"It's good to gather intelligence, but no matter how much you ask now, it's like seeing flowers through a fog—uncertain and possibly inaccurate. Yuehua only met them once, and she usually resides in Heaven Dou City. How much can she truly know? Don't let these matters disturb your state of mind. The Spirit Hall has many powerful individuals, and Bibi Dong is an extremely formidable enemy. You should have been mentally prepared for this."
"...I understand."
Tang San nodded, his expression becoming calm again.
After a brief thought, he continued, "By the way, Aunt, you mentioned seeing Zhu Zhuqing to purify her killing intent? Does that mean she also obtained the Killing God Domain? But she clearly didn't complete the hundred victories in the Hell Slaughter Arena."
As Tang San's predecessor as the strongest, the legend of the Blazing Wind King Zhu Zhuqing remained a hot topic in Slaughter City, and various rumors about her continued to circulate. Naturally, many people were closely following her victory count.
Though there were many claims, one thing was certain—she had definitely not completed the hundred victories unless she managed to fight two or three matches in one day without pause.
But this was almost impossible, because even if she could endure it, there wouldn't be enough opponents to match with her.
And without achieving a hundred victories, the killing intent wouldn't be enough to condense the Killing God Domain—this much, Tang San, who had just acquired the Killing God Domain, was certain of.
"No, she likely doesn't have the Killing God Domain. Even the killing intent on her seems vague, unlike you and your father."
Hearing this, the tightly wound tension in Tang San finally relaxed a little.
This was the best news he had heard in a long time.
"Alright, there's no point in saying more about this. Let's end the reminiscing here." Tang Hao seemed unwilling to continue, and he stood up, walking to the center of the hall.
With his back to Tang Yuehua, he said in a deep voice, "Yuehua, I'm leaving Xiao San in your care. He's just come out of Slaughter City, and his aura is unsettled. Only you can help him best at this time."
"What do you mean? And what about you?!" Realizing the implications of Tang Hao's words, Tang Yuehua's expression changed drastically. "Are you leaving again? If you go, what will happen to the sect? The number one sect in the world has to hide in the shadows—do you know how much the sect disciples are suffering? And what about Big Brother? Do you know how much he has endured all these years, how much agony he's been through?"
"...I can't do anything for the sect. I don't even want to apologize to Big Brother. I believe he understands me."
"Understand, my foot! You're the famous Clear Sky Douluo, and you say you can't help the sect? You think Big Brother can understand you?" Tang Yuehua seemed agitated, her words becoming coarse, and her pale cheeks flushed with anger.
Then, as if remembering something, she quickly added, "Do you know that the Spirit Hall has already started targeting the Upper Three Sects? Because of Su Cheng, there's some friction between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the royal family. And recently, Yu Tianheng, the grandson of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's patriarch Yu Yuanzhen, has been mingling with the empire's nobility. Do you think their clan would do such a thing if they weren't under external pressure?"
Tang Hao's expression changed several times upon hearing this, but he finally took a deep breath and calmly said, "Yuehua, you don't need to persuade me anymore. I'll handle these matters myself. As for the sect, I am no longer a part of it, so how can I return? Though I owe the sect, I don't regret what I've done."
With that, Tang Hao threw a rolled-up sheepskin map into Tang San's hands.
"A year from now, follow the map to find me in the valley."
He then turned and headed for the exit.
"Stop!"
Tang Yuehua hurried after him. Perhaps because she moved too quickly, her palace dress made a tearing sound.
Tang Hao stopped but didn't turn around.
"Take good care of Xiao San. A year from now, after he sees me, bring him back to the sect to acknowledge his ancestry. Then, tell Big Brother that Xiao San is my answer to the sect. What I couldn't accomplish, he will do for me. Yuehua, tell Big Brother that Xiao San is the son of Ah Yin and me—my only son."
"Brother—" Tang Yuehua cried out.
In the next moment, Tang Hao's figure faded before her eyes and then disappeared.
Tang Yuehua stood there, tears silently streaming down her face.
It had been twenty years since she last saw Tang Hao, and their reunion was so brief. At this moment, she felt as if her heart would break from the pain.
Tang San simply stood quietly behind her, waiting silently.
After a long time...
"Between you and my father, is it really just a sibling relationship?"
He blurted out the question, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it.
No matter what, the person in front of him was his aunt—one of his few remaining relatives.
Saying something like this was truly disrespectful.
Moreover, he probably misunderstood. How could he have such strange thoughts...
But what surprised Tang San was Tang Yuehua's reaction.
A blush briefly crossed her elegant, pale face, and her gaze seemed dazed for a moment. But she quickly regained her composure and scolded him, somewhat embarrassed, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
"..."
Tang San lowered his eyes, falling silent.
But he soon raised his head again, as if nothing had happened, and asked, "Earlier, you said my mother is free to move around in Spirit City? Is that true?"
Tang Yuehua shook her head, "It's probably just a rumor. Don't think too much about it. Wait for your father's plan. Perhaps a year from now, he'll tell you everything. I can see that he has great confidence in you; otherwise, he wouldn't have said you are his answer to the sect. You're nineteen this year, right?"
"Two months shy of nineteen."
"Your father was twenty-eight when he completed the Hell Road in Slaughter City. You've done it nearly ten years earlier. It seems you really are the hope of the sect. Do you know why he wants you to stay here for a year?"
Tang San shook his head, puzzled.
Tang Yuehua gazed at him intently. "In the coming year, I will teach you noble etiquette and music. From now on, I am both your aunt and your teacher."
"Noble etiquette?"
"Yes, my place is the Heaven Dou Empire's Court Etiquette School, specializing in teaching various noble etiquettes. You've probably sensed my domain, haven't you? This innate domain is called the Noble Circle, and my spirit power is currently at level nine."
"Mutated martial spirit, innate domain... Alright, I understand."
For some reason, Tang San's calm demeanor made Tang Yuehua feel a vague sense of unease.
She quickly shook her head, dismissing those strange thoughts.
Perhaps it was just an illusion.