...
Seeing Tang San fall into an eerie silence, Dugu Yan chuckled and continued her relentless pursuit.
"Tang San, I know what you're thinking right now."
Dugu Yan crossed her arms.
"You probably think that although Yu Xiaogang didn't teach you any real fighting skills, he taught you a lot of vast theoretical knowledge and pointed you in the right direction, right?"
"But the problem is, have you ever seriously considered how much practical significance those commonplace or vague theoretical things actually have for a genius like you?!"
"You are a genius soul master with a bright future! You have exceptional talent, unlike Yu Xiaogang, who is a waste who can never break through due to congenital defects!"
If you're truly interested in those theoretical concepts, wouldn't it be better to study them slowly after you reach the level of Soul Saint, Soul Douluo, or even become a titled Douluo?
"Your primary task right now is to improve your strength!
What use are those lousy theories to you right now?
Are they just for showing off how much you know to the enemy before battle?"
Dugu Yan retorted mercilessly, "Please, wake up! You're a Soul Master!
In this cruel world, what makes a Soul Master stand out and earn respect? Is it through empty words?
It's through fists! It's through absolute strength!"
"If it weren't for the fact that you've been forcibly brainwashed by him over the past few years, wasting a lot of your precious energy and time on those incredibly boring theoretical concepts..."
Do you really think that with your innate full soul power, you'd only have a cultivation level of a mere thirty-something?!
Dugu Yan shook her head. "Isn't it enough to know some basic and necessary common sense about theoretical knowledge?"
You insist on learning a bunch of useless theories that you can't use now or even in your lifetime, wasting all your most crucial and precious golden time on this garbage.
Tang San, you can't even grasp the most basic concept of priorities, can you?!
After saying this, Dugu Yan seemed to have lost interest in continuing her lecturing. She gave a disdainful snort and turned to walk away.
Ning Rongrong also stood up, looked at Tang San, and calmly added the final blow:
"Sister Yan Yan is right. You spend so much precious time learning those boring theories, which are actually not very useful. If you are really interested, you can slowly study it as a hobby when you reach the Title Douluo level and your cultivation progress slows down."
"But how old are you?
You're only a teenager, which is the golden age for Soul Masters to lay the foundation and train hard!
You're learning these boring theories now, and you even worship the people who teach you these theories like gods...
Tang San, you really can't tell what's important."
"In this Douluo Continent, you are a Soul Master, not a scholar who lives by talking.
The most ironclad rule in the Soul Master world is that might makes right, not these weak and verbose words."
After saying that, Ning Rongrong, along with Na'er, Ye Lingling, and the others, turned and left the cafeteria without looking back.
Xiao Wu stood there, took one last look at Tang San with a complicated expression, and sighed, "Goodnight, Xiao San.
We're leaving now, so as not to leave everyone feeling awkward here."
After saying that, Xiao Wu took light steps and jogged to catch up with Ning Rongrong and her group, disappearing outside the cafeteria gate.
As the girls left, the atmosphere in the large, upscale cafeteria became extremely oppressive and awkward.
Liu Erlong, who sat in the main seat, remained silent throughout.
She stood up expressionlessly, not even sparing Yu Xiaogang a glance, and walked straight to the door.
Seeing this, the core teachers of Blue Tyrant Academy also glanced at Yu Xiaogang with disdain, and then quickly left without a trace.
Flander sat there, his expression shifting.
Logically speaking, as a brother of several decades, now that everyone else has left, he should go over to Yu Xiaogang, pat him on the shoulder, and offer him some words of comfort.
However, in tonight's disgraceful situation, he, Flander, was also an "accomplice."
If he were to run over now and pretend to be a good person, offering words of comfort, it would not only seem hypocritical but would also be like rubbing salt into Yu Xiaogang's wounds, which would be going too far.
After weighing his options for a moment, Flander finally let out a long sigh, said nothing, stood up, and silently walked outside.
Zhao Wuji, Qin Ming, and the other Shrek Academy students exchanged glances, all seeing the complexity and helplessness in each other's eyes.
They then tacitly remained silent and left this place of trouble with Flander.
Soon, the once bustling and noisy cafeteria became completely empty.
Under the bright soul-guiding light, only Yu Xiaogang, who sat alone in the corner and seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and Tang San, who stood beside him with his eyes lowered and remained silent.
A deathly silence spread between the two.
After a long while, Yu Xiaogang finally couldn't bear this suffocating torment any longer.
He raised his head, his bloodshot, cloudy eyes fixed on Tang San, and asked in a trembling, dry voice:
"The mistress... even you... do you agree with what they said?"
Upon hearing this question, which was filled with both fear and anticipation, Tang San's slightly dazed eyes finally regained focus.
He slowly raised his head, looking at the disheveled man before him, who had no trace of a master's demeanor.
The complex emotions in his eyes surged like waves, but eventually returned to calm.
"A teacher for a day is a father for life."
Tang San's voice was very soft, revealing not a trace of emotion:
"Teacher will always be my teacher. I, Tang San, will never forget your kindness in guiding me back then."
Upon hearing this answer, Yu Xiaogang's heart, which had been hanging in his throat, finally settled back into his stomach.
He let out a long sigh of relief, and a glimmer of life returned to his previously ashen face.
"Xiao San, I knew you were a sensible and good girl!"
Yu Xiaogang was eager to salvage his image and was about to continue explaining, "Actually, about what happened just now, listen to me, I really had my reasons back then..."
"teacher."
Tang San suddenly spoke up, interrupting him.
He didn't look at Yu Xiaogang's anxious face again, but silently turned away from him, his tone revealing a deep weariness and estrangement:
"So much has happened tonight, you must be tired. Go home and get some rest."
After saying that, Tang San didn't linger any longer, nor did he pay attention to Yu Xiaogang behind him who seemed to want to say something but couldn't. He took slightly heavy steps and walked alone into the silent night.
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