Ironblood Guardian, the Master Meets Tang Hao

Wang Sheng nodded and pulled the belt inlaid with twenty-four gemstones from his robes, handing it to Ye Hua with both hands.

"Brother Ye Hua, this is the thing the Master wears around his waist. I brought it back just like you told me to."

Ye Hua took the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night and said with satisfaction, "You've worked hard. You even had to lie to Director Su to get leave."

"By the way, nothing went wrong, did it?"

"Don't worry!" Wang Sheng patted his chest, looking smug. "My acting skills were trained by my father's stick since I was little!"

"Even until his death, Tang San would never have guessed that the ones who beat him up were us work-study students!"

"He was still making threats, saying he'd deal with us after he got back. Hahaha, he didn't even recognize me when I was standing right in front of him!"

Ye Hua smiled faintly. He took several bulging money pouches from the Azure Jade Bracelet, then emptied all the money from the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night into Wang Sheng's hands.

Wang Sheng froze. "Brother Ye Hua, this..."

"Of course it's payment for your hard work." Ye Hua patted Wang Sheng's shoulder. "Hey, don't refuse this time. I'd feel guilty if you didn't accept it."

"We're friends. It wouldn't be right to make a friend feel guilty."

"Take this money and buy resources. You won't have to work as work-study students anymore. Focus on cultivating properly."

Wang Sheng gripped the heavy money pouches and bit his lip.

The several work-study students behind him exchanged looks, their eyes reddening.

To be honest, work-study students like them were the lowest rung in the academy.

They had no background, no resources, and sometimes not even enough money to eat. Their martial souls were all low-grade, unremarkable ones.

At Notting Academy, they were the most inconspicuous dust, trampled under anyone's foot.

Never before had anyone casually stuffed such a huge sum of money into their hands.

"Brother Ye Hua." Wang Sheng tucked the money pouches into his robes and said solemnly, "Thank you!"

Ye Hua reached out and patted Wang Sheng's shoulder. "Why be so polite? I'm your big brother. How could I watch my brothers suffer grievances and get bullied?"

"Alright, don't make it sound like we're parting forever. Go back and get some proper sleep. Starting tomorrow, you won't be work-study students who can be controlled by others just because of money."

"Go on. Remember to avoid Director Su. What he doesn't know can't implicate him. Don't expose yourselves and put him in a difficult position."

"Yes!"

Wang Sheng and the others answered in unison before turning and vanishing into the night.

The courtyard fell quiet again.

Xiao Wu brought over two cups of hot tea and handed one to Ye Hua.

"Brother, do you think Tang San will settle down for a while after suffering such a huge loss this time?"

Ye Hua accepted the cup and took a small sip. "Impossible."

Xiao Wu frowned tightly. "Why? He was beaten into that state, and he still dares to come looking for trouble?"

"Precisely because he was beaten into that state, he won't let it go. Tang San has never looked for the problem in himself."

"He'll only think others harmed him, that the world owes him. The more miserable he is, the deeper his hatred becomes, and then he wants to take revenge on the whole world."

Xiao Wu fell silent for a moment and sighed softly.

"Brother, he's so annoying!"

"He always looks at me like that!"

"We heard it in the Hunting Soul Forest too. He has... those kinds of thoughts about me!"

Ye Hua affectionately stroked her head. "Don't worry. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen."

"Mm." Xiao Wu sat down on the sofa as well and rested her head on Ye Hua's shoulder.

[ Ding-- ]

[ Xiao Wu's rescue progress +5% ]

[ Current rescue progress: 45% ]

[ Stage reward will be issued at 60% rescue progress. Please continue working hard, Host. ]

Ye Hua withdrew his gaze and gently rubbed Xiao Wu's hair. "It's getting late. Go back and sleep."

Xiao Wu blushed, slapped his hand away, tossed down her teacup, and ran back to her room with quick steps.

After the door closed, Ye Hua sat alone in the living room, carefully examining the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night.

The twenty-four gemstones glowed with a soft sheen beneath the moonlight. Yu Xiaogang's life savings lay in his palm.

"This thing is good, but it'll be hard to deal with."

Ye Hua frowned slightly.

The Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night was far too conspicuous.

If he dared wear it out, he might as well tell everyone directly that he, Ye Hua, was the bandit who robbed the Master!

But if he didn't wear it, was he supposed to hide it at home and let it have children?

Selling it was even less viable, for the same reason as wearing it out.

After all, the Golden Iron Triangle had once been immensely famous. Ye Hua didn't believe everyone in the world was blind, with not a single person able to recognize this as the Master's possession.

Just as he was caught in a dilemma—

[ Ding-- ]

[ Host has obtained the special item "Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night." Hidden exchange option triggered. ]

[ You may consume the item "Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night" to exchange for one Super Douluo guardian. ]

[ Note: Not a trial card! Not a fragment! A permanent guard! Loyalty locked at maximum! Will never betray you! ]

Ye Hua's pupils trembled.

A level ninety-six Super Douluo?

A powerhouse of that level stood at the pinnacle of the entire Douluo Continent.

"Exchange!"

Ye Hua did not hesitate.

He already had the infinitely spacious Azure Jade Bracelet. There was no need to cling to the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night.

The Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night in his hand transformed into specks of starlight and scattered into the night sky.

At the same time, dark golden light burst forth before him, and a burly figure condensed within the glow.

The newcomer was an elderly man around sixty years old. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with grizzled white hair draped over his pointed head, wild and rough.

He had a square face, thick brows, and sharp eyes with restrained brilliance. Even without anger, he radiated authority. He wore a dark red combat outfit and carried a heavy sword as tall as himself on his back.

The old man bowed, pressing his right fist to his chest. "This old man is Tie Xiong. Greetings, my lord."

"This old man's martial soul is the Ironblood Heavy Sword. I am a level ninety-six assault-type Title Douluo, with the title Ironblood."

"From today onward, this old man shall serve as my lord's guardian. So long as I am here, no petty scoundrel will ever harm you!"

Looking at the unyielding old man before him, Ye Hua finally felt the burden that had weighed on his heart for so long lift away.

Ever since becoming enemies with Tang San, Tang Hao had been a sword of Damocles hanging over his head. But things were different now.

Tang Hao was only level ninety-five, and his injuries were so severe that he did not dare detonate his soul rings.

With a Super Douluo guardian, Ye Hua no longer had to worry about Tang Hao trying to kill him!

"Elder Tie, stay by my side from now on. Keep your aura concealed in ordinary times and don't reveal your strength. When I need you to act, I'll naturally tell you."

"But sometimes I may not have time to say so. You'll also need to act when appropriate. Use your own judgment."

Tie Xiong nodded. "Yes, my lord."

Ye Hua nodded in satisfaction and turned to walk into the house.

Tonight, I can finally get a good night's sleep!

But what he did not know was...

At the same time, in the Master's office at Notting Junior Soul Master Academy.

Yu Xiaogang was wrapped in an old robe, sitting alone in his chair with hollow eyes fixed on the wall opposite him.

He had already sent Tang San back to rest. The boy had broken bones all over his body, and if he did not recuperate properly, he would likely be left with lasting injuries.

But just as he was lost in thought, the office door was suddenly pushed open from outside.

There was no knock and no warning. A burly middle-aged man strode inside.

He wore tattered hemp clothes, his face covered in stubble. His hair was greasy and tangled, as though it had not been washed in years, and he reeked of cheap alcohol mixed with sweat.

"Master, it's been a long time!"