Early the next morning, Luo Chen opened his eyes in excitement.
After several months of practice, his "Twin Emperor Soul Guidance" had finally broken through the introductory stage just now and reached the beginner stage.
Now, not only had his perception expanded to a radius of fifty meters, but he could even exercise preliminary control over the operation of his two Martial Souls.
Just then, with his heightened perception, Luo Chen heard footsteps approaching his room from outside.
Soon, a knock came at the door, followed by Tang San's slightly trembling voice. "Luo Chen, I know you're in there. Please open the door. I have something to tell you."
Luo Chen frowned at this. He glanced up at the clock, deeply puzzled.
Shouldn't Tang San be cultivating with Yu Xiaogang at this hour?
Why would he come here now?
Could he be here to avenge Yu Xiaogang and wash away his humiliation?
At that thought, Luo Chen immediately lost his composure. He hurriedly called through the door, "Tang San, whatever you have to say, just say it outside. I'm listening."
"No! I insist on coming in to say it. If you won't come out, I'll stand right here and won't leave."
Stand there, then. Think you can threaten me? I'm not the one getting tired anyway. With that thought, Luo Chen yawned and muttered, "I cultivated all night. I'm a little sleepy. I'll go back to bed for another nap."
Tang San waited a long time without hearing Luo Chen speak and thought something had happened.
He hurriedly used his First Soul Skill, Entanglement, and successfully reached the window by climbing up with the help of his Blue Silver Grass.
Seeing Luo Chen lying in bed without a care in the world, Tang San had countless unkind words he wanted to blurt out. In the end, however, he returned to the ground, leaned beside the door, and quietly waited for Luo Chen to wake.
He even thoughtfully sealed the window with Blue Silver Grass to keep the sunlight from shining in and disturbing Luo Chen's sleep.
By the time Luo Chen woke, the sun was already sinking toward the west.
"That was the best sleep I've had in days!" Luo Chen stretched comfortably and walked to the door. As he pushed it open, he thought, It's been so long. Tang San must have left ages ago.
The instant the door opened, Tang San's gaunt face came into view.
"A ghost!" Luo Chen's hands moved faster than his eyes, trying to shut the door, but unfortunately, Tang San blocked it with his hand.
Seeing that he simply could not close it, Luo Chen gave up on the door altogether.
"Why are you still here?" he asked in confusion. "It's already 6:30 p.m. Don't tell me you've been standing here all day."
Outside the door, Tang San smiled calmly at his words. "What if I have?"
Seeing Luo Chen's brows furrow, he continued, "I heard you snoring. Didn't sleep well last night?"
"..."
Is there something wrong with this Tang San? Why does he say every little thing out loud?
Besides, what the hell does my snoring have to do with you?
Seeing Luo Chen's cheeks puff up in anger, Tang San immediately pressed his advantage. "Considering how long I've waited for you, won't you invite me in for a seat?"
"Come in." Luo Chen stepped aside.
After entering the room, Tang San stood in its center with his head lowered. After a moment of silence, he raised his head and looked at Luo Chen, his voice utterly hoarse. "I was wrong, Luo Chen. I really was outrageously wrong!"
Good grief, has he come to confess his sins to me? But I'm not God!
Luo Chen leaned against the doorframe, folded his arms across his chest, and said indifferently, "I told you long ago that Yu Xiaogang wasn't a good person, but you insisted on clinging to him."
His voice was calm, without the slightest ripple. "What's the use of telling me now? I can't save you. The only one who can save you is yourself."
Tang San froze for a moment at his words. Then he forcefully wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes, and his gaze grew resolute.
"You're right. Once I go back, I'll sever my master-disciple relationship with Yu Xiaogang!"
Hearing this, Luo Chen was profoundly shaken.
After all, Tang San had spent his entire previous life in the Tang Sect. From childhood, he had been steeped in the belief that "a teacher for a day is a father for life." This belief had sunk into his very marrow and accompanied him throughout his life.
And now, in just a few days, he had actually corrected this belief himself. What about the future, then?
A smile curled at the corner of Luo Chen's mouth. "To think you're not a block of wood after all."
"Mm." Tang San nodded. "You were right. Blue Silver Grass's defining trait is its tenacious vitality, yet he had me pursue deadly poison and even sought out an animal-type Soul Beast for my Soul Ring..."
His voice carried lingering fear. "If you hadn't opened my eyes, I might have been fooled by him for the rest of my life."
Luo Chen remained silent, merely watching him with a piercing gaze.
Tang San took a deep breath. His eyes suddenly darkened, revealing a trace of wickedness, and he said flatly, "Not only will I sever our master-disciple relationship, I'll make Yu Xiaogang unable to live and unable to die!"
Luo Chen nodded in satisfaction at his words. "That's more like it."
He straightened and patted Tang San on the shoulder.
"The First Soul Ring determines your future direction. With Yu Xiaogang screwing you over like this, treating you as an experimental subject, you'd be doing yourself an injustice if you didn't take revenge."
A cold glint flashed through Tang San's eyes. "I won't let him off."
"Mm." Luo Chen nodded, turned toward the table, picked up a cup, and took a sip of water.
"Anything else? If not, please leave. I need to prepare for tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Tang San sounded somewhat puzzled.
"Yes, I have a lot to do tomorrow." Luo Chen counted on his fingers. "Ask the dean for my graduation certificate, then get certified as a Soul Master. Once I receive my allowance, I'll go back to the village."
Luo Chen's voice was utterly flat. "Nuoding Academy is too small. There's no point staying here."
Shock appeared on Tang San's face. "You're leaving?"
"Yes." Luo Chen set down his cup and looked at Tang San. "There's no banquet under heaven that doesn't end. Besides, the two of us are merely strangers who know each other a little better."
Tang San fell silent for a moment, his voice somewhat low. "I thought we were at least friends..."
"So we're only strangers who know each other a little better... But if we really are strangers, why did you help me see clearly..."
He stopped short, his eyes fixed firmly on Luo Chen, wanting him to give an answer.
Luo Chen did not give him the answer he wanted. Instead, he changed the subject.
"All right, it's so late that it won't be safe going back, either. Let's meet again someday if fate allows."
He gestured toward the door. "Please leave."
Seeing Luo Chen's firm determination to send him away, Tang San abandoned any intention of staying and turned to leave.
Upon reaching the door, he suddenly looked back at Luo Chen and gave a sincere smile. "Luo Chen, thank you. I think I'll remember you for the rest of my life."
"No need to thank me." Luo Chen waved a hand, his tone still indifferent. "I only told the truth. You were the one who decided what to do."
Tang San gave him a long look, then turned and left, disappearing at the end of the corridor.
Luo Chen shut the door, leaned against it, and sighed softly.
"Ah..."
"I wonder whether those events from the original story will still happen after I helped Tang San distance himself from Yu Xiaogang."
The thought gave Luo Chen a headache.
Originally, he had only wanted to stay away from Tang San and torment Yu Xiaogang a little. As chance would have it, that torment had actually broken up the close master-disciple pair from the original story and even turned them into enemies.
"But if Tang San stays away from Yu Xiaogang," Luo Chen mused, rubbing his chin, "will he still become that God King Tang from the original story?"
"..."
"Forget it. Thinking too much won't help." Luo Chen waved a hand. "With my talent, who'll kill whom is still up in the air anyway."
"I'm leaving Nuoding City tomorrow. I'd better think about which way to go next."