Chapter 15: Tang San: "You Bastard, Give Me Back My Mandala Snake!"
Hundreds of Blue Silver Emperor vines laced with scale armor bound the Mandala Snake tightly, rendering it unable to move. Zu Zong gave a low shout, "Venom Bite."
From the gaps between the vine scales, a flood of purple corrosive venom surged out. The moment it touched the Mandala Snake, large chunks of flesh were instantly melted away. But that wasn't all—Zu Zong controlled the vines to forcibly pry open the snake's massive jaws and turn them toward Franklin.
After finishing that, Zu Zong feigned exhaustion and gasped, "Director, hurry! I can't hold on much longer!"
Franklin, seeing the dust and countless vines ahead, couldn't make out the Mandala Snake's exact condition. He simply assumed the beast was still fiercely resisting—after all, Mandala Snakes were among the most dangerous of century-old soul beasts.
"Alright!"
He had long been prepared. Three radiant soul rings rose around him—one white and two yellow. As they rotated, powerful soul power surged out like crashing waves. His third yellow ring lit up. The horns on his head crackled as a fist-sized lightning orb began to condense.
"Third Soul Skill—Super Big Horn Cannon!"
The lightning orb shot forward, rapidly expanding until it reached the size of a basketball.
Zu Zong used his Blue Silver Emperor vines to hold the Mandala Snake's mouth open, putting on a performance that could only be described as a flawless no-hands—or rather, no-mouth—slam dunk.
Boom! The orb exploded inside the Mandala Snake's mouth. The inside of the mouth was one of the softest areas in any creature—nothing but tender flesh. With a single hit, the Mandala Snake's head burst open, leaving a gaping, bowl-sized hole. Brain matter and blood poured from the wound, painting a scene as gruesome as could be.
From start to finish, the entire battle took less than three minutes—meticulously executed in one smooth motion.
Faint yellow light particles began to gather. A bright yellow soul ring formed above the Mandala Snake's corpse—it was dead.
"Wow, Director, your soul skill is awesome!" Zu Zong gave Franklin a big thumbs-up as he walked over, full of praise.
It wasn't just flattery—Zu Zong genuinely thought Franklin's third soul skill was impressive. As someone familiar with the world of Douluo Dalu, he knew that most third soul skills weren't this strong. For a hundred-year ring to have such power was indeed rare.
Franklin straightened up proudly for once, but when he saw Yu Xiaogang walking over with Tang San, he quickly returned to his usual stern demeanor.
"Thank you for saving us, Director. If not for you, I fear the boy and I would've died here," Yu Xiaogang said with a stiff smile. On his already rigid face, it looked more painful than sincere.
Franklin waved it off and pointed to Zu Zong, who stood beside him. "Thank him, not me. He was the one who noticed you two. Without him, you really might not have made it."
As he spoke, Franklin glanced at Tang San, then turned to Yu Xiaogang and began scolding him in his usual strict tone.
"That's your disciple, right? I hate to say it, but bringing a child to a place this dangerous is completely irresponsible." His words were sharp and unrelenting.
Yu Xiaogang forced a bitter smile. There was nothing he could say—the truth was right in front of them.
He had seen Zu Zong's performance earlier. That first soul skill of his was terrifyingly strong—it had easily restrained the Mandala Snake. Then he looked again at the snake's mangled corpse and sighed. "What a pity. It would've made the perfect first soul ring for Little San…"
Meanwhile, Tang San and Zu Zong faced off again.
Zu Zong's mouth curved slightly. He grinned. "Yo, Little San! You've gotten even more handsome in just a few days. I heard you got locked in the janitor's darkroom the other night—is that true?"
[Ding! Tang San's hatred toward the host has risen to 21%. Host has gained 100 hatred points.]
[Ding! Tang San's hatred toward the host has risen to 22%. Host has gained 100 hatred points.]
[Ding! Tang San's hatred toward the host has risen to 23%. Host has gained 100 hatred points.]
Hearing the steady rise of hatred points in his mind, Zu Zong was overjoyed. He intensified his mockery.
"You really are dense. That janitor—just one look at him and it's obvious—"
Hidden in his sleeve was the "Silent Sleeve Dart." Only heaven knew how much Tang San wanted to fire it right then and there.
From beginning to end, he had activated his Purple Demon Eye and watched the whole battle unfold clearly.
Zu Zong had clearly subdued the Mandala Snake long ago, yet still let the director deliver the killing blow. He was intentionally taking it away from him!
Tang San clenched his teeth. "You bastard! Give me back my Mandala Snake!"
Now the show begins. Zu Zong lowered his head, the corner of his lips curling up. Forcing a few tears, he cried out to Yu Xiaogang, "Dorm Grandpa, look at your disciple Little San. He's demanding I give him back the Mandala Snake!"
Then he tugged Franklin's sleeve. "Director, look! Tang San's asking us to give him back the Mandala Snake!"
The moment Franklin heard that, he exploded. What? The two of us just saved their lives, and this brat is demanding we give him back the Mandala Snake? Did he already forget how he was being chased? He immediately turned to Yu Xiaogang and shouted sternly, "Look at the fine disciple you've raised! He's asking us to return the Mandala Snake!"
As for that "Dorm Grandpa" bit, Franklin chose to completely ignore it.
Yu Xiaogang's already stiff face darkened further. He had only made a passing comment, and yet Little San pulled something like this? No, as a teacher, he had a duty to correct his disciple and guide him onto the right path.
Yu Xiaogang sternly barked, "Little San, apologize to Zu Zong!"
Tang San wanted to argue, to tell them what he saw. But if he did, how could he explain why he didn't act? That he was hiding his strength and left Yu Xiaogang in danger? If he said that, their bond as master and disciple might be shattered. Yu Xiaogang had helped him—he didn't want to lose this teacher.
"Teacher, I…" Tang San hesitated.
"Apologize now!" Yu Xiaogang snapped again.
"…Sorry." Tang San said softly, full of grievance.
"Louder! Say it properly: 'Zu Zong, I was wrong!'"
Tang San shook his head. Calling him "Zu Zong" sounded too much like "ancestor." There was no way he could say that—not in this life.
Seeing Tang San still refusing, Yu Xiaogang raised his size-44 foot and kicked him square on the butt.
"Say it! 'Zu Zong, I was wrong!'"
Tang San still shook his head.
Another kick.
"Say it! 'Zu Zong, I was wrong!'"
Tears welled up in Tang San's eyes from sheer grievance, but Yu Xiaogang remained unyielding—fully channeling his "strict on the inside, weak on the outside" attitude. He gave three solid kicks in a row.
Finally, Tang San couldn't take it anymore. His eyes were red, glaring at Zu Zong like he wanted to rip him apart. He bowed deeply and shouted, "Ancestor, I'm sorry!"
If looks could kill, Zu Zong would've died 108,000 times already.
Yu Xiaogang gave him one more kick. "And?"
"…Ancestor, I was wrong!"
"Louder! Say it with me!"
"Zu (Ancestor) Zong, I'm sorry!" ×2
"Zu (Ancestor) Zong, I was wrong!" ×2
[Ding! Tang San's hatred toward the host has risen to 27%. Host has gained 100 hatred points.]
[Ding! Tang San's hatred toward the host has risen to 28%. Host has gained 100 hatred points.]
[Ding! Tang San's hatred toward the host has risen to 29%. Host has gained 100 hatred points.]
[Ding! Tang San's hatred toward the host has risen to 30%. Host has gained 100 hatred points.]
Pfft!
Zu Zong couldn't help it—he burst out laughing like a pig.
He patted Tang San's little face and grinned. "Good boy. Your ancestor forgives you. Hahahaha…"
Hearing that Zu Zong forgave Tang San, Yu Xiaogang should've been happy—but something felt off.
Yu Xiaogang: Why does it feel like I just got played?
(End of Chapter)
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