"Xiaogang!"
"Teacher!"
Tang San and Flender stepped forward almost at the same time.
The former's anxious gaze swept across Yu Xiaogang's deathly pale face, worry written all over.
The latter knelt, propped Yu Xiaogang's upper body up, used spirit power to check his condition, and shouted back to Shao Xin.
"Shao Xin, quick, give Xiaogang a healing candy bean."
"Coming, coming!" Shao Xin reacted instantly, hurried over, spirit power swirling in his palm; a milky-white, sweet-scented candy bean condensed in moments.
Although the healing candy bean was only his Third Spirit Ability, as a food systemSpirit Saint its curative power was still considerable.
Gingerly he slipped the candy into Yu Xiaogang's mouth and used spirit power to dissolve it.
The effect was immediate: the ghastly pallor faded and Yu Xiaogang's breathing steadied.
Only then did Tang San and Flender breathe a sigh of relief.
Yet the fact that Yu Xiaogang had fainted from vomiting blood only proved the truth of Yang Yuan's words.
So, apart from the Shrek Group, no one took his side.
The students whispered and pointed, their eyes full of undisguised contempt and schadenfreude.
"Tch, he got exposed by the class president and fainted from a bit of blood—no mental strength at all, and he calls himself a Grandmaster?"
"This is Shrek Academy's level? Teacher's a plagiarist, students can't be much better; their strength probably piled up with Banned Drugs."
"And they used to act so high-and-mighty—pah!"
"The funniest part? That waste Yu Xiaogang actually wanted the class president to be his Disciple—talk about a toad lusting after swan meat."
The murmurs grew into a tide of voices, turning Flender and Tang San's faces green and white by turns.
The other Shrek students—Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun and the rest—were caught in the crossfire; hearing their talent questioned made their blood boil.
Banned Drugs? With our talent we'd need that junk?
Besides, Shrek's so broke we couldn't afford Banned Drugs if we wanted to!
Tang San's eyes were bloodshot, his breath ragged; he glared at Yang Yuan, who stood nearby looking unconcerned, and snarled through clenched teeth.
"Happy now?"
Seeing that expression, Yang Yuan recalled the meme "You've already walked the path of death" from his past life and an amused smile tugged at his lips.
He wondered inwardly whether Tang San was thinking exactly that at this moment.
Outwardly he only smiled faintly and asked in return.
"Was anything I said wrong?"
"I merely listed a few examples; if you disagree I can list some more."
He shrugged carelessly. "Though that would only make Yu Xiaogang lose even more face."
"You—!"
Tang San seethed, murderous intent flickering in his eyes.
Yet he had to swallow the impulse; he knew that even if he threw every trick at Yang Yuan he wouldn't win.
And Yang Yuan was right—letting him continue would only humiliate their teacher further.
Exhaling slowly, Tang San calmed himself and looked back at Yu Xiaogang.
"Dean Flender, now that Teacher's had the healing candy bean, is he better?"
Flender's gaze swept over Yu Xiaogang.
Suddenly he noticed the man's eyelids twitch almost imperceptibly and his breathing lose its steady rhythm—signs he was awake though still feigning unconsciousness.
Flender's heart skipped.
Though Yu Xiaogang's eyes stayed shut, Flender knew him well enough to recognize the state at once.
He's already awake!
A complicated look flashed across Flender's face. He'd never delved deeply into theory himself and had always trusted and admired Yu Xiaogang.
Now he realized the man was not what he'd imagined.
Judging from his behavior, most of what Yang Yuan said was probably true.
He sighed inwardly.
But Flender had no intention of exposing him.
Taking a deep breath, he answered gravely, "Tang San, your teacher fainted from agitation; under Shao Xin's healing candy bean he's much better and should wake soon."
"That's good!" Tang San exhaled in relief.
Flender glanced around, then helped Yu Xiaogang to his feet.
"All right, Xiaogang needs quiet; let's take him back to the dormitory so he can rest."
Staying would only invite further humiliation.
"Mm!"
Tang San stepped up and, with Flender supporting him on either side, lifted Yu Xiaogang.
The instant he touched him he sensed the same thing Flender had and shot him a look.
Flender coughed softly and gave an almost imperceptible shake of the head.
"Let's go."
"Okay."
Before leaving, Flender glanced at Qin Ming apologetically.
"Sorry for the trouble, Xiao Ming; you'll have to handle things here."
"Leave it to me, Dean," Qin Ming replied, though surveying the chaotic training ground he wondered how simply bringing Yu Xiaogang to meet the class had spiraled into this mess.
After hearing Yang Yuan's words he too had begun to doubt Yu Xiaogang's teaching ability.
If the accusations were true, the man was a sanctimonious fraud who had even deceived the dean.
Letting someone like that teach Heaven Dou Class One would be disastrous.
With that, Flender and Tang San supported the "unconscious" Yu Xiaogang and left without looking back.
The rest of the Shrek Group hurried after them, fleeing under a chorus of jeers and mocking stares.
In stark contrast, once they were gone the students of Heaven Dou Class One gathered around Yang Yuan in jubilation.
"Class president, you're amazing!"
"Haha, so satisfying! So-called Grandmaster? Before you he was exposed for what he is!"
"110,000 books and a photographic memory—you're the real theory master!"
"President is mighty!"
"President is mighty!"
Cheers, praise and admiring whistles rang out, everyone's face glowing with pride.
Yang Yuan stood tall among them.
Facing their fervent, worshipful gazes, he only smiled faintly, straightened his collar, then gave a casual brush as if dusting off his sleeves and said calmly:
"Basic move—don't get hyped."
(End of Chapter)
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