Chapter 138: Once Thought to Be the Beginning, Never Expected It to Be the Peak

"I... I didn’t know..."

Yu Xiaogang’s voice was dry. "I didn’t know you had a Titled Douluo as a teacher..."

After hearing that Lin Qingmo had a Titled Douluo for a teacher, Yu Xiaogang’s intestines turned green with regret.

"Now you know."

Lin Qingmo smiled and said, "So, do you still want me to share my secrets? I can write a letter to my teacher and ask for her opinion."

"However, I must remind you, that elder has a bit of a bad temper and is quite fond of breaking people’s ’legs’."

Yu Xiaogang subconsciously squeezed his legs together.

"No... no need..."

He waved his hands repeatedly. "I was being too forward... I’m very sorry..."

Dean Flender quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.

He waved his hand to disperse the crowd of onlookers.

While doing so, he gave a dry laugh and said to Lin Qingmo, "A misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding."

That smile froze on his Face, looking uglier than if he were crying.

The crowd slowly dispersed, but the whispers were like summer mosquitoes, buzzing incessantly.

"Weren’t you acting all arrogant just now? Why’d you chicken out?"

"And he’s supposed to be a Grandmaster, tsk tsk."

Ma Hongjun mimicked Yu Xiaogang’s previous posture—hands behind his back, head held high, with his nostrils practically pointing to the sky.

Beside him, Oscar burst into laughter, his voice full of mockery.

Dai Mubai sneered, "Using theory as a shield, then playing dead once he’s exposed. What a waste; he truly is Tang San’s teacher."

These words were like labels—once stuck on, they couldn’t be peeled off.

They were passed around repeatedly and finally nailed firmly onto Yu Xiaogang.

He stood there, his back hunched.

Like a cabbage wilted by frost.

Everyone dispersed.

Yu Xiaogang stood in place, looking soul-shaken.

He lowered his head, staring at the tips of his feet, not speaking for a long time.

"Xiaogang..." Flender wanted to offer a few words of comfort.

"I’m fine."

Yu Xiaogang interrupted him, his voice hoarse.

"Flender, you were right. I am a scholar, and a scholar should admit their own shortcomings..."

He shook his head with a bitter smile, turned around, and slowly walked away.

His back was hunched and his steps were faltering, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

Tang San wanted to follow him, but Flender pressed a hand onto his shoulder.

"Let your teacher be alone for a while."

Flender said in a low voice, "Today’s events were quite a blow to him."

Tang San stopped in his tracks.

He watched his teacher’s receding back, his heart in turmoil.

On one hand, he felt pained that his teacher had been humiliated.

On the other hand, a thought uncontrollably surfaced—what if... what if his own teacher was also a Titled Douluo? How great would that be?

As soon as this thought appeared, Tang San gave himself a hard pinch.

I can’t think like that!

Teacher has been as kind as a mountain to me; without Teacher, I wouldn’t have made it this far!

How could I feel dissatisfied just because someone else has a better teacher?

But... he turned his head to look into the distance.

Lin Qingmo was walking on the training grounds with Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and the others. He said something that made the girls burst into laughter.

The sunlight spilled over him, and his back looked upright and confident.

Tang San’s hand quietly clenched into a fist... Under the shade of the trees by the training grounds, the smile on A-Qing’s Face gradually faded.

"Qingmo, you were so cool just now!"

Xiao Wu was still excitedly gesturing.

"Especially when you showed your spirit rings! Wow, the Grandmaster’s Face looked like he’d swallowed ten bitter gourds!"

Ning Rongrong also leaned in and asked curiously, "Qingmo, is that Titled Douluo teacher you mentioned real? Which Excellency is it?"

Lin Qingmo didn’t answer immediately.

He watched Yu Xiaogang’s silhouette disappear toward the dormitory building, his gaze deep.

"It’s true."

He said softly, "But I can’t reveal my teacher’s name. He doesn’t like to be disturbed."

"Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore!"

Xiao Wu didn’t want to discuss things regarding Qingmo’s teacher because it would make her heart ache.

"There are no classes this afternoon. How about we go for a stroll in Suotuo City? I heard a new dessert shop opened, and it’s super delicious!"

"Agreed!"

Ning Rongrong immediately raised her hand.

Then she looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhuqing, do you want to come with us?"

Zhu Zhuqing paused for a moment, then nodded silently... By the time they returned to the dormitory, it was already getting dark.

Lin Qingmo had just sat down by his bed when he opened the Chat Group.

The Chat Group icon was marked with a bright red ’99+’.

"Man, these people really know how to spam the group."

He swiped the screen, and messages flooded up like a waterfall.

They were all about Yu Xiaogang.

[Bingbing]: Hmph, just a weakling who only knows how to talk about strategy on paper. He can’t even support his own theories, yet he dares to put on airs in front of others?

This message was followed by an eye-rolling emoji.

[Bingbing]: Looking at this kind of trash human for even one more second is an eyesore.

[Little Witch]: +1! I hate people who put on an act like that the most!

[Little Witch]: He was clearly rendered speechless by Qingmo, yet he’s still as stubborn as a dead duck. His skin is thicker than a city wall! I remember when Qingmo was in Nuoding City. Everyone looked down on him, yet he still felt so good about himself.

[Big-Breasted Kitty]: His strength is lacking, but his schemes are many. He’s unworthy of the title ’Teacher’.

Zhu Zhuqing’s words were always concise.

But every word was like a knife—precise and ruthless.

[A Rogue Rabbit]: Exactly, exactly! He even wanted to set a trap for Qingmo. Luckily, Qingmo is amazing!

Xiao Wu’s message popped up next, followed by a string of hopping rabbit emojis.

[A Rogue Rabbit]: Qingmo, stay away from that kind of petty person in the future.

[Snow Empress]: The arrogance of the weak is the most laughable; possessing neither strength nor a bottom line.

Snow Maiden always spoke with this kind of tone.

Cold and icy, carrying a sort of condescending clarity.

[Grass Mother]: One should remain true to one’s heart. To flip black and white like this and bring humiliation upon oneself is truly detestable.

Ah Yin was still as gentle as ever.

Even her criticisms carried a hint of compassion.

[Mother Tyrannosaurus]: Sigh, he has already become like this... When the last message popped up, the group went quiet for a few seconds.

[The Pope Herself]: Nothing but a clown.

Just a short line of text.

Yet it carried a certain heavy weight.

[The Pope Herself]: If he doesn’t learn some restraint, there will naturally be a price to pay.

Lin Qingmo looked at the screen.

He could feel the atmosphere in the group change—though it was just text, that invisible sense of pressure could be felt even through the screen.

He typed a reply.

[Daddy Douluo]: Thanks for the concern, everyone. I know what I’m doing... Shrek Academy Faculty Dormitory Area.

Yu Xiaogang slammed the door shut and slid down against the door panel to sit on the floor.

Cold sweat soaked his undershirt, sticking clammily to his back.

He panted heavily, his hands still trembling.

A Titled Douluo!

That kid has a Titled Douluo standing behind him.

How could I have provoked such a person?

No, that’s not right. It was clearly that kid who provoked me first. It was that kid who publicly damaged my Face. It was that kid—

In his mind flashed Flender’s evasive gaze while smoothing things over, the mocking snickers of the surrounding students, and Lin Qingmo’s terrifyingly calm Face.

Yu Xiaogang suddenly grabbed his head.

"My theory isn’t wrong... how could my theory be wrong?!"

He murmured to himself, "The Ten Core Competencies are correct. It’s just that those people don’t know quality when they see it. They don’t understand..."

But his voice grew smaller and smaller.

Finally, it vanished into the empty room.

Moonlight shone in from the window, cutting a pale patch of light onto the floor.

He sat at the edge of that light—half in the brightness, half in the darkness.

Like him as a person, and like the last half of his life.

Yu Xiaogang slowly raised his head and looked at the Spirit Master Medal hanging on the wall.

He had obtained that when he first became a Spirit Master.

He had once thought it was only the beginning.

He never expected... it was already the Peak...

(End of Chapter)

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