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Whether Tang San was truly the one who'd harmed him didn't matter anymore. As long as Tang San helped him shake off the "useless" label and didn't hurt him again, that was enough.
So, the real question was: Did Tang San want to kill Jade Xiaogang?
Of course he did.
He thought about it all the time.
Even now, if Flender and the others weren't around and if they weren't in such a public place, Tang San would've already turned this wreck who'd ruined his life into dust.
But Yu Xiaogang's ruined soul power did catch him off guard.
Sure, the man had it coming, and someone had done what Tang San wanted but hadn't dared to do himself, fearing the shame of turning on his teacher. Still, he hadn't actually touched Yu Xiaogang. He'd never even had the chance.
Could it have been his father?
Well, it wasn't impossible. He'd have to check with him later.
But whether it was his father, Tang Hao, or not, Tang San wasn't about to admit anything.
He still needed Yu Xiaogang's help to get the Spirit Hall Pope's method for cultivating twin martial souls. So, swallowing his urge to kill, Tang San put on an innocent face. "What are you saying? You're my teacher. I respect you more than anything. How could I want to kill you? And ruin you? That's even less likely. I'd never do something as low as betraying my teacher. Besides, even if I wanted to, when would I have had the time? I've been with everyone this whole time. They can back me up. Right, everyone?"
'Even if it wasn't you, it was probably your father!'
The Shrek group glanced at each other, muttering under their breath, but they nodded anyway. "Yeah, yeah, Brother San's been with us the whole time. How could he hurt his own teacher?"
Only Yu Tianheng narrowed his eyes, staring Tang San down. "Tang San, can you swear that neither you nor your father, the Clear Sky Douluo, hurt my uncle? Swear on your martial soul."
Yu Tianheng wasn't about to let this slide. They were messing with his family. Others might fear the Clear Sky Sect, but the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan didn't.
"Of course!"
Tang San was annoyed inside, but Yu Tianheng was too valuable for the upcoming promotion matches and finals. And later, they'd need the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to face the Spirit Hall.
It wasn't the time to make enemies.
Just as Tang San was about to swear, Xiao Wu cut in. "What's the point of swearing? Even if it was Brother San or his dad, so what? This fake ruined Brother San's life. Just wrecking his soul power is letting him off easy. If it were me, I'd cut him down so he wouldn't even be a man anymore."
She didn't care if Tang San was really behind it or not.
She'd just assume he was and call it a day.
Sure enough, Yu Xiaogang's eyes shrank at her words. Right then, he knew for sure, his star pupil, Tang San, was the one who'd destroyed him.
Xiao Wu knew Tang San better than anyone, and what she said fit his situation too perfectly.
It had to be Tang San.
'This girl doesn't hold back…' Dai Mubai glanced at his own scarred lower half, thinking for a moment that it wasn't a bad idea.
This wreck had messed up his life too. He deserved the same.
The others felt a shiver, their legs snapping shut as they thought, 'She's harsh.'
But looking at Yu Xiaogang's state, had he really lost that along with his soul power?
Only Tang San felt a spark of warmth, a faint smile tugging at his lips. 'Xiao Wu and my father are the only ones who really care about me, who stand by me.'
"Xiao Wu, it's not all the teacher's fault. He didn't know it'd turn out like this," Tang San said, though his tone was weak.
It was the kind of line that screamed he'd gotten away with something but was still playing nice.
Xiao Wu huffed and went quiet.
Tang San raised his right hand, three dark fingers outstretched, and looked at Yu Tianheng seriously. "I swear, if I or my father hurt my teacher, may my martial soul break and my soul power never grow again, leaving me useless."
That shut Yu Tianheng up. Yu Xiaogang let out a shaky breath.
As long as Tang San didn't admit it, that was fine. If he had, Yu Xiaogang wouldn't know how to handle it.
Flender sighed in relief too. If Tang San had done it, he wouldn't know how to face Erlong.
"Xiaogang, what happened to you? Weren't you headed to Spirit City? How'd you end up like this?" Flender asked, getting to what worried him most.
"Don't even ask." Yu Xiaogang retold the story he'd given Ning Rongrong and the others.
But this time, he added something new.
He said Ning Tian had recognized him but still left him to rot with the beggars.
If not for that, the beggar gang wouldn't have figured out he was a eunuch.
And then… well, every part of him had been… taken advantage of.
After hearing it all, almost no one felt bad for Yu Xiaogang, except Flender and Yu Tianheng.
Most were quietly glad. He was a laughing stock now, hated by everyone.
Some, like Tang San, were even more fed up.
'So this guy begged for over a month and didn't even bring back the twin martial soul method. He just came back alone.'
Flender gave a bitter smile. "You've changed so much, even your voice. I almost didn't recognize you. No wonder Ning Tian didn't either."
Tang San jumped in. "Could it be Ning Tian who hurt you, Teacher? That's why he was outside Heaven Dou City and acted like he didn't know you."
He was trying to point the blame at Ning Tian.
Flender shook his head. "That's impossible. Xiaogang was attacked near the Heaven Dou Empire's border. Ning Tian, like you, was either competing or training at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. How could he have hurt Xiaogang? Besides, there's no reason for it. They've got no bad blood between them."
"Even so, he saw my teacher in trouble and didn't lift a finger," Tang San said, seizing the chance to badmouth Ning Tian in front of Xiao Wu.
"Tang San's got a point. Ning Tian's a real bastard," Dai Mubai added.
Oscar jumped in next, eager to pile on so Tang San might help him smooth things over with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. "I'd bet Ning Tian's the one who did it, just to pin it on Tang San and trash his name."
The three kept at it, too caught up to notice Xiao Wu's face darkening.
Ma Hongjun, though, stayed quiet. After seeing Ning Tian's power in the preliminaries, he was too shaken to speak.
The others just smirked to themselves. With Yu Xiaogang looking like a total mess, his soul power gone, voice high and thin body like a eunuch's, aged to look like some old beggar, only Flender could pick him out of a crowd.
Yu Xiaogang switched topics. "Enough of that. Let's talk about the Tournament. Little San, did you make it through the preliminaries? How'd you do?"
Flender glanced at the growing crowd around them. They were starting to draw eyes at Heaven Dou City's gate. "This isn't the place for this. Let's move."
"Fine," Yu Xiaogang said, turning toward Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
Flender stopped him. "Xiaogang, where are you headed?"
"Back to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, obviously!" Yu Xiaogang replied, like it was the most natural thing. He still wanted to whip the little monsters into shape before the promotion round.
Qin Ming, silent until now, spoke up gently. "Uh, Master, you might not know this, but because of Tang San's mess, Emperor Xue Ye personally kicked you out of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy on the opening ceremony day. You're banned from leading the team in the tournament too."
"What?!" Yu Xiaogang's anger hit him so hard he coughed up blood.
'Is the sky itself out to get me?' he thought.
"Oh, heavens, why me?" he cried out, his voice breaking. Between the shock and his frail state, it was too much. He passed out, slumping into Flender's arms.
"Little San, Xiao Wu, Mubai, Tianheng, Hongjun, Oscar, stay here. Qin Ming, take the rest back to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy," Flender said, his face tight.
Truth was, if Tang San and the others didn't need to compete, Flender would've pulled all of Shrek's students out of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy the day Yu Xiaogang was expelled.
After Qin Ming led the others away, Dai Mubai asked, "Dean, where to now?"
Flender paused, then said, "Blue Tyrant Academy."
.........…..
Meanwhile, as Flender's group carried Yu Xiaogang to Blue Tyrant Academy, Ning Tian and Qian Renxue were having a dinner hosted by 'Xue Qinghe.'
'Xue Qinghe' took the head of the table, Qian Renxue on his left, Ning Tian on his right.
After the servants poured rich red wine, 'Xue Qinghe' lifted his glass. "Brother Ning Tian, Miss Chi Xue, thanks for coming. It's a real honor. A toast to you both."
"Your Highness, please," Qian Renxue said smoothly, sipping lightly.
Ning Tian followed suit. "Brother Xue, please."
After some polite chatter, Qian Renxue shot 'Xue Qinghe' a quick look. He set his glass down with a smile. "Brother Ning Tian, Miss Chi Xue, you're both top talents, and you wield sword martial souls. How about a friendly sword spar?"
'So that's her game. Qian Renxue's looking to settle a score,' Ning Tian thought, keeping his cool. 'Fair enough, after all the times I got the upper hand on her.'
"Brother Xue, you're putting me in a tough spot. I'm just a Spirit Ancestor, and Miss Chi Xue's already a Spirit Emperor. I'd be outmatched."
"It's just a spar, nothing heavy," 'Xue Qinghe' started, but Qian Renxue cut in, standing up.
"If you think it's uneven, I'll skip soul skills and stick to pure swordplay," she said.
Qian Renxue had faith in her skills and her Angel martial soul.
She was certain that beating Ning Tian, paired with her stunning looks and temperament, would win him over for good.
'Xue Qinghe' laughed lightly. "Since Miss Chi Xue's so keen, how about the private training ground west of the Prince's residence? She just came from there, so she knows it. No one will bother you."
"Fine, I'll wait for you there," Qian Renxue said to Ning Tian.
She headed off to the training ground, her golden form sharp and striking.
Once she was gone, 'Xue Qinghe' got up and slung an arm around Ning Tian, grinning. "Brother Ning Tian, what do you think of Miss Chi Xue?"
"What, planning to make her Crown Princess, Brother Xue?"
Ning Tian's eyes narrowed as he watched Qian Renxue leave. 'Trying to tame me? Too bad, I'm the one who does the taming.'
His words nearly threw 'Xue Qinghe' off balance. 'Is that even an option? I wouldn't dream of it!'
He cleared his throat. "Brother Ning Tian, I hear Master Zhu Qing hails from a hidden clan too. You know those clans have their own rules: no royal marriages. So I thought of you. What's your take on Miss Chi Xue?"
Ning Tian kept it straight. "Looks, presence, talent, strength wise she's the best I've seen, hands down. But, Brother Xue, you know I've already got a girlfriend."
Even as he spoke, Ning Tian was plotting how to deal with Qian Renxue.
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