Yu Xiaogang frowned, his fingers drumming incessantly on the table.
A weakness for women was easy to exploit, yet difficult at the same time.
When he had first met that little girl Xiao Wu, he had known she would grow into a beauty.
Finding someone who could outshine her would be no easy task.
She would need both the looks and the figure, and she had to be a female Soul Master.
Among the women he could reach, only Liu Erlong and Bibi Dong fit the bill.
He could not order Bibi Dong around. Besides, if she learned about a method that could rapidly raise one's soul power level, what chance would he have of getting his hands on it?
That leaves only you, Erlong.
Don't blame me. This is all for the Soul Master World!
If you must blame someone, blame that brat for hiding something so wonderful and refusing to share it!
"Xiao San, since Chen Yang likes women, keep an eye out. I will also find a way to ask an old friend for help. We'll make sure you get that method."
"Yes, Teacher."
Warmth surged through Tang San's heart, filling him with gratitude.
As expected, my teacher cares about me most! He's always making plans and thinking of his students.
For his student's future, even at sixty, he's willing to set aside his pride and run around, negotiating and seeking support.
Wait! White hair?!
Tang San's pupils contracted sharply as he stared fixedly at the top of Yu Xiaogang's head.
His eyes widened in disbelief. Pointing at Yu Xiaogang's hair, he cried out:
"Teacher! Why has all your hair turned white?!"
Yu Xiaogang furrowed his brow and hurried to the mirror on the wall.
The instant he saw his reflection, his face went deathly pale.
There was not a trace of a middle-aged scholar left in him. He looked like an eighty-year-old man nearing his end, frighteningly aged.
He raised trembling hands, running them through his snow-white hair and touching his rough, shriveled cheeks. His voice was filled with terror and disbelief:
"How... how did I end up like this?!"
His body went limp, and he collapsed to the floor, trembling uncontrollably.
Tang San hurriedly crouched beside him, placed a hand on his shoulder, and sent his internal energy into him to examine his condition.
There's nothing wrong with his body, and no sign of poisoning.
But why are his meridians so fragile? And there's so little vitality left in him.
He's like an old man with one foot in the grave.
Tang San shook his head.
"Teacher, I couldn't find anything wrong."
"No... no! I don't want to die! Absolutely not! I haven't made my name known across the Douluo Continent yet! I haven't broken through level thirty!
"I can't just die like this without accomplishing anything!"
Yu Xiaogang's mind raced as he searched for a way out.
"That's right! As long as my soul power level rises, my lifespan will increase too!"
He seized Tang San's arm, his face filled with fear and pleading.
"Xiao San, you must get their method! Otherwise, I'll die of old age!"
"But Teacher, my relationship with them is only average right now. They won't hand over such a precious method for your sake."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes went blank before he made up his mind.
I have to trick Liu Erlong into coming here as soon as possible!
Given her feelings for me, she definitely won't want to see me like this.
She'll definitely help me coax Chen Yang's secret method out of him!
And that bootlicker Flender will certainly know where Liu Erlong is!
With that thought, Yu Xiaogang pushed himself up against the wall and headed for the door. Tang San hurried forward to support him.
The moment they opened the door, they saw Ma Hongjun and Oscar with their hands raised, about to knock.
The two were just about to speak when they caught sight of Yu Xiaogang's bark-like skin.
"Holy crap! Tang San, what's happened to your teacher?! Why does he look like he's about to die?!"
Tang San shot Ma Hongjun a cold glance. You dare curse my teacher? You've already signed your own death warrant!
"Apologize to my teacher!"
Ma Hongjun stiffened his neck and was about to argue, but Oscar tugged at him.
"Heh, Xiao San, Fatty didn't mean it. Fatty, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and apologize!"
As he spoke, Oscar shot him a meaningful look.
Only then did Ma Hongjun notice the killing intent in Tang San's eyes. Cold sweat instantly poured down his body, and he promptly bowed in apology.
"I'm sorry, Grandmaster! It was my fault! I spoke without thinking! Please don't take it to heart!"
"Hmph!"
Yu Xiaogang glanced at him, not regarding him as worth his attention at all.
Tang San's expression also eased considerably.
"What brings you here so late?"
"Huh? Well... we wanted to take you out for some fun. I found a place that's good value, with young girls and cheap prices."
Ma Hongjun forced himself to say it, leaving Oscar feeling as though his vision kept going black.
Tang San was tempted. Just thinking about that feeling excited him.
But then he looked at his teacher. If he abandoned his teacher now to go enjoy himself, wouldn't that be a little unfilial?
"Teacher, I'd like to go with Fatty and the others. We might find a female Soul Master who meets our requirements."
Tang San's words nearly fooled even himself.
A place that sells flesh-what Soul Master would have to be out of their mind to go there to make money?
Yu Xiaogang did not think that far, though. Or perhaps his aging had already dulled his mind.
"Thank you for your efforts, Xiao San. Go with them. I'll go find Flender myself."
With that, Yu Xiaogang withdrew the arm Tang San was supporting and walked toward Flender's dormitory.
The corners of Tang San's mouth rose. He looked at Ma Hongjun and Oscar as though they were his own dear brothers.
"Let's go, Fatty. I'd like to see whether it's really as good as you say."
"Of course it is! When has my judgment ever been bad?"
Ma Hongjun thumped his chest, walking shoulder to shoulder with Tang San and boasting along the way.
It was as though he had completely forgotten what had just happened. Behind them, Oscar helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead.
Sooner or later, Fatty's personality will get him killed.
Inside Flender's dormitory.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang, who had aged overnight and now had a head full of white hair, Flender's eyes widened in disbelief. He paced around him, examining him over and over.
"Xiaogang! What's happened to you?! What on earth is going on?!"
Faced with Flender's questions, Yu Xiaogang shook his head gently. His expression appeared calm, but a deep gloom lurked in his eyes.
"I don't know."
His voice carried a hint of hoarseness as he slowly began,
"It must be a hidden complication left by my martial soul mutation and degeneration. It's been lurking inside me all this time, showing no abnormalities in daily life, and only erupted fully today."
"Then what do we do? Did you come to ask me to take you into the city to see a healing-type Soul Master?"
"No!"
Yu Xiaogang drew a deep breath and stared straight into Flender's eyes.
"I need you to tell me where Erlong is. Don't tell me you don't know."
Flender fell silent for a moment, assuming Yu Xiaogang had finally come around and was ready to accept Erlong.
He felt both happy and sad.
Ah... forget it. As long as Erlong is happy, I don't matter.
"Erlong is at Blue Tyrant Academy. She's the academy's dean."
"Take me there. It's urgent. You've seen how old I've become. If we don't hurry, I might not get another chance."
Yu Xiaogang's voice grew agitated, as though he had glimpsed hope of survival!
"All right. I'll take you there now."
Before you continue