[DD]: 123

After Flender left, Oscar stood up as well.

"I'm heading back too. You guys chat."

Without waiting for a response, he headed upstairs toward his room.

Ma Hongjun also wanted to slip away with Oscar, but under the intense gazes of Tang San and Dai Mubai, the longstanding pressure was too much for him to handle, and he awkwardly sat back down.

"Xiao Wu, go rest. You've had a long day."

Tang San turned his head and gently looked at Xiao Wu by his side.

"Okay, brother, you should rest early too."

Xiao Wu looked at the group somewhat confused. Everything that had happened that day was so sudden for her.

"Alright, go on."

Tang San urged Xiao Wu, who was hesitating and turning back every few steps, with his usual smile.

"Okay."

Xiao Wu responded and quickly disappeared up the stairs.

At the table, only four people remained. Even though the lights were still bright, the atmosphere felt dim.

"That bitch must die!"

There was a muffled sound from the table, coming from Dai Mubai. His expression was grim, and the table now had a hole where he had struck it.

"She's nowhere to be found. You heard what Dean Flender just said. It's like she vanished into thin air."

"In a place like Heaven Dou Academy, she just disappears? Don't you find that suspicious?"

Tang San glanced coldly at the furious and impotent Dai Mubai, speaking with a deeper meaning.

This was something he only realized later. If Zhu Zhuqing's earlier actions could be seen as her wanting to take them down with her, then her behavior after Dean Flender appeared was perplexing.

Given the circumstances, Flender could have killed her in his anger. What was she after?

No matter how upset she was with Flender's favoritism, it shouldn't have reached this point. If she truly wanted to take them down, pretending to agree and then killing Fatty or himself would have been her best option.

So in Tang San's mind, he was certain someone was backing Zhu Zhuqing; otherwise, she wouldn't have had such confidence.

Dai Mubai was taken aback by Tang San's words but then shook his head with a bitter smile: "That's impossible. I know our families very well. They would never send someone to protect us."

"If there was even a slight chance for me, for her, it's completely impossible. Even if she had sided with Dai Weisi before coming, the emperor wouldn't allow it."

Hearing Dai Mubai's response, Tang San frowned. Could he have been wrong? Was there no one behind Zhu Zhuqing?

Then he noticed a flash of joy on Yu Xiaogang's face as if he had thought of something.

A second later, Yu Xiaogang spoke: "Xiao San, Mubai, maybe there's no need to keep searching. She's probably already dead."

Although he said probably, both could hear the certainty in his tone. Yu Xiaogang seemed very sure that Zhu Zhuqing was dead.

"There are some things you're better off not asking about. When the time comes, you'll find out. Just know that she's dead."

Yu Xiaogang had regained his old confidence and seemed revitalized.

Back in Suotuo City, Flender had told him about Tang Hao's appearance and warning to Zhao Wuji.

Now, it made sense that Zhu Zhuqing, who had fought and humiliated Tang San, had disappeared.

To make someone vanish without a trace in a place like Heaven Dou Royal Academy, guarded by three Soul Douluo, could only be the work of a Title Douluo.

Right now, the only person who could be around them was his idol, Tang San's father, the former Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao.

It seemed his idol had been secretly protecting his son all along, and Zhu Zhuqing's disappearance proved that he supported his son's actions. Unfortunately, the Martial Soul fusion technique was no longer an option.

'Maybe it's time to think of a way to get Xiao San into the Emperor Team One.'

That's the only way both he and Xiao San can prove themselves.

'It looks like I'll need to reconnect with my nephew, Yu Tianheng.'

Also, Qin Ming might be a good point of contact with Flender. Flender's handling of things this time was a bit lacking, so this can be compensation for them.

Tang San observed his expression, deep in thought.

'Fine, let's see what the teacher has planned this time. But I won't get involved again.'

After all, even now, his hands still ached.

He forgot to ask the healing Nine Heart Begonia Soul Master to treat him earlier.

"Alright, everyone should go rest."

Yu Xiaogang turned to look at Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, clearly addressing them.

Dai Mubai wanted to ask about his information source, but seeing his demeanor, then glancing at Tang San, and feeling exhausted, he decided to leave.

As for Ma Hongjun, he didn't even wait for the words to finish before he stood up and almost ran upstairs. Though forced to stay, he hadn't spoken a word the entire time.

What he didn't notice was that both Dai Mubai and Tang San had a cold glint in their eyes as they watched him leave. To them, his choice to side with them but then do nothing was itself a betrayal.

As for the betrayer, while others suffered various degrees of setbacks, he remained unscathed and even seemed indifferent, as if he wished to stay out of it. This alone was enough to cause dissatisfaction in both of them.

Dai Mubai had completely lost his mood. Without saying a word, he headed upstairs.

After confirming that both had left, Yu Xiaogang turned back to Tang San.

"Xiao San, don't worry. I have other ways. Since this team can no longer help you, why not try joining a different one?"

"I'll talk to Tianheng, and we'll have Flender reach out to Qin Ming. The two of us still have some influence. You might even be able to enter Team One directly, which will increase our chances."

"You don't need to worry about this. I'll handle it. Just wait for my good news."

Perhaps sensing Tang San's mistrust, Yu Xiaogang was particularly eager to reassure him.

"Thank you, teacher."

Tang San felt somewhat moved, and his dissatisfaction with Yu Xiaogang dissipated a bit, though he remained cautious. At least this time, he wouldn't have to get directly involved, avoiding any unexpected losses.

"Alright, go rest. Remember, temporary setbacks mean nothing; the one who laughs last is the true winner."

Yu Xiaogang added another word of caution, worried about any rift between him and Tang San.

"Yes, I understand, teacher."

Tang San decided to trust him one more time. After all, if Yu Xiaogang succeeded, it would benefit him greatly. If he failed—well, then there would be no need to hold back.

On the surface, the two appeared to return to their previous harmonious relationship of a kind teacher and a filial student.

What they didn't know was that Han Li had already been observing their reactions from above the villa.

"Does this mean Zhu Zhuqing has been declared dead? Yu Xiaogang thinks it was Tang Hao's doing. Fine, let him enjoy his moment of triumph for now. I wonder what his reaction will be when Tang Hao returns and they exchange information."

Han Li thought of Tang Hao, whom he had recently tracked to the Sunset Forest over a hundred kilometers away, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Watching Tang San say goodbye to Yu Xiaogang and head upstairs to his room, Han Li quietly descended and sat on the rooftop.

The night was long, and he had plenty of time to play.

Back in his room, Tang San didn't immediately begin meditating. Instead, he fell into silence.

He stared at his still aching hands, seemingly checking the injuries, but the flicker of killing intent in his eyes suggested he wasn't as calm as he appeared.

After sitting in front of the table for a while, Tang San finally returned to his bed and began his meditation.

Meanwhile, Han Li had already quietly used his authority to temporarily block the luck mist around Tang San, activated his soul bone skill, and extended his spiritual power to cover the entire villa.

As Tang San's soul power began circulating according to the Mysterious Heaven Skill, Han Li synchronized his soul power circulation.

After two rounds of synchronization, he was satisfied and recorded the process.

His brief test showed that in terms of pure cultivation, there was indeed some improvement, though not significant—at least not for him.

It should be noted that after undergoing the Ice and Fire Body Refinement and mastering the Origin Power, Han Li's meridians were already fully unblocked. Even so, there was some improvement, which meant the effects would be more pronounced for others.

"The basic cultivation technique is settled. As for the rest, it's not yet time to act. Looks like I'll have to wait until I enter the illusion."

Muttering to himself, Han Li increased his spiritual power output and constructed a fictitious spiritual world, pulling everyone inside as a precaution.

In his room, Tang San's soul power circulation gradually slowed until it stopped altogether as if he had entered a dream.

"Tang San, wake up. Time to eat. If you're late, there won't be any food left in the kitchen. Today's tasks are heavy."

Tang San heard someone calling him, the voice strangely familiar. At this moment, his consciousness was still a bit hazy.

"Oh, alright."

He responded reflexively, then opened his eyes.

Seeing the antique-style room around him, he was momentarily stunned. Everything felt familiar yet strange.

Wait, wasn't I meditating?

Hmm, what meditation? Today's work isn't done yet. If it's not done well, the elder will be angry.

Tang San quickly got up, with two conflicting thoughts in his mind, making his head hurt.

However, seeing the person who had called him heading out, he quickly followed.

After a day of assembling hidden weapons, Tang San returned to his room, exhausted.

He was relieved that despite the strange voice in his head and its cryptic messages, his body hadn't been affected. He was incredibly familiar with the work and had completed it smoothly.

Moreover, throughout the day, he had figured out his identity—a disciple of the outer sect of the Tang Sect.

"If only we could be like those inner sect disciples and learn martial arts. Then we wouldn't have to work so hard."

The person who had woken him up in the morning made a casual remark before falling asleep.

Tang San sat at the table, his expression unreadable.

Right, he could learn martial arts. If he mastered them, he wouldn't have to work so hard.

No, he shook his head. He already knew them, and he had already prepared to study those techniques. Right, wasn't he planning to do that?

The two conflicting thoughts in his mind mixed, making him unsure of what was happening to him.

As his headache worsened, the two consciousnesses seemed to reach an agreement—go to the library. There, he would find all the answers.

Yes, the library, martial arts, the inner sect.

With that thought, he walked out of the room, feeling restless, and headed toward the location of the library in his memory.