While Yu Xiaogang was left seething helplessly by Su Chen's retorts, his disciple Tang San was also going through his darkest hour.
Xiao Wu hummed a tune, skipping back to Dorm Seven with light little steps.
The moment she returned, she began packing her belongings.
Tang San awoke from his cultivation and was utterly puzzled by Xiao Wu's actions.
"Xiao Wu, why are you packing? Did someone bully you?"
Without even looking up, Xiao Wu did not stop moving her hands.
"Who would dare bully me? I'd beat them until they were looking for their teeth all over the floor!"
"I'm moving to Dorm One. There's a handsome boy there, and he's unbelievably good-looking!"
Xiao Wu liked Su Chen's scent very much.
In order to be closer to him, she went to see Director Su at the Academic Affairs Office.
Seeing that Xiao Wu possessed Innate Full Soul Power, Director Su made a sweeping decision. He waived her tuition and miscellaneous fees, changed her from a work-study student to a self-funded student, and assigned her to Room B of Dorm One, the girls' dormitory.
That was how a normal academy ought to think.
Innate Full Soul Power was talent capable of reaching Titled Douluo. There were countless people willing to invest in such a promising prospect.
Yet both Tang San and Xiao Wu had been assigned to Dorm Seven. That was the truly baffling part.
Tang San was one thing. His Blue Silver Grass was a useless Martial Soul. But Xiao Wu had a Rabbit Martial Soul. It was not a top-tier Martial Soul, but it was far from useless.
She was absolutely worth Nuoding Academy's full investment.
When Tang San heard the words "handsome boy," Su Chen was the first person who came to mind.
Having lived two lives, he had never seen anyone better-looking than Su Chen.
Whenever he stood beside Su Chen, he could not help feeling inferior.
Hearing that Xiao Wu was going to Su Chen, Tang San felt as if someone had viciously squeezed his heart. His vision went dark, and he struggled to breathe.
From the very first moment he saw Xiao Wu, something strange had stirred within him. Now that he heard she was leaving, that faint feeling quickly took root and sprouted.
At the thought of Xiao Wu being with Su Chen, Tang San felt as though a piece of his heart had been carved away.
"Is that handsome boy Su Chen? Xiao Wu, you need to calm down. Su Chen isn't a good kid. If you stay with him, you'll definitely be led astray."
Xiao Wu finally raised her head, her eyes sparkling brightly.
"So his name is Su Chen."
Then Xiao Wu shot Tang San a vicious glare.
"Tang San, I won't allow you to badmouth Su Chen. You're talking about him behind his back. You're the bad kid."
"Hmph—"
Xiao Wu turned away with a huff, slung her little bag over her shoulder, and skipped out of Dorm Seven.
Tang San watched her pretty figure with its scorpion braid gradually disappear into the distance.
He clutched his chest with both hands, his face twisted in pain.
It hurt!
It hurt too much!
That once hazy affection instantly became a sharp blade that plunged fiercely into his heart.
It felt as though a chunk of flesh had been brutally gouged from his heart, leaving Tang San in agonizing pain.
"Xiao Wu—"
Tang San's mournful cry received no response from Xiao Wu.
He collapsed weakly onto the bed. He no longer wanted to cultivate, and memories of every little moment since meeting Xiao Wu filled his mind.
Until Yu Xiaogang arrived.
Yu Xiaogang's gaze was dark and sinister, his expression vicious, as though he were gritting his teeth in rage.
After finding Tang San, he restrained all his anger, and his face returned to its usual calm.
"Xiao San!"
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's voice, Tang San finally snapped out of it. He leaped off the bed and stood before Yu Xiaogang with his hands at his sides.
"Teacher!"
Yu Xiaogang did not mention that he had gone to see Su Chen, nor did he mention being rejected by Su Chen. That would have been too humiliating.
He took an oil-paper parcel from his robes, handed it to Tang San, and said kindly:
"I brought this for you. Eat. Soul Masters are people too. Only when you've eaten your fill can your cultivation yield twice the results with half the effort."
Tang San had a keen sense of smell. Catching the scent of chicken drumsticks, he accepted the parcel with trembling hands. From childhood until now, this was the first time he had ever eaten meat.
But with Xiao Wu gone, he simply could not lift his spirits.
He weakly said, "Thank you, Teacher."
Yu Xiaogang frowned. He had expected Tang San's gratitude, so what was going on?
"Xiao San, why are you in such low spirits?"
Tang San's nose stung. Even the maturity of two lifetimes could not compare to the gut-wrenching pain of a romance that had failed before it even began.
"Teacher, a work-study student came to Dorm Seven this morning. Her name is Xiao Wu. She's very pretty, and I think I might like her a little."
"But... just now, Xiao Wu said she liked my childhood friend from the same village, Su Chen. She's already gone to find him, and my heart feels terrible."
Su Chen!
Su Chen again!
Now, whenever Yu Xiaogang heard that name, he hated it so much that his teeth itched.
Still, why did this situation seem so familiar?
Yu Xiaogang's expression turned strange. He patted Tang San's shoulder and said earnestly:
"Xiao San, let me tell you a story."
"When I was young and traveled across Douluo Continent, I met two close friends. One was named Flender, who possessed a Cat-Eagle Martial Spirit. The other was named Liu Erlong, who possessed a Fire Dragon Martial Spirit."
"The three of us shared the same interests and traveled the continent together. During those travels, both Flender and I fell for Liu Erlong."
"Actually, Flender had the greater advantage back then. His talent was exceptional. Before he was thirty, he had already become a Soul King."
"But in the end, Liu Erlong fell for me, because I had wisdom. Girls are always more easily won over by wisdom."
Seeing Tang San completely engrossed in the story,
Yu Xiaogang gave him a rousing speech:
"Then was just like now!"
"Perhaps Su Chen is better-looking than you, and perhaps his Martial Soul is stronger than yours, but so what?"
"Those are all superficial things, shallow things. They can only catch a girl's attention for a moment, not for a lifetime."
"As long as you study well under me, once the day comes when you are full of wisdom, that girl named Xiao Wu will definitely come to your side."
"Xiao San, you must believe me!"
Tang San was greatly encouraged. The astonishing wisdom of his two lifetimes once again occupied his mind. "Teacher, I believe you!"
He thought to himself.
After all, Xiao Wu is young. She's only drawn to Su Chen's shallow appearance. What use is being good-looking? In this world of Soul Masters, strength is what truly speaks.
Once I grow under Teacher's guidance and ruthlessly crush Su Chen beneath my feet, Xiao Wu, you will definitely see how good I am.
Seeing Tang San regain his confidence, Yu Xiaogang forced out an ugly smile. Yet when he thought of Su Chen, the little brat's mockery seemed to still echo in his ears.
A savage look appeared in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
"Xiao San, get up early tomorrow. I'll take you to Soul Hunting Forest to hunt Soul Beasts. Once you have a Soul Ring and become a Soul Master, you'll be able to crush Su Chen with ease."
"I'll choose the most suitable Soul Ring for you. As for Su Chen, hehe... without anyone to guide him, he'll only absorb the worst, most worthless Soul Ring."
Tang San nodded heavily, his expression full of excitement.
Meanwhile, in a dark corner somewhere in the dormitory building.
"Ah Yin, our son has also encountered the Soul Beast girl meant for him. Although that girl is somewhat shallow and drawn to such meaningless appearances."
"But everyone in our Tang family is born deeply devoted. I believe Xiao San's devotion will surely move that girl."
"Xiao Wu will choose Xiao San, just as you chose me."
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