Don't Bully Gangzi for Being Poor!

"Ho... how could this be?!"

Yu Xiaogang stared at the man before him, his face full of disbelief.

He had thought that a teacher working in some backwater like Notting City could not possibly have any real skill.

But how could he be a four-ringed Soul Ancestor?!

He was only in his twenties!

The students from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's first team last year had only been in their thirties at this age!

Yu Xiaogang tremblingly pointed at Xu Linjiu, his voice cracking from utter shock. "Who exactly are you?!"

"I'm just an ordinary village teacher."

Xu Linjiu lightly twirled his finger, and the shit-yellow balloon floating in midair moved along with it.

"It's just that compared to you, this village teacher is a tiny bit stronger."

The work-study students watching nearby had recovered from their shock, and their discussions rose up once more.

"Four rings! Teacher Xu is actually a Soul Ancestor!"

"No wonder Tang San changed so much. His teacher is that strong!"

"Even our academy's principal isn't this strong, right?!"

"Forget our academy—even all of Notting City would have a hard time finding someone stronger than Teacher Xu!"

"That Grandmaster was bragging about being a peak Grand Soul Master just now. What a joke—he actually dared to act arrogant in front of a Soul Ancestor?"

As the chatter reached his ears, Yu Xiaogang's expression grew uglier and uglier.

"You deliberately hid your strength! You set this up from the very beginning just to humiliate me! You're despicable!"

"I'm despicable?"

Xu Linjiu stopped twirling his finger. Looking at Yu Xiaogang making a complete fool of himself, he helplessly shook his head. "Yu Xiaogang, Yu Xiaogang... you really are a clown!"

With a wave of his hand, the foul-smelling balloon that had been floating in the air came crashing down at Yu Xiaogang's head.

Yu Xiaogang's pupils shrank, and he hurriedly turned to flee.

But he was only a fifty-year-old Grand Soul Master with an ordinary mortal body. How could he possibly outrun an unidentified flying object controlled by Psychic?

Yu Xiaogang had only run ten meters when the shit-yellow balloon struck him squarely in the back. The foul gas instantly exploded, tightly surrounding him.

"Ugh... cough, cough... ugh... cough, cough..."

Trapped inside, Yu Xiaogang was so overwhelmed by the revolting stench that he wanted to retch. Yet the moment he opened his mouth, the horrible smell rushed into it, making him cough dryly without end and leaving him unable to escape.

Yu Xiaogang could only cycle endlessly between retching and coughing.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Seeing Yu Xiaogang's miserable state, the work-study students nearby burst into laughter.

Even Tang San, who was usually so steady, turned his head away, his body shaking violently as he fought back laughter.

Xu Linjiu helplessly shook his head as well. "What a ruthless soul skill."

After an unknown amount of time, the shit-yellow gas finally dispersed.

A light breeze blew away the stench, revealing Yu Xiaogang inside. Though he wore a mask, his face was still pale. He was also carrying the already unconscious Luo Sanpao in his hand.

His vicious gaze swept over the surrounding crowd before finally settling on Xu Linjiu.

"You win this time, Xu Linjiu! But I won't let you off so easily!"

"Just wait! I'll be back!"

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—don't bully Gangzi for being poor!"

With that, he turned around and walked away without looking back.

"When did he learn to [leave behind a threat]?"

Xu Linjiu raised a brow and turned to look at Tang San, who stood nearby.

Tang San's eyes were filled with killing intent. The sleeve arrow hidden in his sleeve was already poised to fire.

This was already the second time Yu Xiaogang had insulted his teacher. The [Path to Death Achieved] buff had stacked to the second layer!

Just as the sleeve arrow was about to fly, Xu Linjiu suddenly reached out and patted Tang San, interrupting his movement.

"Little San, not yet."

Tang San paused and turned to look at his teacher. The killing intent in his eyes had already faded, leaving only confusion behind.

Xu Linjiu merely shook his head. "He was right. Whether it's the leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan or the Pope of Martial Soul Hall, neither is someone we can afford to provoke right now."

Looking in the direction Yu Xiaogang had left, Xu Linjiu sneered. "But it's not much of a problem. As long as we don't kill him, that trash won't be able to draw the attention of those important figures."

"Alright!"

Xu Linjiu turned to the work-study students who were still watching the excitement. "The matter's settled. Go do whatever you need to do!"

Hearing their teacher's words, Wang Sheng immediately organized the work-study students and led them away.

After all the work-study students had dispersed, Xu Linjiu turned back and saw Xiao Wu and Tang San still whispering to each other.

Xiao Wu?

Xu Linjiu raised a brow, and the Pokédex appeared in his hand.

She was the second talent that Notting had seen in a century. Though, in a certain sense, she could not exactly be called a "talent."

The Pokédex screen lit up, displaying Xiao Wu's information.

[Unknown Pokémon]

[Level: LV10]

[Type: Fighting, Fairy]

[Ability: Cannot be detected]

[Skills: Cannot be detected]

[Evaluation: Exceptional talent, extremely high potential. Suspected to be the juvenile form of a legendary Pokémon. Strongly recommended for capture!]

Another exceptional talent. As expected of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast taking human form.

And the evaluation of a legendary Pokémon probably referred to beings like hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, entities above Titled Douluo.

Just then, a new notification sounded.

[Ding! The Trainer has encountered a legendary Pokémon. System mission issued!]

[Capture your first legendary Pokémon!]

[Reward: Random item ×2, random TM ×2, random Ability Capsule ×2, Exp. Candy XL ×10!]

Good!

Now he definitely could not let her go!

"Little San, were you about to make a move just now?"

Tang San stiffened slightly but did not deny it.

"I knew it."

Xiao Wu skipped over and bumped him with her shoulder. "That look in your eyes just now was pretty scary! But..."

Her tone shifted, and she added with a grin, "It was kind of handsome."

Tang San's ears turned hot at her words. "Don't talk nonsense!"

"Who's talking nonsense? Sister Xiao Wu has always spoken the truth!"

Tsk!

Tang San, this innocent little virgin, was completely no match for Xiao Wu, an old monster who had lived for a hundred thousand years!

Could this be the mutual attraction between soul beast bloodlines?

"Ahem!"

Xu Linjiu cleared his throat, drawing both their attention.

Tang San nodded slightly. "Teacher!"

Xiao Wu looked at Xu Linjiu, blinked, and said with a mischievous smile, "Mister! That move just now was pretty cool. Can you teach it to me?"

"Me? Mister?"

Xu Linjiu looked at Xiao Wu's lively eyes and pointed at himself.

Xiao Wu still wore that mischievous smile.

"Ah, forget it."

Xu Linjiu sighed. "I was just about to ask you the same thing. Starting tomorrow, I plan to formally train Little San. You're quite talented, so I wanted to ask whether you'd like to join us tomorrow."

Xiao Wu tilted her head, her scorpion-tail braid gently swaying behind her with the movement.

She looked at Xu Linjiu, then at Tang San. An indescribable gleam flickered in her large eyes.

"Mister!"

She suddenly smiled. "Is this you inviting me?"

"It is."

"Then—!"

Xiao Wu deliberately drew out the last word. Her gaze darted twice between Xu Linjiu and Tang San before settling on Tang San. "Little San, what do you think? Should I come?"

Tang San had not expected her to suddenly throw the question at him. He froze for a moment, then said earnestly, "Teacher teaches very well. The reason I've changed so much is entirely thanks to him. If—"

"Alright, alright, I didn't ask you all that!"

Xiao Wu hurriedly waved her hand to interrupt him, a faintly dissatisfied look appearing on her face. "Since Little San says it's good, then Sister Xiao Wu will reluctantly come along!"

She put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest, looking as though she were doing them a great favor. "But let's make this clear first: I won't be worse than Little San! Mister, when the time comes, don't just focus on teaching him. You need to give me some extra lessons too!"

Xu Linjiu's lips curled slightly as he looked at her bluffing manner. "Don't worry. Your training workload will only be greater than his, never less."