After the match, at the Shrek residence, Tang San woke up in bed. Though he felt the warmth of the quilt covering him and the heat radiating from the nearby fireplace, the chill in his body still lingered.
Turning his head, he saw a pink figure busily moving about beside him.
"Xiao Wu..." Tang San whispered softly with his parched lips.
"Ah San giegie, you're awake." Xiao Wu took a hot towel from a basin of steaming water, wrung it dry, and gently pressed it to Tang San's darkened forehead.
In that instant, Tang San felt as if his heart was melting. Xiao Wu is just as gentle as in the previous life, he thought. The sight of her brought memories of the tender Xiao Wu from his past life flooding back.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Wu. In the end, I still couldn't win that match," Tang San said, his eyes dim.
"It's alright, Ah San giegie." Xiao Wu's voice was gentle. Looking at her, Tang San felt as if he saw a beam of light piercing through the darkness of his life. He was about to say thank you, Xiao Wu, when she spoke her next sentence:
"Ah San giegie, you're so weak right now, there's no need to push yourself this hard. From now on, let Xiao Wu and Ah Heng handle the matches together. With our Martial Spirit Fusion skill, I believe we can definitely win the championship."
Weak? Ah Heng? Your Martial Spirit Fusion skill?
These three phrases pierced Tang San's heart like three sharp arrows.
Instantly, his darkened face twisted into an expression of constipation.
So, Xiao Wu, you think I'm weak. You think I'm a useless Flying Dance. You think I can't compare to Yu Tianheng, don't you? Don't you...?
Ah Heng—you mean Yu Tianheng, right? At first you called him Yu Tianheng, then Tianheng-ge, and now Ah Heng. What's next, Xiao Wu? Will you call him husband?
Your Martial Spirit Fusion skill... No, Xiao Wu, you can't keep doing the Martial Spirit Fusion with Yu Tianheng. That despicable bastard is using this technique to seduce you, to make you his scabbard, to seize the Asura God position that rightfully belongs to me. He never loved you—he's only using you! Xiao Wu, in this world, I'm the only one who truly loves you.
Tang San opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but not a single word came out, his chest tight with grief.
Pretending not to see his struggle, Xiao Wu smiled slightly and said, "Ah San giegie, just rest well. From now on, I'll personally take part in the matches. You just watch from the stands and see how your Xiao Wu performs."
Tang San: "@#￥%...%￥"
After tending to him, Xiao Wu left, leaving Tang San lying on the bed in utter frustration.
He thought bitterly, I failed. Even after giving it my all, I still lost. Why? Why are all of you so strong in this life, while I've become so weak? I'm supposed to be the favored child of destiny, the protagonist of this era. The world should revolve around me, Tang San! Why—why is it like this—
Xiao Wu must think of me as a useless Flying Dance now. Definitely...
Finally, Tang San's eyes turned red as he muttered in his heart: No, I can't just sit and wait for death. If this continues, that dog Yu Tianheng's scheme will succeed. He's trying to use the Martial Spirit Fusion to slowly win Xiao Wu's heart, to use her love to gain the Asura Sword's recognition, to steal everything that belongs to me. In the end—
Tang San's hands, hidden under the quilt, subconsciously pushed up, then shrank down, pushed up again, and shrank back...
No, I won't allow this. Absolutely not! Xiao Wu is mine, the Asura God position is mine, the Douluo Continent is mine, the God Realm is mine. The future should belong to me, Tang San—
Just then, the door opened, and light spilled into the room. Tang San looked towards the doorway. Standing there were two men: one tall and muscular—Er Ming; and the other handsome, with a model-like build and looks that outshone Tang San by miles—Yu Tianheng.
"Well, well, the dark little Ah San is finally awake," Yu Tianheng said mockingly as he walked in with Er Ming, stopping beside Tang San's bed.
Seeing them, Tang San's coal-black face darkened even further—so black it was like crude oil.
"What are you here for?" Tang San asked, feigning ignorance.
"Frozen your brain, have you, you little loser?" Yu Tianheng sneered. "Want me to jog your memory?"
Tang San remained silent.
"You lost, Tang San," Er Ming said bluntly.
Tang San continued his act of ignorance.
"In this tournament, Shrek has suffered only two humiliating defeats, and both were because of you, little loser," Yu Tianheng said coldly. "You said you could lead Shrek to victory. You wanted to prove you're not useless, not a good-for-nothing Flying Dance living off a woman. I gave you the chance. But yesterday's match—you lost so miserably. You really brought shame to Shrek."
Yu Tianheng grabbed Tang San's dark head, glaring at him with frustration. "I gave you a chance, and you blew it~" He pushed Tang San's head as he repeated, "I gave you a chance, and you blew it~" Then switching to pointing a finger at Tang San's forehead, he growled, "Don't blame your Tianheng-ge for not giving you a chance—ahhh—"
"Little loser, remember this—you lost. Admit you're a useless Flying Dance, a soft egg living off a woman. If you have any dignity, do us all a favor and get lost from Xiao Wu's side."
Er Ming added coldly, "Little loser, you don't deserve to be Xiao Wu's giegie. Do the right thing and stay away from her."
Tang San glared at Yu Tianheng and Er Ming with hatred, but he didn't know how to refute them.
Yu Tianheng patted Tang San's dark face and said, "Little loser, you useless Flying Dance, just do as Xiao Wu says. Stay in the stands and watch how I, Er Ming, and Xiao Wu bring glory to Shrek."
With that, Er Ming and Yu Tianheng left.
Tang San's eyes turned bloodshot, his breathing heavy as he stared at their backs. At this moment, he wanted to kill them both. But reason told him that before winning Xiao Wu's love, he couldn't do it. They shared a Martial Spirit Fusion with Xiao Wu—killing them would make her view him as an enemy. That would only drive them further apart.
Meanwhile, in the four beds nearby, the Shrek Trio and Tai Long, who had been pretending to sleep, slowly opened their eyes.
Dai Mubai looked around in "confusion," then turned to Tang San. "Ah San, what's going on here—"
"We lost. We actually lost..." Tang San said in a low, dejected voice.
Dai Mubai recovered from the shock and immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, San. We promised we'd win yesterday's match together..."
Oscar added, "Sigh... I really wanted to help, but San, I'm just a food-type Soul Master with a sausage martial soul. There wasn't much I could do."
Ma Hongjun looked gloomy. "I clearly remember that in the last life, Shui Bing'er was only a Soul Ancestor. How is she a Soul King now?! And an Ultimate Ice Soul King at that. I was completely countered!"
Tai Long said, "Young master, if I could, I would've given it my all. But the moment she cast that instant-freeze skill, I blacked out. I'm still cold even now…"
Tang San quickly waved it off. "It's okay. I don't blame any of you. You all did great. It's just that the opponent exceeded our expectations."
"Then San, what are you planning to do next?" Dai Mubai asked.
"I..." Tang San raised his head, summoned his Clear Sky Hammer, and looked to Dai Mubai. "Mubai, I want to start cultivating my second martial soul early."
"Eh?" Dai Mubai was stunned and quickly tried to dissuade him. "San, don't do anything rash. Starting on your second martial soul too soon will only waste its potential."
"Yeah, think about the past," Oscar added with a hint. "If you attach soul rings now, they'll have to be at least thousand-year rings. Are you really okay with that?"
Tang San responded bitterly, "Of course I'm not okay with it. But what choice do I have? Don't you all remember? My Blue Silver Emperor bloodline was stolen by that despicable usurper in the Blue Silver Forest. Now my first martial soul is just a common Blue Silver Grass. The talent it offers me... at best, I might reach Titled Douluo status in my old age. But how much time do we really have left to waste?"
There was another reason he didn't say aloud.
Because of the Martial Soul Fusion Technique, Yu Tianheng and Xiao Wu were getting closer. He was afraid—afraid that by the time he finished cultivating his Blue Silver Grass and was finally ready to start on the Clear Sky Hammer, the Xiao Wu he remembered from his previous life—gentle, kind, the woman who bore his children—would already belong to someone else.
And that Yu Tianheng might then be acknowledged by the Asura Divine Sword's sheath, and claim the Asura God Trial that should have belonged to him.
"…That's true, too," Ma Hongjun said, then turned to Tang San with eyes filled with loyalty. "San, just do what you have to do. No matter what, the Shrek Trio will always have your back."
"Really... thank you all for always supporting me." Tang San looked at Ma Hongjun, touched. He made up his mind:
In this life, once I become a god, I won't sabotage Ma Hongjun's divine trial. I'll let him go through the Fire God Trial on his own.
(Though he hasn't absorbed the Chicken Crest Phoenix Sunflower… so whether he'll pass is still up in the air.)
Just then, the sound of a door opening interrupted their conversation. Everyone turned to look.
A buzzcut man entered the room. The moment Tang San saw him, his just-lifted mood instantly sank.
His nominal teacher—the so-called Master, also known as Gangzi—had come to visit.
Buzzcut Gangzi rushed to the bedside, raising his finger and scolding Tang San bitterly:
"San, how many times have I told you—don't reveal your Clear Sky Hammer in front of others! Don't! Why won't you listen?! Do you know what kind of trouble you've brought upon yourself?!"
Gangzi nagged incessantly while Tang San wore a look of pure disdain.
He's scolding me because I used the Clear Sky Hammer and attracted the attention of Spirit Hall, isn't he?
As if I need you, Fei Wu, to tell me what the Clear Sky Hammer represents...
Why did I dare to use it? Isn't it exactly because of your cozy ties with the Pope? You're supposed to be my umbrella! If I can't count on that, what's the point of having you as my teacher?!
Finally, Tang San had enough. He exploded:
"That's enough, Gangzi! The Clear Sky Hammer is my martial soul. I'll use it whenever I damn well please. Who are you to control me?!"
Buzzcut Gangzi was stunned. "How—how can you say that to your teacher?! Haven't you heard the phrase: A teacher for a day, a father for life?!"
Tang San shot back angrily, "Gangzi, you say you're my teacher—what exactly have you taught me?"
"I've taught you theory, San. Don't you remember?" Gangzi said.
"Sorry, I never attended your classes. And when I did, it was only because you forced me. I either dozed off or zoned out. Your lectures meant nothing to me because I didn't need them. Your so-called 'theory' is worthless."
Hearing this, Buzzcut's heart sank even more. "You—you actually said my theory is worthless?!"
"Isn't it?" Tang San sneered. "I could have just picked up an encyclopedia of soul beasts from Spirit Hall and learned everything you taught me. What else did you ever teach me, huh?"
"You… you ungrateful brat…" Gangzi fumed, trying to guilt-trip him. "San, have you forgotten that I was your guide in the Soul Master world? I helped you absorb your first two precious soul rings!"
"Soul rings?!"
Tang San burst into laughter, then looked at him with grief in his eyes. "You mean the two poison-attribute soul rings that directly clashed with my martial soul? Gangzi, you ruined me, and now you want credit?!"
"But—but how did I ruin you?" Gangzi asked, bewildered.
"Master~" Tang San said, dragging the word out in mocking tone. "You've studied theory all your life, and you didn't know the basic rule that a soul master should seek soul rings that match their martial soul's attributes?
You seriously think no one but you realized that plant-type martial souls can absorb animal-type soul rings?
Others didn't do it not because they couldn't—but because they knew about attribute conflict!
What do you think would happen if an ice-type martial soul absorbed a fire-type soul ring?
My Blue Silver Grass is life-attribute, and you had me attach poison-attribute soul rings. Gangzi, you set me back—you ruined my foundation—don't you get that?!"
"Wha—" Gangzi was completely frozen. Was that true? I didn't know... He instinctively denied it:
"Lies! San, that's nonsense! I am a Spirit Hall-certified Grandmaster—a recognized authority in soul master theory! How could I be wrong?! You must believe in your teacher!"
"Believe you?" Tang San scoffed coldly. "Gangzi—if I take you as my teacher, you better prove your worth. Don't use that tired 'once a teacher, always a father' line to try and control me. Otherwise—don't blame me for turning my back on you."
Yu Xiaogang's face turned red with anger. He pointed at Tang San, but in the end, all he could muster was:
"You, you, you… rat-tailed juice! As your teacher, I must go to Spirit Hall. When I return, you'll understand how much I've done for you!"*
After saying that, Yu Xiaogang fled in embarrassment.
He wanted to cry. The student he had placed all his hopes in—the key to future fame and recognition—Tang San, had now drifted away from him. If things continued like this, and Tang San truly turned against him, what would Yu Xiaogang have left to make a name for himself?
Then, a flicker of hope rekindled in Yu Xiaogang's eyes. He thought to himself:
"Thankfully, Tang San has twin martial souls. In history, only one person ever successfully cultivated twin martial souls. If I can obtain that training method from her, Tang San will still need me. He'll understand my good intentions. Plus, Spirit Hall may also hold a method to cultivate soul rings beyond the normal limit—I'll demand that too. But I need to act fast. If Bibi Dong finds out about Tang San first, it'll be much harder to get anything out of her."
Yu Xiaogang had come to see Tang San to say goodbye before heading to Spirit Hall. He wanted to get there before news of Tang San's possession of the Clear Sky Hammer reached Bibi Dong, hoping to persuade her to give him the two secret techniques for twin martial soul cultivation and extreme soul ring training.
(Of course, Yu Xiaogang planned to act all mighty and teacher-like in front of Tang San when he returned—demanding that Tang San kneel three times and kowtow nine times, acknowledging him as a lifelong master before he would "pass on" those techniques.)
At this point, Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back, gazing solemnly in the direction of Spirit Hall:
"Bibi Dong… I hope you haven't been blinded by the power and ambition of Spirit Hall. I hope you're still the pure and innocent girl you once were, and that you'll still remember the affection we once shared…"
He let out a breath.
"Once this is done, it'll be time to update my 'Top Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls.'"
Without further delay, Yu Xiaogang boarded a carriage and leisurely headed toward Spirit Hall.