Just as Flender was about to step in to save Tang San, Su Ming blocked his way, smiling as he said, "Headmaster, Xiao Wu and Tang San have been classmates for a while now. Xiao Wu knows how to control her strength. Sure, Tang San looks miserable now, but it's all just 'surface wounds.'"
Flender frowned and replied, "Su Ming, get out of the way. Tang San is clearly in serious trouble!"
Su Ming, unfazed, responded, "What's there to worry about? Oscar's recovery sausages are right here, and I can use my fourth soul skill to help heal him. Injuries are part of any good sparring match."
At this point, Su Ming's laid-back demeanor vanished, replaced by a mysterious aura as he locked eyes with Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Zao Wou-Ki. His voice lowered as he continued, "Let me remind you, Headmaster, this match was a one-vs-three, and none of you questioned Grandmaster's decision when he set it up. Out of respect for you as teachers, I didn't object either."
"So now, I hope you'll stand back and let the match finish. If you intervene now, it will be a real disappointment for us students."
At that moment, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing also stepped forward to support Su Ming. "Headmaster, since you chose not to intervene earlier, it's best if you don't step in now either," they said.
Flender, surprised that both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing—Tang San's supposed teammates—were siding with Su Ming, wondered, Does Tang San have such poor relationships, or are Su Ming and Xiao Wu just that charming?
If it had been only Su Ming opposing him, Flender might have still chosen to save Tang San, especially given Tang San's powerful father, Tang Hao. But now, with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing also speaking up, things were different. Zhu Zhuqing's background didn't worry him too much—she was essentially in exile from her family—but Ning Rongrong was another matter.
Flender shuddered as he remembered the Bone Douluo's recent visit and warning. His old injuries seemed to ache just from the memory.
Su Ming, seeing that Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had his back, felt deeply gratified. Xiao Wu was lucky to have such supportive friends.
Realizing there was little he could do, Flender sighed and stepped back, casting a helpless glance at Yu Xiaogang. He had no choice but to stand down, especially with Ning Rongrong's powerful connections. He couldn't afford to cross the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Flender wasn't afraid of Tang Hao, but Tang Hao was elusive, and Tang San wasn't aware of his father's full strength, so it was unlikely that Tang Hao would hear about this. But if Ning Rongrong was upset, she could easily report everything to her clan.
Oh, Xiaogang, Flender thought, if you hadn't insisted on making Xiao Wu fight a three-on-one, or if you hadn't let Tang San face Xiao Wu, we wouldn't be in this mess.
Yu Xiaogang, now bitter, hadn't expected Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing to side with Su Ming.
What's going on? he thought. Aren't they supposed to be Tang San's teammates?
Ning Rongrong/Zhu Zhuqing: Don't get the wrong idea; we're not that close with Tang San!
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others watching from the sidelines remained silent. Oscar, as a non-combatant, had no say in the matter, and Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, fearing Xiao Wu's Eight Stage Drop, weren't about to argue. They couldn't help but feel sorry for Tang San, who had been showing off ever since absorbing his third soul ring.
The crowd's attention returned to the match, their eyes fixed on the airborne Xiao Wu and Tang San. Xiao Wu noticed the situation unfolding below, and her confidence in Su Ming, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing never wavered.
As time ticked by, Xiao Wu focused her gaze on Tang San. This was her final strike, and from this height, with her attack, Tang San would be severely injured upon impact.
She raised her right leg and delivered a downward kick to Tang San's back. Tang San felt a searing pain, as though his spine was about to shatter. Grimacing in agony, he plummeted toward the ground at breakneck speed.
Boom!
Dust and debris filled the air. Fortunately, Tang San managed to twist his body mid-fall so that his back hit the ground first, saving himself from even worse injury. Nonetheless, the impact caused significant internal damage, and he spat up blood, his consciousness fading.
As the dust settled, everyone saw the sorry state Tang San was in. Oscar immediately began preparing recovery sausages.
Yu Xiaogang rushed over, his face filled with concern. Looking at the bloodied Tang San, he whispered, "Xiao San, are you alright?"
Then, turning to Xiao Wu, who was standing beside Su Ming with a playful grin, he shouted angrily, "Xiao Wu! You and Tang San are classmates! This was just a sparring match—did you really have to hit so hard?"
Xiao Wu snorted, "Just a sparring match? So, I'm supposed to fight a one-on-three? And Grandmaster, wasn't the point of this whole match to evaluate our strengths? Of course, I had to use my Eight Stage Drop so you could see it in action. You've never actually seen me use it before, right?"
"Besides, I went easy on Tang San. Otherwise, all his bones would be broken except for his skull. If you don't believe me, ask Dai Mubai—he's experienced my Eight Stage Drop firsthand!"
Under Xiao Wu's intimidating gaze, Dai Mubai awkwardly chimed in, "Yes, Grandmaster, Xiao Wu did go easy on Tang San. After I faced her, I had to rely on Su Ming to help me recover. Otherwise, I would have been out of commission for a while."
Dai Mubai had been shocked by the power of Xiao Wu's Eight Stage Drop. Now that she had become a Spirit Ancestor, its strength had increased even further.
Xiao Wu: Of course! My mastery of strength isn't just for show!
With Dai Mubai's confirmation, Yu Xiaogang had no grounds to continue arguing. Looking at Tang San's battered body, he was filled with regret. His plan had backfired spectacularly. He had intended for Tang San to bond with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing through teamwork, but instead...
After spending time away from Xiao Wu, he hadn't realized how much stronger she had become. Even with all three of them combined, they hadn't forced Xiao Wu to reveal her fourth soul skill!