At this moment, Yu Xiaogang patted Tang San's shoulder, interrupting his chaotic thoughts.
"I know you will understand."
Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San, his tone flat.
"You will be in charge of the tactical arrangements on the field, and you will also decide the scheduling of the participating members.
What I can remind you is that during the qualifiers, the fewer members of your Shrek Seven Devils who show their faces, the better.
In the finals, the opponents you will face will be more powerful than you can imagine.
And you have only one goal. For this goal, work hard."
In the simulation, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the words Yu Xiaogang spoke, and the arrangements were completely reasonable.
But as an onlooker, Tang San keenly noticed that when Yu Xiaogang looked at the "himself" in the simulation, his eyes seemed to lack a bit of the genuine concern and ardent expectation he had shown at Notting Academy during the first simulation. Instead, there was a faint trace of aloofness and... an indescribable complexity.
This subtle change caused a sliver of doubt to rise in the heart of the observant Tang San.
As the meeting ended, everyone stood up to leave one after another.
Right at that moment, Yu Xiaogang's voice came again: "Tang San, stay behind for a moment."
Hearing this, Tang San in the simulation stopped in his tracks, and soon followed Yu Xiaogang to his private room.
After entering the room, Yu Xiaogang first asked about his understanding of the tournament rules discussed earlier, as well as some routine tactical concepts.
Tang San in the simulation answered them one by one with clear logic.
Then, Yu Xiaogang changed the subject, his tone carrying obvious hesitation and an undetectable trace of nervousness as he asked tentatively:
"This time... for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, will that master of yours... come to watch?"
Master? What master?
As an onlooker, Tang San's heart was instantly filled with confusion.
In his memories and cognition, whether in reality or in the first simulation, he had never formally taken anyone as his master, except for... Fu Shiyan, whom he intended to wait for!
Could it be...
Before he could think further, Tang San in the simulation hesitated for a moment and replied truthfully:
"Teacher, I am actually not too sure about this. Master went to the Sunset Forest some time ago, saying he had some important matters to attend to, and might not necessarily make it back in time."
Hearing this answer, Yu Xiaogang's expression seemed to improve imperceptibly, but then, as if thinking of something else, his face darkened slightly.
He snorted coldly, his tone carrying an obvious touch of sarcasm:
"Hmph! And here I thought that now you have this omnipotent master, you've long stopped recognizing an incompetent teacher like me!"
Hearing these words, Tang San, as the onlooker, felt his heart give a sudden jolt! He immediately began to analyze rapidly:
"From Yu Xiaogang's words filled with jealousy and dissatisfaction, it can be inferred that in this 'future', my simulated self seems to have indeed taken a master!
And Yu Xiaogang clearly doesn't get along with this master of mine!
Combining this with the strength Senior Fu Shiyan showed previously, his unique understanding of the Blue Silver Grass, and his disdain for this teacher of mine...
The identity of this 'master' is almost glaringly obvious!"
At this time, hearing Yu Xiaogang's thorny words, Tang San in the simulation immediately responded with a serious expression, his tone sincere and even carrying a hint of anxiety:
"Teacher! You must absolutely not say that! Teacher for a day, father for a lifetime!
Tang San will always remember your meticulous guidance in his heart and would never dare forget his teacher's kindness!
Both you and Master are the elders I respect and care about the most!"
He paused for a moment and continued to explain, attempting to ease the tension:
"I went to consult Master about some issues regarding soul power cultivation truly because... because his main cultivation is precisely the Blue Silver Grass martial soul.
In this aspect, Master is definitely the one who understands it best.
After all, on the entire Douluo Continent, when it comes to the understanding and cultivation of the Blue Silver Grass, aside from Master, I'm afraid no one would dare claim to be number one!"
Hearing these words from "himself" in the simulation, which were full of deep affection yet clearly defined his stance, Tang San as the onlooker was completely certain:
"No mistake! This 'master' is ninety-nine percent Senior Fu Shiyan!
Only he possesses that terrifying, common sense-defying control over the power of the Blue Silver Grass, and only he can be called number one in the world when it comes to understanding it!
It seems that in this simulated future, I did end up taking him as my master after all!"
"I just don't know if I got any news about Mother from Master Fu Shiyan!"
"However, judging by Yu Xiaogang's attitude, over the past two years, when I encountered problems in cultivation--especially doubts regarding the essence of the martial soul--I probably rarely relied completely on him and consulted him like before. Instead, I sought help more often from the more professional and powerful Master Fu Shiyan!
And this has undoubtedly deeply stung his self-esteem as a 'Grandmaster of Theory', and also made him feel that I, his disciple, have grown distant from him."
However, the reasonable and even flattering explanation from Tang San in the simulation not only failed to appease Yu Xiaogang's dissatisfaction, but instead seemed to poke at his sore spot, making his expression grow even darker!
The mockery in Yu Xiaogang's tone became even thicker, almost undisguised:
"Indeed! A peerless genius who specializes in the Blue Silver Grass and achieved such cultivation at just over twenty years old...
Naturally, he isn't someone a teacher like me, who could only 'meticulously guide' you with some armchair theories when you were still young, can compare to!"
Implicitly and explicitly, his words sharply accused the simulated Tang San of being "ungrateful" and "forgetting the old teacher once he had a new master"!
Tang San the onlooker could clearly feel that after hearing these words, his simulated self was filled with anxiety, grievance, and an urge to defend himself, yet also seemed somewhat helpless, as if such a scene was not happening for the first time.
He could understand this emotion.
After all, in the concepts he had accepted in the Tang Sect during his past life, "Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents, Teacher" and "Teacher for a day, father for a lifetime" were ironclad doctrines engraved into his very bones.
To be accused like this by the teacher he once respected and who had indeed given him his enlightenment, the grievance in his heart and the anxiety to prove his innocence were inevitable.
"It seems that in this future, because of Senior Fu Shiyan's appearance and his guidance that better fits my martial soul, a rift that is hard to mend has already formed between Teacher Yu Xiaogang and me due to different philosophies and paths..."
Tang San the onlooker thought silently, gaining a more direct and complex understanding of this change in relationships brought about by "choices."
Hearing this response filled with earnestness and respect from the simulated Tang San, the dark look on Yu Xiaogang's face cleared up slightly, but that coldness and aloofness did not completely vanish.
He waved his hand, his tone still lacking warmth:
"Alright, you should go back and prepare.
Starting tomorrow, targeted tactical drills will begin."
He emphasized specifically, looking at Tang San with a serious gaze:
"Especially Tai Long and the other three, you must pay particular attention to them."