Chapter 173: Tang San: It was clearly Dugu Bo who stole my Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well!
Just then, a pink figure could no longer suppress her excitement and longing. Like a swallow returning to its nest, she rushed up from behind with a sob, tightly hugging Tang San's waist and back.
"Brother—!"
Xiao Wu buried her face deeply in Tang San's clothes, her voice filled with a thick sob and the joy of regaining what she had lost. Tears quickly soaked his clothes.
Tang San's body stiffened slightly. He could clearly feel the rapid and intense heartbeat behind him, and the subtle but uncontrollable trembling.
The next second, the icy aura around him melted away like spring snow.
Slowly turning around, Tang San's movements were gentle yet firm.
He pulled Xiao Wu, who had thrown herself on him, into his arms even tighter, one hand firmly supporting her slender waist, the other gently stroking her long hair.
"Little Wu, don't cry." Gently wiping away the tears on Xiao Wu's cheeks, Tang San comforted her, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm back now, aren't I? It's alright, everything's alright."
Xiao Wu looked up, her face streaked with tears, and sobbed, "Brother, what... what happened? I heard Dean Flender say that you stole something from Dugu Bo, and that's why he captured you. Luckily... luckily Uncle appeared in time to save you. Is that true?"
Upon hearing this, Tang San's gentle gaze instantly turned icy cold, his eyes flashing a terrifying blood red, and an uncontrollable rage emanated from him.
"Bullshit!"
He suddenly looked up, his voice booming like thunder.
This angry shout startled Xiao Wu, and even those around them felt a chill run down their spines.
"That Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire is a treasure trove formed by heaven and earth, a place of exceptional beauty and spiritual energy. How did it become Dugu Bo's private garden?! I clearly discovered it first and entered it. That old poisoner arrived shortly after, and seeing the treasure, he coveted it. Relying on his Titled Douluo cultivation, he tried to forcibly seize it, and even tried to kill me!"
Tang San's chest heaved violently, his voice filled with resentment.
He became more and more agitated as he spoke, his clenched fists turning slightly white at the knuckles.
"Dean Flender and the others didn't know the truth and only believed that old poisoner's one-sided story, assuming I stole it? They're bastards!"
Seeing Tang San so agitated, Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, her small hands tightly gripping his clothes. "Brother, I believe you! Don't be angry... I'm just scared..."
As she spoke, she buried her face in Tang San's chest, her voice trembling with sobs and lingering fear.
"Brother, promise me you'll take me with you wherever you go from now on, okay? No matter what danger we encounter, we'll be together. I don't want to be separated from you again... not even for a second!"
"Okay. I promise you, Xiao Wu."
Nodding, Tang San wiped away Xiao Wu's tears while comforting her.
Just then, a voice filled with surprise and uncertainty came from behind them.
"Xiao San!? Is it really you back?"
Everyone turned around and saw Flender walking quickly towards them.
His face was filled with unbelievable joy. He pushed up his crystal glasses, looked closely at Tang San, and then excitedly slapped his thigh: "Good! Good! You're back just in time! I thought you wouldn't make it to this competition!"
"Don't just stand there! Quick, everyone! The opening ceremony of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition is about to begin. We must get to the Heaven Dou Arena immediately, or we'll be in big trouble!"
At this moment, the wrinkles on Flender's face seemed to have smoothed out a lot. Then, remembering the important matter, he quickly composed himself, waved vigorously to everyone, and spoke urgently and excitedly.
At the same time, Grandmaster's gaze also swept over Tang San, his eyes filled with new hope and confidence. "Little San, we can talk on the way! Now, let's set off immediately!"
"Okay." Hearing this, Tang San nodded slightly.
...
Outside the Heaven Dou Arena, the noise was deafening.
Looking around, the dark mass of people stretched from the huge archway entrance of the arena all the way to the distant street, almost without end.
Whether simply dressed commoners or nobles in opulent carriages, everyone was now gathered here with fervor, completely blocking the surrounding roads. A wave of excitement, anticipation, and restless energy filled the air.
The sounds of discussion, hawking, and shouting mingled together, deafeningly loud.
If it weren't for the large number of disciplined Heavenly Dou Imperial Army soldiers, clad in gleaming silver armor and wielding spears, forming human walls at key points to maintain order, this frenzied crowd would likely have already spiraled out of control, turning the place into a chaotic vortex.
Amidst this boiling sea of activity, one group stood out remarkably.
Unlike the other academies, they didn't struggle through the crowd.
Leading them was a tall, thin old man in a dark green robe, with a sinister gaze. He merely glanced ahead, and the invisible pressure of his Titled Douluo aura caused the crowded people to instinctively part as if by an invisible hand.
Following behind him was the Heavenly Movement Academy's participating team.
The group was uniformly dressed in tailored, sharp blue outfits of superior quality, shimmering with a subtle blue-gold sheen in the sunlight. Most striking was the emblem on their left chests—the emblem of Heavenly Movement Academy, intricately crafted from three interwoven spirits: a resilient blue silver grass, a coiling, hissing azure phosphorescent snake, and a swan poised for flight. This unique composite totem symbolized the academy's three revered founders.
Led by Dugu Bo, the Heavenly Movement Academy group moved unimpeded.
Amidst envious, awe-inspiring, and curious gazes, they entered the magnificent Great Soul Arena with composure and swagger.
The moment the Heavenly Movement Academy members stepped into the academy's grand inner passage, before they could even fully appreciate the aura of the arena, several extremely piercing, malicious jeers pierced their ears.
"Pfft, look over there! What kind of bizarre outfit is that?"
A young man in a flamboyant school uniform clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he almost fell over, his finger pointing unceremoniously to the other side of the passage.
"My God, clothes that are shit-green?! Did they dye this color in a latrine? It stinks! Hahaha!"
His companion immediately echoed, his voice booming as if afraid the people around wouldn't hear.
Another person pointed at the conspicuous advertising logos on the Shrek Academy students' chests, his face full of disdain: "Tsk tsk, look at them, they even have ads embroidered on their clothes! Are they so poor they can't even afford to eat, so they're selling themselves to advertise? They're so poor, why are they even participating in the Soul Master Competition? They might as well go begging on the streets!"
Some even directed their vicious words at Ma Hongjun.
"Look at that fat guy, he's as fat as a ball, the ground must shake when he walks, right? Can he even compete? I think they're just here to make up the numbers and be a laughing stock!"
If there were a crack in the ground right now, the Shrek Academy students would want to crawl into it immediately.
Through the noisy crowd, Tang Chuan and Dugu Bo immediately spotted Tang San. Their brows furrowed simultaneously, then they exchanged a glance and exclaimed in unison, "Tang San! He's back?"
"Let's go see!"
They immediately strode towards the Shrek Seven Devils' group.
Tang San and the others were currently being subjected to disdainful stares and whispers from all around them, many instinctively covering their chests and backs of the conspicuous advertisements.
They wished they could bury their faces in the ground.
Flender walked at the front, acting as if he didn't recognize anyone behind him.
Even the Grandmaster in his wheelchair was moving quickly, constantly adjusting the wheels on his sides to keep up with Flender.
Just then, a discordant voice came from the side.
"Oh dear, aren't these the thieves who stole my medicinal herbs?"
"What? A bunch of thieves dare to participate in the competition? Are you planning to steal the prizes if you don't do well?"
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[end of the chapter]