Chapter 164: Explosive Mode Dugu Yan, Friendless
"Beep—!"
The whistle signaling the end of training sounded.
The members of the Royal Fighting Team all let out sighs of relief, wiping sweat as they walked toward the sidelines.
Only Dugu Yan immediately turned to leave, but she was stopped by a stern voice.
"Dugu Yan, stay."
The Soul Emperor instructor Qin Ming stood at the edge of the field with his arms crossed, his expression extremely grim.
As the team's instructor, he had always been strict with his members.
Today, Dugu Yan's condition had far exceeded the limit of what he could tolerate.
After the other team members had walked some distance away,
Qin Ming took two steps forward, staring sharply at Dugu Yan.
"Today's training—tell me yourself, how many mistakes did you make?"
"A control-type soul master is the core of the team. You misused your soul skills three times, lost coordination in positioning twice, and even ignored your teammates' signals."
"If this were the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, your mistakes just now would have already cost the entire team the match!"
Dugu Yan raised her eyelids slightly, showing no sign of guilt.
She casually brushed her hair. "Got it, Teacher Qin. I'll pay attention next time."
Her completely indifferent attitude instantly made Qin Ming's anger surge further.
He took a step forward, his voice rising.
"Got it? Dugu Yan, I don't think you've taken this to heart at all!"
"You're the core controller of the team. How are you supposed to cooperate with your teammates in this state? I'm very disappointed in you!"
"Then be disappointed."
Dugu Yan scoffed, not taking his reprimand seriously at all.
Her mind was fully occupied with the chat group's messages and her grandfather's situation.
She had no interest in arguing about training here with Qin Ming.
"It's just a few mistakes in training. It's not an actual match. There's no need to make such a big deal out of it, Teacher Qin."
"You!"
Qin Ming's fists clenched instantly, veins bulging on his temples.
After being an instructor for so long, he had never seen a student dare to speak to him with such an attitude.
His soul power surged immediately.
But very quickly, he forcefully suppressed his anger.
He remembered that the girl in front of him was no ordinary student.
Her grandfather was Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, a renowned Titled Douluo across the continent.
Even as an instructor, there was no need to offend a Titled Douluo over something like this.
That might end very badly for him.
After all, Dugu Bo was famously protective of his granddaughter.
Qin Ming took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.
He waved his hand, his tone cold.
"Fine. You can go back. Reflect on yourself properly. If you're still in this state for the next training session, you won't need to train with the team anymore."
Dugu Yan didn't even respond.
She turned and left, leaving Qin Ming with nothing but a distant, indifferent silhouette.
…
In the rest area of the training ground.
The Shi brothers, Shi Mo and Shi Mo, leaned against the railing, watching Dugu Yan's departing figure, then glanced at Qin Ming's ashen face.
The two couldn't help exchanging looks, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.
Yu Feng leaned over, lowering his voice, disbelief evident on his face.
"Did I see that right? Did Yanzi take gunpowder today? She even dared to talk back to Teacher Qin like that?"
"Normally, no matter how proud she is, she wouldn't disrespect Teacher Qin like this."
"Isn't it obvious? It must have something to do with the captain."
Osler had a blade of grass in his mouth, shaking his head with a knowing look.
Shi Mo scratched his head, confused. "Something to do with the captain? What happened to him?"
"Are you really stupid or just acting?"
Osler nudged him, winking.
"Yesterday, our captain confessed to Yanzi in the academy's rose garden. The whole academy knows except you two."
Shi Mo's eyes lit up instantly. "That happened? So did the captain succeed?"
"Succeed? Not even close."
Yu Feng curled his lips.
"I heard Yanzi rejected him on the spot."
"Think about it, who is the captain? The young clan heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is a genius among the younger generation. When has he ever suffered something like this?"
"The two of them had a pretty awkward fallout yesterday. Yanzi is like this today; what else could it be because of?"
"Exactly what I was saying."
Osler nodded confidently.
"It's definitely because of that confession."
"Yanzi's probably got pent-up frustration with nowhere to vent, and Teacher Qin just happened to walk right into it."
"Did you see her attitude just now? Whoever provokes her is asking for trouble."
Shi Mo stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"That can't be it, right? Yanzi isn't someone who mixes personal feelings with work."
"Even if she had a conflict with the captain, she wouldn't be this careless in training or openly oppose Teacher Qin, would she?"
"Ah, a woman's heart is like the ocean; what do you know?"
Osler waved his hand, acting like an experienced expert.
"Besides, Yanzi's already proud by nature. Being pushed too hard by the captain, isn't it normal for her to throw a bit of a tantrum?"
Just as they were chatting animatedly,
A cool and gentle voice came from behind them.
"Don't speculate about Yanzi here."
Ye Lingling walked over slowly, holding her Nine Heart Begonia martial soul.
Her expression was calm, and her gaze fell on them as she gently shook her head.
"This matter has nothing to do with Captain Tianheng."
Yu Feng froze for a moment. "Lingling, how do you know it's unrelated? You were there yesterday during the confession, weren't you?"
"I was."
Ye Lingling nodded lightly, her voice still gentle, yet carrying unquestionable certainty.
"When Yanzi rejected Captain Tianheng yesterday, although her words were direct, her emotions were very calm. She wasn't angry or irritated at all."
"From the moment she entered the training ground this morning, she's been restless and spacing out from time to time."
"At that time, training hadn't even started yet, and she hadn't spoken to Captain Tianheng. How could it be because of the confession?"
The group instantly fell silent.
Ye Lingling was the team's support-type soul master, the most observant and meticulous among them.
Since she said so, there must be a basis for it.
Yu Feng rubbed his nose, a bit embarrassed.
"Then… if it's not because of that, what is it? Yanzi's state today is way too strange."
Ye Lingling lowered her gaze and gently shook her head.
"I don't know either. But she must be hiding something in her heart, and it's something very important."
"Just don't make wild guesses or spread rumors, or you might cause her trouble."
The group exchanged glances and awkwardly fell silent.
…
Under the shade of a tree not far away.
Yu Tianheng had clearly heard the entire conversation.
His expression was so dark it seemed like it could drip water.
His fists were clenched tightly, and his knuckles turned pale.
Yesterday's confession was rejected outright by Dugu Yan without a moment's consideration. She said she had no interest in him.
He had originally thought that Dugu Yan was just throwing a tantrum or being reserved as a girl.
But today, she even dared to talk back to Qin Ming, yet didn't spare him even a glance.
It made him, the young clan heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, lose all face.
Yet no matter how angry he was, he couldn't help but feel worried.
He had known Dugu Yan for so many years and had never seen her like this.
Absent-minded, distracted, as if even the sky collapsing wouldn't matter to her.
Completely different from the usual proud and flamboyant yet extremely serious Dugu Yan when it came to training.
—
End of Chapter