Tang San was momentarily stunned. He turned around and saw a middle-aged man, who appeared to be in his forties or fifties, standing behind him. The man must have arrived quietly without Tang San noticing.
The man's appearance was quite ordinary. He had slightly thick lips, a crew cut, and a face covered in stubble, which made him look rather unkempt and slovenly.
Seeing the newcomer, the gatekeeper quickly lowered his previously raised hand, the anger on his face vanishing, replaced by an obsequious expression. "Master, you're back."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man merely glanced sideways at the gatekeeper, then looked at Cheng Xiao, who had already entered the academy but hadn't left yet, before finally resting his gaze on Tang San.
Old Jack, being a village elder, was good at reading the situation. From the gatekeeper's behavior, he could tell that this middle-aged man was someone important. He immediately handed over Tang San's martial soul certificate and explained what had just happened.
The man, who the gatekeeper had called "Master," examined the certificate. "The certificate is genuine, old sir," he said to Old Jack. "On behalf of the academy, I apologize for what happened just now. Leave this child to me."
Someone so important was apologizing to him! Old Jack's face flushed, and he quickly waved his hand. "Master, I'll leave Xiao San in your care. Please take good care of him."
The master nodded in response.
After a few more words of advice to Tang San, Old Jack finally left.
Once Old Jack was gone, the master turned his attention to the gatekeeper. "This is the first and last time. If you do this again, I will report it to the principal, and you won't be staying here."
The gatekeeper nodded repeatedly, cold sweat dripping down his back.
The master then looked down at Tang San, forcing a smile that looked stiff and a bit awkward. He took Tang San's hand and, pointing at Cheng Xiao, who was about to leave, asked, "Is he a working student like you?"
"Him?" Tang San glanced at Cheng Xiao, who had already walked away, and shook his head. "No, he came after me, but the gatekeeper let him in as soon as he saw his martial soul certificate."
"I see," the master said, a gleam of wisdom flashing in his eyes. He guessed that Cheng Xiao must have an impressive martial soul. Otherwise, knowing the gatekeeper's personality, he wouldn't have been so quick to let him in.
Cheng Xiao was walking ahead of the two. Since it was his first time at Nuoding Academy, he wasn't walking fast, taking his time to explore the grounds and look for the main teaching building.
Soon, the master, holding Tang San's hand, caught up with Cheng Xiao.
"Young man, are you also a working student this year?" the master asked as he approached Cheng Xiao from the left.
"Hello, teacher. My name is Cheng Xiao, and I'm a working student from Chengjia Village," Cheng Xiao replied, stopping in his tracks.
The master chuckled. "I'm not a teacher here," he said, shaking his head lightly.
"You're not a teacher but you're called 'Master.' You must be some kind of leader in the academy then, right?" Tang San asked from the master's right.
"For a six-year-old, you're quite clever," the master said, "but you're wrong. I'm not an academy leader either."
Cheng Xiao feigned curiosity and asked, "Since you're not a teacher, why are you called 'Master'?"
The master straightened his back and spoke with a sense of depth. "I, Yu Xiaogang, am just a freeloader here at the academy. As for why I'm called 'Master,' it's because everyone calls me that. I've even forgotten my own name."
"You must understand, 'Master' and 'Teacher' are two different titles. They mean different things, so don't get them mixed up in the future," the master said, a glimmer of cunning in his eyes. "Unless, of course, you'd like to become my disciples and let me be your teacher."
"Become your disciples? Does that mean you're going to teach us how to cultivate our martial souls?" Tang San asked, his excitement showing.
The master stopped walking and looked at Tang San. "So, are you willing?"
Tang San also stopped, glancing at Cheng Xiao, who remained silent, before looking at the master again. He neither agreed nor refused.
"It seems I must insist this time," the master said when Tang San didn't respond. "After all, you are the third person in a hundred years to possess twin martial souls."
Tang San was shocked at the master's words. His expression changed as he looked at the master, and he discreetly raised his left hand, unlocking the safety on his hidden sleeve arrow. His eyes were filled with suspicion.
The master, noticing the change in Tang San's expression, calmly pulled out Tang San's martial soul certificate. "Young man, there's no need to be so nervous. I mean no harm. From this certificate, I deduced that you have twin martial souls. And if I couldn't figure that out, I wouldn't deserve to be called a master."
Hearing the explanation, Tang San's eyes gradually calmed down, and just as he was about to speak, Cheng Xiao interrupted.
"Master, why don't we continue talking as we walk?" Cheng Xiao suggested, not wanting to listen to any more of the master's theorizing.
Tang San shot Cheng Xiao a deep look but remained silent.
"Alright then, let's walk and talk," the master said, a hint of doubt creeping into his mind as he looked at Cheng Xiao's expressionless face.
Doesn't this kid understand the importance of martial soul theory? Tang San is clearly interested, but why is Cheng Xiao so indifferent? Then again, he probably doesn't know my reputation or the value of my core theories on martial souls.
With these thoughts in mind, the master slowed his pace, continuing to explain his theories.
However, despite his long lecture, Cheng Xiao still showed no interest. Frustrated, the master abandoned his hopes of recruiting Cheng Xiao through theory and focused on teaching Tang San, knowing that having a twin martial soul disciple was more than enough.
The master's explanations were clear and easy to understand. After listening, Tang San fully realized the depth of the middle-aged man's knowledge. He immediately stopped, stepped back, and knelt on the ground, bowing three times to formally request the master to take him as a disciple.
Seeing Tang San kneeling, the master muttered, "Silly child," but inwardly, he was immensely satisfied. Having a twin martial soul genius as a disciple would finally allow him to prove to the world that Yu Xiaogang was no failure! He bent down and helped Tang San up, saying, "There's no need to kneel to become my disciple. A simple bow will do."
Tang San responded seriously, "Once a teacher, always a father. Since you're my teacher, you deserve my kowtow."
The master looked over at Cheng Xiao, who had stopped walking and was watching them with disinterest. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "And you? Won't you take me as your master?"
Cheng Xiao replied, "I've seen your knowledge, but I'm not really interested in martial soul theory. I appreciate your kindness, but I'll have to decline."
"Alright," the master said with a hint of regret, shaking his head. "Taking a master is about mutual consent. Since you're not willing, I won't force you." He then turned to Tang San, saying, "Xiao San, let's go report to the academic office."
With that, the master took Tang San's hand and led him toward the office, ignoring Cheng Xiao.
The master was confident that under his guidance, Tang San would soon surpass Cheng Xiao. When that time came, Cheng Xiao would realize how wrong his decision had been.
Cheng Xiao watched the two leave, shrugged indifferently, and followed them at a distance.
Isn't the whole point of attending a spirit master academy to learn theory?