Chapter 241: 260. Ah San, We All Support You
Flender frowned and said to Yu Xiaogang, "Gangzi, what you did really isn't right this time. Tang San's current strength isn't enough to convince the others. If he hadn't lost to Yu Tianheng in combat, that'd be one thing—but he did, and after agreeing to a bet that the winner would be captain. Not only did he lose, but you still let him keep the position. You're just deepening the tension between them. How can the Shrek team stay united like this?"
Flender had great confidence in this year's Shrek team. Three Soul Kings, with the rest above Soul Ancestor—it was an extraordinary lineup. In past tournaments, any team with even one Soul King was already a top contender for the championship. For Shrek to have three put them leagues ahead of their competitors.
But behind that strength, Flender also saw a storm brewing. There was a subtle fissure splitting the team down the middle: Yu Tianheng and Er Ming on one side, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar on the other. And the root of it all was clear—Xiao Wu.
If left unresolved, this division could cost them the championship. That possibility worried Flender deeply.
The teachers' priority now was to mend the internal discord within Shrek. But Yu Xiaogang's decision, instead of soothing the conflict, had only torn the group further apart.
"I—I did it for Shrek's own good," Yu Xiaogang defended himself. "That boy Tianheng acts on impulse, never thinking before he strikes. A person like that shouldn't be captain."
Flender crossed his arms. "You're being too dismissive. Don't forget, back in the Emperor Team, Tianheng also served as captain for a time—and did it well."
"So what?" Yu Xiaogang snapped. "I've accomplished nothing my entire life. Little San is like a son to me. I want to see him shine on the grand stage. That's my only wish! Flender, you already have Er Long and a family now. Can't you at least grant me this small dream?"
His eyes reddened as he spoke, wielding emotional guilt like a weapon.
Flender sighed heavily, guilt pinching his own conscience. "Alright, Gangzi… have it your way. Let Tang San remain the captain."
Relief washed through Yu Xiaogang. He too sensed the growing tension within Shrek, but when they had chosen Tang San as captain two years ago, none of the teachers had objected.
After all, aside from Dai Mubai and Yu Tianheng being slightly older, most members were on even ground then. Who could've imagined that in just two years, such drastic disparities would emerge?
It was as if Shrek's members were running a sprint. When the whistle blew, Yu Tianheng, Xiao Wu, and Er Ming surged ahead like lightning, while Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun followed in the next pack—and Tang San, the blue silver tortoise, lagged far behind.
Tang San's progress hadn't been terrible, but compared to the rest, it was pitiful.
Yu Xiaogang saw it all and could only sigh inwardly. The truth was painful: Blue Silver Grass was a weak martial soul. (Yes, Yu Xiaogang still didn't believe Tang San's slow progress had anything to do with toxins. He truly thought it was purely the fault of that "useless" spirit—only salvaged by his cultivation art.)
And now, a bitter irony stood before them—a Blue Silver Grass Soul Ancestor at the bottom of the ranks remained the one commanding everyone else. How could there not be resentment?
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and even Liu Erlong had considered replacing Tang San as captain, but Yu Xiaogang's relentless moral manipulation shut them all down.
Yes, Tang San was remarkable—but with his main martial soul veiled, all the others saw was an ordinary Blue Silver Grass user leading them into battle. If he weren't captain, if he couldn't decide who fought in each round, he might easily have been relegated to the bench by Yu Tianheng or another leader in the selection process.
That—to Yu Xiaogang—was unthinkable.
Tang San wasn't just his disciple; he was Yu Xiaogang's one shot at reclaiming dignity. The tournament would make Tang San famous—and through him, Yu Xiaogang would finally taste the respect he'd been denied his whole life. No matter what it cost, Tang San had to stay in the spotlight.
Even if that meant the Shrek team split apart from infighting, Yu Xiaogang was willing to risk it all.
Meanwhile, Tang San could feel the skeptical stares—Ning Rongrong's, Er Ming's—they stung like needles in his back. He wasn't blind; he knew his weakness made him hard to follow.
But Tang San couldn't bear the thought of seeing Xiao Wu sharing fusion techniques with anyone else. If stepping down meant Yu Tianheng holding her close and glowing beside her on stage, he would rather choke on his shame and remain captain.
Dai Mubai placed a firm hand on Tang San's shoulder. "Ah San, don't mind them. To us, you'll always be the heart of the Shrek Seven."
Oscar joined in, his hand also pressing against Tang San's. "That's right, Ah San. When we say captain, we mean you—no one else."
Ma Hongjun chuckled and added, "Yu Tianheng? Bah. Just a smelly lizard daring to vie for Xiao Wu and compete with you. He overestimates himself."
Tai Long, one-armed but loyal, dropped his hand on Tang San's other shoulder. "Young master, you just haven't trained your Clear Sky Hammer yet. If you had, that punk Yu Tianheng would never dare act cocky in front of you."
"Everyone… thank you," Tang San said, voice thick with emotion.
Then he asked the question that had gnawed at him for two years—a question he'd restrained himself from asking out of courtesy until now. "Er Ming, Xiao Wu, and Yu Tianheng all advanced through their Martial Spirit Fusion Skills… but you guys, you had no immortal herbs. How did you all still progress so fast?"
The four men—Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Tai Long—exchanged a tense glance. It was a question they knew would come eventually. To earn Tang San's trust and conceal their secret dealings with Xiao Wu, they'd have to give him a convincing explanation—one that hid the truth.
Dai Mubai spoke first, his face solemn. "Ah San, you know my background. I was born into a royal rivalry where only one of us—my brother or me—can survive to claim the throne. In my past life, Zhu Zhuqing left me behind… yet that pain became my driving force. Originally, I hoped your immortal herbs would help strengthen me, but since that chance was lost at the Ice and Fire Well, I had no choice but to train twice—no, two hundred times—harder." (In truth, his heart had long moved on to Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing was little more than a distant memory. But for Tang San's sake, he invoked her name.)
Tang San nodded deeply. "Yes… that makes sense. With your life on the line, you can't afford to slack off. Don't worry, Mubai. We're all with you. When the time comes, we'll help you win that throne battle—you have our full support."
(END CHAPTER)
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