Chapter 197: Yu Xiaogang Stabbed by His Own Disciple
The previous events were merely appetizers.
The real main event, naturally, had to be reserved for the "Theory Grandmaster," Yu Xiaogang, who was famous throughout the Soul Master World.
What he was obsessed with his entire life was nothing more than that fame-seeking martial soul theory and his treasured direct disciple, Tang San.
Trapped his whole life in a cage of self-deception, flaunting incomplete fragments of knowledge everywhere—did he really think of himself as the founding ancestor of soul master theory?
Since he cared most about these two things, they would be used to deliver the most heart-wrenching blow.
Inside Yu Xiaogang's room, the candle had long burned out.
He lay on the bed, breathing rapidly, his face pale as paper.
His lips trembled uncontrollably, his entire body sinking into the bedding, as if an invisible hand were pressing him to the edge of an abyss.
Within the illusion.
It was the familiar training ground of Shrek Academy.
Warm sunlight spread across the ground, casting two long shadows.
Yu Xiaogang stood at one end of the training ground, his gaze falling upon the figure opposite him, his heart tightening inexplicably.
That was Tang San, the disciple into whom he had poured all his effort—whom he regarded as his own son.
At this moment, Tang San's gaze was sinister, his face devoid of its usual humility and gentleness.
The aura around him was as cold as ten-thousand-year ice—a sharp dagger held in his hand.
The blade reflected a chilling gleam under the sunlight as he walked step by step toward Yu Xiaogang.
"Teacher, you've deceived me for so many years."
Tang San's voice fell, devoid of warmth, like an ice spike piercing into Yu Xiaogang's chest.
Yu Xiaogang's fingers clenched until his knuckles turned white, his body staggering backward uncontrollably.
It felt as if an invisible hand had gripped his chest tightly, making even breathing difficult.
He had never seen Tang San like this, nor had he ever heard him speak in such a cold, piercing tone.
Tang San was his greatest pride in life, the sole practitioner of his martial soul theory.
More than that, he was the only support that allowed him to hold his head high after enduring endless ridicule and scorn.
His throat bobbed, his voice trembling, even his posture unsteady. "Xiao San! You… what nonsense are you saying? When have I ever deceived you?"
Yet deep in his heart, a wave of panic rose uncontrollably.
Countless days and nights of explaining theory to Tang San surged through his mind.
Could it be… could there really have been a mistake somewhere?
"Your so-called ten core competencies of martial souls are all wrong. It was you who ruined me all these years."
Tang San's steps did not pause for even a moment. The dagger spun neatly at his fingertips, his tone filled with thick, unrelenting mockery.
These words struck like thunder in Yu Xiaogang's mind, leaving him dizzy, his ears ringing.
The ten core competencies of martial souls were his foundation, the very thing that allowed him to stand in the Soul Master World despite his innate martial soul mutation and decades of stagnant cultivation.
He had always believed this theory was flawless, that it would help Tang San ascend to the peak of soul masters.
And now Tang San said it was all wrong? That it had harmed him for years?
"No! Xiao San! That's not true!"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head frantically, stepping forward, trying to grab Tang San's arm and explain everything.
"This theory has been deduced and verified countless times. How could it be wrong? Listen to me explain it in detail…"
His voice carried an almost pleading urgency.
This theory was his lifeline, the only pillar supporting his existence.
He could not accept that his life's work was being completely denied by the disciple he valued most.
"Explain? Even now, you still want to keep deceiving me?"
Tang San cut him off directly, the coldness in his eyes growing heavier.
"If it weren't for your ridiculous, nonsensical theory, I wouldn't have taken so many detours, wouldn't have wasted so much time and talent, and wouldn't have ended up like this!"
"Yu Xiaogang, you are not worthy of being my teacher!"
Every word was like a poisoned blade, stabbing fiercely into Yu Xiaogang's heart.
He staggered backward, nearly falling to the ground.
At that moment, the illusion suddenly shifted.
At the edge of the training ground, two figures slowly appeared.
Bibi Dong wore a luxurious pontiff robe, golden patterns shimmering under the sunlight.
A sharp, mocking smile curled at her lips as her voice drifted over, each word cutting to the bone.
"Yu Xiaogang, is this the fine disciple you taught?"
"You've achieved nothing in your life. Even your own disciple has turned against you. How laughable."
"I must have been blind back then to have fallen for a self-deceiving waste like you."
Yu Xiaogang's body stiffened instantly, a metallic sweetness rising in his throat.
Bibi Dong was the deepest obsession in his heart and the greatest regret of his life.
Then Liu Erlong's voice followed.
She stood beside Bibi Dong, her face devoid of its usual fiery tenderness, leaving only bone-deep disappointment.
The way she looked at him was as if he were a complete stranger.
"Yu Xiaogang, I always believed your theory was correct. I supported you without reservation."
"I never thought… You deceived everyone, including me. The thing you spent your entire life studying wasn't even yours. What have you been doing all your life?"
The two women he loved most in his life—one filled with mockery, the other with utter disappointment.
"No!"
Yu Xiaogang trembled uncontrollably.
Not from fear, but from despair that seeped into his very bones.
In this life, due to his innate martial soul mutation, he had been abandoned by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, ridiculed by his peers in the Soul Master World, and endured endless rejection and scorn.
The only things that supported him were his martial soul theory and, now, his disciple Tang San.
But now, his proudest disciple personally told him that his theory was entirely wrong and had harmed him for years.
The two women he loved his entire life—one called him a waste, the other was utterly disappointed in him.
Yu Xiaogang tried to say something more, but Tang San had already walked up to him.
The dagger rose, slicing through the air with a sharp sound, and plunged straight into his heart.
Warm blood splattered out, staining his vision red.
That suffocating pain felt terrifyingly real.
"..."
He could clearly feel his life force draining away with the flowing blood.
His gaze fell upon Tang San's eyes.
Those cold eyes filled with killing intent were exactly the same as the gaze Tang San had given him during the day after being provoked by Lin Qingmo.
So… he had long harbored dissatisfaction toward him?
So his entire life… had truly been a complete joke?
The theory he had studied his whole life was nothing but castles in the air, a laughingstock.
The disciple he had personally taught for so many years plunged a dagger into his heart.
All the people he had loved his entire life were utterly disappointed in him.
Boundless despair and pain wrapped around him like an airtight net.
Not even the slightest room to breathe was left.
"Ha!!!"
Yu Xiaogang suddenly jolted upright from the bed, gasping for air.
Cold sweat soaked through his inner clothes, his heart pounding violently in his chest as if it would break through his ribs.
He instinctively pressed his chest, where a faint pain still lingered.
Everything in the illusion felt as real as if it had just happened.
He turned his head to look outside the window.
The horizon was already tinged with the pale light of dawn. The day was about to break.
End of Chapter
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