Upon hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Ye Qiu simply smiled indifferently.
They were innate full soul power geniuses, while Yu Xiaogang was nothing more than a freeloader. What right did he have to say anything?
Ye Qiu didn't care, but Xiao Wu wasn't one to tolerate Yu Xiaogang. She was fuming, pointing at his nose and shouting, "Are you blind? They were the ones who started the fight!"
However, Yu Xiaogang completely ignored her, merely glancing at both her and Ye Qiu before turning his attention to his beloved disciple, Tang San.
He walked over to Tang San unhurriedly, patted his shoulder, and said, "Xiao San, come with me to the second floor for a meal. After that, we'll have a proper discussion in my room."
"No, thank you, Teacher. I'd rather stay with my dormmates." Tang San shook his head. He didn't want to stand out too much. That might have worked in his village, but not here.
"Very well. Then wait for me at the cafeteria entrance after you finish eating," Yu Xiaogang instructed before turning to Ling Feng and the others. "Disperse."
Without another word, he headed toward the second floor of the cafeteria.
Ling Feng and his group, having thrown out a few harsh words, quickly scurried away.
"What kind of 'Master' is that? He's just a blind fool!" Xiao Wu, still fuming, cursed at Yu Xiaogang's departing figure.
Standing nearby, Tang San frowned. He felt uncomfortable—after all, this was the man he had knelt before and formally acknowledged as his teacher.
"Xiao Wu, keep your voice down. He's at least a friend of the Dean," Wang Sheng hastily whispered before turning to Tang San with a puzzled look. "By the way, San-ge, why do you call him 'Teacher'? He doesn't seem to teach any classes."
Ye Qiu chimed in at the right moment, "That's because Xiao San has formally acknowledged him as his master."
"For real?!"
Wang Sheng and the others gawked in disbelief.
Tang San looked at Wang Sheng strangely, wondering why he was making such a big deal out of it. His forehead still ached from the kowtow ceremony—there was no way it wasn't real.
But Wang Sheng seemed utterly shocked. He leaned in closer and whispered, "No way, San-ge. I'm telling you, this so-called 'Master' has a terrible reputation. He's been in the academy for a long time, but no one has ever seen him actually do anything. He's basically a freeloader. And from what I've heard, he's almost fifty years old and still just a Grand Soul Master. He probably gave himself that 'Master' title just to sound impressive."
"That's enough!"
Hearing Wang Sheng's words, Tang San finally lost his patience. His eyes flashed with cold light, his suppressed frustration, along with Xiao Wu's earlier anger, all erupting at once. Even Wang Sheng instinctively took a step back.
Tang San said coldly, "I hope this is the first and last time. My teacher is not for you to judge! Thanks for your concern, but I won't be accepting your meal invitation."
With that, he turned and walked straight out of the cafeteria.
"What the hell? Is he insane?"
Wang Sheng was a bit taken aback. He had only been trying to warn Tang San. Everything he said was true—he hadn't made up a single thing.
"Ye Qiu, what's with him?"
Xiao Wu was also baffled. Was Tang San really ditching his meal just to defend that emotionless 'Master'?
"Nothing much. You guys just insulted his father, so he's a little upset," Ye Qiu replied casually.
Then, as if on a whim, he reached out and pinched Xiao Wu's soft cheeks with a slight smile.
Xiao Wu, still confused, suddenly blushed. She pouted, displeased at Ye Qiu's actions. Her puffed-up cheeks only encouraged Ye Qiu to pinch them a few more times.
"Hmph!"
With a huff, Xiao Wu swatted Ye Qiu's hand away and turned her reddened face aside. "Forget him, Wang Sheng. Let's go eat—I'm starving!"
…
While Ye Qiu and the others were enjoying their meal, Tang San had already returned to his dormitory. He simply ate some dry rations with water to make do.
After finishing, he made his way back to the cafeteria entrance to wait for Yu Xiaogang.
As people came and went, many cast puzzled glances at Tang San, but he stood there calmly, eyes lowered, as if he hadn't noticed any of them.
After about fifteen minutes, Yu Xiaogang finally emerged from the cafeteria.
Seeing Tang San's composed demeanor, Yu Xiaogang felt even more satisfied with his twin martial soul disciple.
He believed that under his guidance, Tang San would become the shining example of his theories in the Soul Master world!
With that, he, Yu Xiaogang, would finally have the proof to silence the doubters!
"Teacher."
Tang San stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Here, you're still growing. Eat more." Yu Xiaogang forced out a stiff smile and handed Tang San a packaged chicken leg.
"Thank you, Teacher." Seeing Yu Xiaogang's awkward but sincere gesture, Tang San felt warmth in his heart.
"Let's go, Xiao San." Yu Xiaogang took Tang San's hand and led him toward his quarters.
At that moment, Ye Qiu and the others were also leaving the cafeteria.
Watching the two of them walk away, Ye Qiu knew they were likely discussing Tang San's spirit ring hunt.
Beside him, Xiao Wu pouted and complained, "Ugh—when will we have money? I'm tired of eating these lousy vegetable scraps!"
"If you hurry up and become a Soul Master, you'll have money," Ye Qiu replied with a glance at her, reminding himself that he, too, needed to speed up his progress.
Turning to Wang Sheng, he said, "You guys head back first. I'm going to find one of the academy teachers to discuss my spirit ring hunt."
"Got it, boss!"
Wang Sheng grinned. If Ye Qiu became a Soul Master, the work-study students like them wouldn't have to struggle as much anymore.
With that, Ye Qiu walked toward the administration office.
He remembered from yesterday's registration that Director Su seemed like a decent choice.
When Ye Qiu approached him, things went smoothly. Director Su readily agreed, emphasizing that children with innate full soul power were invaluable to the academy.
Ye Qiu had no reason to doubt that.
…
That afternoon, Ye Qiu sat cross-legged on his bed, quietly cultivating.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wu lay on her stomach, occasionally glancing at Ye Qiu and his belongings, clearly bored.
It was late when Tang San finally returned.
A new belt hung at his waist.
Ye Qiu recognized it instantly—Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges, a storage-type soul tool. It was likely filled with those stinky white radishes that fueled Luo Sanpao's gaseous attacks.
But compared to "Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges," Ye Qiu preferred its next poetic line: "Where is the jade-like beauty playing the flute?"
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at the sulking little rabbit, annoyed that Tang San was trying to feed her radishes.
"Ye Qiu, why are you looking at me like that?"
Xiao Wu lifted her head, huffing in curiosity.
"Because you look good."
Ye Qiu smiled faintly, then closed his eyes and continued meditating.
"Ah?!"
Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment. Looking at Ye Qiu, whose eyes were now shut, her face quickly flushed a deep shade of red.
"Idiot rabbit."