"You were mocking Little San for having a trash martial soul just a few days ago. Why have you suddenly come to poach someone else's disciple?"
Li Hanqiu approached step by step. Tall and straight-backed, he stood a full half-head taller than Yu Xiaogang, exuding a natural pressure.
"And it's my disciple you're after. You really have no shame, Yu Xiaogang!"
The commotion of Li Hanqiu confronting Yu Xiaogang drew onlookers. Students gradually gathered around, whispers rising among them.
"Yu Xiaogang again."
"Why does he keep pestering Teacher Li's disciple?"
"He should take a look in the mirror. Yu Xiaogang looks so scruffy and hideous. Tang San's such a fresh-faced little beauty, and they don't even look like they belong in the same picture standing together."
Yu Xiaogang had sharp ears. Hearing the students' whispers, he felt his dignity slipping away. He forced himself to shout, "Li Hanqiu, stop pretending to be the good guy! We're both theorists. Who doesn't know what the other's really like?"
"You're a nineteen-year-old kid. How many years have you even taught? What makes you think you're qualified to take a disciple?"
Tang San's expression changed. He actually dared to look down on his teacher? Yu Xiaogang had already given him a reason to kill him!
With that thought, Tang San quietly closed his hand around a hidden weapon, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Li Hanqiu noticed Tang San's movement and reached out to pat his head, signaling him not to act rashly.
Then Li Hanqiu looked down at Yu Xiaogang and said calmly, "I wouldn't claim to be among the very best at teaching disciples, but regardless, who are you to pass judgment on me?"
His gaze flicked briefly behind Yu Xiaogang's waist.
"Just because you have that farting thunder pig?"
The moment Li Hanqiu finished speaking, muffled snickers erupted all around.
Yu Xiaogang's face turned the color of pig liver, veins throbbing at his temples. He flung up a hand and pointed straight at Li Hanqiu's nose.
"Li Hanqiu! Enough talk! Do you dare make a wager with this Grandmaster?"
Li Hanqiu raised an eyebrow. "What are we betting on?"
"On... who's more worthy of being a teacher!" Yu Xiaogang's eyes were bloodshot. "We both have external martial souls. Let's see whose Luo Sanpao is stronger!"
More and more students gathered, packing themselves in layer upon layer until the corridor was completely blocked.
Li Hanqiu and Yu Xiaogang were the academy's two best-known teachers, though the former was famous for his good looks and effective teaching.
As for the latter... who hadn't heard of the useless Grandmaster who freeloaded at the academy?
A wager between them was a rare sight, so before long, the surrounding students flocked over, crowding around in ring upon ring.
Li Hanqiu glanced around at the students, then suddenly smiled.
"Sure. If you want a match, I'll play along."
Word of the wager spread. In less than an hour, the academy's open ground was surrounded by spectators.
Yu Xiaogang stood in the center, the fat purple pig sprawled at his feet, grunting and snuffling, its folds piled into a heap.
Seemingly sensing its master's emotions, it raised its head too, blasting two streams of foul air from its nostrils and rear.
"Eww-how disgusting. Teacher Li's Luo Sanpao is much cuter." An older female student nearby wrinkled her nose and turned away in disgust.
The other students reacted similarly, all moving farther away from Yu Xiaogang.
Faced with the students' disgust, Yu Xiaogang snorted inwardly, displeasure written all over his face.
Just wait. You look down on this Grandmaster now, but once I defeat Li Hanqiu, let's see what faces you all make!
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang calculated inwardly: he seemed never to have seen Li Hanqiu fight in public. Clearly, he wasn't good at combat.
Besides, Li Hanqiu was a theory teacher just like him. His actual fighting strength surely couldn't be all that high.
But his soul power level is thirty-two, giving him one more thousand-year soul ring than this Grandmaster. Damn it, why haven't I had such good luck? Why should his innate soul power be so much higher than mine?
At that thought, jealousy and resentment surged through Yu Xiaogang again. He narrowed his eyes at Li Hanqiu and thought:
Still, I only need to goad him into using his first two soul skills. Under equal conditions, I won't necessarily lose.
With that thought, Yu Xiaogang straightened a little and cleared his throat. "Li Hanqiu, listen carefully. Since this Grandmaster proposed the match, I won't take advantage of you."
He held up one finger. "Neither of us may use a third soul skill. We'll fight fairly using only our first two. How about it?"
As soon as he said that, the students' whispers grew even more frequent.
"He says no third soul skills, but does Yu Xiaogang even have a third soul skill?"
"Exactly. He's clearly afraid he can't beat Teacher Li, yet he claims he won't take advantage. Shameless."
"This Gangzi guy... anyone who didn't know better would think age counted as soul power."
"Hey, you know, if age really counted as soul power, our 'Grandmaster' would be a level-fifty Soul King."
"Hahahahaha! I'm dying!"
Hearing the students' mockery, even someone as thick-skinned as Yu Xiaogang flushed, wishing he could dig a hole and crawl into it.
He gritted his teeth and shouted to bolster his courage. "What's wrong, Li Hanqiu? Scared? If you don't dare, this Grandmaster will consider it your surrender!"
Li Hanqiu stood with his hands behind his back. At his feet, the little golden dog gave a lazy yawn.
"Stop barking, Gangzi. You're hurting everyone's ears. What's your stake?"
Yu Xiaogang froze. "What stake?"
"If there's no stake, why would I stand here entertaining your pig?"
The spectators burst into laughter again.
Yu Xiaogang's temple twitched. Through clenched teeth, he said, "Fine! Tell me what we're betting!"
The corners of Li Hanqiu's mouth lifted. He stepped forward, stroking his chin in thought.
"I'd love to bet something big, but you don't have a single thing I'd want. Hmm... how about this?"
Li Hanqiu stared at Yu Xiaogang and enunciated every word. "If you lose, I want you to rename your martial soul."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the fat purple pig. His voice wasn't loud, but everyone present heard it clearly.
"From now on, your Luo Sanpao will be called Farting Pig."
"Do you dare?"
The crowd went silent for a moment, then erupted, laughing so hard they doubled over.
"Farting Pig! What a great name!"
"Teacher Li's ruthless! Haha!"
Yu Xiaogang's face turned purple, then nearly black. His chest heaved violently, and the fat pig huffed and panted along with him.
"You're on!" he shouted hoarsely. "You think this Grandmaster is afraid of a wet-behind-the-ears brat like you?"
"Good. As expected of the 'Grand Mess-ter.' You really do have guts!" Li Hanqiu gave him a thumbs-up, but the indifference in his eyes sent another surge of inexplicable fury through Yu Xiaogang.
Tang San tugged at Li Hanqiu's sleeve and looked up at him. "Teacher..."
"Don't worry, Little San. I'll win," Li Hanqiu said calmly, his voice brimming with confidence.
With the wager settled, several students eager for a spectacle shouted, "Make room!" They cleared a wider circle in the open ground so the two could fight.
The match began.
Yu Xiaogang attacked first. The fat pig in front of him scraped the ground with its forehooves, its purple fur shuddering three times, and then-
"Pffft-"
With a muffled blast, a cloud of yellow-green foul air shot from its rear, its cloying stench spreading on the wind.
The students in the front row gagged, clapped their hands over their noses, and backed away repeatedly.
"Holy crap, what is that smell?"
"I'm going to throw up last night's dinner!"
Li Hanqiu also looked disgusted. Whether someone could beat Yu Xiaogang was one thing, but probably very few people wanted to fight him.
After all, beating a farting pig still left a stink on your reputation, both physically and morally.
Li Hanqiu's little golden dog retreated two steps and shook his head in disgust, his nose scrunched up.
He raised his head, and the faint streaks of gold in his black eyes suddenly lit up.
Golden light gathered in his throat.
"Boom!"
A bolt of golden lightning burst from his mouth, tracing a blinding arc through the air before striking the fat pig squarely in the back.
The fat purple pig let out a wretched squeal and was blasted far away, landing on his back with all four legs in the air. His whole body convulsed as he foamed at the mouth.
His rear continued to let out two involuntary "pffts," the stench mixing with the smell of scorching flesh into something utterly foul.
One move decided the winner.
The fat pig lay belly-up, unable even to grunt.
Yu Xiaogang's face was deathly pale. His lips moved, but for a long time, he couldn't force out a single word.
How could this happen? They're both Luo Sanpao. Why is the difference so enormous?
No matter how hard he thought, Yu Xiaogang couldn't understand.
Li Hanqiu walked slowly into the center. Luo Sanpao held his little head high, his golden fur fluffy and his chest puffed out, looking for all the world like a victorious general.
Li Hanqiu affectionately patted Luo Sanpao's head, then looked down at Yu Xiaogang and said coldly:
"From today onward, that pig of yours doesn't deserve the name Luo Sanpao."
"He only deserves to be called Farting Pig."
The entire crowd roared with laughter, the sound nearly lifting the roof.
"Farting Pig! Farting Pig!"
Yu Xiaogang trembled all over, his clenched teeth chattering audibly.
Head lowered, he slunk over to the fat pig, scooped up that heap of soft flesh, and squeezed into the crowd.
Once he slipped into the shadows, Yu Xiaogang abruptly looked back, his eyes frighteningly red and filled with venom.
"Li Hanqiu..."
"This isn't over!"
Clutching the fat pig in his arms, he walked away step by step and disappeared around the corridor's corner.
Before you continue