As for telling Yu Xiaogang the news, Huo Feng had absolutely no interest. The thought of the so-called "Grandmaster" waiting dutifully at the entrance of the Soto Soul Fighting Arena every night like a common laborer was far too amusing. To those who knew the situation, he was a teacher searching for his disciple. To anyone else, he probably looked like a beggar who had found a place to settle down for the night.
Just then, three more figures walked into the shop. Dai Mubai was in the lead, with Oscar and Ma Hongjun following close behind. Zhu Zhuqing, however, remained outside the doorway. She appeared uninterested in the commotion inside the blacksmith shop, but from the corner of her eye, she occasionally glanced into the room, her gaze always landing perfectly on Huo Feng.
The trio entered with an air of arrogance that made the already-stressed shop owner freeze. What now? he thought frantically. Why are there three more? Are they here to collect a debt from that jinx, too? For a moment, the owner was filled with immense regret. Why had he ever let Tang San into his shop?
Dai Mubai was the first to speak, his voice loud and clear. "What are you doing in a place like this, Huo Feng? If you need something forged, I know several master blacksmiths who are far better than this guy."
He said it directly in front of the owner without a hint of shame. In truth, Dai Mubai was looking for a way to build a better relationship with Huo Feng. He had noticed that Huo Feng seemed uninterested in everyone, yet, paradoxically, all three girls at the academy enjoyed talking to him. This puzzled Dai Mubai, and he'd been searching for a chance to ask for some advice, but the opportunity had never presented itself.
The blacksmith owner's face darkened, but he held his tongue, too intimidated to say anything. He finally realized that all six of these youths were together, and a wave of relief washed over him. At least they weren't separate groups of trouble.
Huo Feng was surprised that Dai Mubai had followed him so quickly. He knew that Dai Mubai and Tang San had met before—more than once, in fact. This would be their fourth encounter. Given that, and the fact that Yu Xiaogang's frantic search for his disciple was common knowledge, he knew this was about to get interesting.
"No, I was just looking around," Huo Feng replied with a calm smile, shaking his head. Without another word, he began walking toward the familiar figure still working at the back of the shop. The other five followed, their curiosity piqued.
At that moment, Tang San was still hammering away at a piece of hot iron. It might have been the sudden noise of the newcomers or perhaps a sixth sense kicking in, but he abruptly turned his head to look.
Then, he froze completely. Six young men and women in fine clothes were walking toward him. The appearance and attire of every single one of them stood in stark contrast to his own grimy, disheveled state. If they were just ordinary customers, he wouldn't have reacted this way. The problem was, he recognized the person at the front of the group. He knew him all too well.
Tang San's mind went blank with shock. He was seeing Huo Feng. Here, in the blacksmith shop. That meant Huo Feng could see him, too. And from the look on his face, it was obvious he'd been recognized.
Driven by a powerful surge of shame and wounded pride, Tang San quickly stood up and turned his back to them.
Dai Mubai, who was just behind Huo Feng, also saw the familiar face clearly. The moment of recognition hit him, and he stopped in his tracks, stunned. Isn't that Tang San? The precious disciple the "Master" has been searching for day and night is here, working as a common blacksmith?
He was about to say something, but Huo Feng spoke first. "Is it right to turn your back on an old friend without even saying hello?"
Huo Feng's voice was as calm as ever, almost soothing to the ear. But Tang San didn't move. He wished he could believe he was just seeing things. He didn't want to face Huo Feng, not like this.
"Am I wrong, Tang San?" Huo Feng pressed.
Hearing his own name, Tang San flinched. He hesitated for a moment but still refused to look back. "You have the wrong person," he mumbled, deliberately lowering his voice to disguise it. "I'm not Tang San."
"Like hell you're not!" Dai Mubai suddenly roared. "I'd recognize you even if you were burned to ashes!"
He lunged forward, grabbed Tang San by the collar of his shirt, and violently spun him around. Their eyes met. Tang San's were filled with terror and panic as he struggled to break free. Dai Mubai's held a look of smug satisfaction. He nodded firmly and turned back to Huo Feng. "It's him! It's Tang San, no doubt about it!"
Dai Mubai's sudden action stunned not only Tang San but Huo Feng as well. As expected of someone with a White Tiger spirit, Huo Feng thought. All aggression, no patience.
Tang San was so frightened that his legs began to shake, and he could barely stand. The other four students stared at him with open curiosity. They couldn't believe this was the disciple the "Grandmaster" was so obsessed with. Now, Dai Mubai's previous complaints started to make sense. Only a teacher of questionable skill would treat someone like this as a treasure.
Tang San finally managed to break free from Dai Mubai's grip, stumbling back a few steps with a wary expression. He was truly terrified of this guy. He had been brutally beaten by him on his first day in Soto City and almost beaten again during the Shrek entrance exam. Dai Mubai had left a deep psychological scar.
"What are you all doing here?!" Tang San demanded, no longer denying his identity.
"What are we doing here?" Dai Mubai scoffed. "The Master is turning the entire city upside down looking for you. What do you think we're doing?" Although he used the title "Master," his tone was dripping with disrespect.
"You... you mean Teacher is looking for me?" Tang San's emotions shifted in an instant, his voice becoming excited. "Where is he? Where's my teacher? I need to find him!"
Dai Mubai hadn't expected such a strong reaction, which he found even more amusing. He pretended to think for a moment before slowly saying, "If I had to guess, he's probably still at the entrance of the Soto Soul Fighting Arena."
"The Soto Soul Fighting Arena?" Tang San repeated, a spark of hope igniting in his eyes. His teacher hadn't forgotten him! He had come all the way to Soto City and was searching for him!
"Well, I just came to take a look," Huo Feng said, his objective complete. "I've said a bit too much." He turned and walked straight out the door. Seeing him leave, Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu immediately followed.
Dai Mubai wanted to taunt Tang San a bit more, but when he saw Huo Feng leaving, he shrugged and walked out of the blacksmith shop with Oscar and Ma Hongjun.
The shop owner was completely dumbfounded. "They're leaving? Just like that?"
The six of them didn't just leave; they left without a single backward glance, disappearing down the street in moments.
Anxious to find his teacher, Tang San rushed toward the door, but a burly figure suddenly blocked his path.
"You want to leave, too?" the owner growled, his arms crossed. "What about the money you owe me?"
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