Meanwhile, on another front!
While Xiao Wu dragged Li Jin along to dominate Nuoding Academy...
Tang San had it miserable!
At a clinic in the city!
Just now, a healing-type Soul Grandmaster had treated the wound smashed into Yu Xiaogang's head.
The treatment cost five Silver Soul Coins.
Tang San's heart ached so much he could barely breathe. Half of the one Gold Soul Coin subsidy he had just collected from Spirit Hall was already spent.
His heart grew even more bitter.
Then Tang San patted himself down and searched every storage compartment in Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges, but found no trace of that Gold Soul Coin.
His expression froze, then turned panicked.
My Gold Soul Coin! Where's my Gold Soul Coin?
Seeing this, the healing-type Soul Grandmaster's face darkened.
"You're not trying to get treated for free, are you?!"
"Someone, shut the doors!"
Yu Xiaogang's face was pale, but his bearing was imposing.
"What do you mean, for free? I am Yu Xiaogang, the renowned Grandmaster of the Douluo Continent. It's merely five Silver Soul Coins."
"Little San, take out the Gold Soul Coin you just collected. When I get my subsidy next month, I'll pay you back double."
Tang San looked utterly woeful. "Teacher, that Gold Soul Coin is gone. Why am I so unlucky?"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened. How had master and disciple become this unlucky?
He had lost his Storage Soul Tool and was now penniless. His disciple had even lost the Gold Soul Coin he had just collected, without knowing when he had lost it.
"Little San, go back to Nuoding Academy and find the dean. He's a close friend of mine. Ask him for some money to get me out."
"I am Yu Xiaogang, a guest elder of Nuoding Academy. It's merely five Silver Soul Coins. I can certainly afford this little treatment fee. I'll stay here as collateral, so let my disciple go back for the money first."
The physician reluctantly agreed.
Tang San lowered his head, his heart in a panic. This was a whole Gold Soul Coin! It was the first time in his life he had ever touched one, and now it was simply gone.
Stupid brain, think! Where exactly did I lose it?
He hurried out of the clinic and headed back to Nuoding Academy.
No sooner had Tang San left the clinic than three mercenaries covered in blood barged in.
"Physician, hurry and take a look at Brother Scar! A Soul Beast injured him. The physician in town told us to find a physician in the city."
Seeing business arrive, the physician put away the cold expression he had worn toward Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, rose, and went to examine the three mercenaries' injuries.
At that moment, Yu Xiaogang also saw the three mercenaries' faces. As though he had seen a ghost, his face went white as paper, and his lips moved.
"Scar..."
Brother Scar's face was somewhat pale. At that moment, as though sensing something, he spotted Yu Xiaogang sitting deep inside the clinic-the man who had left such a deep impression on him in the Soul Hunting Forest.
A teasing look flashed through his eyes.
"Xiaogang, I never imagined we'd meet again just a few days after parting in the Soul Hunting Forest!"
"How could this not count as fate? Or were you waiting here at the clinic for me to arrive?"
The healing Soul Master examined Scar's wounds. A Soul Beast's sharp claws had torn four gashes across his chest, deep enough to expose bone and damage his sinews and bones. No wonder the physician in town could do nothing.
As he used a healing Soul Skill to treat Scar's injuries, he remarked casually:
"So you know each other? That's wonderful. Yu Xiaogang in there owes us five Silver Soul Coins for treatment. If you know him, you can pay it for him."
Brother Scar's breathing steadied, and the searing pain in his chest eased somewhat. Whether it was because of the physician's treatment or because he had seen Yu Xiaogang, he did not know.
While receiving treatment, he laughed heartily.
"No problem! He's my dearly beloved friend, my brother in all but blood. It's only five Silver Soul Coins. I'll pay."
About ten minutes later, the claw marks on Brother Scar's chest had mostly healed. He stood and moved his limbs, feeling that nothing serious remained.
The physician let out a long breath and cautioned him:
"The surface wounds have healed, but the sinews and bones haven't fully recovered. Avoid intense fighting for a while. That'll be one Gold Soul Coin."
Brother Scar grinned, his eyes never leaving Yu Xiaogang as he took out one Gold Soul Coin for his own treatment.
Then he took out five Silver Soul Coins for Yu Xiaogang's treatment.
"Physician, one Gold Soul Coin and five Silver Soul Coins for Xiaogang's treatment and mine. If everything's settled, we'll be leaving."
After accepting the money, the physician nodded and let them go.
A gentle smile appeared on Brother Scar's face. Taking his two underlings with him, he walked deeper into the clinic, then waved for them to take Yu Xiaogang away.
Yu Xiaogang tried to struggle, shrieking:
"I don't know you! I'm not going with you!"
Brother Scar reached out with a rough palm and patted Yu Xiaogang's cheek, his mild voice full of menace.
"Xiaogang, if you keep shouting, don't blame me for spilling your secret."
Yu Xiaogang's expression froze. What had happened that day in the Soul Hunting Forest was an eternal pain in his heart.
If it became public...
His reputation would be finished!
Two trails of clear tears ran down Yu Xiaogang's cheeks.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang finally submit, Brother Scar said happily:
"Let's go!"
A little later, in a dark alley.
It was the alley beside the Truly Full of Flavor restaurant.
Lying at the alley's entrance, Tang Hao had a crooked mouth and askew eyes, and half his body was numb. His mind was still clear, however, and he could see and hear what was happening in the alley. Even he could not help feeling a chill in his heart.
Even Tang Hao, the mighty Clear Sky Douluo, felt fear rising within him.
How many years had it been? Even when facing Qian Xunji's encirclement and attacks back then, he had never been this afraid.
Fortunately, he was now a beggar who could not even control his bowels or bladder.
An hour later.
Brother Scar left the alley with his two underlings, thoroughly satisfied.
Passing the entrance, he saw Tang Hao lying there.
That penetrating gaze made Tang Hao scream inwardly.
Back, back, back... You damned pervert, stay away from me!
Only when he caught the rank stench of urine mixed with feces did Brother Scar cover his nose.
"What a pity. A crippled beggar."
"Let's go, brothers! I'm in a good mood today. Tonight's on me. Let's drink our fill."
Only then did the three leave!
Having gotten money from the dean, Tang San finally hurried back to the clinic, only to learn from the physician that someone had already paid to get Yu Xiaogang out, and they had left together.
Full of questions, Tang San left the clinic and asked around along the way. After making inquiries, he finally found the dark alley beside the Truly Full of Flavor restaurant.
He walked into the alley with a frown. Passing the beggar, Tang San gave him another glance, and his pupils suddenly contracted.
"Dad!"
Ignoring the foul stench, Tang San threw himself onto the beggar, his head full of questions.
Wasn't his father in Holy Soul Village?
Why had he appeared in Nuoding City, paralyzed and reduced to a beggar?
The beggar he and Yu Xiaogang had mocked earlier was actually his father. Tang San was now overcome with regret.
"Dad, what happened? Who did this to you? He's courting death!"
Being recognized by his son brought him no joy whatsoever. Instead, he wanted to die.
His own son had seen him at his most wretched.
What a proud man Tang Hao was! Rage surged to his heart, and his eyes rolled back as he fainted.
Seeing Tang Hao faint, Tang San shouted for his father and shook his body. After thinking it over, he decided to take Tang Hao away first.
When he hoisted Tang Hao onto his back, he remembered that he had originally come to find his teacher.
Gritting his teeth, Tang San carried Tang Hao deeper into the alley, where he saw Yu Xiaogang pulling up his trousers while cursing and sobbing.
He froze on the spot.
Seeing Tang San, Yu Xiaogang immediately panicked.
He had thought he could keep it hidden forever, but his own disciple had discovered it after all.
What do I do? Waiting online. Urgent!
"Little San, how did you find this place? It's not what you think!"
Panic filled Yu Xiaogang's heart. Thinking of his lifelong good name, his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.
Tang San felt the heavens' profound malice.
His paralyzed dad, his bullied teacher, his shattered self!