Lying in Biluo's embrace, Tang San tilted his head back to gaze at her face.
It was stunning—a delicate and ethereal beauty, gentle and pure. Although her face bore faint traces of grime, looking a bit dirty, Tang San's heart thumped wildly as he gazed up at her.
Wow… She's… beautiful.
Tang San found himself entranced. In his previous life as a disciple of the Tang Sect, he had little to no contact with women. But seeing this young woman in black before him, he felt as though he'd encountered his true love, captivated by her at first sight.
At that moment, Tang San's mind filled with the image of the beautiful girl named Biluo.
Not far off, Lin Yu observed the scene with a different perspective.
Unlike Tang San's enchanted view, Lin Yu's unique eyes revealed a rather distinct sight: a hideous, bloated woman with a strange, slimy conch shell-like martial spirit on her head, draped in a ragged dress, cradling Tang San in her arms.
Tang San, staring up at the repulsive face, looked utterly entranced and infatuated.
As an amused onlooker who could see the truth, Lin Yu could barely contain his laughter.
Oh, Tang San!
Look at you! I went out of my way to find you a "goddess," and even used my system's Mirage Dragon Qi to maintain her enchanting illusion.
You two better be happy together!
Just then, Biluo's gaze softened as she noticed Tang San staring at her with such intensity. Due to Lin Yu's use of the Red Thread of Fate, she felt an uncharacteristic wave of shyness, even though Lin Yu, watching the scene, felt utterly nauseated.
But to Tang San, it was a look brimming with charm, stirring his heart even further.
Oh, heavens! How could there be such a beautiful girl in this world? She's like a goddess!
Tang San was utterly mesmerized.
"Ahem… Little San, are you alright? I've got some healing ointment if you need it. Maybe you should apply it quickly to help with your injuries," interrupted Liu Erlong, clearing her throat. She had noticed Tang San staring so intently at Biluo that even Biluo seemed flustered. Pulling out a bottle of ointment, Liu Erlong tried to bring Tang San back to reality.
Finally snapping out of it, Tang San's face flushed, and he quickly averted his gaze, feeling his heart race wildly.
Oh no… I stared at her for so long. What if she thinks badly of me?
Feeling suddenly flustered, Tang San hurriedly took the healing ointment from Liu Erlong. "Aunt Erlong, my injuries aren't that serious. You all should go over to the other side. I'll take care of this with my teacher."
"Alright, we'll give you two some space," said Liu Erlong, standing up and dusting off her clothes before turning to leave.
"Biluo, you should come with us for a while," she added.
"Of course," replied Biluo, nodding as she followed Liu Erlong and Lin Yu to the other side of the alley, where they sat down, separated from Tang San and Yu Xiaogang by a wall.
Curious, Liu Erlong looked at Biluo and asked, "Biluo, I've been wondering—how did someone your age, with your strength, end up in the City of Slaughter?"
Upon hearing Liu Erlong's question, Biluo's face grew somber, and she wrapped her arms around her knees, her voice filled with sorrow.
"Aunt Erlong, I never wanted to come to the City of Slaughter," she began quietly. "I was the eldest daughter of a family of spirit masters, living a life of peace and privilege. But one day, our family came into possession of a rare, thousand-year-old spirit bone."
"At first, it was cause for celebration. But somehow, word of our spirit bone spread and the Spirit Hall caught wind of it," Biluo continued, her voice turning bitter. "One stormy night, the Spirit Hall came for us. They slaughtered my family… I was away at the spirit master academy, so I escaped by chance."
"But when I returned, I found nothing but destruction. My father had left a final message, telling me it was the Spirit Hall and that I had to flee."
"I ran, trying to stay out of sight, but the Spirit Hall eventually discovered my whereabouts and sent people after me."
"I barely escaped, over and over, until I learned of the City of Slaughter and made my way to its gates," Biluo continued, her voice filled with weariness. "By all rights, I wasn't strong enough to pass the trials to enter. But during the life-or-death battle, I was so weak that the others ignored me. They all fought among themselves until they perished, leaving me as the last survivor. That's how I got in."
"Since then, I've been hiding, trying to survive by keeping myself filthy to avoid attracting attention. My spirit ability lets me go invisible, which has allowed me to barely scrape by here for months."
"Then I saw you all. You weren't like the other fallen spirit masters, so I decided to save you," she finished, heaving a heavy sigh, her expression full of sadness.
"Oh, Biluo! You poor thing!" Liu Erlong said, feeling a surge of sympathy as she listened to Biluo's tragic story. Fueled by the resentment instilled in her by Yu Xiaogang over the years, she added, "The Spirit Hall is so hypocritical and greedy. How could they do something so monstrous?"
Meanwhile, in the alley on the other side of the wall, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were applying the ointment to each other's injuries.
Hearing Biluo's story from the other side, Tang San felt a surge of anger at the Spirit Hall's cruelty.
The Spirit Hall truly is vile, filled with nothing but corruption and evil. How could they do something like this?
Learning that Biluo shared a grudge against the Spirit Hall, just like him, made Tang San feel even closer to her.
What a fated bond we have! To think we both carry enmity towards the Spirit Hall—it's as if we were destined to meet!
Father, do you see this? On my path of vengeance, it seems I may have found love.
She's so beautiful, and she shares my hatred for the Spirit Hall. Such a deep connection!
I swear I'll stand beside Biluo and seek our vengeance against the Spirit Hall together!
Tang San's heart burned with determination as he silently vowed to himself.