"Go on, keep talking. Qin Ming indeed doesn't have the authority to make this decision. However, since I'm here now, I'll give you a chance to convince me. Come on, tell me how your disciple can replace my nephew as the control-type soul master of the first team."
Zhi Lin was well aware of Yu Xiaogang's background, but so what? He was just a discarded pawn, and this was Zhi Lin's territory after all.
It's worth noting that Yu Xiaogang's position as an assistant teacher was decided only after a joint discussion among the three elders, as a gesture of goodwill toward the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. But now, it seemed that this concession was a mistake from the start.
After Dugu Yan dropped out of school, Zhi Lin had his nephew, who had already graduated, rejoin the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy to maintain the team's strength. Although his nephew wasn't a genius, his soul power level wasn't low due to being a bit older than the others—he had already reached the forty-second level. Moreover, he had been cooperating and training with the first team for a long time, all in preparation for the upcoming Continental Advanced Academy Soul Dueling Tournament.
Now, this rotten apple wanted to replace his nephew with a Soul Elder. This was something Zhi Lin could not accept.
The most crucial point was that Yu Xiaogang, a man universally recognized as a failure in the soul master world, dared to mock the Sky Blue Vine, while his disciple possessed a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul! Even if there were some secrets, as it stood now, aside from cultivation speed, Tang San was just an average plant-type soul master, perhaps even weaker. Where did Yu Xiaogang get the nerve to insult the Sky Blue Vine?
"Elder Zhi Lin, that's not what I meant..."
Yu Xiaogang's face turned bright red. He had done his homework beforehand and knew that the current control-type soul master in the first team came from a small family, based on his name. No one had mentioned that he was Zhi Lin's nephew, so how could he have known he would run into this situation?
"I don't care what you meant. Just tell me, in what way is your disciple stronger than my nephew? If he's replaced, can you and he guarantee the team's performance in the Soul Master Competition?"
Zhi Lin had no interest in hearing his explanations—he was a busy man.
Yu Xiaogang stammered for a long time but couldn't come up with a convincing argument. Tang San's hidden weapons were indeed unique and powerful, but they couldn't be used in the Soul Master Competition.
Yu Xiaogang had only thought that Tang San might achieve something with the help of his teammates, but he certainly couldn't guarantee the Emperor Battle Team's performance.
"If you can't explain it, then get out. Also, your position as an assistant teacher is revoked because you're unfit to be a teacher. I'll give you three days to pack your things. After three days, I don't want to see you in this academy anymore."
Zhi Lin made a swift decision, even going as far as to revoke Yu Xiaogang's assistant teacher position.
"And you two," Zhi Lin continued, addressing Qin Ming and Flender, "Since you have joined the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, don't do anything to bring shame to the academy. This is your first warning and it will not happen again."
After speaking, Zhi Lin didn't even glance at the dumbfounded Yu Xiaogang. He walked around him, opened the door, and left.
Qin Ming and Flender exchanged glances and remained silent.
"That old bastard! He's gone too far!"
After a while, Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth and cursed, but no one responded.
"Qin Ming, I'm sorry I dragged you into this."
Flender took a deep breath, ignored the still-fuming Yu Xiaogang, and bowed to Qin Ming.
Qin Ming was startled by the gesture and quickly sidestepped to avoid it, helping Flender back up.
"Dean, you don't need to do this. Besides, I didn't help much. I didn't expect Elder Zhilin to come today and choose to listen in."
Flender glanced at the still-respectful Qin Ming and shook his head with a smile.
"In any case, thank you. Also, don't call me Dean anymore. We are colleagues now, and strictly speaking, your status in the academy is higher than mine."
But Qin Ming stubbornly shook his head, insisting on treating Flender as his dean.
Seeing the two of them acting like a teacher and a devoted student in front of him, Yu Xiaogang lost his composure. In a fit of rage, he stormed over and pulled the two apart.
"What's the point of all this nonsense? Tell me, how can Xiao San join the first team now?"
Just as he widened his eyes, waiting for their response, he suddenly felt his feet leave the ground—he was flying through the air.
Yes, he was flying. Flender had thrown him with one arm.
Next, his body crashed heavily into a chair by the door, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, which was entirely caught by his mask.
This action startled Qin Ming, and he instinctively moved to help Yu Xiaogang, but Flender stopped him.
"Qin Ming, don't bother with him. Also, he is no longer my sworn brother. From now on, just treat him as a stranger—he has nothing to do with you and never taught you a single thing."
As he spoke, Flender walked over to Yu Xiaogang, looking down at him from above.
"I've fulfilled my promise. The rest has nothing to do with me. Stop pushing every problem onto others—Qin Ming had nothing to do with this. You heard what Elder Zhi Lin said: you're no longer an assistant teacher. In three days, stay away from the training grounds, and the second team will refuse your visits in the future."
"Now, please get out of here, can you? The sight of you makes me sick."
With Flender pointing at him and cursing, Yu Xiaogang was so enraged that his lips turned purple, but he held himself back. Flender had already resorted to violence—no matter how irrational he was, he wouldn't argue with him at this moment.
He struggled to get up from the ground, glared hatefully at the two of them, then turned and left the office. But in his heart, he added another grudge against Flender.
When Tang Hao reappears, he will make sure to recount today's events in full detail.
Just you wait, Flender!
After walking a short distance, he stopped in bewilderment. Now that he had been expelled, where should he go?
Moreover, after his anger subsided, he began to realize the gravity of the situation.
If Flender would face Tang Hao's wrath, as the main instigator of this whole affair, and given that he had promised it would succeed, what kind of punishment would be waiting for him?
Thinking about it, he couldn't help but shiver, and his left leg seemed to ache again. No, he had to escape—quickly. He didn't want to die.
He nervously glanced around, feeling as though Tang Hao could be lurking anywhere.
Yes, there was still hope. If his bone replacement research succeeded, Xiao San could benefit from it too.
But first, he had to avoid Tang Hao's immediate wrath and to prove the viability of his bone replacement research, he needed money.
Money. Money. The image of Liu Erlong flashed through Yu Xiaogang's mind, but he quickly dismissed it. With Flender around, the first place Tang Hao would go upon his return would be Liu Erlong's—that was out of the question.
Right, Xiao San. He had saved up some money, and after joining the academy, they had received some financial rewards as well. He should still have some left.
After all, once he figured out the method, Tang San would be the one to use it as well, so this could be considered an advance payment.
He must get ahead of Flender—this thought filled Yu Xiaogang's mind as he quickly rushed toward the training grounds.
At the training grounds, Tang San had just entered his training state when he once again heard Yu Xiaogang calling out to him.
"Xiao San, Xiao San, come here."
Judging by Yu Xiaogang's voice, he seemed anxious and uneasy.
Tang San took a deep breath, nodded to the others, and walked outside.
By now, Yu Xiaogang had tidied up his clothes and changed his mask. He looked no different from when he had left earlier.
But Tang San was no ordinary person. As he approached, his nose twitched slightly—he caught the faint scent of blood on Yu Xiaogang, making him immediately alert.
Wasn't he supposed to be meeting Senior Qin Ming? Why was there a smell of blood? And why did his teacher seem agitated, constantly glancing back at the path he had come from? What exactly had happened?
"Teacher, what's wrong? Did things not go well?"
Despite the heightened alertness in his heart, Tang San maintained a respectful expression on his face, tinged with a hint of concern.
Yu Xiaogang's body stiffened for a moment upon hearing Tang San's question, but he quickly regained his composure.
"There was indeed a bit of a problem. You know how it is—here in Heaven Dou, whether it's the soul masters or the nobles, they can be rather shrewd. So, I need some money to smooth things over. Also, yesterday I..."
His voice trailed off as if he were ashamed to be discussing this with his disciple.
Tang San, however, noticed the oddities in his behavior. After a moment's thought, he took out a money pouch and handed it over.
"Teacher, you've been working hard for my sake. I can't let you spend your own money. Here are 200 gold spirit coins—please take them."
Joy flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes as he quickly took the pouch and put it away.
"This is enough, more than enough. Xiao San, keep up with your training. I'll be on my way now."
He was about to turn and leave, but after taking a step, he stopped and turned back to look into Tang San's eyes.
"Xiao San, do you trust me?"
Tang San was slightly taken aback but immediately replied, "Of course, you're my teacher."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes reddened, and he choked up slightly.
"That's good, Xiao San. Remember what you said today. Even if you hear something unfavorable about me later, you must continue to trust me."
"The next time we meet, I'll have a big surprise for you."
Without waiting for Tang San to respond, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly walked away.
Watching Yu Xiaogang leave, Tang San felt a sinking feeling in his heart. It seemed that something had indeed gone wrong. And, what did he mean by the next time we meet?
However, his money wasn't so easy to take. That money was what he had been saving up to buy various metals for crafting hidden weapons.
Earlier, even though he knew something was off with Yu Xiaogang, he still handed over the money. How could he not have taken precautions?
He quickly returned to the training grounds and spoke briefly with Xiao Wu before hurrying back out.
Returning to the spot where he had given the money, Tang San sniffed the air lightly and caught a peculiar scent. He began tracking Yu Xiaogang in the direction he had left.
The money pouch he had handed to Yu Xiaogang was laced with a special tracking powder he had devised. This powder would emit a distinctive scent upon contact with skin, lingering for at least an hour.
And now, he was following that scent.
Ten minutes later, Tang San watched as Yu Xiaogang left the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and hailed a carriage.
After a brief moment of hiding, Tang San also hailed a carriage and followed him.