Chapter 42: Yu Xiaogang Kneels and Pleads for Mercy – A Crushing Defeat
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's barely audible words, Yao Xuan let out a mocking laugh and looked around at the onlookers, addressing them directly.
"We didn't hear anything!"
The crowd of students shouted in unison. Yu Xiaogang's voice had been so faint, it could barely be compared to the buzz of a mosquito. Even Yao Xuan himself had struggled to catch it, let alone the other students watching from outside the sparring stage.
"Yu Xiaogang, our original wager required you to publicly admit that you're a useless fraud. You must ensure that every student here hears you clearly!"
"Of course, you can try to get sneaky about it, but I can't guarantee that your precious disciple Tang San won't encounter an unfortunate... accident."
With a cold smile, Yao Xuan pressed his foot down slightly harder, causing Tang San's breathing to become labored once more.
"Don't! Please don't, Yao Xuan! Don't harm Tang San!"
Hearing Tang San's strained breathing, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly pleaded.
"Good. I'll give you one last chance."
Yao Xuan smiled, nodding slightly as he loosened the pressure of his foot.
"Yaoxuan, I'm willing to honor my bet. I admit that I'm nothing but an unskilled, deceitful fraud!"
Gritting his teeth, Yu Xiaogang infused his voice with his soul power, his unwilling declaration echoing across the entire training field.
"Excellent! It seems you do have some self-awareness, Yu Xiaogang!"
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's face flush with shame and anger until it resembled a monkey's bottom, Yao Xuan clapped his hands in satisfaction. Internally, he was thrilled.
While it wasn't convenient to eliminate Yu Xiaogang outright for now, Yao Xuan had already instructed Keisha to record every word of Yu Xiaogang's public confession. This would be enough to completely ruin him socially.
For someone like Yu Xiaogang, who craved reputation and status above all, being forced to admit his worthlessness was a punishment worse than death—a fitting retribution for his pretentiousness!
"Yao Xuan, I've done as you asked. Now can you let Tang San go?"
Looking at Tang San, who was lying on the ground gravely injured and barely breathing, Yu Xiaogang quickly appealed.
"Oh, Yu Xiaogang, are your ears failing you? I said you needed to admit you're a fraud and kneel to beg for Tang San's life. So far, you've only completed half of my request."
Hearing this, Yao Xuan's lips curled into a taunting smile.
"This wasn't part of our original wager, Yao Xuan!" Yu Xiaogang said through gritted teeth, his face ashen.
"True, it wasn't part of the bet. But this has nothing to do with the wager!"
"Tang San used a sinister hidden weapon on me. If I hadn't been strong enough, I'd be the one lying on the ground right now!"
"Tang San tried to kill me. Sparing his life is already the greatest mercy I can offer. Your kneeling is to atone for your disciple's sins!"
Yao Xuan smiled faintly as he spoke, his tone cold and commanding.
"This..."
Yu Xiaogang hesitated. Publicly admitting his uselessness had already humiliated him beyond measure. To kneel before a six-year-old child? That was humiliation on an entirely different level.
Yet, he couldn't ignore the life-threatening situation Tang San was in. If he didn't comply, Yao Xuan would undoubtedly kill him!
"Yu Xiaogang, my patience is limited. I'll count to ten. If you don't kneel and atone, then next year on this day, you can commemorate Tang San's death anniversary."
"Ten, nine, eight..."
As Yao Xuan began his countdown, he gradually increased the pressure on Tang San's chest. Tang San's breathing became more labored, his face pale.
"Stop! Yao Xuan, I'll do it! Just let Tang San go!"
Finally, when Yao Xuan reached "four," and Tang San seemed on the verge of suffocating, Yu Xiaogang made his decision.
Having already admitted to being a fraud and completely disgraced himself in front of the academy, what was one more act of humiliation? Today's shame would be repaid a hundredfold in the future!
Biting back his rage, Yu Xiaogang bent his knees slowly and knelt before Yao Xuan.
"Not bad. At least you know when to yield. But when I said kneel, I didn't mean half-heartedly. Keep your head held high, and I won't be satisfied!"
Yao Xuan's mocking gaze swept over Yu Xiaogang, his tone laced with derision.
"Fine, Yao Xuan! You're ruthless!"
Grinding his teeth, Yu Xiaogang bent further forward, bowing until his forehead touched the ground. He kowtowed reluctantly but submissively.
"Very good! Tang San, you're lucky today. I'll spare your pathetic life, but let this be a lesson. If you ever try to pull such tricks again, I guarantee your fate will be far worse!"
Satisfied, Yao Xuan withdrew his foot from Tang San's chest, then lightly kicked him aside, sending him rolling toward Yu Xiaogang.
"Tang San, wake up! Wake up!"
Tearing off his sleeve, Yu Xiaogang wiped the dirt from Tang San's pale face, his voice filled with anguish.
"Don't worry, Yu Xiaogang. He won't die. But let me tell you this: though Tang San may have a bit of talent, trash martial souls will always be trash martial souls. If you think you can rise by relying on him, forget it."
Yao Xuan sneered, his words cutting.
"Yao Xuan, you ignorant fool!"
Yu Xiaogang laughed bitterly, his eyes filled with fury. "There are no trash martial souls, only trash soul masters. If you think Tang San's martial soul is useless, it only proves your own incompetence!"
"Oh? So you're admitting you're a trash soul master?"
Yao Xuan laughed mockingly, clapping his hands.
"What do you mean, Yao Xuan?"
Yu Xiaogang's face twisted with anger and confusion.
"It's simple! You claim there are no trash martial souls, only trash soul masters. So why are you such a useless failure?"
"If your martial soul isn't trash, then the only explanation is that you're an irredeemable waste of a soul master. Otherwise, your claim falls apart."
"In other words, Yu Xiaogang, by your own logic, you're nothing but a complete failure!"
Yao Xuan's derisive laughter echoed across the training ground, as he gazed at Yu Xiaogang like one would at a fool.
-----
PLEASE SUPPORT ME ON PATREON!!!
Join here for advance chapters: patreon.com / madbot635