

"That... that's different! It was a task Teacher gave me! I have to take good care of little brother Li Zha!"

Gui Mei shook his head with a faint smile and did not argue with Hu Liena further.

She already called him Grandpa Gui. If he did not spoil her, who would he spoil?

Li Zha did not immediately enter the forest.

He took three neatly organized stacks of documents from his pack and handed them to Gui Mei one by one.

"Senior Gui, these are the sighting records from the past twenty years for three types of soul beasts."

"The Crimson Flame Heavy-Armored Beast has appeared seven times in total, five of which were concentrated around Red Rock Slope to the southeast."

"The Blazing-Shadow Explosive-Flame Wolf has appeared four times, with its range near Sunset Canyon."

"The Molten-Ridge Rift-Earth Rhino's activity range is the most scattered, so we can only leave it for last."

Gui Mei took the documents and flipped through several pages.

They recorded the years, locations, and terrain.

Beside them were behavioral analyses Li Zha had added himself.

Gui Mei said in surprise, "You've been organizing all this these past few days?"

"Yes."

"No wonder Nana came looking for you every day, but you ignored her."

Hu Liena puffed up her cheeks and immediately looked at Gui Mei.

"Grandpa Gui, what do you mean I came looking for him every day?"

"I was carrying out Teacher's orders to take care of him!"

Gui Mei waved a hand. "Grandpa Gui misspoke. It wasn't Nana who took the initiative to seek out Li Zha."

"Hmph." Hu Liena placed a hand lightly on her hip.

Li Zha rarely saw her acting like such a little princess.

Basically, only when Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo were around

could he see this side of Hu Liena.

It seemed Gui Mei truly spoiled her.

After reading them, Gui Mei returned the documents to Li Zha.

"Then let's go to Red Rock Slope first."

"The Crimson Flame Heavy-Armored Beast is not fast and has a strong sense of territory."

"As long as it has appeared there recently, it will leave some traces behind."

"Mm."

Li Zha nodded.

I hope this goes smoothly.