...
"Tang San".
"This is a personal matter between us."
"I understand that as a disciple, you cannot stand by and watch your teacher be humiliated. I admire this respect for your teacher."
"So this time..."
Xuan Hao glanced at Xiao Wu, who was standing not far away with a worried expression, and his eyes softened slightly for a moment:
"I'll forgive you for Xiao Wu's sake."
"but."
"If there's a next time..."
"If you dare to show your claws to me again..."
"Then don't blame me for not giving someone face and chopping off your hands...!"
Tang San gritted his teeth, staring intently at Xuan Hao, wanting to speak, but found his throat as if it were being choked, unable to utter a sound.
He could only roar wildly in his heart, but his body instinctively chose to submit under that oppressive aura.
At this moment.
Yu Xiaogang, who had been slapped away, finally managed to get up from the ground with Flander's help.
Half of his face was swollen high, and the composure and calmness that he always had on his lips were now gone, leaving only a face full of dishevelment and humiliation.
He covered his face, his finger trembling as he pointed at Xuan Hao, his eyes filled with anger and disbelief:
"What do you mean by this, Your Excellency?!"
"I have no grudge against you, and we have never even met! Why do you humiliate me like this?!"
"Is this what they call the demeanor of a strong person?!"
"humiliation?"
Xuan Hao turned his head and looked at this man who had a righteous and awe-inspiring face but was actually extremely hypocritical.
The disdain in his eyes was almost overflowing.
"It doesn't mean anything."
Xuan Hao shrugged, looking completely matter-of-fact:
"I just... don't like you."
"You could also say..."
"To vent my anger for someone."
"Someone?" Yu Xiaogang was taken aback. "Who?"
Does he not remember offending such a powerful person's friends or relatives?
"You don't need to know," Xuan Hao said calmly. "You only need to know that after hearing your suave remarks just now…"
"It makes me sick."
"When I heard that, I couldn't help but burst out laughing."
Before he could finish speaking...
"Smack—!!!"
Another crisp slap rang out.
This time, although Xuan Hao still did not use his soul power, or even a tenth of his physical strength, the pure kinetic energy was still terrifying.
Yu Xiaogang spun like a top again and flew out, this time crashing through the screen next to him and rolling into a corner of the lobby.
Several teeth, mixed with blood, splattered out.
"puff--"
Yu Xiaogang lay on the ground, convulsing, trying to get up, but found that he had no strength left.
But what made him even more desperate was that he saw the lingering coldness in the boy's eyes.
He knew it very well.
If he dares to stand up again, even if he only shows the slightest sign of defiance, that madman... will attack again!
He might even actually be killed!
Faced with the threat of death, this master, who always spoke of "dignity," made an extremely wise choice—
Playing dead.
He lay there on the ground, motionless, even his breathing slowed, letting the blood flow freely, as if he had truly fainted.
Looking at Yu Xiaogang lying motionless on the ground like a dead dog, the last bit of interest in Xuan Hao's eyes vanished.
He withdrew his gaze listlessly, put his hands in his pockets, turned around and walked out of the restaurant, not even bothering to say a word of politeness.
Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu exchanged glances, all keenly aware of Xuan Hao's current bad mood.
They, who would usually banter and tease each other, were now extremely obedient and kept their mouths shut.
Even Xiao Wu didn't dare to hold his hand, but silently followed behind him and quickly left the messy restaurant.
The suffocating oppressive atmosphere in the hotel lobby only gradually dissipated after Xuan Hao and his group completely disappeared into the night.
"teacher!"
Tang San was the first to react. Ignoring his stiffness, he staggered to the corner, wanting to help Yu Xiaogang up from the ground, but afraid of touching his wounds, his hands trembled and hovered in mid-air, his eyes red-rimmed.
"Teacher...you..."
"Cough cough..."
At this moment, Yu Xiaogang, who had been "unconscious," finally let out a weak cough.
With Flander's help, he struggled to sit up from the pile of wood chips.
"Xiaogang! Are you alright?!"
"You scared me to death... I saw you weren't moving at all, and I thought that kid had really done that to you..."
Xuan Hao's strength is enough to crush Zhao Wuji head-on!
He was genuinely afraid that Yu Xiaogang, a mere level 29 Great Soul Master, would be instantly killed on the spot.
"I...I'm fine."
Yu Xiaogang gasped for breath, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.
His speech was slightly slurred, but he still managed to maintain the last shred of dignity befitting a "master," waving his hand and saying in a hoarse voice:
"He...didn't kill him."
"That slap looked fierce, but it didn't actually damage my internal organs or bones.
It was more... just to humiliate me."
"That's why I chose to remain silent and didn't stand up again."
"In that situation, if I were to act tough, I would only provoke that madman and make him continue to attack.
That would be foolish and just asking for trouble."
"As long as I don't move, he will achieve his goal and leave naturally."
Hearing this self-analysis, Flander opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.
Although that's the logic, saving your life is the most important thing.
but...
Looking at his old friend, whose face was covered in blood but who was still seriously analyzing the situation, Flander felt a little strange.
"A master is a master!"
Just then, Oscar, standing to the side, suddenly gave a thumbs-up with a look of admiration and exclaimed sincerely:
"This is what they mean by a true man who can bend and stretch!"
"When faced with an invincible enemy, knowing how to assess the situation and preserve oneself at the lowest possible cost—that is true wisdom!"
"..."
These words instantly plunged the already awkward atmosphere into a freezing point.
Yu Xiaogang's already swollen face turned even more purplish-red, and it was burning with pain.
He glared at Oscar with some annoyance, but couldn't retaliate, so he could only lower his head and pretend to straighten his clothes to hide his momentary embarrassment.
Is this kid praising me or insulting me?
"Alright, that's enough."
Flander glared at Oscar, then turned back to Yu Xiaogang, tending to his wounds while asking with a furrowed brow:
"But Xiaogang, I really don't understand."
"What exactly did you do to offend Xuan Hao?"
"You heard it too, he said he didn't like you and that he was standing up for someone.
But you've been living in seclusion in Notting City all these years, how could you possibly have offended such a scourge from Heavenly Fighting City?"
"I don't know either."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head, his eyes filled with confusion and frustration:
"I don't know him at all! I've only heard the name Xuan Hao for the first time today."
"I've never even been to Tiandou City, how could I possibly offend his friends or relatives?"
"That's strange..."
Flander stroked the stubble on his chin and fell into deep thought.
Sudden.
As if remembering something, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he looked at Yu Xiaogang hesitantly:
"Wait... Xiao Gang."
"I remembered something."
"A few years ago, when I was corresponding with Erlongmei, she seemed to have mentioned a name in her letters..."
Flanders lowered his voice, his tone tinged with uncertainty:
"She said a remarkable little monster has recently appeared in Tiandou City, I think his name is... Brother Hao?"
"Moreover, Erlongmei said that she has a very good relationship with that Hao Ge, and you could even say that they are... close friends despite their age difference."
"Could it be..."
Flander pointed in the direction Xuan Hao had just left, and swallowed hard.
"Could this Xuan Hao be the Hao Ge that Erlongmei was talking about?"
"Liu Erlong?!"
Upon hearing this name, Yu Xiaogang's body stiffened abruptly, and his already pale face instantly turned even more ashen.
He abruptly raised his head, glaring at Flander with a look that was both warning and tinged with panic:
"shut up!"
"Don't mention that name!"
Flander, after being yelled at, dared not say anything more and could only shut his mouth sheepishly.
Although he was in Soto City and Liu Erlong was far away in Tiandou City, they still exchanged letters.
He remembered clearly that about four or five years ago, Liu Erlong did mention in a letter that she had met a very interesting young man in Tiandou City.
He was exceptionally talented, had an outgoing personality, and... understood her very well.
He's just a bit of a jerk.
He didn't pay attention then, but now...
If that "Brother Hao" is the same Xuan Hao who just beat Yu Xiaogang to a pulp...
If that boy really "understood her" as Liu Erlong said...
What he just said about "not liking you" and "standing up for someone"...
Could it be for... Niryū?!
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