Chapter 180: The Gap of the First Soul Ring, Part 6
Yu Xiaogang was thrilled at the prospect of Ye Wen accepting Tang San into the academy; it would be as if he had successfully passed on this burden to someone else, allowing him to be rid of Tang Hao's troubling demands. However, Ye Wen only shook his head slightly, dismissing the idea.
Tang San, who had thought that becoming a spirit master would make him worthy, was surprised by this rejection. Panicking, he blurted out,
"What makes me less worthy than them? I have innate full spirit power, which should qualify me to be at least one of your students. Why won't you even let me study at the academy?"
Ye Wen glanced at Tang San, his eyes carrying a glint of amusement. As he suspected, Tang San's ambition knew no bounds.
"Your talent, without a doubt, ranks among the best on the continent," Ye Wen replied, "but I cannot accept you as a student. Your parents are a factor too daunting, even for me. So, forgive me, but you are not meant for Tianxing Academy, young one."
Ye Wen knew it would be unwise to allow someone like Tang San, whose nature leaned toward deception, to enter his academy. If Tang San ever thought Ye Wen was withholding advanced teachings, he would surely resort to theft or other underhanded means, as he had done countless times in his past life. Given their inevitably opposing paths, Ye Wen saw no reason to equip an eventual enemy.
Tang San, however, was taken aback. The revelation that even this esteemed academy head held his parents in such wary regard spurred more questions within him.
"Dean Ye Wen, do you know my father?"
Ye Wen chuckled and replied,
"Not only your father I've also met your mother. I've known them for about ten years now."
One encounter still counts as "knowing," after all.
Yu Xiaogang noted this unexpected information silently, surprised to learn that Ye Wen had past interactions with the great Haotian Douluo, possibly holding deeper connections than anyone knew.
Tang San's face filled with hope as he asked,
"Then, could you tell me more about my parents?"
However, Ye Wen promptly shook his head.
"That's out of the question. If your father is hiding his identity from you, it's because he doesn't want it to interfere with your training. Revealing anything would only create unnecessary trouble for myself. When you're strong enough, he will tell you himself. Saying any more would disrupt his plans."
He cast a knowing look toward the dark expanse of the forest beyond, where Tang Hao lay hidden. From his concealed vantage, Tang Hao could hardly believe Ye Wen had sensed him from such a distance. But given Tianxing Academy's neutral stance, he felt a small measure of relief, knowing his clan might not have to face an opponent of Ye Wen's caliber.
Seeing Ye Wen's reluctance, Tang San felt a pang of frustration. Once again, he was met with mysteries and half truths; the people around him seemed to speak in endless riddles, driving him mad with unanswered questions. How powerful must his father be to make even the esteemed dean wary? And what did his father's words, "use the hammer in your left hand to protect the vine in your right," truly mean?
As these questions weighed on his mind, Tang San's gaze drifted toward Ye Wen's daughter, Ye Tianshui. She was frowning slightly, struggling to finish the last bites of her meal out of a sense of not wasting food. Her adorable, soft face now looked somewhat frustrated.
"Enough, you don't have to force yourself," Ye Wen said gently, reaching over to take her plate and polish off the remaining food himself. He then wiped her mouth with a napkin, smiling warmly. But Ye Wen's sharp senses had already detected Tang San's gaze.
Ye Wen's mind raced with fury.
"You little rascal, already eyeing my daughter at such a young age? Do you have a death wish?"
As anger boiled within him, Ye Wen reminded himself of the Asura God, hiding far away in the divine realm. Stifling his mounting rage, he buried the dark intentions back within.
Small sacrifices for the greater good, Ye Wen thought bitterly. Tang San, your end will come when you ascend to the divine realm. He clenched his teeth inwardly, silently plotting.
He couldn't kill Tang San now, but he could still give him a lesson.
"Little friend," Ye Wen said, smiling benignly, "I hear you've just acquired your first spirit ring. Would you be interested in a friendly match with my children?"
The five children perked up immediately at the suggestion. Ma Hongjun, however, quickly felt deflated; as the only one among them without a spirit ring, he couldn't possibly compete with an actual spirit master, even if he did possess a powerful spirit. Ye Tianshui, however, was overjoyed, eagerly raising her hand.
"Father, let me! I want to try out my new spirit ability!"
Her siblings, Ye Tianxin and Ye Tianchen, deferred to their little sister without protest, leaving her free to face Tang San. Oscar, meanwhile, knew he was no fighter, so he simply watched the scene, his face filled with curiosity and eagerness for the fight.
Seeing the other kids' excitement sparked a competitive streak in Tang San, who realized that this could be his chance to gauge his own skills after years of focused training. Yet, he hesitated; his opponent was none other than the charming girl he'd been watching, and he felt torn.
Yu Xiaogang, seeing an opportunity, spoke up with feigned seriousness,
"Tang San, this is a rare chance to spar with talented peers your own age. It's a chance to grow and a reminder that you're not the only gifted soul master out there. Consider it an opportunity to temper yourself."
Hearing his teacher's words pushed Tang San over the edge, and he agreed to the duel. The two children took their positions on opposite sides, preparing for their bout.
"Now, Tang San," Yu Xiaogang instructed, "it's customary to introduce your spirit rank and type when sparring. It's a matter of respect."
Tang San felt a twinge of irritation. Whose idea had it been to make this a rule? Revealing his abilities in such detail made him uneasy, as he'd always been taught that protecting one's information was vital. But seeing his teacher's insistence, he complied.
"Tang San. Blue Vine Spirit, Spirit Rank 10."
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