Chapter 138: What He Thought Was the Beginning Turned Out to Be the Peak
"I… I didn't know."
Yu Xiaogang's voice was dry.
"I didn't know you had a Titled Douluo teacher."
After hearing that Lin Qingmo had a Titled Douluo teacher, Yu Xiaogang regretted it so much his intestines practically turned green.
"Now you know."
Lin Qingmo smiled faintly.
"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 she has a bit of a bad temper and is quite fond of breaking people's 'legs.'"
Yu Xiaogang subconsciously clamped his legs together.
"N-no need…"
He waved his hands repeatedly.
"This matter… was my recklessness. I'm very sorry."
Dean Flender quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.
While waving his hands to disperse the crowd, he forced an awkward smile toward Lin Qingmo.
"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding… it's all a misunderstanding."
The smile froze on his face, looking even worse than crying.
The crowd slowly dispersed, but the whispers lingered like summer mosquitoes, buzzing endlessly.
"Wasn't he acting pretty arrogant just now? Why did he suddenly chicken out?"
"And he calls himself a master. Tsk."
Ma Hongjun imitated Yu Xiaogang's earlier posture—hands behind his back, head held high, nostrils practically pointing at the sky.
Beside him, Oscar burst into laughter, his voice dripping with 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 stuck like labels.
Once attached, they couldn't be torn away.
They were passed around repeatedly and finally nailed firmly onto Yu Xiaogang.
He stood there silently, his back hunched.
Like a cabbage wilted by frost.
Everyone dispersed.
Yu Xiaogang remained standing where he was, lost and hollow.
He lowered his head, staring at his own toes for a long time without speaking.
"Xiaogang…" Flender tried to offer a few comforting words.
"I'm fine."
Yu Xiaogang interrupted him, his voice hoarse.
"Flender, you're right. I'm a scholar. A scholar should acknowledge his own shortcomings."
He shook his head with a bitter smile and slowly turned to leave.
His back was hunched, his steps unsteady, 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 have some time alone."
Flender said quietly.
"Today's events hit him pretty hard."
Tang San stopped.
He watched his teacher's retreating figure, his heart in turmoil.
On one hand, he felt pain seeing his teacher humiliated.
On the other hand, a thought surfaced uncontrollably—
'If… if my teacher were also a Titled Douluo, how wonderful that would be.'
The moment the thought appeared, Tang San pinched himself fiercely.
'I can't think like that!'
His teacher had shown him immense kindness. Without him, Tang San would never have come this far.
How could he feel dissatisfied just because someone else had a better teacher?
But…
He turned his head and looked into the distance.
Lin Qingmo was walking across the training field with Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and the others. Whatever he said made the girls burst into laughter.
Sunlight fell across his figure.
His back looked upright and confident.
Tang San's hand slowly clenched into a fist.
…
Under the shade of a tree beside the field, the smile on Lin Qingmo's face gradually faded.
"Ah Qing, you were so cool just now!"
Xiao Wu was still excitedly gesturing.
"Especially when you reveal your soul rings—wow! That master's face looked like he'd swallowed ten bitter melons!"
Ning Rongrong also leaned closer with curiosity.
"Ah Qing, the Titled Douluo teacher you mentioned earlier… is that real? Which Your Majesty is it?"
Lin Qingmo didn't answer immediately.
He looked toward the distant direction where Yu Xiaogang had disappeared toward the dormitory building, his gaze deep.
"It's real."
He said softly.
"But I can't reveal my teacher's title. She doesn't like being disturbed."
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about that!"
Xiao Wu didn't want to discuss Lin Qingmo's teacher, because the topic made her heart ache.
"There's no class this afternoon. How about we go to Suo Tuo City for a stroll? I heard a new dessert shop just opened. It's super delicious!"
"I agree!"
Ning Rongrong immediately raised her hand.
Then she looked at Zhu Zhuqing.
"Zhuqing, want to come along?"
Zhu Zhuqing paused slightly before silently nodding.
…
By the time they returned to the dormitory, night had already fallen.
Lin Qingmo had just sat down on his bed when he opened the chat group.
The icon showed a bright red "99+" notification.
"Well then… These people really know how to spam the chat group."
He swiped open the screen.
Messages poured down like a waterfall.
Almost all of them were about Yu Xiaogang.
[Bingbing]: Hmph. Just a weakling who only knows paper theory. He can't even support his own theories, yet he dares to act arrogant in front of others?
A rolling-eyes emoji followed the message.
[Bingbing]: Humans like this… even one extra glance feels like a waste.
[Little Witch]: +1! I hate this kind of pretentious person the most!
[Little Witch]: Ah Qing completely shut him down, yet he still tried to act tough. His skin is thicker than city walls! I remember when Ah Qing was in Nuoding City, everyone looked down on him, yet he still thought highly of himself.
[Big-Chested Kitty]: Weak strength, yet plenty of schemes. Not worthy of the title "teacher."
Zhu Zhuqing always spoke concisely.
But every word was like a knife—precise and ruthless.
[A Rogue Rabbit]: Exactly! He even tried to trick Ah Qing. Luckily, Ah Qing is amazing!
Xiao Wu's message appeared next, followed by a string of bouncing rabbit emojis.
[A Rogue Rabbit]: People like that are villains. Ah Qing should stay far away from him in the future.
[Ice and Snow Maiden]: The arrogance of the weak is the most laughable. Neither strength nor bottom line.
The Snow Empress always spoke in that tone.
Cold, detached, and utterly clear.
[Green Grass]: One should follow their true heart. Twisting the truth and humiliating oneself like this is truly shameful.
Ah Yin remained gentle as ever.
Even her criticism carried a hint of compassion.
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: Sigh… he's already become like this…
When the last message appeared, the group fell silent for several seconds.
[The Pope Herself]: Just a clown jumping around.
Only a single short sentence.
Yet it carried a heavy, undeniable weight.
[The Pope Herself]: If he continues without restraint, there will naturally be consequences.
Lin Qingmo stared at the screen.
He could feel the atmosphere in the chat group change.
Even though it was only text, the invisible pressure seemed to seep through the screen.
He typed his reply.
[Dad Douluo]: Thank you all for your concern. I know what I'm doing.
…
Shrek Academy, Teacher Dormitory Area.
Yu Xiaogang slammed the door shut.
His back slid down the door until he collapsed onto the floor.
Cold sweat soaked through his inner clothes, sticking to his back.
He panted heavily, his hands still trembling.
A Titled Douluo!
That kid had a Titled Douluo standing behind him.
How had he managed to provoke someone like that?
No… that wasn't right.
Clearly that kid provoked him first.
That kid embarrassed him in public.
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 clutched his head.
"My theories aren't wrong… how could my theories be wrong?!"
He muttered to himself.
"The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls are correct. Those people just don't recognize their value. They simply don't understand."
But his voice grew softer and softer.
Until it vanished into the empty room.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, cutting a pale white patch across the floor.
He sat at the edge of that light.
Half in brightness.
Half in darkness.
Just like the man himself.
Just like his entire life.
Yu Xiaogang slowly raised his head and looked at the Soul Master badge hanging on the wall.
He had received it when he first became a Soul Master.
He once believed—
That it was only the beginning.
He never expected…
It was already the peak.
End of Chapter