The moment Tang San released his second Martial Soul, the courtyard erupted.
The pitch-black hammer materialized with shocking weight, a weapon so heavy it seemed to drag the air around it into silence. The sight set the surrounding crowd into a frenzy.
"The Clear Sky Hammer?!"
"A twin Martial Soul… he really has two…"
Gasps and whispered chatter spread. Though Shrek had covered the concept of twin spirits in Yu Xiaogang's lectures, most had never truly seen one. The sudden appearance of such a rare talent sent ripples running through every watcher present.
Tang San's feet slammed against the ground, kicking him into the air. His body spun, aura blazing, and that enormous hammer arced downward toward Lu Yuan.
"Despicable, you still rely on tricks?!" Lu Yuan barked, eyes narrowing.
Sword in hand, he moved with casual grace. His blade flickered with faint colors as a slice of sword qi snapped outward, colliding with the hammer mid-swing.
"Boom!"
The impact detonated like a clap of thunder. The hammer shuddered, and Tang San screamed as the backlash flung him across the yard. He coughed up blood midair, body twisting before he slammed into the dirt. His arms trembled violently, every nerve screaming agony.
His face paled.
Even with his twin Martial Soul revealed, even playing every card he had, he still could not withstand Lu Yuan head-on.
Why…? Why is it still like this?
The crowd instantly turned noisy again.
"Hah! Three seconds of glory, that's all it was!"
"I thought twin Martial Souls meant he'd dominate. So much for that."
"Ridiculous. Lu Yuan didn't even use a single spirit ability! All he did was swing his sword and he crushed the whole lot of them."
"You see? I told you—don't provoke Lu Yuan. Don't! But some people just won't listen."
"Good now, huh? Vomiting blood in front of everyone!"
"Haha, some people really don't appreciate being alive…"
Mocking laughter, jeers, and whispers sprung from every direction. Tang San, who just moments ago had stood proud with the world in his hands, had lost his glow in less than a breath against Lu Yuan's effortless dominance.
Amid the crowd, Tai Long's eyes widened for another reason.
He wasn't stunned by Lu Yuan's strength. Rather, what shook him was the hammer in Tang San's hands.
He had seen this hammer before. Not in reality, but on the mural of his grandfather's study. The resemblance was uncanny. Could this mean… Tang San came from that lineage?
"…What's all this noise!"
An angry roar cut through the ruckus. Zao Wou-ki stomped over with a scowl darkening his face. He was in no mood—after getting batted around by Liu Erlong earlier, his sour mood had only fermented.
The moment he squeezed to the front, his jaw slackened.
"…Again?"
Lu Yuan. Of course. Why was it always him?
Zhao's temples throbbed. Once more, this brat had managed to stir up trouble with Tang San and his crew, right in front of his academy. He resisted the urge to just hit his head against a wall.
Ironhead brats! Would they never stop forcing crisis into his lap?
"Vice Dean Zhao, it's bad! Dai Mubai and the others—Lu Yuan beat them!" Tai Long rushed up to him as though delivering crucial intel.
Zhao looked at him the way one might look at an especially dim donkey.
Are your eyes broken? The beaten bodies are lying right there in front of us, does it take a genius to figure that out?
And worse, Tai Long's tone sounded almost like he expected Zhao to step in on their behalf.
Zao Wou-ki very nearly burst out laughing in rage. Your family doesn't stop coddling their kids, huh? When you got beaten, did your old man's orangutan spirit jump in to save you? No? Then why the hell should I?
But he couldn't say that out loud. Not with dozens of student witnesses watching, judging. If he didn't at least act official about this, his reputation as deputy dean would be stabbed in whispers for months.
He cursed Tai Long inwardly a dozen times. Of all days to stir him into this idiocy…
"Xiao Bai," he barked dryly, "what happened here?"
Dai Mubai, still tense and pale, stammered. "…Teacher Zhao… I… it's a long story."
"Since it's long—don't bother telling it." Zhao waved it off impatiently. "End it. Enough."
But Dai Mubai couldn't resist. Glaring hatefully toward Lu Yuan, he hissed through clenched teeth: "Teacher Zhao, I had a marriage contract with Zhu Zhuqing before…but it's been annulled. All because of him! He abducted her! He—"
"That's enough!" Zhu Zhuqing's voice snapped like frost.
Her cold gaze pinned Dai Mubai where he stood, freezing him in place worse than any soul skill could.
"Don't delude yourself. The dissolution of our engagement has nothing to do with Lu Yuan. It was my choice—my will alone. Don't try and drag his name into your failures."
Her voice was firm, powerful, resolute. To her, breaking her chains was liberation, not shame.
Zao Wou-ki finally pieced things together, rubbing his jaw uncomfortably. So that's why Dai Mubai stopped spending his nights brothel-hopping and started following her around like a stray? Turns out they actually had a marriage contract.
He sighed. A snatched fiancée? No wonder Mubai hated Lu Yuan's guts enough to risk humiliation. But was this really something an old bachelor like himself should step in to mediate? Not a chance. Helping some brat keep his betrothed? How absurd.
"Xiao Bai," Zhao muttered at last, "listen carefully. You can't force this. Marriage contracts come from family dealings. It's not just about you. And besides—don't you keep saying women are resources?"
"From where I stand, you've got no shortage of 'resources.' I've seen no less than twenty women hanging on your arm. Why go mad over one?"
Around them, shocked silence fell. Zhao had unknowingly spit every dog-blood secret Mubai thought he had buried.
Face reddening with embarrassment and rage, Dai Mubai could only grit his teeth.
Zhao clapped his hands. "That's it. Disperse! Everyone back to class, enough gawking."
When Tai Long opened his mouth like he wanted to protest again, Zhao snapped, "Shut it, brat! I'm already bleeding from the pounding I took today. You want to drag me deeper into this circus?!"
His eyes flicked toward Lu Yuan leading Zhu Zhuqing away. Good, let him leave. The quicker they vanish from Shrek, the longer I might live without ulcers.
…
Far away, inside the glittering halls of the Heaven Dou Empire, a cold figure stood before the windows overlooking the city.
"Confirmed?" Qian Renxue's golden eyes glinted faintly beneath her disguise.
"Your Highness," a subordinate bowed low, voice trembling, "our records show Tang San was indeed born in Holy Spirit Village. His father—according to old Elder Jack there—is named Tang Hao. A blacksmith."
The name alone made Qian Renxue's fingers tighten against the window frame.
"Tang Hao… so it really is you."
Memories clawed back from more than a decade ago. A battle between her father and Tang Hao. But later whispers had revealed unsettling truths—her father Qian Xunji had not fallen to Tang Hao's hammer, but rather… to Bibi Dong.
Still, Tang Hao had been inseparably tied to the incident. After that, the mighty Clear Sky School sealed their gates, cutting ties with the world. For years she had searched, sending agents across the continent for leads.
All silence. A ghost in the wind.
And now? Rumors had reached her of a soul master in Tiandou City wielding the Clear Sky Hammer. A coincidence too sharp to ignore. And what was his name? Tang.
Twin Martial Souls. Tang Hao's blood. His son.
Her nails dug faint crescents into her palms as her lips curved faintly. "Interesting. This time, nothing will stay buried. I'll uncover everything that happened back then."
…
Meanwhile, on the brightly lit streets of Tiandou City, Lu Yuan wandered aimlessly, bottle in hand. Each swallow burned comfort into his throat as he trudged along.
"Haah… boring." He sighed skyward. "The little cat insists on staying in the academy dorm. My bed's too small? Or is she just avoiding me…"
He took another heavy swig. Ning Rongrong, Bai Chenxiang—even they had all holed up in the academy tonight. Not a single drinking companion left.
Loneliness gnawed at him.
Bang!!
Suddenly the night split open. A rush of blue fire streaked across the sky, exploding like a meteor. The flames spun down, cracking the road just a few paces ahead in a blinding eruption.
Through the fiery smoke, a figure landed gracefully. Her cheeks flushed, eyes hazy with wine, but her body radiated power tinged by reckless charm.
"Lu Yuan!!" she roared incoherently. "I'll avenge myself tonight!"
Lu Yuan blinked, nearly choking on his drink. "Little Chili?"
Liu Erlong stood there, wine jar in hand, fiery aura spiraling.
"You—did you come to drink with me?" he asked hopefully, licking lips when he eyed the jar.
But her hands clenched tighter. "Drink? Hah! Tonight, I'll hang you up and pound you flat!"
The flames roared higher as she charged recklessly, fists wreathed in dragon fire.
Lu Yuan's mouth fell open. She came with wine, I thought she wanted company… why the hell is she attacking me instead?!
But her steps wobbled. The alcohol had drowned her senses, leaving her seeing double, swaying as she lunged.
Without even moving, Lu Yuan caught her before she collapsed headfirst onto the cobblestones. His arms wrapped instinctively around her waist, steadying her.
Their faces hovered close. Breath mingled, fragrant with wine. Her warmth pressed through the firelight.
Suddenly, Liu Erlong's hazy eyes softened. She whispered brokenly, "Xiao Gang… it's you…"
Her arms locked tightly around his neck.
"Don't you love me anymore? Why did you run? Why… won't you face me?"
Lu Yuan froze, heart hammering. Xiao Gang? She thinks I'm Yu Xiaogang?
He scratched his head, staring down at her flushed features, speechless.
"Want me…" she breathed, voice trembling.
Lu Yuan's jaw dropped. "….Wait, what?!"
--
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