Chapter 9 – Yu Xiaogang’s Offer to Tang San, The Master’s Hypocrisy Unveiled

All rights reserved to the respective authors.

"Dialogue": Represented in double quotes for conversations between characters.

'Thoughts': Represented in single quotation marks, indicating the characters' internal reflections.

[Diary]: Represented in square brackets, used for messages intended for the heroines or entries written by Tenshin.

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At the entrance to Nuoding Academy, the youth's heart skipped a beat as a wave of anxiety washed over him. No one would dare tamper with an identity certificate issued by the Spirit Hall—yet Tang San's claims about his Martial Spirit bordered on wild exaggeration. Still, the older man before him was taking a considerable risk, one that, to the youth's inexperienced mind, seemed reckless. 'But... if the certificates are real…'

Despite his unease, the details felt irrelevant. The tutor accompanying the child would verify everything later; the initial harsh reprimand was merely a calculated warning, designed to prevent trouble and secure certain advantages. In the past, parents—especially those from civilian families—had shown only mild interest when enrolling their children in new schools.

But this elder's behavior was anything but routine. Instead of following the customary protocol of exchanging money for services, he had simply handed over the required proofs. Had he followed the usual procedures, no one would have scrutinized the first certificate. Yet here it was—a document asserting that two children possessed soul power. If that were true, it matched the information he had already submitted to Spirit Hall. The thought sent a chill down the guard's spine. If the dean discovered this discrepancy, the consequences could be severe.

Lost in these anxious thoughts, the guard shivered, his hand trembling as he raised it, as if about to shout.

Then, a slightly hoarse voice called out from nearby:

"Old man, please wait."

'It's over!' The young man's heart sank as he spun around, his face paling when he recognized the figure approaching. It was the dean's friend. Panic surged through him; if this man reported today's irregularities to the dean, his fate would be sealed. Desperation quickened his steps as he hurried forward, bowing deeply with an overly flattering smile.

"Master, welcome back," he greeted, his tone dripping with false enthusiasm.

He clung to a sliver of hope: as long as Yu Xiaogang smoothed things over without alerting the dean, he might still escape unscathed.

Meanwhile, Tenshin and his companions turned as well. Through the bustling crowd, Tenshin's eyes landed on a middle-aged man who looked to be in his fifties—an unremarkable figure with an average build, one hand casually tucked behind his back. His short hair framed his silky, indifferent features, and his breathing was calm, almost languid.

'So, this is Yu Xiaogang?' Tenshin scrutinized him, his gaze sharp and unyielding. 'With just this appearance, how did Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong fall for him back then—and still remember him after decades? Do girls really like melancholic uncles?' He couldn't help but compare the man before him to the descriptions from the novel. There was no doubt about it: this was Yu Xiaogang, the self-proclaimed Master of Theory.

[Enough talk about Tang San's animosity toward me and Grandpa Jack—the rescuer has arrived.]

[And, just as I expected, Yu Xiaogang has appeared!]

Blue Tyrant Academy

At that moment, Liu Erlong—who had been watering flowers and reading her diary copy—froze in place, her body rigid as the watering can slipped from her fingers, spilling water across the ground. Her eyes widened, shimmering with unshed tears.

"Xiao Gang... After all these years... I finally know where you are," she whispered, her voice quivering with a mixture of hope and anguish.

Initially, Liu Erlong had approached the diary with cautious curiosity. Her heart was still shackled to the memories of Yu Xiaogang, and nothing else seemed to matter. The diary had become a ritual, a source of solace and power, with soul power rewards arriving every fourteen days—an incentive she couldn't easily dismiss.

The additional rewards depended on Tenshin mentioning her name repeatedly, which would eventually draw her to his side—a possibility she found herself dreading. Yet now, she had discovered that Yu Xiaogang was at Nuoding Academy. The revelation hit her like a tidal wave, bringing back a flood of emotions she thought she had buried.

Despite knowing they were blood cousins, Liu Erlong had fallen in love with Yu Xiaogang long before the cruel truth shattered her world. His frail physique never mattered to her—his profound understanding of martial souls and his unwavering resolve had captivated her heart. Even after discovering their kinship, her feelings hadn't wavered. Her love was deep, enduring, and achingly painful.

She almost bolted for Nuoding Academy right then and there, but the diary's ominous rules echoed in her mind: revealing its existence to anyone would bring grave danger upon them all. Her impulsive nature urged her to defy these restrictions, but a lingering fear held her back.

Determined to test the diary's secrecy, she showed it to a trusted professor. When his gaze passed over it as if it didn't exist, her heart skipped a beat. "Don't you see it? It's right here!" she almost shouted. In that instant, an overwhelming force crashed down on her, suffocating and oppressive. Her heart raced, and she staggered, barely able to breathe. The terrifying pressure was a warning—an unspoken threat that defiance would come at a steep price.

A searing pain surged through her chest, forcing her to cough up blood. Her body trembled as she realized the diary was merciless in enforcing its secrecy. This was no mere warning; it was a punishment for her defiance.

"I can't act recklessly..." she muttered, wiping the blood from her lips. "If I rush to Tenshin now, everything will be exposed. If he discovers that I have the diary... I'm finished." Her eyes narrowed with determination. No matter how overwhelming her longing was, she couldn't risk it—not yet.

Her fingers tightened around the diary's worn cover, her resolve solidifying. 'I've waited this long... I can wait a little longer,' she thought, her heart aching. For now, she would continue reading the diary's updates. 'Xiao Gang... I know where you are... and one day, I will find you.'

Spirit City

Bibi Dong's fingers trembled as they traced the words on the diary's pages. "Yu Xiaogang..." The name echoed in her mind, a haunting whisper from the past. A maelstrom of emotions surged within her—anger, betrayal, regret, and a pain so deep it threatened to unravel her carefully crafted composure.

She had tried to bury his name, to sever every lingering thread that tied her to the man who had shattered her heart. But here it was, resurrected by the writings of a stranger. Her hands tightened around the diary, her nails digging into the leather cover. Memories flooded back—his gentle smile, his naive dreams, and the moment he turned away, leaving her to face the cruel world alone.

The pain twisted into bitterness. 'Why now...?' she wondered, her vision blurring. She had crafted herself into an unyielding empress, the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, feared and revered by all. But this one name was enough to break the walls she had built around her heart.

'No... I won't let this weaken me,' she vowed, her eyes hardening. But even as she resolved to bury the name once more, her heart betrayed her, aching with a longing she refused to acknowledge. The past was supposed to be dead. Yet, within these pages, it was reborn—vivid, raw, and agonizingly real.

At the entrance to Nuoding Academy, Yu Xiaogang arrived with a composed demeanor. He glanced at the young man beside him and extended his hand. The youth quickly bowed, handing over two certificates. As Yu Xiaogang examined Tang San's proof, his eyes gleamed with intrigue. At first, his gaze dimmed at the sight of "Blue Silver Grass," but then his eyes widened at the inscription: "Innate Soul Power Tenth Level."

'A genius—or perhaps a monster. If my intuition is correct, this Tang San's potential could rival even that of Pope Bibi Dong,' he thought, his pulse quickening with excitement.

Yet, his enthusiasm faded as he examined the second certificate. His expression darkened, his lips curling in barely concealed disdain. Although Tenshin was labeled a genius with seventh-level innate soul power—a talent that could lead to Soul Douluo level if nurtured—his martial soul, a book, seemed lackluster and uninspiring.

From the corner of his eye, Tenshin watched Yu Xiaogang closely, noting the furrowed brows and tightening lips—clear signs of disapproval.

'Half-level innate soul power? To look down on my seventh-level talent?' Tenshin's thoughts grew colder. 'He preaches that talent isn't everything, yet he only wants to teach the most gifted. For years, he's enjoyed the academy's privileges, ignoring the civilian students. He boasts about proving himself, but where are the results? Why hasn't he cultivated a single civilian soul master into a true talent on the continent?'

Tenshin's gaze narrowed. 'Where's his prestige? Why hasn't he successfully advanced his own Luo Sanpao Martial Spirit? After all these years, he's still stuck at level 29.'

His lips curled in a mocking smile. 'Everyone complains about double standards, but his hypocrisy is simply unmatched.'

Yu Xiaogang turned to Old Jack and said solemnly, "I will take them through the admission procedures. Don't worry—I still hold some authority in this academy."

Old Jack's face softened. He realized the man before him must be someone of importance; otherwise, the guard wouldn't have reacted so respectfully after being scolded. Smiling, Old Jack said, "The next journey is up to you two. Study hard at the academy."

Tenshin nodded earnestly, his eyes reflecting deep determination. "Don't worry, Grandpa Jack. I will study hard and return after the holiday!"

Meanwhile, Tang San stood in silence, his expression unreadable.

Earlier, when the young concierge had mockingly called him "Blue Silver Grass—a waste of martial spirit," his Hidden Arrow Insurance had been triggered. If not for Old Jack's timely intervention and the master's orders, the concealed weapon would have fired—ending the guard's life in an instant.

The Tang Sect's silent sleeve arrows, renowned for their swift deployment, were deadly to anyone caught off guard. In Tang San's eyes, the insult had crossed the line into hostility, and by Tang Sect's code, such disrespect warranted elimination. But Old Jack was just an ordinary old man, and Tenshin was merely a six-year-old child; no one noticed the subtle tension that had just passed.

As Grandpa Jack slowly retreated, his hunched figure tugged at Tenshin's heart. He was Tenshin's only family in this world—a solitary bond that felt fragile and irreplaceable.

Yu Xiaogang's impatience flickered momentarily, but he waited until Old Jack disappeared from sight before turning to Tang San and Tenshin. "Let's go. I'll take you through the enrollment procedures first."

His gaze softened as he looked down at Tang San, a rare smile forming on his usually stiff face. Grasping Tang San's hand affectionately, his tone became gentle. "Come on, let's head inside."

Then, his eyes shifted to Tenshin. The warmth disappeared, replaced by a distant, almost dismissive nod—a silent signal to follow.

Tenshin, though cautious, complied and walked through the school gate alongside the others. After some time, Tang San lifted his head and thanked Yu Xiaogang.

"Teacher, thank you," he said.

'It's a familiar plot…' Tenshin thought briefly before also echoing, "Thank you." Regardless of everything, Yu Xiaogang had helped them solve the trouble today.

However, Yu Xiaogang ignored Tenshin's remark, his attention solely on Tang San. His tone turned sullen as he spoke. "Teacher? I'm not a teacher here." He could no longer hold back his thoughts. "Tell me, Tang San—could you release your martial soul?"

The concierge had shown deep respect by calling Yu Xiaogang "master," but Tang San couldn't help but wonder why the academy's tutor was being so scrutinizing.

Tang San nodded, stretched out his right hand, and from the blue light surrounding him, Blue Silver Grass materialized out of thin air.

'Then can I leave?' Tenshin mused, glancing at the pair who paid him no mind. He turned his attention back to his surroundings until Yu Xiaogang's voice, slightly shifted in tone, came from beside him: "You are so talented and clever—it seems I must persist. After all, you are the third owner of the twin martial souls on the continent in hundreds of years."

Yu Xiaogang's tone carried pride as he raised his head and addressed Tang San, "Tang San, are you willing to accept me as your teacher?"

[Come on, come on—Yu Xiaogang definitely wants to take Tang San as his disciple! But...]

[Holy shit, I'm still here. And how dare you say it out loud like that, as if—just because I'm from the same village as Tang San—that I know about his second martial soul.]

[I may have been present during the awakening ceremony, but you don't think we're on such good terms that I was informed about it, right?]

Tenshin's heart trembled. He was utterly convinced that, at that moment, Tang San was already contemplating how to eliminate both him and Yu Xiaogang. Yet, he wasn't truly worried—if Tang San wished to fight, he would have the means. Although Tenshin was primarily a spear user and his martial soul, manifesting as a book, lacked overt offensive or defensive power, his close-combat skills were not to be underestimated. His fighting style, suited to silent, covert engagements, might not rival Tang San's assassination training, but it gave him a natural advantage in close quarters. Moreover, after two months of cultivating soul power, even if his level was slightly lower than Tang San's, his superior physical strength and constant vigilance meant he could avoid being caught off guard—a natural advantage when the enemy prefers fighting in the shadows, but was now exposed in the light, while Tenshin remained hidden in the shadows.

What truly troubled Tenshin, however, was the possibility that Tang Hao might one day kill him to silence any revelation about Tang San's twin martial souls. The thought tightened his chest, and he extended his sensory ability, attempting to detect Tang Hao's presence.

Yu Xiaogang paced in front of Tang San, analyzing with a hint of pride:

"I've studied many soul masters with Blue Silver Grass martial souls. Most of them have soul power no higher than level 1, and even then, most never exceed level 100,000. They're often weak and lack any significant soul power."

Then, Yu Xiaogang stopped and stared intently at Tang San:

"What does this mean?"

Tang San's heart skipped a beat, a bad feeling rising within him, but he still shook his head, saying he didn't know.

"This shows there's something unusual about your innate soul power. Clearly, a Blue Silver Grass martial soul shouldn't possess the tenth level of innate soul power," Yu Xiaogang continued. "Mutation could explain it," he remarked, "it can enhance a martial soul's power—sometimes to the point of unlocking full innate spiritual power. But keep in mind, most mutated martial souls are weakened rather than enhanced."

At that moment, Tang San's eyes hardened with resolve. Tenshin quickly interjected, "Teacher, my martial soul must have mutated too. Grandpa Jack always told me that no one in my family ever possessed true spiritual power. However, my martial soul awakened with the innate seventh-level soul power and has unique symbols—nothing like the books my family possessed." He spoke quickly, hoping to change the topic.

'Father always said my second martial soul should never be revealed too easily, and now Tenshin has heard about it. A child's tongue doesn't hide much—perhaps one day it'll be exposed. Should I take advantage of that opportunity?' Tang San's eyes flickered with a fleeting thought of retribution, but he held it back, his gaze shifting as he considered the matter of his mutant martial soul. 'Let's see if this master truly deserves his title,' he mused.