After parting ways with Yang Wudi and Bai He, Han Li once again picked up the pace.
They managed to leave the Star Dou Forest just before nightfall.
Han Li had previously heard from his butler/driver Sebastian about the poor conditions of the town's hotels. Despite not having stayed there many times, he had arranged for the Chamber of Commerce to rebuild the infrastructure.
Now, the group comfortably checked into a hotel they owned and enjoyed a peaceful night.
Meanwhile, at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, Tang San finally arrived at Yu Xiaogang's office after training, only to find the master in a miserable state.
"Teacher, what happened to you?"
Tang San was genuinely shocked to see the mess in the office and Yu Xiaogang covered in injuries.
This was inside the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Who would dare attack his teacher? And why didn't Dean Flender intervene sooner, but instead wait until training was over to inform him?
Yu Xiaogang felt a small sense of comfort when he saw Tang San enter, looking at him with concern.
Indeed, brothers are unreliable; in the end, only his disciple was dependable.
He initially wanted to complain to Tang San about Flender's betrayal, but then remembered he hadn't yet spoken to Qin Ming about Tang San. Yu Xiaogang swallowed his words.
Patience!
Revenge is best served cold.
Today, you discard me like worn shoes, but when Xiao San succeeds, you will not be worthy of even approaching him.
Flender, you were right. You're not fit to be my brother.
Yu Xiaogang finally understood: perhaps Flender had never respected him. Back then, it was all about Liu Erlong.
Otherwise, how could Yu Xiaogang's uncle have suddenly shown up on his wedding day, despite only three people knowing about it? Maybe Flender was the one who leaked it.
For Liu Erlong choosing him, Flender must have harbored resentment, which is why he so quickly betrayed him when Yu Xiaogang fell on hard times.
Xiao San, you're all I have left.
Yes, this was the reflection Yu Xiaogang came to after lying on the ground for over an hour.
After taking off the good brother filter, he finally started to understand everything.
Everything he couldn't figure out before now seemed perfectly logical.
"Flender, oh Flender," he thought, "I never expected you to be this kind of person. I must have been blind to consider you a good brother back then."
Now that you've been exposed, I see things. It's not too late.
You'll regret this, Flender!
Of course, Yu Xiaogang wouldn't admit that this was just something he thought up to distract himself from the pain during that long hour.
"Teacher, let me take you for treatment."
Seeing Yu Xiaogang grinning like a fool, with a bruised and swollen face, Tang San couldn't help but feel a flicker of strange feeling in his heart, though he still displayed concern and quickly approached him.
After the previous incident, Tang San's respect for his teacher had waned, and he even sometimes considered using his Mysterious Jade Hand technique to end him.
But remembering his promise, Tang San suppressed his murderous intent, maintaining his usual demeanor, and even showing more respect, which moved Yu Xiaogang deeply.
Carefully helping Yu Xiaogang up, Tang San checked his injuries.
The surface injuries weren't too severe, just looked bad. The most serious was his left leg.
After probing the left leg injury, Tang San couldn't help but hiss, taking a sharp breath.
Such a brutal method—Yu Xiaogang's leg bones below the knee were almost completely shattered, caused by a blunt instrument.
But the attacker had been extremely precise, shattering the bones without causing them to scatter. Once reassembled, there would be no lasting damage.
This technique was incredible!
Even Tang San, with his Tang Sect background, felt the urge to meet the person responsible.
Their control over their strength was precise, and crippling Yu Xiaogang like this was meant to make him suffer extreme pain.
A true master!
Tang San glanced at Yu Xiaogang, who was biting his lip and holding on and pretending to ask angrily, "Teacher, you must tell me who did this to you. I'll avenge you."
Then he noticed the master trembling slightly in his grasp, a mix of pain and fear evident in his demeanor.
After a moment, Yu Xiaogang forced a smile, his voice tinged with a barely detectable sob:
"No need, Xiao Xan, but I appreciate your concern. I wasn't injured in a conflict, but rather during an experiment when my soul power accidentally surged, causing a bookshelf to fall over and injure me. It's nothing serious."
As Yu Xiaogang answered Tang San's question, he was silently weeping inside. How could he answer that question? Would he dare?
Unconsciously, his resentment towards Tang Hao deepened, but he sadly realized he had no choice but to rely on Tang San.
"Oh, that's what happened. Teacher, you need to be more careful. Next time, let me assist you during the experiment."
Tang San hid his anger, showing concern instead, and volunteered to help.
Knowing Yu Xiaogang well, Tang San was sure he would refuse.
Indeed, the next second, Yu Xiaogang responded, "No need. It seems the experiment failed. I won't be trying again anytime soon. If I do, I'll let you know in advance."
"Alright, no problem, I'll be ready whenever you need me."
Tang San maintained the appearance of a dutiful disciple. However, Yu Xiaogang felt a mix of emotions. The contrast between the attitudes of father and son toward him was stark—only with Tang San did he feel any respect.
"Okay, teacher, please bear with it for a moment. I'll use my Blue Silver Grass to stabilize your leg first."
As he spoke, Tang San's right hand summoned the Blue Silver Grass, wrapping it around Yu Xiaogang's injured left leg.
But Yu Xiaogang didn't notice the cold gleam in Tang San's eyes as he lowered his head to control the Blue Silver Grass.
It seemed the person who injured Yu Xiaogang was quite powerful and held a high status. After all, Yu Xiaogang was always so proud, even in front of the three Dean, but now he didn't even dare to mention the other person's name, instead claiming his injuries were due to a failed experiment. This spoke volumes.
As the Blue Silver Grass continued to wind around Yu Xiaogang's left leg, a thought occurred to Tang San.
Since Yu Xiaogang wouldn't dare seek revenge, could he take this opportunity to make a small adjustment himself? After all, if Yu Xiaogang's leg didn't fully recover, it wouldn't be his fault.
Once this thought arose, it was like Pandora's box had been opened—Tang San couldn't push it away.
He was going to die eventually anyway, so why not take some interest in advance?
Think about your Mysterious Jade Hand—decades of hard work, wasted in an instant. How could you accept that?
This man in front of you, just like Zhu Zhuqing said, is only using you. Such a person doesn't deserve to be your teacher.
According to the Tang Sect's rules, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth—that's what makes a proper Tang Sect disciple.
No one would know if he made a small move to let Yu Xiaogang experience the same pain. Only then could he begin to repay what was owed.
As for the rest, no rush. Once Yu Xiaogang was completely useless, he could experience the real cruelty of the Tang Sect.
As these thoughts swirled in Tang San's mind, his soul power quietly seeped through the Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Yu Xiaogang's left leg and into his body.
Tang San dared to do this because he was confident. His teacher didn't behave like a typical Soul Master. Except for summoning Luo Sanpao, Yu Xiaogang rarely bothered to mobilize his soul power, let alone maintain awareness of his body.
Moreover, with the intense pain he was currently experiencing, it was even less likely he'd notice what Tang San was doing.
Silently, three or four bone fragments in Yu Xiaogang's lower leg were ground into powder under Tang San's control.
Tang San then stood up and walked over to Yu Xiaogang.
"Alright, teacher, this should stop your leg from moving around."
He bent down slightly and let Yu Xiaogang lean on his back.
"Teacher, I'll carry you so you'll suffer less."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes reddened, touched by the gesture. What a good child. Don't worry, I'll make sure you become the strongest twin martial soul master.
When that time comes, we'll stand atop the continent as teacher and disciple, becoming legends among Soul Masters, with our names resonating across the land.
"Good, good, good. You truly are my best disciple."
Yu Xiaogang felt no pain at all now. Compared to the joy in his heart, the physical pain was nothing.
"Don't worry, Xiao San, I've already made some progress on what I told you before. I've convinced Flender, and tomorrow he'll talk to Qin Ming about getting you into the first team."
"After I get treatment, I'll go find Tianheng. All you need to do is defeat the control-type Soul Master on the first team, and you'll become a main force, bringing you one step closer to your dream."
"How does that sound?"
Yu Xiaogang squeezed Tang San's shoulder a little harder to express his excitement.
But Tang San, who had just started walking, paused for a moment.
If it was good news, why didn't you say it sooner?
Now, it's too late!
In the time that had passed, Tang San had already ground three more bone fragments into powder.
It seemed that his teacher wasn't just using him after all—he genuinely cared. Tang San cursed himself, feeling unworthy as a disciple.
A strong sense of guilt washed over him. He shouldn't have been so impulsive, losing the calmness a Tang Sect disciple should have.
But now it couldn't be undone. He would just have to be even better to his teacher in the future.
Noticing Tang San's hesitation, Yu Xiaogang thought he was just surprised by the news, so he patted Tang San on the shoulder, reassuring him:
"Xiao San, I know you're a good kid, but remember, a truly strong person isn't easily swayed by emotions. This is something you need to work on."
Hearing this, Tang San suddenly saw the truth. His teacher was right—a strong person should be like that. He would change immediately.
"Yes, teacher, I understand."
He couldn't let emotions control him. And who could prove that Yu Xiaogang's injuries were related to him?
After all, he was just a good disciple, carrying his injured teacher to get treatment.
I'm sorry, teacher. Thank you, teacher!