Beside Himself with Rage, Tang San? They Were All Just Pawns!

The next day, Central Soul Plaza in Spirit City.

The third round of the Finals continued.

Shrek Academy's opponent today was a powerful team from the Star Luo Empire.

Their overall strength was formidable. With two Soul Sects specializing in offense and one Control System Spirit Master, their fighting style was exceptionally steady.

But before Tang San, that steadiness instead became a weakness.

Blue Silver Grass spread like a spiderweb, steadily devouring the opponents' room to move.

Dai Mubai suppressed them from the front.

Zhu Zhuqing launched attacks from the flank.

Xiao Wu was responsible for breaking into the rear line.

The match was not difficult, but the Shrek team could clearly sense that Tang San was fighting more coldly than usual today.

It was not a mistake. He was simply too calm!

So calm that he barely gave his opponents any chance to catch their breath.

"Blue Silver Bind!"

Tang San raised his hand, and Blue Silver Grass suddenly burst from the ground, tightly locking down the opposing Control System Spirit Master.

Xiao Wu leaped up in response and unleashed Waist Bow, directly throwing that person off the Soul Arena.

The referee immediately declared them eliminated. Before long, Shrek had secured victory.

In the end, the referee announced:

"Shrek Academy wins!"

Applause erupted from the stands.

Tang San withdrew his Blue Silver Grass, but his gaze did not linger on his opponents. Instead, he looked toward Spirit Hall's Spectator Area.

Gu Changsheng was sitting there, and their eyes met.

Gu Changsheng remained calm, while a trace of suppressed sharpness appeared in Tang San's eyes.

Xiao Wu walked over to Tang San's side and asked softly:

"Third Brother, what's wrong with you today?"

Tang San withdrew his gaze and gently shook his head.

"Nothing."

Xiao Wu followed his line of sight and happened to see Gu Changsheng.

Her heart tightened. Could Third Brother have discovered something?

"Xiao Wu."

Tang San suddenly spoke.

"Mm?"

"Don't leave the residence alone recently."

Xiao Wu's expression changed slightly.

"Why?"

Tang San looked at her. His tone remained gentle, but it carried more seriousness than usual.

"Spirit City isn't safe."

Xiao Wu fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

"I understand."

Tang San said nothing more, but he knew this was only on the surface.

Last night, he had seen Xiao Wu leaving Gu Changsheng's side, yet she had not told him about it.

That was what Tang San cared about most. It was not because he suspected Xiao Wu would betray him.

It was because Gu Changsheng, the tactical core of the Spirit Hall Team, was clearly approaching Xiao Wu deliberately.

After the match ended, the various academies gradually left the arena.

Shrek returned to their rest area.

Yu Xiaogang glanced at Tang San and said quietly:

"Little San, your emotions were unstable today."

Tang San was slightly startled.

"Teacher, I didn't affect the match."

Yu Xiaogang said:

"Precisely because you didn't affect the match, it proves there is a problem."

Tang San fell silent.

Yu Xiaogang looked toward Spirit Hall in the distance.

"Is it because of Gu Changsheng?"

Tang San did not deny it.

Yu Xiaogang frowned.

"What did he do?"

Tang San slowly said:

"He's approaching Xiao Wu."

Yu Xiaogang's gaze tightened slightly.

He had noticed this matter long ago.

Since Tiandou City, Xiao Wu's attitude toward Gu Changsheng had been somewhat unusual.

He simply had not expected Tang San to have noticed as well.

"Little San."

Yu Xiaogang said in a deep voice:

"If this is Gu Changsheng's psychological warfare, then you've already entered his game."

Tang San raised his eyes and replied with a profound gaze:

"I know."

"You know, yet you still fell into it?"

Tang San clenched his fingers.

"Teacher, if he were targeting me, I could stay calm. But he shouldn't touch Xiao Wu! He shouldn't!"

Yu Xiaogang fell silent, unsure how to guide him.

Tang San's greatest strength was his deep affection for others, and his greatest weakness was also that same affection.

Meanwhile, in Spirit Hall's Spectator Area.

Hu Liena sat beside Gu Changsheng and said softly:

"The way Tang San looked at you just now wasn't exactly friendly."

Gu Changsheng said:

"Just as I wanted."

Hu Liena glanced at him from the side and asked with some concern:

"You deliberately let him see you last night?"

Gu Changsheng did not deny it and merely nodded lightly.

"He needed a little pressure."

Hu Liena's expression was complicated.

"You really aren't afraid that he'll erupt ahead of time."

Gu Changsheng watched the staff clearing the Soul Arena.

"Tang San won't erupt easily. The more he cares about Xiao Wu, the more he'll force himself to stay calm."

"But the longer he suppresses it, the greater the flaw."

Hu Liena said softly:

"You understand him so thoroughly. Little Junior Brother, what exactly are you thinking?"

Gu Changsheng said:

"What Control System Spirit Masters fear most is a disturbed mind."

Hu Liena suddenly asked:

"What about you?"

Gu Changsheng turned his head.

Hu Liena looked at him.

"If someone used me to disrupt you, would your mind become unsettled?"

Gu Changsheng fell silent for a moment.

The amusement in Hu Liena's eyes faded somewhat.

"You can't answer?"

Gu Changsheng slowly said:

"I would. If it were Senior Sister, I think I would lose my composure..."

Hu Liena was stunned.

She had not expected him to answer so directly.

The next second, Gu Changsheng immediately stood up and continued:

"So I won't give anyone else that chance."

Hu Liena's heart skipped slightly, and she immediately looked away.

"I'll give you credit for knowing how to talk."

Yan, seated behind them, could not help muttering softly:

"Does that count as knowing how to talk? Why do I think it was pretty ordinary?"

Xie Yue said blandly:

"That's why you're single."

Yan: "You... I... sigh..."

That night, within Spirit City's inner city, Gu Changsheng finished a tactical simulation at the Training Ground and walked out alone.

Just after passing through a corridor, he saw a blue figure standing ahead.

It was Tang San!

He seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

Gu Changsheng was not surprised.

"Looking for me?"

Tang San turned around, his gaze calm.

"Let's talk."

Gu Changsheng nodded.

"Fine."

The two walked into a secluded courtyard.

The night was deep, and there was no one else around.

Tang San did not beat around the bush.

"Stay away from Xiao Wu."

Gu Changsheng looked at him.

"May I ask in what capacity you're saying that?"

Tang San's gaze turned slightly cold as he said angrily:

"She's my sister."

Gu Changsheng said blandly:

"Only your sister?"

Tang San fell silent for a moment.

"That has nothing to do with you."

Gu Changsheng calmly said:

"If she's only your sister, you're being a little too controlling."

Tang San's aura sank slightly, and Blue Silver Grass quietly emerged beside his feet.

Gu Changsheng glanced at it and said coldly:

"This isn't the Soul Arena."

Tang San said:

"I know."

Gu Changsheng replied confidently:

"Then put it away."

Tang San stared at him. After a moment, the Blue Silver Grass slowly retreated.

He said coldly:

"Gu Changsheng, I don't know what your purpose is in approaching Xiao Wu."

"But if you want to use her to affect me, I advise you to give up."

Gu Changsheng smiled faintly and placed his hands on his hips.

"Looks like you understand very clearly."

Tang San's pupils contracted slightly.

"You admit it?"

Gu Changsheng said:

"There's nothing I can't admit."

Tang San's voice turned colder.

"Don't you think that's despicable?"

Gu Changsheng looked at him.

"It's just a tactic."

Tang San's fists slowly clenched.

"Using someone else's feelings as a tactic?"

Gu Changsheng asked in return:

"Have you never taken advantage of someone else's trust in you?"

Tang San's gaze sharpened.

Gu Changsheng continued:

"The Shrek Seven Monsters trust you, so they're willing to follow your commands."

"Ning Rongrong boosts you, Oscar provides you with Sausages, and Xiao Wu stands in front of you."

"Isn't that exploitation too?"

Unconvinced, Tang San said in a deep voice:

"That is trust between companions."

Gu Changsheng nodded.

"So the only difference is that you believe you have a clear conscience."

Tang San said coldly:

"I won't hurt them."

Gu Changsheng said:

"But can you guarantee they won't get hurt because of you?"

Tang San fell silent. Step by step, Gu Changsheng had struck at his vulnerable spots.

"How many times has Xiao Wu rushed into the most dangerous places for you?"

"Of course, you can say she did it willingly."

"But have you ever considered why she is always willing?"

A flicker finally appeared in Tang San's eyes.

"Shut up."

Gu Changsheng did not stop.

"Tang San, you say you won't let anyone hurt her."

"Does that include yourself?"

The courtyard fell deathly silent!

Tang San's breathing grew slightly heavier. Those words stabbed into his heart like a blade.

He wanted to retort, but found himself unable to say anything for the moment.

Because Gu Changsheng was not entirely wrong. Xiao Wu had indeed been hurt because of him.

And she had indeed always stood by his side without hesitation.

A trace of coldness flashed through Tang San's eyes.

"You have no right to judge Xiao Wu and me."

Gu Changsheng said:

"Perhaps... but at least I won't treat her like an accessory."

Tang San suddenly raised his eyes.

"What did you say?"

Gu Changsheng remained calm.

"You tell her whom to stay away from, whom to get close to, where to remain, and where not to go."

"You think that's protection."

"But is that really what she wants?"

Tang San said icily:

"I'm protecting her."

Gu Changsheng realized that Tang San was already flustered. He said very naturally:

"Everyone who wants to control others says that at first."

Tang San's aura abruptly sank.

At that moment, he almost truly wanted to attack, but in the end, he held himself back.

This was Spirit City.

More importantly, he could not make a mistake before the Finals.

Tang San took a deep breath.

"Gu Changsheng, you're very good at unsettling people's hearts."

Gu Changsheng said:

"Thank you for the compliment."

Tang San looked at him coldly.

"But you've misjudged one thing."

"What Xiao Wu and I share isn't something you can drive apart with a few words."

Gu Changsheng continued nodding. That manner of his was truly infuriating.

"I believe you."

Tang San frowned tightly. He was starting to find this unbearable.

Gu Changsheng continued:

"So I won't rely on just a few words."

Tang San's gaze turned abruptly cold.

But Gu Changsheng had already turned away.

"See you in the arena."

Tang San watched his retreating figure, his fingers gradually curling into a fist.

Only after a long while did he turn and leave. Yet neither of them noticed.

Within the shadows outside the courtyard, a pink figure stood quietly.

Xiao Wu was there!

She had only followed him out of worry for Tang San.

But she had never expected to hear those words.

"Can you guarantee they won't get hurt because of you?"

"Does that include yourself?"

"At least I won't treat her like an accessory."

Those words landed in her heart one after another, leaving her confused and pained.

Of course she knew Tang San was trying to protect her.

And she had never doubted Third Brother.

But...

Why could Gu Changsheng always say things she had never considered, yet could not completely refute?

Xiao Wu lowered her head and looked at the handkerchief tucked in her sleeve, her heart in complete turmoil.

Not far away, Tang San's footsteps drew closer.

Xiao Wu hurriedly slipped into the Corridor on the other side.

She did not want Tang San to know she had heard everything.

Tang San emerged from the courtyard, his expression having already returned to calm.

Yet as Xiao Wu watched his back, for the first time, she felt that an indescribable distance seemed to have appeared between herself and Third Brother.

Elsewhere.

Hu Liena stood outside the Training Ground and saw Gu Changsheng return.

"Finished talking?"

Gu Changsheng nodded.

Hu Liena asked:

"How did it go?"

Gu Changsheng said:

"Better than expected."

Hu Liena looked at him, then suddenly sighed.

"You're becoming more and more like a villain."

Gu Changsheng said indifferently:

"Spirit Hall has always been like this. Who among us is truly a good person?"

Hu Liena walked over to his side, her slender hand landing on his shoulder.

"Then will there come a day when you treat me the same way?"

Gu Changsheng stopped walking, tenderness in his eyes.

"No."

Hu Liena looked at him.

"Why?"

Gu Changsheng said:

"Because I don't need to lie to you."

Hu Liena froze slightly.

Gu Changsheng continued walking forward.

"You know what kind of person I am, yet you're still willing to stand by my side."

Hu Liena watched his back, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

"Seems you do have a conscience."

The night wind swept past, and the lights of Spirit City still shone brightly!

Yet beneath that light, the undercurrents between Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Gu Changsheng had already quietly grown turbulent...