As the Shrek Seven Devils left, the room fell into a brief silence.
Flender and Liu Erlong exchanged a glance, and then they walked to the seats next to the Grandmaster and sat down.
Sensing the two's movements, the Grandmaster's expression turned sinister. He lowered his head slightly, and his left hand, resting on the armrest, unconsciously clenched.
" Xiao Gang..."
Flender hesitated for a moment; his middle-aged appearance was filled with hesitation.
Even Flender, who once dared to fight Poison Douluo without hesitation, didn't know how to speak at this moment.
Even Ning Rongrong could understand it.
How could Flender not have noticed anything amiss?
Flender had witnessed everything Xiao Yan and Tang San had done at the Shrek Academy, and he could clearly sense the bond between Grandmaster and Xiao Yan back then.
They are like father and son!
Flender believed his own eyes on this.
I believe in his decades of experience traversing the mainland.
But why, more than a year ago, did Xiao Yan Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing escape from the Shrek Academy that very night after Tang San Xiao Yan him the Immortal Herb that awakened him?
Why did things come to this point between Grandmaster and Xiao Yan?
Even Flender and Liu Erlong, who were most familiar with the Grandmaster, were unaware of all this.
I thought that was the end of it.
But they didn't expect that Xiao Yan would appear once again.
It appeared on the Spirit Hall's list.
Therefore, after much hesitation, Flender consulted with Liu Erlong, and the two decided to ask the Grandmaster for clarification.
They believed that, given their past friendship, the three of them would surely understand the Grandmaster.
"You and Xiao Yan..."
Flender stopped speaking after saying that.
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's name, the Grandmaster, who was sitting in a wheelchair, suddenly opened his eyes and stared intently at him.
Even Flender, who had known Yu Xiaogang for decades, had never seen such unfamiliar eyes.
Seeing the familiar eyes filled with the ferocity and resentment of the severed head, Flender froze on the spot for a moment.
" Xiao Gang..."
Liu Erlong, who was standing nearby, noticed that something was wrong and immediately put her hand on the Grandmaster's shoulder, trying to calm him down.
"Let go!"
However, this time, what followed was the Grandmaster's cold voice.
Liu Erlong stared in disbelief at the completely unfamiliar Grandmaster. For the past year and a half, the Grandmaster had lost an arm and a leg, and she had been the one taking care of Grandmaster.
The Grandmaster turned his head and met Liu Erlong's gaze, looking at the empty cuff of the sleeve that the other was pressing on his right shoulder.
Hatred and resentment resurfaced in the Grandmaster's eyes once again.
Seeing the incredulous looks on Flender and Liu Erlong's faces, the Grandmaster, who had been suppressing his emotions, finally let go and said to the two of them;
"Look at me now, I'm a useless person, what right do I have to speak?"
"That's not how it is, Xiao Gang!"
Liu Erlong immediately raised her head, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes, and said to the Grandmaster:
" Xiao Gang, that's not what we meant. We just want to know what exactly happened to you..."
Flender, standing to the side, also spoke up to explain:
" Xiao Gang, how can you say that about Sister Erlong? For over a year, she has been taking care of you wholeheartedly. You should know that."
Listening to Flender's words, the Grandmaster took a deep breath, his emotions gradually calming down. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke:
"Fine, you want to know? I'll tell you!"
The Grandmaster closed his eyes, clenched his teeth, and a look of pain appeared on his face as he spoke to the two of them:
" Boss Fu, you know, thirty years ago, we traveled across the continent, venturing into so many dangerous places, and made a name for ourselves in the Soul Master World. Those were the happiest days of my life..."
The Grandmaster's words also brought back memories for Flender and Liu Erlong, who recalled the days when the three of them had adventured together.
That is not only the Grandmaster's memory, but also their past.
"But..."
The Grandmaster's voice carried a hint of pain:
" Boss Fu, you're different from Erlong. You two are undisputed geniuses, but what about me?"
The Grandmaster's voice carried a hint of self-mockery:
"I'm just a piece of trash who will never break through level 30, and will never be able to reach the Soul Elder!"
The Grandmaster's face showed reluctance, and he continued to explain to the two of them:
"After we separated, we devoted ourselves to studying Martial Soul. We explored the collections of the Spirit Hall, our clan, and even the Soul Grandmaster families. I tried every possible method to find a way to change ourselves, but unfortunately, I found none."
The Grandmaster's tone was tinged with weariness as he thought back to the past ten years, a period in which he had accomplished nothing.
"Later, disheartened, I left and went to a remote town on the border of the Heaven Dou Empire. It was there that I met Tang San and Xiao Yan."
The Grandmaster lowered his head and said softly:
"When I see them, I think of the theories I proposed based on those various books. It's just a pity that I can't verify them myself. So, I want to teach them. If my disciples, Yu Xiaogang's disciples, can become Titled Douluo on the continent, wouldn't that prove that I am right?"
The Grandmaster told the two of them about the joy he felt after accepting Tang San and Xiao Yan as his disciples.
Flender and Liu Erlong understood this as well.
After all, having taken two disciples with Twin Martial Souls as his own, their future achievements will surely be renowned throughout the continent. At that time, as their common teacher, Grandmaster will also surely gain great fame.
The Grandmaster recounted his experiences with Xiao Yan and Tang San.
Under his guidance, the two children gradually embarked on the path of cultivation.
"This was the path I was meant to take..."
The Grandmaster's voice gradually lowered, then he continued:
"Do you all remember when Little San was captured by Poison Douluo?"
"Certainly!"
Flender nodded, instantly realizing something. It was precisely because of the poison from Poison Douluo that Xiao Yan had fallen into a coma for a full six months, only recovering after Tang San brought back the Immortal Herb.
But once they awoke, it was time for them to break up.
Thinking of this, Flender suddenly realized something and looked at the Grandmaster with disbelief.
"That's right."
The Grandmaster's face regained its composure. He nodded slowly, looked directly at Flender, and began to speak:
" Xiao Yan was in a coma for half a year, not because of the poison from Poison Douluo, but because... me."
The Grandmaster's expression gradually became somewhat manic, his eyes filled with madness.
"When I was evaluating Xiao Yan's Martial Soul, I inadvertently discovered that his Martial Soul... could actually cause fluctuations in the Soul Power within my body."
A hint of fascination appeared in the Grandmaster's eyes as he recalled the events of that time and continued speaking:
"So, this period of unconsciousness gave me a perfect opportunity to conduct an experiment."
"I used a specially prepared spiritual liquid to coat his body, sealing off his control over it. Over six months, I gradually absorbed all the Martial Soul within him into my own body!"
The Grandmaster became increasingly excited as he spoke, his body even trembling slightly, and he spoke in a passionate voice:
"Do you remember, Boss Fu? Those six months proved that I, Yu Xiaogang, am also a genius!"
Listening to the Grandmaster's words, Flender suddenly realized something.
Why was Xiao Yan unconscious for six months back then?
The Grandmaster broke through to the Soul Elder realm, and his strength even surpassed that of Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and other geniuses.
At the time, they were all immersed in joy, thinking that the Grandmaster was the culmination of many years of accumulation, so they did not realize the unusual nature of the matter.
Liu Erlong, who was standing to the side, trembled slightly upon hearing the Grandmaster's words.
He listened as the Grandmaster recounted how he had sealed Xiao Yan's control over his body.
The "spiritual liquid" applied to Xiao Yan's Xiao Yan was not a savior to alleviate the toxins in his body, but rather a shackle that imprisoned him!
Imprisonment and plunder lasting six months.
No wonder, no wonder Xiao Yan thought of leaving Shrek Academy as soon as he recovered.
Upon hearing this, Flender and Liu Erlong immediately understood everything.
Looking at the Grandmaster in the wheelchair before them, the two suddenly realized that the Grandmaster was now so unfamiliar.
Outside the courtyard gate, Ning Rongrong's petite body trembled slightly as she thought of those six months.
On many occasions, the "spiritual liquid" on Xiao Yan's body was applied by her and Zhu Zhuqing themselves.
The two also hoped that Xiao Yan could wake up soon, realizing that they had unintentionally become one of those who harmed Xiao Yan.
Thinking of this, a hint of anger flashed in the eyes of the Little Demoness from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
However, after so much experience, she has become able to conceal her emotions.
Taking a deep breath, Ning Rongrong quietly returned to her room, her fair hands clenched tightly together.