You Must Be a Twin Martial Soul

First came Chu Chen, who showed no respect for his elders. Then came his precious disciple, Tang San. And now there was Xiao Wu.

Before today, there had been only two documented cases of Twin Martial Souls on the entire Douluo Continent. Had he really encountered three in a single day?

What on earth was going on at Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy?

Yu Xiaogang raged inwardly, while Xiao Wu looked utterly confused.

"What Twin Martial Souls? Master, what are you talking about?"

"Heh. Xiao Wu, you really are a clever little girl. You even know how to hide your secret."

Yu Xiaogang stopped, shifted Tang San higher in his arms, and turned to Xiao Wu.

Beneath his mask, his lips curved into a smug smile.

"Unfortunately, your disguise means nothing before the continent's foremost expert on Soul Master Theory!"

Xiao Wu blinked at him, bewildered.

"Master, I really don't understand what you're saying..."

"Still playing dumb?"

Yu Xiaogang gave a soft snort and turned away, striking a pose he believed made him look inscrutable.

"You said your Martial Soul is just an ordinary rabbit, correct?"

"That's right."

Xiao Wu nodded, but unease stirred inside her. Had this eccentric-looking middle-aged man actually seen through her?

"Then here's the problem."

Yu Xiaogang turned back, fixing Xiao Wu with an intense stare, as though he could pierce her disguise.

"According to my Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the quality of one's Martial Soul. This theory has been verified countless times, without a single exception!"

He paused. Seeing Xiao Wu listening intently, he grew even more pleased with himself.

"Rabbit Martial Souls are common in the Soul Master world. They're hardly high-grade Martial Souls. Even a beneficial mutation could never account for Innate Full Soul Power. The only reasonable explanation..."

Yu Xiaogang's tone turned grave, and he pronounced each word separately.

"You. Must. Have. A. Second. Martial. Soul!"

Xiao Wu opened her mouth, but for a moment she had no idea how to argue.

She was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form. Where would she get Twin Martial Souls?

But she could hardly tell him that, could she?

"What are you even talking about..."

Xiao Wu stumbled over her words, her eyes darting about as she searched for a way to bluff through this.

"No need to be nervous."

Seeing her reaction, Yu Xiaogang softened his tone.

"I understand why you're cautious. Twin Martial Souls are exceptionally rare. Exposing yours could indeed bring unwanted trouble. You did well today, keeping this secret from others."

"No, I really don't have one!"

"Xiao Wu, stop being so stubborn. What exactly are you afraid of?"

Yu Xiaogang suddenly stepped closer, narrowed his eyes at Xiao Wu, and lowered his voice.

"Child, you must understand: no one in this world knows people like you better than I do."

"Today alone, I've met three people with Innate Full Soul Power: Chu Chen, Xiao San, and you. Xiao San has Twin Martial Souls, and Chu Chen certainly does too. Do you think you're the exception?"

"Why would I lie to you? Big Sister Xiao Wu never lies!"

Fed up with his questions, Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips and glared at Yu Xiaogang.

"What Twin Martial Souls? I don't have them, okay?"

"Very well."

Seeing that Xiao Wu refused to say more, Yu Xiaogang did not press her.

"When Xiao San wakes up, the two of you can have a proper talk. You're both the same age and both have Twin Martial Souls. I'm sure you'll have plenty in common."

He paused, then added pointedly.

"Besides, Xiao San's second Martial Soul... is quite extraordinary. If you two become true friends, it might help your future cultivation in ways you never expected."

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes, though her mind was already on something else.

That guy Chu Chen had Twin Martial Souls too?

And from what the Master had said, Tang San's second Martial Soul sounded powerful...

As they spoke, the group passed through the academy gates.

Night had fallen. Few people walked the streets, and only a handful of Soul Tool streetlamps cast their dim yellow light.

Yu Xiaogang carried Tang San ahead of her. Xiao Wu followed, her stomach in knots.

She really did not want to go anywhere near Spirit Hall, but Tang San could not be left untreated in his condition.

More importantly, this Master seemed to know a great deal. Perhaps she could coax more information about Chu Chen and Tang San out of him...

"Master,"

Xiao Wu ventured.

"You said Chu Chen has Twin Martial Souls too?"

"That's right."

Yu Xiaogang's voice turned noticeably colder.

"The boy has talent, I'll give him that. But he's vicious and has no respect for his elders. This afternoon, he attacked me, his senior. He stole my Soul Tool and even forced me to swear a terrible oath!"

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up.

"Really? He attacked you too?"

"He did far more than attack me."

Yu Xiaogang glanced down at the mask on his face, his voice thick with resentment.

"If I weren't his teacher, unwilling to stoop to a child's level, I would never have..."

He stopped himself mid-sentence.

Admitting that a six-year-old had beaten him so badly he could not fight back was simply too humiliating.

But Xiao Wu had already caught his meaning, and she grew even more wary of Chu Chen.

He even dared to beat up a Soul Grandmaster. That guy really is crazy!

"Master, do you know what Chu Chen's second Martial Soul is?"

Xiao Wu pressed him.

"That boy keeps his secrets close. Before I could investigate, he... Never mind. It's not worth mentioning."

Yu Xiaogang shook his head, then turned back to Xiao Wu, his eyes bright with interest.

"But you, Xiao Wu—what exactly is your second Martial Soul?"

"Once I know, perhaps I can devise the ideal cultivation plan for you. You should know that, across the entire continent, no one understands the cultivation of Twin Martial Souls better than I do."

The questions made Xiao Wu's scalp prickle. She stammered.

"No, I... I really don't have Twin Martial Souls. Master, you've got it wrong..."

"Still hiding it?"

Yu Xiaogang sounded displeased.

"After everything I've said, how can you still..."

"Ugh..."

Just then, Tang San let out a pained groan in Yu Xiaogang's arms.

Both of them looked at him. His eyelids fluttered; he seemed to be waking.

"Xiao San!"

Yu Xiaogang hurried to a stop and gently laid Tang San on the steps beside the road.

"How do you feel?"

Tang San slowly opened his eyes. His vision remained blurred for a while before coming into focus.

When he recognized Yu Xiaogang, he struggled to sit up.

"Teacher... I..."

"Don't move. You're badly hurt."

Yu Xiaogang pressed a hand to Tang San's shoulder and said grimly,

"That little bastard Chu Chen is a monster!"

At Chu Chen's name, hatred flashed in Tang San's eyes.

"It was him... and Xiao Wu..."

"Xiao Wu?"

Yu Xiaogang froze and turned toward Xiao Wu, who stood nearby.

"Xiao Wu, didn't you say..."

"No, no, it wasn't my fault!"

Xiao Wu waved her hands frantically.

"It was Chu Chen! He sent Tang San flying, and I accidentally... I only hit him by accident!"