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"Junior Tang San has come to pay respects to Bone Douluo. I ask that you inform him of my arrival."
Tang San's clothing was plain, almost shabby, making him seem completely out of place before the opulent splendor of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Beside him, Yu Xiaogang looked even worse. His body was filthy, resembling a beggar. He leaned on a crooked wooden stick as a crutch, while his empty pant leg swayed loosely in the wind, making his appearance especially pitiful.
The two gatekeepers of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had long since noticed these uninvited guests.
They were clad in the sect's ornate robes, the emblem of the Glazed Tile Sect embroidered proudly across their chests. Their faces carried arrogance, their gazes brimming with undisguised contempt.
One of them sneered, nudging his companion with an elbow, his mocking voice deliberately loud.
"Look at those bumpkins. They dare come to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and even want to see Bone Douluo? That's the funniest thing I've heard all day."
The other disciple burst into laughter, his voice booming as if afraid Tang San and the others might miss the insult.
"Exactly! And look at that cripple—can't even walk straight. What's he doing here? Did he come to beg for food?"
Yu Xiaogang's face instantly darkened, turning ashen.
His hand gripped the crutch so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His lips trembled, but he couldn't force out a single word.
The disciples' ridicule cut like blades, stabbing deep into his heart, leaving him more humiliated than ever before.
And the worst part—the ones mocking him weren't even true experts, but just two gatekeeping disciples.
"I, Yu Xiaogang, have fallen so low…"
Bitterness welled within him as he lowered his head, staring at his empty pant leg. Despair gnawed at him.
"If not for wanting to use Tang San's connection with Ning Rongrong to gain the sect's resources and heal my crippled leg, I would never have come groveling to this damned Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
Yu Xiaogang's face was dark with anger, but he dared not speak out.
Tang San, watching coldly, allowed a faint, mocking smile to tug at his lips.
Once, if anyone had dared to insult Yu Xiaogang like this, he would have instantly branded them as having "chosen the path of death."
But now? Now that he clearly saw Yu Xiaogang as nothing more than a fraud hungry for false fame, the respect of a disciple toward his master had long since vanished.
What remained in his heart was disgust.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang being mocked by mere gatekeepers, he felt not fury, but rather a sharp, secret joy.
"Yu Xiaogang, so you taste humiliation too? Weren't you the so-called great 'theory master'? Now even two gatekeepers trample you underfoot. Isn't this exactly what you deserve?"
The disciples, noticing Yu Xiaogang offered no resistance, quickly grew bored.
And since Tang San and Xiao Wu hadn't reacted either, their arrogance swelled further.
One of them jabbed a finger at Yu Xiaogang and jeered:
"Hey, cripple, what are you standing around for? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect isn't a place for trash like you. Get lost before you dirty the place!"
The other chimed in, laughing.
"Right! Look at your rags—you can't even afford decent clothes, and you dare step foot here? You're making me laugh to death!"
Yu Xiaogang's face grew darker still, but for the sake of obtaining resources to heal his leg, he swallowed the humiliation.
He lowered his head in silence, not daring to show the slightest hint of dissatisfaction.
Decades of frustration had trained his skin to be thick and his endurance for shame unnaturally strong.
When the disciples realized he still wouldn't react, they lost interest once again.
Bullying fools wasn't worth their time. Better to target someone else.
Their eyes shifted to Tang San.
One sized him up, his lip curling in disdain.
"Well, you look a little better dressed than the cripple, but that's not saying much. Who do you think you are, dressed like some backwater peasant? You want to meet Bone Douluo? Do you even deserve it?"
The second joined in with equal venom.
"That's right. Bone Douluo is far beyond your reach. Country bumpkins like you think you can just walk in and see him? You should be thrown out immediately!"
Tang San's expression darkened, his eyes flickering with killing intent.
What had just happened to Yu Xiaogang was now happening to him.
As the saying goes—when it doesn't concern you, the tombstone can be raised as high as you like.
But now, it was his pride being crushed.
His eyes glinted with shadowed malice as he fixed them on the two mocking disciples.
"You two… have chosen the path of death."
Though unsure of their exact strength, Tang San had already decided—they would not live.
His hand instinctively moved to his waist, reaching for the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges to unleash his hidden weapons.
But the moment his fingers brushed the pouch, his face froze.
He remembered—the container was broken. His hidden weapons couldn't be taken out.
His face turned an ugly shade of green. Hatred toward Yu Xiaogang surged hotter.
"Damn Yu Xiaogang! If not for that worthless excuse for a soul tool, would I be this humiliated?"
The two disciples noticed his gesture, sneering all the harder.
One jabbed a finger at Tang San's nose, spitting contempt.
"What? Didn't like us mocking the cripple? Think you can do something about it? Let me give you advice—get lost while we're still in a good mood. You think any stray dog can demand to see Bone Douluo? How shameless can you be?"
Tang San's fists clenched so tightly they creaked.
If looks could kill, those two disciples would already have died a thousand deaths.
But knowing he lacked the strength right now, and that he needed something from the sect, he choked down his fury, glaring icily.
"Just wait. Once I've married into this sect, I'll make sure you beg for death and never find it!"
Yu Xiaogang, seeing Tang San endure the same humiliation, felt a flash of twisted delight.
"Tang San, you too? Weren't you a genius? Weren't you supposed to be the favored son-in-law of this sect? Yet even gatekeepers dare to step on your head!"
Master and disciple alike reveled in each other's misfortune.
The two disciples, emboldened by their victims' silence, prepared to drive them off by force.
Just then, a stern, commanding voice thundered from the sky:
"Stop! Who gave you such courage, to act with such insolence?"
Everyone looked up.
From the heavens descended Bone Douluo, Gu Rong himself.
The two gatekeepers instantly turned pale, collapsing to their knees in terror.
"Bone Douluo, Your Majesty!"
Gu Rong snorted coldly.
"When did disciples of the Glazed Tile Sect become so arrogant? If I do not punish you now, will you overturn the heavens next?"
"Your Majesty, we were wrong!" they stammered, trembling and kowtowing in desperation.
But Gu Rong was not quick to forgive.
"Apologize to Tang San, then report to the Hall of Discipline for punishment. If there is a next time, you will be expelled from the sect!"
The two, relieved to be spared, quickly apologized to Tang San before scurrying away.
Only then did Gu Rong turn to Tang San, his expression softening into a smile.
"Tang San, I have wronged you. This was my failure in discipline. Please, don't take it to heart."
Tang San, seizing the step down, bowed quickly.
"Your Majesty is too serious. This junior dares not complain."
Gu Rong nodded, then glanced at Yu Xiaogang with a faint hum, offering no more than perfunctory acknowledgment. Clearly, he had little interest in him.
Turning back to Tang San, his manner grew warm.
"Tang San, since you are here, come inside with me. We have much to discuss."
Tang San's heart leapt with joy, and he bowed gratefully.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Yu Xiaogang, his face dark as thunder, forced a stiff smile as he hobbled after them.
Xiao Wu made no effort to support him; if not for Tang San, she wouldn't even bother giving Yu Xiaogang a glance.
After all, what use was a mere Great Soul Master?
Inside the sect hall, Gu Rong chatted amiably with Tang San, while Yu Xiaogang was left coldly ignored, like an unwanted shadow.
Privately, Gu Rong was calculating.
He had sensed their presence long ago but had delayed his appearance on purpose.
Sacrificing two disciples was a small price to earn Tang San's goodwill.
Such tactics he had long since learned from Ning Fengzhi.
And having heard from informants that Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were at odds, he intentionally slighted Yu Xiaogang to further please Tang San.
With Tang San's talent, his future as a Title Douluo was nearly guaranteed—so long as fate didn't cut him short.
Tang San too understood Gu Rong's intentions and was satisfied with the sect's attitude.
When the timing felt right, Gu Rong finally spoke.
"Enough pleasantries, Tang San. Now it is time we discuss your matter with Rongrong."
For when Gu Rong had seen Xiao Wu beside Tang San, he couldn't help but notice—her beauty was no less dazzling than Ning Rongrong's.
(End of Chapter)