...
The lights in the empty, upscale dining hall appeared somewhat pale.
Yu Xiaogang slumped into a chair, staring intently at Tang San's figure disappearing into the night, his back already soaked with cold sweat.
Gone? Just like that, gone?
They neither angrily defended him nor stayed to listen to him continue to recount his grievances.
Yu Xiaogang knew all too well what this meant.
Although Tang San uttered the respectable phrase "A teacher for a day is a father for life," his cold and emotionless dismissal proved one thing.
Tang San truly listened to everything Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu said!
Others might be misled by Tang San's outward gentleness and loyalty, thinking he's just a foolish young man who only cares about emotions.
But Yu Xiaogang, who had taught him for six years, knew his disciple's true nature better than anyone else.
Tang San is definitely not someone who would be completely blinded by childish emotions or have his hands and feet restrained.
On the contrary, Tang San is often a calm, even "pragmatic" person!
This "utilitarianism" is not the derogatory meaning of greed for money and power, but rather Tang San's way of doing things, which is to always pursue maximum efficiency and the most substantial benefits.
The reason why Tang San was willing to patiently spend a lot of precious cultivation time learning his dry and complicated martial soul theories at Notting Academy was that Tang San knew too little about the unknown world of soul masters.
It was Yu Xiaogang who constantly instilled these theoretical concepts in Tang San, making him believe that they were important and an indispensable foundation for reaching the pinnacle in the future.
That's why Tang San was willing to spend so much effort studying them.
But what if... Tang San realized early on that all that so-called theoretical knowledge was just a dispensable accessory in the face of absolute power?
Given Tang San's practical and efficient nature, once he sees through this facade, he will absolutely not waste his precious energy on these illusory things!
Tonight, Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong's analysis, especially Xiao Wu's final conclusion that "the impact on his strength is almost zero," was like a sharp knife, directly piercing through this disguise.
Yu Xiaogang could clearly sense that after this lecture, Tang San's sense of value in him as a "theoretical master" was undergoing a precipitous collapse!
"No...we absolutely cannot let things continue like this!"
Yu Xiaogang clenched his dry fist tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh.
He has to find a way to make up for all of this!
Tang San must be made to realize once again that his teacher has irreplaceable and immense value!
Yu Xiaogang's cloudy eyes flashed with the light of frantic contemplation.
He knew very well that at this point, playing the emotional card was no longer an option, and in Tang San's heart, the only valuable trump card he, as a teacher, could still play was the last one.
Twin Martial Souls!
When he took Tang San as his disciple in Notting City, he solemnly warned Tang San that although having twin martial souls was a great talent, there was a fatal risk of exploding and dying when adding spirit rings to the martial souls at the same time.
In the entire history of the Soul Master world, only the current Pope of the Spirit Hall has successfully crossed this gate of death.
The reason why Tang San has been studying theory so diligently all these years and values him so much is largely because he hopes that this "theoretically invincible" teacher can help him find a way to resolve the fatal conflict between his twin martial souls!
Because it was a sharp sword hanging over Tang San's head.
But...
Yu Xiaogang closed his eyes in pain.
Only he himself knows best how to resolve the conflict between the twin martial souls; he is still completely clueless about it!
Over the years, he has consulted countless books, but he has never given Tang San any substantial guidance on this matter, because he himself has no idea how to do it!
But now, the situation has cornered him.
A rift of trust has formed, and Tang San's sense of identification with him is rapidly diminishing.
If he fails to produce any results in this crucial matter concerning Tang San's life and death, then Yu Xiaogang will truly become a complete waste and will be abandoned by Tang San without hesitation!
"Twin Martial Souls... Yes, only twin Martial Souls!"
Yu Xiaogang suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of almost obsessive madness flashing in them.
He must find the perfect way to resolve the conflict between his twin martial souls!
As long as he can personally hand over this secret that is enough to change Tang San's fate to Tang San and prove his indelible value, Tang San will definitely recognize him again.
All the embarrassment and resentment of tonight will vanish in the face of this great value!
...
On the other side, a cool night breeze caressed the bustling streets of Tiandou City.
Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Na'er, and Dugu Yan have left Lanba Academy and are walking slowly towards the Tiandou Royal Hotel, stepping on the colorful lamplight.
Walking along the road, Dugu Yan recalled the heated argument she had just had in the cafeteria, and a hint of doubt appeared on her face:
"Rongrong, do you think all the effort we put into this performance tonight will actually work?"
Xiao Wu nodded in agreement, her two rabbit ears drooping slightly, showing some worry.
"Yes, I know Xiao San's personality best. He's as stubborn as an ox and he values respecting teachers and elders to the extreme."
"Although we exposed Yu Xiaogang's past in public today and gave him a thorough dressing-down, will the mistress really give up on Yu Xiaogang completely because of this whole charade?"
"Don't worry, you can rest assured, it will definitely work."
Ning Rongrong put her hands behind her back, took light steps, and curled a sly smile of confidence at the corner of her mouth.
She turned her head, looked at Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan, whose faces were full of doubt, and analyzed clearly:
"Tang San does care a lot about Yu Xiaogang, that's true.
But you have to understand that his care isn't the kind of unreserved, selfless favoritism, but rather based on realistic interests and values."
"In Tang San's original understanding, he believed that Yu Xiaogang, the master who was 'invincible in theory,' was very important to him and was a guide who would greatly help his future cultivation and prospects.
It was precisely because Yu Xiaogang had this irreplaceable value that Tang San respected him and protected him so much."
Ning Rongrong raised a finger and shook it gently:
"But think back to tonight, was our back-and-forth singing meant to forcibly deny Tang San's feelings for Yu Xiaogang?
Wrong! From beginning to end, we were denying Yu Xiaogang's value in every aspect!"
"First and foremost, it's about character and image."
Ning Rongrong counted on her fingers, "Based on Dean Liu Erlong's old grievances, Yu Xiaogang's aloof and arrogant master image has been completely shattered by us."
Although Tang San is still quite naive about romantic relationships, he is fundamentally a person who is extremely obsessed with responsibility and commitment.
Yu Xiaogang's cowardly, evasive, and irresponsible behavior had seriously crossed Tang San's moral line, causing him to harbor deep resentment towards Yu Xiaogang's character.
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