Oh No, I've Already Given Them a Reason to Kill Me!

"Brr... why did I suddenly feel a chill?"

Ji Hongchen felt a chill run down his back.

It was as though someone had their eyes on him, making him uncomfortable all over.

"Oh crap, don't tell me someone's decided I've given them a reason to kill me!"

Only after heading to the restaurant did Ji Hongchen breathe a sigh of relief. Still, he felt uneasy, as though something was about to happen.

Damn it.

I'm just an ordinary little soul master.

How could someone decide I've given them a reason to kill me? This is ridiculous.

He had just finished ordering.

Yu Xiaogang led Tang San up to the second floor and sat down in a corner of the restaurant.

"You're a soul master, so your nutrition needs to keep up." Yu Xiaogang took out a paper parcel and handed it to Tang San. Inside were two steamed buns and a piece of meat.

Tang San accepted the parcel and felt the warmth of the food.

Emotion welled up in his chest. His eyes reddened, and he nearly cried.

Meat from my teacher!

Is this what my teacher's overflowing love feels like?

Tang San was deeply moved. Tears swam in his eyes as gratitude and respect for Yu Xiaogang rose in his heart.

Damn that Ji Hongchen. My teacher is as pure as ice and jade. How could he possibly disrespect his own teachers? It must all be Ji Hongchen's fault!

Ji Hongchen sensed a chill. Jinghong let out a faint sword hum within him-its reaction to sensing hostility.

His heart tightened.

He looked in the direction of that hostility.

Then he caught sight of the loving teacher and devoted disciple, Yu Xiaogang and Tang San. Yet the gaze Tang San directed at him was clearly full of hostility.

What the fuck?

You've already decided I've given you a reason to kill me?

What the hell did I ever do to you? Why don't you ask around and find out who provoked whom first? There's seriously something wrong with your brain.

Ji Hongchen cursed inwardly.

Everyone in this Douluo world is abnormal. They're sick in the head.

Just then, Yu Xiaogang also noticed Ji Hongchen nearby. A cold sneer curled his lips, and he rose to his feet, speaking with complete confidence.

"Ji Hongchen, I, the Grandmaster, can give you another chance. If you're willing to kneel and beg me to take you as my disciple, I might consider accepting you as a registered disciple."

He still very much wanted Ji Hongchen's theory of second awakening. If he could also obtain his Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, that would be even more perfect.

And after the boost Tang San had given him today...

Yu Xiaogang's ego had swelled, too. He felt ordinary soul masters were utterly unworthy of becoming his disciples. Only geniuses with innate full soul power qualified.

Ji Hongchen frowned.

Is that damned Yu Xiaogang still chasing after me?

"I have no intention of taking a teacher."

Ji Hongchen tossed out the remark and turned to leave, anger flickering in his heart. Fuck, if I weren't without any backing, I'd have made my move long ago.

I need to find an opportunity.

I need to enter that Douluo redemption code as soon as possible and redeem SSR Dugu Bo first. While I'm at it, I need to get my hands on those other immortal herbs, too.

This feeling of being threatened at every moment...

It really sucks.

Seeing Ji Hongchen about to leave again, Yu Xiaogang's face turned ashen. But remembering how Ji Hongchen had forced him back with a single sword strike last time, he could only swallow his anger.

Damn it. Without my invincible theories...

Even if your martial soul mutates a second time, you'll never compare to my student Tang San.

Tang San frowned.

Watching the direction in which Ji Hongchen had left, he put away the Sleeve Arrow he had prepared.

This man has rejected Teacher's kindness time and time again.

With his nasty attitude and arrogant, domineering behavior, he must be inherently evil. And he insulted my teacher, too. He's clearly already given me a reason to kill him.

Ji Hongchen left the restaurant, his back already cold.

Fuck, those inherently evil members of the Tang family.

To think he'd attack me over such a trivial matter. He's clearly already given me a reason to kill him.

Ji Hongchen thought it over. For the time he had left, he would be better off staying away from Nuoding Academy and returning only once every few months. It would be a good opportunity to travel, gain experience, and earn gold soul coins.

Since he had already made an enemy of Tang San...

He would have to be on his guard from now on. At the very least, he needed a Titled Douluo backing him, or he wouldn't be able to protect his own life.

Who knew whether Tang Hao might suddenly appear, see him blocking Tang San's path, and squash him with one swing of his hammer like some random object by the roadside?

Damn it!

Ji Hongchen was thoroughly frustrated. Yu Xiaogang really was the root of all evil. He could have happily stayed under the radar, but the man just had to jump out and try to take him as a disciple.

Elsewhere.

After leaving the restaurant, Yu Xiaogang brought Tang San to his office.

"Teacher, you and that Ji Hongchen..."

Yu Xiaogang waved a hand. "Pay him no mind. He's just a brat who grew arrogant because he has a little talent. His martial soul theory is incomplete. I intended to help him perfect it, but he refused."

"What? That man really doesn't know what's good for him!"

Tang San decided almost without thinking that Ji Hongchen was at fault. After all, how could the Grandmaster, pure as ice and jade, possibly be wrong?

Yu Xiaogang was very pleased with Tang San's reaction. As expected of his disciple, he had inherited his teachings well. With Tang San, he was confident he could put his theories into practice.

At that thought, Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San with some excitement. "San, release your second martial soul and let me see it."

Tang San did not hesitate. A Clear Sky Hammer with a bamboo-shoot-shaped head promptly appeared in his hand.

Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted at the sight of the Clear Sky Hammer.

His breath caught involuntarily.

As the former young sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, how could Yu Xiaogang fail to recognize the Clear Sky Hammer? But hadn't the Clear Sky Sect already sealed itself off?

"Child, who is your father?"

Yu Xiaogang seized Tang San's shoulders in excitement and asked in a trembling voice.

"My father's name is Tang Hao. What's wrong, Teacher?"

"Tang Hao?"

Yu Xiaogang murmured to himself, his eyes filled with shock. It was actually the man who had repelled three Titled Douluos from Spirit Hall just after attaining that rank himself-his idol, Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao, who possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!

Only after a long spell of excitement did Yu Xiaogang calm down. He looked at Tang San and spoke solemnly. "San, remember, you must never reveal your hammer martial soul to outsiders. Do you understand?"

Tang San nodded earnestly.

Why is that exactly what Dad said? Could Dad be more than an ordinary person?

Seeing Tang San nod, Yu Xiaogang nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Since you have innate full soul power, I'll take you to obtain your first soul ring tomorrow!"

A day passed in the blink of an eye.

"Teacher, is this your martial soul?"

Tang San lowered his head and looked at the purple-skinned pig at Yu Xiaogang's feet, somewhat surprised.

This martial soul really is unusual.

Yu Xiaogang nodded, picked up a mask, and handed it to Tang San, speaking calmly. "My martial soul is called Luo Sanpao. Its soul skill is farting. Put your mask on first."

"Farting."

At those words, the corners of Tang San's mouth twitched. He suppressed his laughter and put on the mask, taking a deep breath before he barely managed to keep a straight face.

Yu Xiaogang walked up to a stalk of emerald-green lone bamboo. "This is ten-year solitary bamboo. Its distinguishing trait is toughness, though it isn't very aggressive. If we can't find a suitable soul beast, it would be a good fit for you."

As for why he hadn't chosen hundred-year lone bamboo...

That was a matter of necessity. His farts couldn't blast through hundred-year lone bamboo, so he couldn't kill it. He could only try his hand at ten-year lone bamboo.

"All right."

Tang San nodded casually.

Inwardly, however, he was thinking that he had to get a hundred-year soul ring. After all, Xiao Chenyu and Ji Hongchen both had hundred-year soul rings. His had to be at least a hundred-year soul ring, too.