Chapter 248: 267. Brothers Reunite
"Damn those Ice and Fire Dragon Kings," Dai Mubai spat angrily. Even though he had been training with Xiao Wu while cultivating the Xuan Tian Technique, which kept his progress close to his past life, this lost opportunity still burned. That place of destiny had belonged to him, and just like that, it was gone.
Ma Hongjun and Oscar joined in, cursing the "inhumane" Dragon Kings who occupied the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Tang San said, "Those immortal herbs won't benefit the Dragon Kings much. What matters is they haven't fallen into the hands of evil forces who wish the continent harm."
Dai Mubai asked, "By the way, Ah San, when did your father come for you? Will he stay by your side this time?"
Tang San replied, "He came for me that very night. Before that, he'd been in seclusion. After the battle against the Dragon Kings, he was wounded seriously. He can't stay to protect me now—he's gone to search the continent for a soul master capable of healing him."
At those words, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun all quietly sighed in relief.
After all, they could hide their "close relationship" with Xiao Wu from Tang San—but there was no way they could deceive Tang Hao. If that man ever found out they'd been fooling around with the love of his son's life, their lives wouldn't be worth a copper coin.
Ma Hongjun asked, faking concern, "When will your father recover, then?"
Tang San answered, "He said only one man can heal him—Ye Renxin. But no matter what, he promised to come find us by the day of the tournament finals."
"That's good. That's very good," Dai Mubai said, patting his chest in relief.
Oscar placed a hand on Tang San's shoulder. "Don't worry, Ah San. With or without the immortal herbs, we'll always stand with you."
"Exactly," said Ma Hongjun. "The three of us—Shrek's iron brothers—stand beside you, through everything."
"You guys…" Tang San's eyes glistened, deeply moved.
Later, those same three went straight to Xiao Wu to share everything they'd learned.
"So… in other words," Xiao Wu said slowly, eyes flashing red with hatred, "Tang Hao—that monster—won't be by Tang San's side during the tournament?"
"Right," said Ma Hongjun. "That empty-headed little weakling's dad left to find Ye Renxin."
"Good." Xiao Wu's tone dripped with venom. "Then while Tang Hao's gone, I'll make sure Tang San focuses on cultivating his second martial spirit."
(Her hatred for Tang Hao had long begun to spill over onto Tang San. Killing Tang Hao would be merciful. But destroying everything he cared about—his pride, his bloodline, his legacy—letting him drown slowly in despair—that was justice. And right now, everything Tang Hao valued was wrapped up in his precious son and his twin martial souls.)
Oscar frowned. "But what if Tang Hao finds Ye Renxin early and returns?"
"Then we gamble," Xiao Wu said coldly. "If he comes back before Tang San activates that Clear Sky Hammer, then we lose. But if not… we win."
Heaven Dou City – Capital of the Empire
The Continental Soul Master Elite Tournament was about to begin—one of the grandest events in the known world.
It wasn't just soul masters who paid attention; from nobles to commoners, everyone treated it as the continent's greatest festival. The opening ceremony, held in the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena, had sold out a full month in advance.
Yu Xiaogang marched at the head of the Shrek team, leading his students through the bustling city.
Then—
"Well, well, if it isn't Gangzi. Long time no see."
That voice—grating, condescending—hit Yu Xiaogang's ears like a curse, one he hadn't heard in years and yet loathed instantly.
He turned toward the source of the voice, his face freezing before twisting into fury. "It's you… Yu Xiaomen!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a suffocating wave of pressure crashed down upon him. The strength behind it forced Yu Xiaogang to his knees despite his attempt to resist.
"You—!" he choked out in rage, glaring up. But under that oppressive aura, he couldn't finish the sentence.
Yu Xiaomen took a leisurely sip from the wine glass handed to him by a subordinate of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. The subordinates brought forth a bottle of deep red wine and a crystal goblet. Yu Xiaomen poured himself a drink, savoring it while signaling to the man beside him—Yu Xiaozhu.
Yu Xiaozhu approached Yu Xiaogang and, without warning, slapped him across the face. The sharp crack echoed loudly.
Yu Xiaozhu sneered. "Gangzi, remember your place. You're just a level 29 piece of trash. Our Young Master Xiaomen is now a level 93 Titled Douluo. You should call him Your Excellency Xiaomen—or better yet, Holy Dragon Douluo!" He struck him again, perfectly balancing the swelling on both sides of his face.
Yu Xiaogang trembled, humiliated but helpless. Bowing his head, he croaked, "Yes… Your Excellency Xiaomen."
"Good." Yu Xiaomen smiled smugly, stepping closer. Holding his wine, he said, "This—this is what true power means. The right to do whatever one pleases. It's a beautiful thing, like this glass of wine… exquisite."
He tilted the half-empty glass over Yu Xiaogang's neatly combed hair, letting the red liquid trickle down his face. "You want a taste of that power, Gangzi? Too bad. You were never destined for it."
Then, he patted Yu Xiaogang's trembling shoulder mockingly. "You know, I should thank you. Without you, I would never have gotten where I am. If I hadn't taken that Golden Dragon Fruit from you all those years ago, I might've been no more than a common Tyrant Dragon Contra."
His grin widened. "But you—if you had eaten it, perhaps you'd have escaped being the useless waste you are now. Stuck forever at level 29… tragic, isn't it?"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes filled with blood and anguish. Yu Xiaomen's words reopened a wound that had never healed—the moment he lost his one chance to stop being a failure. And it had been stolen by this bastard.
Yu Xiaomen clasped a hand over Yu Xiaogang's cropped hair and sneered. "Look at me like that again, and I'll remind you of your place. You're a level-29 nobody. When a Titled Douluo says something kind to you—'privilege of mercy,' as I call it—you should feel honored!"
"I… understand," Yu Xiaogang muttered, voice shaking, eyes wet with rage.
Yu Xiaomen's gaze shifted past him to the group of students behind—the Shrek team, dressed in green uniforms plastered with advertisements.
"I hear you've been wasting your time at some 'Shrek Academy,' misleading the youth. Doesn't look like your students care all that much about you, though." He leaned close, his voice dripping with mockery.
Then, without another glance, Yu Xiaomen turned and walked away, leaving Yu Xiaogang kneeling in silence, his fists clenched so tight that blood ran between his fingers.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen10