Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
******
"'Avoiding trouble is cowardice?' Sounds more like looking for trouble while bullying the weak and fearing the strong," Lan Minghua muttered inwardly, choosing not to comment aloud.
After all, the soul master world operated by the law of the jungle—only the strong survived.
Tang San noticed that Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were deliberately targeting Oscar, and he immediately voiced his support.
"Exactly. Avoiding trouble is cowardice. Unlike someone here—weak and useless."
Hearing this, Oscar clenched his fists, rage boiling inside him.
Initially, he had believed that statement, especially since it had come from Dean Flender.
But after taking Lan Minghua as his master, he realized how wrong it was.
Avoiding trouble is cowardice?
Would Dean Flender dare provoke a Titled Douluo?
Obviously not.
In contrast, Oscar felt the saying Lan Minghua had written in his letter was far more insightful:
"One who is not envied is mediocre."
Now that carried real wisdom.
And then there was the phrase: "We don't seek trouble, but we aren't afraid of it either."
Oscar cast a cold glance at Tang San and the others, then closed his eyes, choosing not to engage.
Frustrated, Dai Mubai's group could do nothing, as they had no reason to attack Oscar.
On the second floor, Lan Minghua found Tang San's comment—"Avoiding trouble is cowardice"—laughably ironic.
He was a disciple of the Tang Sect, yet he seemed to have forgotten its rules.
One of the core tenets of the Tang Sect is:
"A Tang Sect disciple shall not seek trouble lightly."
(Don't argue with me—look it up yourself. And don't say I'm quoting out of context; the full line is: 'But if provoked, retaliate with thunderous force.')
Isn't Tang San a Tang Sect disciple?
Doesn't he always claim to uphold its teachings?
So what now—has he simply forgotten one of its core tenets?
Or has he just discarded the Tang Sect's code altogether over the years?
But of course, Tang San hadn't forgotten.
There was one line from the Tang Sect rules he remembered very well, and often repeated:
"You have chosen the path of death."
If he could say that so often, yet also claim that avoiding trouble is cowardice, then the double standards in his character were glaring.
He provokes others: "Avoiding trouble is cowardice."
Others provoke him: "You have chosen the path of death."
Thinking about Tang San's blatant hypocrisy, Lan Minghua couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Zhao Wuji beside him was completely confused, not knowing what Lan Minghua was laughing about.
As for Oscar's response, Lan Minghua was only half satisfied.
With people practically trampling all over him, he should have pushed back.
Still, being able to endure it showed some growth.
After all, in the original storyline, it was Oscar who passed the saying "Avoiding trouble is cowardice" to Tang San.
Now that he was Lan Minghua's disciple, even if he hadn't become morally upright, at least he was no longer so twisted in his thinking.
Members of Canghui Academy took their seats. A middle-aged teacher whispered something into a young man's ear, clearly giving instructions.
Lan Minghua knew—the show was about to begin.
"Old Zhao, whatever happens next, don't act unless I say so. Got it?"
"Understood," Zhao Wuji replied. Even if he wanted to intervene, it wouldn't be easy under Lan Minghua's watchful eye.
The young man from Canghui Academy stood up and walked directly toward Dai Mubai and his group.
Just then, a server arrived, carrying the food Dai Mubai had ordered, heading in the same direction.
Suddenly, the Canghui student sped up and "accidentally" bumped into the server.
The steaming-hot dishes were sent flying—straight toward Dai Mubai's face.
Dai Mubai snorted coldly, clearly in a foul mood and looking for a place to vent.
He dodged the flying dishes with a slight sidestep and slapped out with one hand.
The Canghui student hadn't expected Dai Mubai to strike back so directly and had no time to react.
Before the dishes even hit the ground, a powerful palm slammed into his chest.
Dai Mubai hadn't held back. The youth's face turned pale as he vomited blood and was sent flying across the room.
"Oops, my bad. I meant to deflect the dishes, but missed and accidentally hit someone," Dai Mubai said with a mock apology, his tone dripping with disdain and arrogance.
Most of the restaurant's patrons were soul masters. They sneered at Dai Mubai's excuse.
That slap clearly carried a heavy dose of soul power.
Still, since it wasn't their business, no one interfered—they all moved out of the way to avoid getting involved.
But there was no way Canghui Academy could let this slide.
Their lead teacher sneered, "You arrogant brat—everyone, get him! Teach him a lesson!"
Upstairs, Lan Minghua shook his head.
They hadn't even bothered to check Dai Mubai's soul power before sending in that bunch of clowns.
Dai Mubai was a Level 37 Soul Elder—a power-type beast soul master with the White Tiger Martial Soul.
The students from Canghui were only Level 20-something Soul Grandmasters, and their Martial Souls were a joke in comparison.
Though they were also beast types, their souls were weak ones—deer, horses, goats...
Even worse, their soul rings were pathetic—some had ten-year white rings.
"These are students from an advanced soul master academy? Their first ring is only ten years old?"
Dai Mubai's sneer deepened as his body glowed with two yellow and one purple soul ring.
"A thousand-year ring?!" the Canghui students gasped.
But Dai Mubai didn't care. As his third ring lit up, he seized the moment to strike.
With the boost from White Tiger Vajra Transformation, his power surged.
In a flash, the dumbstruck Canghui students were sent flying, vomiting blood and collapsing in miserable heaps.
Dai Mubai mocked them, "What, that's all your academy can offer? I'm disappointed."
Hearing that, Canghui's teacher Ye Zhiqiu clenched his fists in fury, veins bulging from his forehead.
He had considered backing down when he saw Dai Mubai's soul ring configuration.
But he hadn't expected Dai Mubai to be so ruthless—and to treat Canghui Academy with such disdain.
If he didn't respond, their academy would become a laughingstock.
Even if people accused him of bullying the younger generation, he had to defend their dignity.
After all, this all started because of Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun's foul mouths.
"You arrogant brat!" Ye Zhiqiu roared.
His soul power surged, revealing one white, two yellow, and two purple rings—five in total.
He was a Soul King.
His Martial Soul: Black Tortoise.
With a powerful stomp, he launched himself at Dai Mubai like a cannonball.
Though Black Tortoise wasn't known for speed, a Soul King was still faster than a Soul Elder.
Dai Mubai was startled. He hadn't expected Canghui's teacher to strike.
He quickly activated his White Tiger Protective Barrier to block the attack.
But Ye Zhiqiu's eyes flashed. He immediately unleashed his third soul skill—Darkwater Surge.
A black column of water burst from his mouth and crashed toward Dai Mubai.
The chill in the air dropped sharply—the restaurant temperature plummeted.
Boom! Dai Mubai was struck head-on, blasted through the hotel doors and slammed to the ground, covered in mud—utterly disheveled, like a beggar.
Without Ma Hongjun and the others' help, challenging a Soul King was clearly unrealistic.
"Boss Dai!"
Everything had happened too fast—even Ma Hongjun and Tang San didn't have time to react.
Now Ye Zhiqiu was the one sneering at the group, taunting, "Don't say I'm bullying kids—why don't you all come at me together?"
"You old turtle! Sneak attacking Boss Dai—you've got no shame!" Ma Hongjun roared.
He conveniently forgot that Dai Mubai had just ambushed the Canghui student.
Ye Zhiqiu had merely returned the favor in kind.
Tang San and Xiao Wu, loyal to Dai Mubai, stood up, ready to fight.
Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing, however, remained indifferent. Ning Rongrong wavered uncertainly.
But as soon as Ye Zhiqiu heard the words "old turtle," it was like a switch was flipped. He exploded with rage.
"You little punks! Let me teach you what it means to respect your elders and teachers!"
Soul King-level energy surged through the restaurant, sending pressure sweeping over everyone.
This time, Ye Zhiqiu would hold nothing back. He was determined to make an example out of Ma Hongjun and the others.
Lan Minghua's lips curled slightly. He was curious to see whether Tang San and his group could take on a Soul King.
"The show's not over yet!"
(End of Chapter)