The cafeteria was quite lively when Tang San arrived.
He could hear Ning Rongrong yelling from a distance.
"Don't hold me back!"
"I'm going to kill this guy!"
"How dare he hit me! Who does this Dai Mubai think he is?"
"Bang, bang, bang!"
"First Soul Skill: White Tiger Protective Barrier!"
Oh ho?
Ning Rongrong and Dai Mubai, why are they still fighting?
Tang San quickened his pace and entered the cafeteria.
He saw Ning Rongrong dual-wielding Python revolvers, firing wildly at Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai had a white light shield protecting him, rippling outwards. He charged towards Ning Rongrong with bloodshot eyes.
Ning Rongrong flipped her hand to pull out an Uzi, ready to unleash a barrage of fire.
"Swish—"
Xiao Wu teleported beside Ning Rongrong and pressed down on the gun barrels.
At the same time, she kicked out, sending Dai Mubai stumbling back.
"Are you two done with this nonsense?!" Xiao Wu scolded, "Just a little argument and you're trying to kill each other?"
Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong glared at each other, both clearly displeased.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing carried her tray towards the sink, ignoring the conflict.
She showed no interest in the argument.
However, when she saw Tang Lan, her eyes darted away awkwardly.
"Hey!" Tang Lan greeted, "Little princess, did you eat gunpowder this morning?"
Seeing Tang Lan, Ning Rongrong's eyes reddened.
"Uncle Tang, help your niece!
I just said he deserved to be jilted for running away, and he actually used his martial soul on me?"
"If it weren't for Sister Xiao Wu pulling me back, I'd be dead!"
Uncle Tang?
Zhu Zhuqing, who was about to leave, and Dai Mubai, who was still fuming, all looked at Tang Lan.
"Huh?" Xiao Wu asked curiously, "Brother, when did you become Rongrong's uncle?"
Tang Lan shrugged.
"Ning Fengzhi suggested we become sworn siblings, and I agreed."
"But he also said, we each go by our own terms. Ning Rongrong, don't try to take advantage of the relationship."
In a word,
Ning Rongrong, who had thought she'd found a backer, looked a bit grim.
How could she respond to Tang Lan's frankness?
"Sect Master."
Dai Mubai stepped forward, his voice cold.
"Last night, I apologized to Zhu Zhuqing, intending to end this arrangement by the family. After all, I was in the wrong."
"Zhu Zhuqing was the first to bring up breaking off the engagement, and I agreed."
"But this Ning Rongrong, I don't know where she heard it, but she came this morning to mock me, saying that I..."
Dai Mubai's expression twitched!
Clearly,
the broken engagement still hit him hard.
It was his own fault, and with Tang Lan and Zhu Zhuqing tangled up, he could only accept the reality.
But this Ning Rongrong, with her loose tongue, always brought up the things that shouldn't be mentioned.
What man could endure that?
That's how it ended up like this.
At this moment,
Tang San, supporting Oscar, walked into the cafeteria.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, they stopped at the door.
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up when she saw Tang San!
She remembered Tang San's impressive record—shattering Chen Xin's protective soul power!
If it were him, he could definitely kill Dai Mubai, right?
She was about to speak...
But then she saw the mocking look on Tang Lan's face, and she remembered what happened that night.
—That guy can be really ruthless!
Her brain cleared.
——Tang San, himself, and Dai Mubai were all disciples of the Tang Sect. To hire fellow sect members to kill each other in front of the Sect Master?
That's just asking for death!
After a moment of calm reflection, she realized... Possibly, probably, perhaps, probably... It was her own sharp tongue, digging at Dai Mubai's sore spots, that caused him to erupt, wasn't it? ——What do you do when you realize you're wrong mid-argument?
Ning Rongrong chose to turn her head and ignore Dai Mubai.
She wanted to just brush it off and be done with it.
But then...
"Ning Rongrong." Tang San called out, stopping her. "Since the matter started with you, you can't just turn around and leave like that."
Ning Rongrong's footsteps halted.
Even though she knew she was wrong, her attitude remained strong.
"I just said a few words, and he, a big man, had to resort to trying to kill me?"
Wow!
That woman's words really ticked Dai Mubai off!
Tang Lan was also amused.
"A few words, insignificant, right?"
"Then what were you doing sneaking into my dorm in the middle of the night the other day?"
"Whoosh—"
"Whoosh—"
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu's gazes immediately locked onto Ning Rongrong!
Xiao Wu even let go of her hand, her brows furrowed.
"Why is another one here to steal my brother?"
Ning Rongrong panicked!
"No! It's not what you think!"
"I just went over there...I just..."
Ning Rongrong stumbled.
How should she put it?
Should she say she went to steal bullets and then was forced to play a game of roulette?
How could she possibly admit to that black history?
At this moment,
she truly understood Dai Mubai's situation earlier.
—It was so frustrating!
"Why aren't you talking?" Tang Lan repeated, "I only said a couple of things, you're not angry, are you? You're not, are you?"
That sarcastic tone made Dai Mubai feel extremely pleased!
The Sect Master still had a way to deal with this little demoness.
不过 他 subtly glanced at Tang San.
He already had Xiao Wu, and was also being ambiguous with Zhu Zhuqing.
And now Ning Rongrong was going to sneak into his room at night? This Sect Master was quite the ladies' man! Having experienced the pain of words, a wronged and crestfallen Ning Rongrong reluctantly apologized to Dai Mubai.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said those things. I poked at your wounds."
Dai Mubai snorted coldly, intending to leave immediately.
But thinking of Tang San still being there... He just said coldly, "Let's just leave it at that."
He strode out of the cafeteria.
Zhu Zhuqing, who had originally wanted to leave, instead lingered to continue washing the dishes, her eyes drifting towards Tang San.
"Brother!" Xiao Wu pouted. "What evening? How come I didn't know anything about it?"
Tang Lan glanced at Ning Rongrong, who awkwardly got up and fled the cafeteria.
Only then did he recount everything that had happened that night.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't about that incident, thank goodness.
However, Tang San's point of focus was peculiar—
"Brother, the first batch of bullets you made didn't have any anti-theft measures. That's a potential problem."
Oh!
Tang Lan had indeed overlooked that.
Fortunately,
There were also old bullets, just Zhu Zhuqing, himself, Tang San, and Xiao Wu.
They were all considered his own people.
"Then, Little San, you take them back and exchange them for new bullets," Tang Lan said.
"Okay, Big Bro."
The topic ended there.
Zhu Zhuqing had also washed her dishes and left with a cat-like gait.
Tang Lan ate his meal, his gaze falling on Oscar.
Ma Hongjun's personality was lazy, gluttonous, and fond of women, and didn't like to cultivate.
Oscar was at the other extreme.
He had a resolute character and a clear goal. He had been practically broken last night, yet here he was, already able to walk.
However, he was also in a critical condition.
Probably…
On the training ground.
Just as Tang San had predicted.
Oscar's physical condition was very poor.
Although he was stubbornly swinging the hammer, the bloodstains on the hammer handle proved that it wasn't easy for him.
But he acted as though he didn't feel anything, gritting his teeth and persisting.
When he couldn't take it anymore, he'd eat a sausage and then continue swinging the hammer.
Round and round it went.
Everyone couldn't help but sigh—if Oscar and Ma Hongjun's spirits were switched, that would be great!
The food-type spirit was lazy and loved to eat, while the strong-attack type was hardworking and could endure hardship.
It sounded like a perfect match.
But now...
Flender's roar frequently echoed.
"Ma Hongjun!"
"Add another 150 pounds to your load!"
"You're dawdling on your laps, go do push-ups!"
"What kind of lecherous pose is that? Trying to drill through the floor?"
"Straighten your back!"
Flender stood directly in front of Ma Hongjun, glaring at him.
The others were disciplined and only glanced over occasionally.
Ma Hongjun was practically traumatized by the scolding—if he'd known it would be this hard, he would have swung the big hammer with Oscar!
Tang San was also keeping an eye on Oscar.
He's a tough one!
Because he and Ning Rongrong were both support-type Soul Masters, Ning Fengzhi didn't approve of him.
After five years of hard training on the continent, he created the "Mirror Image Sausage," which could replicate 80% of another person's combat strength, allowing him to become a strong-attack type.
In the future, he would even become the first Food-type Title Douluo.
Among the Shrek Seven Devils, only Oscar was beyond reproach.
Therefore, Tang Lan planned to help him.
——Otherwise, if Oscar failed, who would stall Tang San?
He dispelled the Thunder Flame Clear Sky Hammer and came before Oscar.
The latter was still mechanically swinging his hammer, barely reacting to a living person standing before him.
——He was currently persevering purely on willpower.
But his body was also nearing its limit, and a breakdown was imminent within these two days.
Tang San flicked out a Life-Soul Blue Silver Emperor, using it to channel Nine Yang Divine Skill's inner energy.
While repairing Oscar's damaged body, it also stimulated his soul power, guiding it to circulate the first level of Nine Yang Divine Skill.
Oscar instinctively followed the flow.
Under Tang San's direct guidance, he quickly mastered the first level, and his scattered soul power transformed into a hazy purple energy.
His physical condition also recovered significantly under the nourishment of the Nine Yang Divine Skill's inner energy.
Oscar's consciousness returned.
He was amazed by the changes within his body.
This is what the Dean was talking about, the soul power path that can cure Fatty's evil fire?
But,
"Thank you," Oscar asked, puzzled. "But why?"
Why would he teach him?
"Because I want to," Tang San said casually.
He turned and left.
Oscar was left with a complicated expression.
Are geniuses all this willful?
But he quickly put those thoughts aside and increased the speed of his hammer swings.
Then he discovered even more pleasant surprises!
During the hammer swings, he activated the first level of the Nine Yang Divine Skill.
It could soothe his aching muscles, allowing them to recover faster.
The condensed, swirling purple inner force also amplified his soul skills!
The recovery sausage strengthened him by about 10%.
With the balance between consumption and replenishment, he could barely cover the cost of swinging the hammer.
However, his body was constantly teetering on the edge of its limits, still requiring a tenacious willpower to support him.
But at least there was hope of completion!
Tang San naturally saw this change as well.
His gaze drifted towards Tang Lan, a hint of resentment in his eyes.
Brother, what are you doing?
His original goal was to prevent Ma Hongjun from succeeding, let alone Oscar.
Now that this has happened...
Tang San was considering whether it still counted.
Night fell.
Oscar, carrying his battered body, ate a few of Shao Xin's sugar pills and barely managed to return to the dormitory on his own.
Progress was visible to the naked eye, all because of an incomplete cultivation technique.
And with the perseverance he had shown, success wouldn't be difficult.
Tang San could no longer hold back and went to Tang Lan.
"Brother, what are you doing?"
Tang Lan chewed slowly, scanning the cafeteria.
Zhu Zhuqing quietly picked up her unfinished plate and walked out of the cafeteria.
Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong followed closely behind.
Xiao Wu sat beside Tang San, looking like she was ready for some gossip.
Tang San finally swallowed the food in his mouth.
He slowly said, "Little San, over the years, your hidden weapons and self-created soul skills... I, as your big brother, have never been envious, right?"
Tang San, who had been ready to start an argument, immediately deflated.
He knew this wasn't his finest moment.
"So, what do you mean, brother?"
"Oscar is a man of excellent character," Tang Lan said. "He drives his body with sheer willpower, something I don't think I could do. That's why I admire him."
Tang San also nodded in agreement.
However, he still couldn't get past the hurdle in his mind. He was still wrestling with it when,
Tang Lan suddenly asked, "Xiao San, what do you plan to become in the future?"
Tang San was taken aback.
He hadn't really thought about that.
Become a Title Douluo?
With the Tang Sect's unique skills, he had confidence he could achieve it.
But then what?
Live freely, as a lone wolf?
Or find a woman and retire from the world?
Wouldn't the Tang Sect's skills disappear then?
Tang San was somewhat resistant to this idea. He secretly had other thoughts brewing.
"You wouldn't want those self-created soul skills to disappear, would you?"
Tang Lan hit the nail on the head.
"This was also my original intention in establishing the Tang Sect, to let them shine brightly on the Douluo Continent!"
"Anyway, once you join the Tang Sect, you're a Tang Sect person in life, and a Tang Sect ghost in death."
"A sect's secret techniques can't be revealed."
"Why not use them to create an era?"
"An era…"
"Belonging to us brothers!"
Tang San's spirit soared!
At that moment, he thought of many things.
Ultimately, they coalesced into a single thought—
'Since I still bear the surname Tang in this life, and am still called Tang San…'
'It means my connection with the Tang Sect is not yet severed.'
Is this implying that I'm destined to rebuild the Tang Sect in another world?
But then he became conflicted.
This Tang Sect wasn't his Tang Sect, but the Tang Sect created by Tang Lan.
After the Tang Sect's unique skills are given, would they still be his?
As if able to see through his thoughts, Tang Lan sighed deeply.
"Little San, from childhood to adulthood, what you've wanted, I've never denied you."
"If you feel that this Tang Sect wasn't created by you, and it's a mental block..."
"Then the position of Sect Master can also be given to you, I'll just be an Elder."
Tang Lan's move, retreating to advance, had cornered Tang San!
The current favorable situation of the Tang Sect was all thanks to Tang Lan's hard work!
Recruiting students with talent...
Jointly bind to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan,
And will soon be valued by the Heaven Dou Empire.
Harvest funds with firearm soul tools,
Establish a foundation with communication soul tools.
Tang Lan had done so much, and Tang San hadn't been able to help.
Now, he's jumping out to take the easy win and take over the Tang Sect?
Although it sounded quite embarrassing, Tang San had to admit—
He was tempted!
How about you just agree, bro?
(End of Chapter)