Chapter 31 —Grandmaster: Where Did This Monster Come From?!
"Ah Qing! You were way too handsome just now!"
Xiao Wu hugged Lin Qingmo's arm, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
"Let's see if he still dares to be so arrogant in the future!"
She chirped excitedly, her heart brimming with satisfaction.
Lin Qingmo felt the warmth coming from the crook of his arm and smiled.
"He started it first—asking for humiliation."
"But…"
He deliberately paused and tilted his head to look at her.
"You were giving pointers pretty enthusiastically just now, weren't you, little strategist?"
"Of course!"
Xiao Wu lifted her chin, looking rather pleased with herself.
"My eyes are sharp. His footwork flaws couldn't escape me at all!"
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something and leaned in curiously.
"Ah Qing, these past six months…"
She blinked her big eyes, long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.
"Where exactly did you go to cultivate? You've changed so much!"
"And…"
Her fingers curiously twirled a lock of his hair.
"The color of your hair and eyes—so pretty, like ice crystals."
Of course, she knew the truth.
But at this moment, she was simply being a curious, caring girl.
Lin Qingmo stopped walking and turned to face her.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across his handsome face.
He looked at her, his gaze suddenly becoming exceptionally serious.
"Xiao Wu."
"Mm?"
"If I told you…"
His voice was low and clear, carrying a strange kind of magnetism.
"That I encountered a very special hundred-thousand-year soul beast."
"And she chose to sacrifice herself to me."
"Would you believe it?"
"!!!"
Xiao Wu's heart felt as if it had been clenched by an invisible hand!
Thump! Thump!
The violent pounding echoed in her ears.
'Is he… hinting at me?'
Countless thoughts surged at once, overwhelming her mind.
The rosy color on her cheeks faded slightly as her grip tightened unconsciously.
'Should I say it now?'
'Say that I am—'
"Hahaha!"
Lin Qingmo suddenly burst out laughing, raising a hand to ruffle her hair.
"I'm just teasing you!"
His smile was bright, carrying a mischievous triumph.
"Where would there be so many hundred-thousand-year soul beasts running around offering sacrifices?"
"If I got stronger, it was because I fought for it step by step."
Could that even count as cheating?
That was called an opportunity!
"Let's go. Back to rest. After a fight, I'm thirsty."
He turned around, hands in his pockets, and strolled leisurely toward the dormitory area.
Xiao Wu stood there blankly, staring at his tall, straight back.
After a long while, she softly let out a breath.
The tension in her shoulders eased, yet a faint trace of disappointment remained.
'Idiot Ah Qing…'
She muttered quietly in her heart.
Her small pink fists clenched secretly, then slowly relaxed.
'One day… I'll tell you myself.'
'I'll tell you all my secrets, face to face.'
Even if he already knows.
She pressed her lips together and quickly chased after him.
"Ah Qing! Wait for me!"
---
Nuoding Academy.
Teachers' Office.
The room was filled with the mixed scent of old books and dried plants.
Yu Xiaogang was buried in a pile of messy documents.
His brows were tightly furrowed as he examined a strange scale through a magnifying glass.
On the desk lay his famous book, The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls.
The quill pen was paused at a certain spot, the ink already dry.
"Bang—!!!"
A loud crash rang out as the door was violently slammed open!
A figure stumbled in, knocking over the coat rack by the door.
"Who is it?!"
Startled, Yu Xiaogang's hand jerked, and the magnifying glass fell onto the desk.
He looked up, only to see a "humanoid creature" lurch toward the table.
Its face was covered in bruises and blood, swollen and deformed, its features almost unrecognizable.
"How dare you—!"
Yu Xiaogang was shocked and furious, thinking some madman had barged in.
Instinctively, he threw a punch in self-defense—a straight punch!
"Thud!"
It landed squarely on the already protruding "mountain peak" of the intruder's cheek.
"Ugh—!"
The "creature" let out a miserable wail.
That punch finished it off completely, and it collapsed onto the floor.
Tears mixed with even more blood streamed out uncontrollably.
"Who are you? Why do you trespass here?!"
Yu Xiaogang stood up, taking a defensive stance as he shouted sternly.
"T-Teacher…"
The figure on the ground let out a muffled sob, its voice weak as a thread.
"It's me…"
"Tang San…"
Yu Xiaogang was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place.
"X-Xiao San?"
In disbelief, he bent down and leaned closer to that miserable face.
Carefully distinguishing the swollen contours, the faintly familiar brows and eyes.
"Xiao San! Is it really you?!"
Yu Xiaogang's voice shot up, filled with shock and anger.
He hurriedly squatted down and carefully helped Tang San up.
Wherever his hands touched, there were bruises and swelling everywhere.
"How did this happen? Who beat you into this state?!"
Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled with rage.
Tang San was his only disciple—his hope for the future!
The core proof that his theories could be put into practice!
And now, within the academy, he had been beaten into such a miserable condition?
Supported on a chair, Tang San grimaced in pain with every movement.
"Grandmaster… I… I lost…"
His hoarse voice was filled with humiliation and unwillingness.
"Lost? To whom?!"
Yu Xiaogang's gaze was sharp as a blade.
"It was… a student…"
"His name is… Lin Qingmo…"
Every word Tang San spoke tugged at the wounds on his face, the pain piercing to the bone.
"Lin Qingmo?"
Yu Xiaogang quickly searched his memory.
He was well acquainted with the academy's notable students and their backgrounds.
There was no such person.
"What level is he? What is his martial soul? How old is he?"
Yu Xiaogang fired off questions in succession, habitually entering analysis mode.
"I… I don't know…"
Tang San shook his head painfully.
"He… he didn't even activate his martial soul…"
"What?!"
Yu Xiaogang's pupils shrank sharply as he sprang to his feet.
"He didn't activate his martial soul and still beat you like this?!"
He knew Tang San's strength well.
Innate full soul power, strange self-created soul skills, a hundred-year Datura Snake soul ring…
Even against a fifteen- or sixteen-level Soul Master, Tang San could still fight.
To be crushed without even activating a martial soul…
"Could it be… his soul power level far exceeds yours?"
"Or does he possess an extremely special physique or talent?"
Yu Xiaogang frowned deeply, pacing back and forth as he fell into thought.
"He completely saw through your tactics…"
"Your body movement, footwork, even your hidden weapon techniques—were all suppressed?"
Tang San nodded with difficulty, lingering fear still in his eyes.
Yu Xiaogang's expression grew increasingly grave.
This wasn't just level suppression—it was an absolute gap in combat awareness.
When did such a monster appear in Nuoding Academy?
"This matter absolutely cannot end here!"
Yu Xiaogang stopped and looked at his miserable disciple.
Pity flashed through his eyes before being replaced by stern resolve.
"But first, you must tell me the entire process."
"Every single detail!"
"Only by understanding the opponent can you defeat the opponent."
"This is my theory—and also your first lesson!"
"Now, wipe away your tears and explain everything clearly."
"Your vengeance—your teacher will reclaim it for you!"
Tang San looked at his teacher's resolute gaze and nodded heavily.
The flames of hatred burned even more fiercely in his heart.
Lin Qingmo… this isn't over between us!
—
End of Chapter