Teacher?

Yu Xiaogang had no idea he had just walked through the gates of hell. He was still immersed in the accomplishment of having hit the mark with a single remark and "intimidated two geniuses."

After seeing Cinderella's shocked admiration, he felt that he had laid enough groundwork and finally revealed his true intentions.

Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat and adopted a solemn, serious expression.

"Tang San, Xian Di. Your talents are exceedingly rare, but precisely because of that, the confusion and dangers awaiting you far surpass those faced by ordinary people. Ordinary teachers simply cannot guide you in the right direction. Only someone who has systematically studied the subject and mastered the most profound theories of the Soul Master world can help you fully unlock your talents and prevent you from taking detours—or even straying onto the wrong path."

He paused, his gaze burning as he looked at the two of them, and finally revealed his ultimate purpose.

"Though my soul power rank is not high, when it comes to martial soul theory, I, Yu Xiaogang, dare say that across the entire continent, no one surpasses me. I am willing to take you two as my disciples and impart everything I know, raising you into true peak experts! Are you willing?"

The air seemed to freeze.

Tang San lowered his head, his fingernails nearly digging into his palms.

Take us as disciples? Who does he think he is?

Tang San only felt that this was a scheme Yu Xiaogang had devised because he coveted Cinderella.

Just then, Cinderella spoke.

Her voice remained sweet, carrying just the right amount of innocent confusion and matter-of-factness. "Master, what are you talking about? Aren't you a teacher at Notting Academy? Since we came to Notting Academy to study, we're naturally your students, aren't we? Do we really need to formally become your disciples?"

Cinderella tilted her head and blinked her large eyes. Her expression was so pure and innocent that it seemed she had completely failed to understand the implication behind Yu Xiaogang's words about joining his school and becoming his personal disciples.

"Uh..."

Yu Xiaogang was choked by Cinderella's unusual perspective, and all the words he had prepared got stuck in his throat.

What he had meant was to accept them as direct disciples and establish an unbreakable master-disciple bond, so that no matter how great their future achievements became, they would forever bear Yu Xiaogang's mark.

But after Cinderella put it that way, it sounded like nothing more than an ordinary teacher-student relationship. The difference was enormous!

Yet as he looked at Cinderella's innocent face, he thought she might truly not understand the distinction. If he forcefully explained it further, he would only seem petty and overly purposeful, which might easily provoke resentment.

On second thought, so be it. He would first get close to them as a teacher of the academy and demonstrate his knowledge. He was not afraid that they would fail to willingly acknowledge him as their master in the future!

Thus, he could only give two dry laughs and go along with it.

"Hehe, Xian Di is right. I was too hasty. Come, I'll take you to the Academic Affairs Office to handle your enrollment procedures first."

He brought the two of them to the Academic Affairs Office and said to the teacher inside in an unquestionable tone, "Director Su, these two are new students, Tang San and Tang Xian Di. Please take care of their enrollment procedures. They are my students."

After saying that, Yu Xiaogang greeted Tang San and Cinderella before preparing to leave.

Director Su of the Academic Affairs Office was a rather amiable-looking middle-aged man. He accepted their documents and examined them. When he saw Innate Full Soul Power, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes as well.

He looked at Yu Xiaogang, then at the two children. In particular, after hearing how Tang San and Cinderella addressed Yu Xiaogang, he could not help asking curiously, "You call Master your teacher? Have you already become Master's disciples?"

Cinderella immediately beat Tang San to the answer, once again putting on her invincible innocent expression.

"Isn't he a teacher at our academy? Then of course we're his students. Is there something wrong with that, Teacher?"

Upon hearing this, Director Su wore an understanding yet somewhat amused expression. He glanced at Yu Xiaogang, whose face seemed a little stiff, and laughed awkwardly. "Oh, oh, I see. No problem, no problem."

He clearly understood Yu Xiaogang's little scheme, but he did not expose it. After all, Yu Xiaogang was a friend of their academy head.

Tang San keenly caught the trace of oddness in Director Su's tone and could not help asking, "Teacher, is there something wrong with this Master? You seem to..."

Director Su exchanged a glance with another teacher beside him and smiled.

That teacher was blunt by nature. Lowering his voice, he said, "Master? His theoretical knowledge is there, but... sigh, how should I put it? His soul power has been stuck at rank twenty-nine for years. I'm afraid he won't be able to break through in this lifetime. As for those theories of his, they sound convincing enough, but no one has seen him train any outstanding students. You children should attend your classes properly and build a solid foundation. That's what matters."

His words clearly showed that he did not think highly of Yu Xiaogang's abilities.

Those words were like oil thrown onto a fire, causing Tang San's impression of Yu Xiaogang to plummet even further.

So he really was trash!

His soul power rank was low, and his theories were nothing but empty talk. A person like that dared to covet Sister and wanted to pry into my secrets?

The killing intent in Tang San's heart intensified, but he merely nodded obediently on the surface. "Thank you, Teacher. We understand."

The procedures were completed quickly.

The two received their school uniforms and dormitory keys. Work-study students stayed in the Seventh Dormitory, while Cinderella, as a self-funded student, would stay in the Third Dormitory, where the conditions were much better.

Carrying their newly received belongings, Tang San first accompanied Cinderella to the Third Dormitory.

The Third Dormitory was a standard four-person room, clean and tidy.

Tang San carefully chose the bed by the window for Cinderella, then wiped the bed board again and again with his sleeve before finally feeling somewhat relieved.

"Sis, get settled in first. I'll go back to the Seventh Dormitory to put my things down, then come over. After that, we'll go into town and buy some daily necessities," Tang San instructed.

Tang San had counted the money Tang Hao had given him earlier. It was a considerable amount, more than enough to cover his and Cinderella's everyday expenses for the next six years. He would never let his sister use the academy-issued rough bedding and cheap daily supplies.

"Mm, go on, then." Cinderella nodded with a smile.

Tang San carried his work-study student luggage and hurried toward the Seventh Dormitory.

The moment he pushed open the door to the Seventh Dormitory, the stench of sweat and a wave of noisy chatter hit him in the face.

Dozens of work-study boys of varying ages were crammed into the spacious communal room. Seeing the newly arrived Tang San, several children who appeared to be older students exchanged looks and surrounded him with ill intent.

The biggest boy, who seemed to be the leader, blocked Tang San's path and looked him over with narrowed eyes. "New kid? Do you know the rules? The rule of the Seventh Dormitory is that newcomers have to show what they can do. Come on, trade a couple moves with me!" As he spoke, he reached out to shove Tang San.

Under normal circumstances, Tang San might have been in the mood to play around a little.

But right now, his heart was filled with killing intent toward Yu Xiaogang and the urgency of getting back to Cinderella as soon as possible. How could he possibly have the patience to play some childish intimidation game with these little brats?