After leaving the city square, the two walked to the most prosperous area in the center of Heaven Dou City. Only then did Tang Hao stop in front of a tall building.
"Father, what is this place?"
Tang San glanced at the plaque that read "Moon Pavilion" and the nobles dressed in luxurious attire coming and going. He frowned as he asked.
Even now, he hadn't fully calmed down.
"This is the place where you can wash away your worldly concerns."
"But…"
Tang San hesitated upon hearing this.
The wanted posters plastered all over the city posed a significant security risk for both father and son. Although he wasn't afraid, dealing with the aftermath if they were exposed would be troublesome.
"Don't worry, just follow me inside. The owner of this place is trustworthy."
With that, Tang Hao led the way towards the Moon Pavilion. But as soon as they reached the entrance, they were stopped.
Two handsome young men, dressed neatly in blue clothing, each raised a hand to block their path, calmly saying, "Sorry, but the Moon Pavilion does not entertain those who are poorly dressed."
Tang San's brow furrowed beneath his mask.
Though he was plainly dressed, his clothes were clean. Clearly, they were referring to Tang Hao.
Without hesitation, he took a step forward, gazing coldly at the two young men on the steps who weren't even spirit masters. An icy voice escaped his lips.
"Get lost!"
At this moment, he was already in a bad mood.
And these two had unfortunately run into the muzzle of the gun.
In the next instant, a fierce killing intent surged forth. The two young men recoiled as if electrocuted, collapsing to the ground.
When they looked at Tang San again, their eyes were filled with terror.
Tang Hao silently glanced at his son but said nothing, striding forward into the Moon Pavilion.
Letting Tang San vent a bit wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
After the incident with the Spirit Hall's wanted posters, Tang San's emotions were already showing signs of losing control. It was better to let it out than to suppress it.
If conditions permitted, Tang Hao would have long allowed him to indulge in some killing.
Casting a cold glance at the two, Tang San followed his father inside the Moon Pavilion.
The two young men who had fallen to the ground could only feel the intense killing intent radiating from Tang San, and they no longer had the courage to step forward and stop them.
It wasn't until their figures disappeared from sight that they breathed a sigh of relief, their bodies drenched in sweat. One of them hurriedly ran to the back of the Moon Pavilion.
When Tang San entered the lobby on the first floor, he noticed that the décor was quite exquisite, with materials made from expensive and rare woods, emitting a faint fragrance that lingered in the air.
The girls responsible for welcoming guests in the Moon Pavilion were visibly surprised when they saw Tang Hao and Tang San, clearly not understanding why someone dressed like Tang Hao could be let in.
Tang Hao paid no attention to their gazes and walked straight to the desk, addressing the tall girl in charge. "Tell Yuehua that an old friend is here to visit."
"And you are?"
"Just tell Yuehua, 'When the full moon is broken, an old friend returns.' She'll know who I am."
The girl hesitated for a moment, looking from Tang Hao to Tang San beside him, then nodded lightly. "Please wait a moment."
With that, she quickly ascended the stairs.
It didn't take long before the sound of slightly chaotic footsteps could be heard from above.
Hearing the noise, Tang Hao frowned slightly and saw a group of four people descending the stairs.
The tall girl from earlier followed behind them and pointed at Tang Hao, whispering, "Steward, he's the one who's looking for Madam."
The middle-aged man in purple at the front turned his gaze towards Tang Hao upon hearing this. A natural look of disgust crossed his face. He glanced at Tang San, who was wearing a mask and hiding his true face, and his expression grew even more displeased.
Not only was Tang Hao dressed in rags, but even his beard and long hair were matted together, making him look like an old beggar.
Even though there was no foul odor coming from him, it was hard not to feel repelled.
Moreover, the guests who frequented the Moon Pavilion were all nobles of the empire with high status.
Even if they set aside their personal feelings, allowing someone like this to be seen by other guests would likely cause dissatisfaction, affecting the reputation and business of the Moon Pavilion.
The man in purple frowned and instructed the two men in blue behind him, "The Moon Pavilion only serves distinguished guests. Please see them out."
Upon hearing this, the two men in blue immediately hurried down the stairs, their spirit power surging, creating an invisible pressure that swept towards Tang Hao and Tang San.
Tang San naturally stepped forward, looking at the man in purple with a cold gaze. The only words that came to his mind to describe him were "looking down on others."
The two men in blue quickly reached Tang Hao and Tang San, raising their hands and saying, "Please leave."
Tang Hao calmly responded, "What if I don't leave?"
The two men remained silent, turning their gaze back to the purple-clad man on the stairs.
The man in purple waved his hand, "Do I need to teach you how to do your jobs? Show them the way out."
The two men in blue immediately moved, reaching out to grab Tang Hao and Tang San.
Tang Hao glanced at Tang San, his expression indifferent. "Don't kill them, and don't damage the place."
In the next moment, Tang San moved.
He took just one step forward, and the two men in blue instantly felt a powerful force pulling them towards him. They almost involuntarily reached out towards Tang San.
At the same time, Tang San raised his arms, grasping their wrists.
The spirit power fluctuations of these two men in blue were only at the level of Spirit Ancestors. With his current strength, such opponents were of no consequence to him.
A phantom-like white shadow flashed, and the two men in blue were sent flying backward, their outstretched arms hanging limply.
Tang San coldly eyed them, disdain and mockery evident in the eyes visible beneath his mask.
"If you reach out with one claw, I'll take one away. If you reach out with another, I'll take the other. We're here to see the owner, not the gatekeepers."
As he spoke, a powerful killing intent surged from his body.
It was cold, bloodthirsty, sinister, and evil. The overwhelming negative emotions instantly filled the entire first floor of the Moon Pavilion.
The girls behind the desk turned pale and trembled as they retreated.
The middle-aged man in purple was stunned for a moment, then immediately descended the stairs in a flash.
He placed his hands on the shoulders of his two subordinates, and after sensing their condition, his expression changed dramatically. He stared at Tang San and said in a deep voice, "Such vicious methods."
At this point, the arms of the two men in blue were completely shattered.
Such injuries were difficult to heal. Even if they could be healed, their arms would never regain full strength, leaving them half-crippled.
Tang San sneered coldly from beneath his mask. "For those who look down on others, I've already shown mercy."
"Looking down on others?!"
The man in purple laughed in anger, pointing at Tang Hao.
"He's dressed like that. Has he shown any respect to our Moon Pavilion? Has he considered the other guests? Even if you were nobles of the empire, dressed like this, you'd never be allowed in!
"Young as you are, with decent cultivation, surely you can afford proper attire?"
"So, you still think you're in the right?" Tang San's voice was calm. "If this is how you treat guests, this place won't stay open for long."
"Ridiculous! The Moon Pavilion has stood in the capital for over ten years. You think you can close us down with just a few words? Demanding to see our Mistress as soon as you arrive? Our Mistress is a lady, not someone at your beck and call.
"Should we report to her for any stray cat or dog, any beggar off the street? If we operated that way, the Moon Pavilion would indeed shut down!
"Moreover, my two subordinates had no intention of harming you, yet you've crippled them so viciously. Which academy did you come from, and is this how your elders taught you to behave?!"
As he spoke, a faint light flickered around the purple-clad steward, and a powerful wave of spirit power radiated outward.
At the same time, six spirit rings appeared at his feet, revealing his rank as a Spirit Emperor.
In truth, given his nature and strength as a Spirit Emperor, he would usually never waste so many words with anyone, especially troublesome guests.
However, the elder from Spirit Hall who had visited a year ago had left a deep impression on him.
That young man seemed ordinary, without any striking features. He was even less remarkable than the young girl walking beside him. Yet, it wasn't until later that people realized this seemingly unassuming individual was, in fact, the youngest Elder in the history of the Spirit Hall, with strength comparable to that of a Title Douluo.
The masked youth they encountered today hadn't even unleashed his martial spirit, yet he easily incapacitated two of their Spirit Master subordinates. His aura was drenched in a bloodthirsty and terrifying atmosphere, leaving no doubt that he might be hiding even greater strength.
It wasn't until the opponent's sharp words and aggressive stance made it clear that there would be no peaceful resolution that they decided to take action.
However, Tang San wasn't fazed by the opponent's provocations.
Neither words nor strength could shake his resolve.
To Tang San, his father was his reverse scale—the untouchable bottom line. Anyone who dared belittle Tang Hao would pay a blood price.
No matter how ragged Tang Hao's clothes were, these people had no right to insult him.
"Who are you calling a nobody?" Tang San's voice grew colder and more menacing.
The man in purple slightly narrowed his eyes, losing interest in further argument. He said calmly, "Your talent may be decent, but over a year ago, when the young Elder from Spirit Hall came to Moon Pavilion, he wasn't as arrogant as you. Don't think that just because you're young and have some strength, others should automatically give you respect."
"Spirit Hall Elder?!" Upon hearing this title, Tang San's eyes immediately filled with bloodlust. His entire being bristled with rage, and the dense murderous intent within him became impossible to suppress.
"I had intended to show mercy, but clearly, I've been too soft-hearted! You, who conspire with Spirit Hall, have chosen the path of death!"
Before his words even faded, killing intent surged like a tide.
However, at that moment, a hand pressed down on his shoulder, pouring cold water on his boiling fury.
"Don't be impulsive," Tang Hao said, frowning.
Suppressing Tang San wasn't because he felt any pity for the man in front of them.
In truth, for Tang Hao now, insults, mockery, or even life and death meant little to him.
He was concerned about Tang San's state of mind.
If Tang San were to kill out of controlled rage, it might be beneficial, but if he lost control and lashed out, the consequences would be vastly different.
As someone who also possessed the Killing God Domain, Tang Hao understood this distinction very well.
However, beyond that, Tang Hao also felt something strange and unsettling. His son's aura seemed somewhat off.
But after thinking it over, he could only attribute it to Tang San's current lower level of cultivation.
When Tang Hao underwent the Slaughter City trial, his strength far surpassed Tang San's current level.
If not for Tang San's exceptional progress in spiritual power over the years, coupled with his self-created spirit abilities, Tang Hao wouldn't have sent him to the Slaughter City so early.
Winning a hundred battles in the Hell Slaughter Arena wasn't difficult, but the Hell Road was another story.
Because of his worries, Tang Hao had been secretly observing Tang San's progress over the past two years.
"Enough. Everyone, stop."
At this moment, a cool voice suddenly echoed.
The group looked up towards the stairs, where they saw a beautiful woman in a silver palace gown descending gracefully, followed by two stunning young girls.
A hint of admiration flashed in Tang San's eyes, and a faint wisp of black mist flickered in his gaze.
Although the woman before him wasn't a peerless beauty, her noble and elegant demeanor was unmatched.
In Tang San's memory, only Bibi Dong from Spirit Hall could rival her, perhaps even surpass her in some aspects.
Even the equally beautiful Qian Renxue paled slightly in comparison. Qian Renxue's extreme arrogance and sharpness diminished her grace and bearing.
Yet, Tang San's fleeting shift in expression went unnoticed by everyone.
Not even Tang San himself noticed anything amiss.
The noblewoman descended the stairs with graceful, natural movements. Even her slight frown carried a peculiar charm.
"Chief Oder, what's going on?" she asked softly.
The middle-aged man in purple hurriedly stepped forward, carefully keeping an eye on Tang San's group, and whispered, "Madam, these two came to cause trouble. Why did you come down?"
"With such strong killing intent in the air, how could I not sense it?"
At that moment, a strange scene unfolded.
Tang San clearly felt a gentle wave emanate from the palace-gowned woman, seemingly capable of soothing all sorrow.
The killing intent within him, upon contact with her unique aura, melted away like snow under the sun. The first floor of Moon Pavilion quickly returned to its serene and peaceful state.
A domain?!
Tang San's expression changed.
He hadn't sensed any spirit power fluctuations, yet she possessed a special domain—was she a Title Douluo?!
His heart tensed up. He looked back at his father, only to see Tang Hao gently shaking his head, which calmed him slightly.
On the other side, the tall girl, free from the influence of the killing intent, quickly ran to the noblewoman's side and whispered an explanation.
When the noblewoman heard the words "an old acquaintance appears," the aura she had been exuding vanished in an instant.
In the next moment, her body began to tremble violently. She hurried down the stairs, her actions and expression now frantic, completely ruining the elegant and harmonious image she had portrayed.
The noblewoman rushed to Tang Hao, completely ignoring Tang San, and grabbed his shoulders tightly.
Her eyes were filled with tears as she choked out, "Hao, is it really you? How…how did you…?"
"It's me, Yuehua. You didn't recognize me, did you?" Tang Hao sighed softly.
Tang Yuehua's lips trembled as she suddenly threw herself into his arms, crying loudly. Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, as if she wanted to meld her body into his.
Tang San's eyes widened slightly.
He actually saw his father gently patting the noblewoman's back, his expression tender.
It was hard for him to believe that such an expression could appear on his father's face.
What was the relationship between these two?
As his emotions fluctuated, a faint black mist flickered in his eyes once again.
After a long while, Tang Yuehua's sobbing finally subsided. She looked up at Tang Hao with tear-filled eyes, then turned to Tang San, "This is your son with her?"
Tang Hao silently nodded.
Tears blurred Tang Yuehua's vision as she straightened up, raised her hand, and reached out to remove Tang San's mask, wanting to see his face clearly.
But as if remembering something, she quickly stopped herself.
"Come with me upstairs."
With that, Tang Yuehua grabbed Tang Hao's hand and started leading him upstairs.
Tang Hao didn't resist, letting her lead him to the staircase, with Tang San silently following behind them.
At this point, Tang Yuehua turned back to Chief Oder and said, "Everything you saw just now, forget it ever happened. You're responsible for this matter. Understand?"
"Yes, Madam."