Same building, different dorms, different people. Hello, everyone! I'm Old Eight...
Sorry, wrong channel...
Ahem...
In Dorm Seven, the work-study dormitory in Nuoding City, Tang San had just been beaten up by Xiao Wu, a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit. His two-minute trial card as boss of Dorm Seven had expired, and Xiao Wu had naturally become its new boss.
The two were sitting on a bed, sighing. Neither had brought any bedding. Six of Xiao Wu's seven openings were clear-which meant she hadn't the first clue; Tang San, meanwhile, was too poor to buy any. Why was he poor? Never you mind!
Dorm Seven was now divided into two little groups. On the left were the dorm's original occupants, led by Wang Sheng; on the right were the future "Buddha Lord Tang" and "Asura Sword Sheath."
Suddenly, amid the rustling whispers, the crisp click of a turning doorknob rang out, jarring and sharp.
Everyone turned toward the door in unison. Standing outside was Teacher Mo Hen, who assigned work to the work-study students.
When Wang Sheng saw Teacher Mo Hen, he turned to look at Tang San and Xiao Wu across the room. Something occurred to him, and he nodded thoughtfully.
Mo Hen swept his gaze over the students in the dormitory, finally resting it on Tang San and Xiao Wu, who weren't wearing school uniforms.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Mo Hen. I'm the teacher who assigns work to the work-study students. Which of you is Tang San?"
Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance. Tang San stood, straightened his clothes, and looked at Mo Hen.
"Hello, Teacher Mo! I'm Tang San. What did you need me for?"
Mo Hen nodded and looked at Tang San. "Come with me." With that, Mo Hen turned and walked out of Tang San's sight.
"Little San!" Xiao Wu grabbed Tang San's arm, worried.
"It's all right. He's a teacher at the academy!" Tang San shook his head slightly and reassured Xiao Wu.
Tang San walked out of the dormitory and turned to look left. He saw Mo Hen standing with a gloomy-faced man in black scholar's robes, his hair cut in a short crew cut.
This man was none other than Yu Xiaogang, a grandmaster of Martial Soul Theory!
Looking at the man standing beside Mo Hen, Tang San thought he seemed familiar, but couldn't remember where he'd seen him.
Earlier, at the academy gates, Tang San had been suspicious of Yu Xiaogang's identity and had stayed too far away to get a clear look at his face.
"Ahem, Tang San, let me introduce you. This is a grandmaster of Martial Soul Theory recognized throughout the continent..."
Mo Hen paused, gave Yu Xiaogang a strange look, and continued his introduction.
"He's also a teacher at Nuoding Academy and a friend of the dean!"
His earlier conversation with Lu Yu at the academy gates had left Yu Xiaogang unable to react for a moment. Mainly, Yu Xiaogang hadn't expected what Lu Yu would say and had been caught off guard.
By the time he recovered, Lu Yu had long since vanished from sight. Yu Xiaogang then went to the registration office to look for Lu Yu's enrollment information.
He didn't find Lu Yu's information, but he discovered Tang San, who had Innate Full Soul Power and whose Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, a Trash Martial Soul recognized as such throughout the continent.
With the knowledge Yu Xiaogang had accumulated, he instantly judged that this Tang San was far from as simple as he appeared.
This Tang San had Twin Martial Souls, a rarity seen only once in a century on the continent. He was also Yu Xiaogang's chance to prove himself to the entire continent.
The frustration he had suffered at Lu Yu's hands vanished in an instant. He put down Tang San's enrollment information and set out to find him.
On the way, he considered what he would say when they met: how he would use his earth-shattering theories to reveal the secret of Tang San's Twin Martial Souls, win him over, and have Tang San take him as his master.
But then he suddenly remembered his conversation with Lu Yu. Afraid the same thing would happen again when he spoke to Tang San, Yu Xiaogang frowned and went to find Mo Hen, who assigned work to the work-study students. He wanted Mo Hen to introduce him to Tang San as a grandmaster of theory.
And sure enough, Yu Xiaogang's plan worked. When Tang San heard that the gloomy man before him was a grandmaster of Martial Soul Theory and a friend of the dean, his eyes widened slightly.
Though his eyes showed surprise, his heart was full of misgivings. Why would someone with that kind of status come looking for me...
But Tang San asked no further questions and simply watched in silence.
Once Mo Hen had finished introducing him, Yu Xiaogang finally lowered the head he had held high all this time and looked down at Tang San.
"You must be Tang San. You're a good child. Come with me; I have something to tell you."
With that, he turned and left without so much as a glance at Mo Hen.
Mo Hen frowned at Yu Xiaogang's departing figure. Though displeased, he said nothing. After all, the man was a friend of the dean, and Mo Hen couldn't afford to offend him.
After giving Tang San a long look, Mo Hen turned and left as well. Tang San stood alone, dumbfounded. Looking at Yu Xiaogang's retreating figure, he finally remembered why the man had seemed so familiar.
Wasn't he the "human trafficker" who had lied about his identity at the academy gates?
Tang San hesitated, unsure whether to follow. Though he had already labeled Yu Xiaogang a "human trafficker," a teacher from the academy had now stepped forward and confirmed Yu Xiaogang's identity as a teacher.
Besides, Mo Hen had introduced himself at the dormitory door, and none of the others inside had shown any unusual reaction. That proved Mo Hen really was a teacher at the academy.
Tang San shook his head slightly, casting the tangled thoughts from his mind. He touched the Sleeve Arrow hidden beneath the clothing on his right wrist, his gaze icy.
"If you two are both deceiving me, then you already have a way to death!!"
Tang San followed Yu Xiaogang all the way, keeping a great distance of five paces between them. He looked from side to side as he went, highly vigilant.
"This is my office. Come in!" Yu Xiaogang opened the door and turned to look at Tang San behind him.
Before entering, Tang San carefully looked both ways outside the door. Only after confirming there was no one else around did he close and lock it.
If someone was lying in ambush outside, locking the door would hold them off for a while. If there was no one there and the man before him meant him harm, it would also keep the man from escaping.
Tang San was very confident in himself. With his Purple Demon Eye, which perceived the finest details, he could easily detect any move Yu Xiaogang made against him.
Yu Xiaogang walked to the window with his hands behind his back, failing to notice Tang San's little act of locking the door. Even if he had seen it, he wouldn't have cared. Yu Xiaogang was a peerless level twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster-would he be afraid of a child who had only just awakened his Martial Soul?
Instead, he went straight to the point. "I suppose you have another Martial Soul, don't you?"
Boom-
Those few short words stirred up towering waves in Tang San's mind. Only Tang Hao and Tang San himself knew the secret of his second Martial Soul. Why did the man before him know it?
Tang San instinctively took half a step back. A glimmer of purple flashed in his eyes as he stared coldly at the back of Yu Xiaogang's neck. The safety on the Sleeve Arrow at his right wrist was already off, and he raised his right hand slightly. At the slightest unusual move from Yu Xiaogang, Tang San would raise his hand without hesitation, pull the trigger, and shoot straight through his neck.
At the same time, he silently recited, The third article of the general principles of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record: "Once you are certain your opponent is an enemy, as long as they have a way to death, show no mercy. Otherwise, you will only bring trouble upon yourself."