"Congratulations, Young Master, on receiving a full vial of Qi and Blood Pill. However, may I ask how you intend to use them? Do you require our help from the Strength Clan?"
As Tang San eagerly accepted the Qi and Blood Pill from Yu Xiaogang, Taitan suddenly spoke up in a low voice.
But Taitan's words weren't genuinely aimed at assisting Tang San in taking the Qi and Blood Pill. After all, who needs help to consume such a thing? This was merely a test.
The reason Taitan was still willing to pledge loyalty to Tang Hao was primarily due to his inherent loyalty. But fundamentally, it was all about self-interest—whether immediate benefits or the promise of future rewards.
If Tang Hao weren't the most gifted soul master of his generation, boasting a Title Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, Taitan would never have pledged such loyalty. As the clan leader, Taitan had responsibilities to the entire Strength Clan.
Only if he believed that following Tang Hao would yield substantial future rewards, outweighing the risks, would Taitan remain loyal. Otherwise, would he risk the annihilation of his clan by assisting Tang Hao, with no assurance of return?
Yet, Taitan's conviction of future rewards was only a personal belief. After the exposure from the live streams, he now pondered the potential future where their master Tang Hao, due to their animosity toward the Haotian Clan, would not continue accepting the Strength Clan's loyalty but instead demand allegiance from Young Master Tang San.
What if the Strength Clan, having pledged loyalty to Tang San, received no rewards in return and ultimately faced extinction?
Although this was just Lin Yu's perspective, he had always spoken the truth in previous streams, which made Taitan hesitate.
This probing question was Taitan's initial test of both Tang Hao and Tang San.
Now, Taitan realized that based on his understanding of Tang Hao and the exposure from the live streams, the master would likely never wish to sever ties with the Haotian Clan. Given the current hostility between the Strength Clan and the Haotian Clan, it was unlikely Tang Hao would welcome their allegiance any longer.
In this scenario, the Strength Clan had no choice but to pledge loyalty to Tang San.
Yet, while the Strength Clan was historically loyal to their allegiances, they were different from the ancient eunuchs that Lin Yu had studied in his previous life.
Unlike those eunuchs who had to be loyal solely to the emperor, the Strength Clan had a choice. After all, the Haotian Clan had wronged them first. Their protective family values led them to blame the Haotian Clan for their betrayal, seeing Tang Hao as another victim.
Thus, their loyalty to Tang Hao remained intact.
However, Taitan had watched over twenty live streams. The earlier streams had made it clear that Tang Hao would never turn his back on the Haotian Clan, even if it meant familial discord.
Initially, Taitan had failed to grasp this. But now, he understood that as long as the Strength Clan remained hostile towards the Haotian Clan, their relationship with Tang Hao would only remain superficial, never returning to what it once was.
Attempting to revitalize the Strength Clan through their former master Tang Hao now seemed almost impossible.
However, should they choose to follow Young Master Tang San as the livestream suggested, if Tang San turned out to be as selfish and duplicitous as Lin Yu claimed, then the Strength Clan would suffer greatly.
This compelled Taitan to probe Tang San, as well as Tang Hao, who remained silent at his side.
If Tang San was unwilling to even share a single Qi and Blood Pill with them, and Tang Hao stayed quiet, Taitan would have to seriously reconsider whether it was worth the risk of housing Tang Hao and his group against the potential annihilation by the Spirit Hall.
But upon hearing Taitan's words, Tang San was no fool; he quickly recognized the underlying meaning.
The livestream had just ended, and Tang San understood that Taitan was testing him and his father Tang Hao, gauging whether the Strength Clan could gain any benefits from their association.
This left Tang San feeling a bit displeased.
After all, as a servant clan, how could they negotiate with their masters? Different social classes should maintain order, just like the divisions between the inner and outer disciples of their Tang Sect, each fulfilling their roles.
Moreover, in the entire Strength Clan, was there anyone whose qualifications could rival his own?
Regardless, this vial of Qi and Blood Pill was limited, and it made sense for him to maximize their value by using them on himself.
However, considering their ongoing dependence on the Strength Clan's support, Tang San, despite his displeasure, could only smile and say,
"Given what Elder Taitan has said, I could use your assistance at the moment. Please prepare a quiet room for me; I intend to consume this vial of Qi and Blood Pill to strengthen my body."
"I appreciate the support of the Strength Clan during this time, so I'd like to give Elder Taitan one of the Blood Essence Pills!"
With that, Tang San poured a ruby-red Qi and Blood Pill from the vial in his hand, enveloping it in his Mysterious Heaven Skill inner power, and flicked it toward Taitan with a technique akin to the "Controlling the Crane, Capturing the Dragon."
Taitan reached out and caught the Qi and Blood Pill as it soared toward him.
But seeing that Tang San's vial still contained a full eight Qi and Blood Pills, and noting how Tang San casually resealed the vial, Taitan couldn't help but fall silent.
Nine Qi and Blood Pills, and he only gets one?
His clan risked annihilation to assist them, and this was their return?
While he could accept it, Taitan felt a twinge of discomfort, perhaps because of Lin Yu's previous provocations.
Nevertheless, Tang San believed that giving Taitan one Qi and Blood Pill was sufficient.
After all, the Qi and Blood Pills were rare.
This also reflected Tang San's character; good things were meant for himself first.
In the original story, when he returned with the celestial herb from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the quantity was undoubtedly enough.
Yet, Tang San only gifted Yu Xiaogang a mere non-legendary Nine-Tier Purple Mushroom. If he had initially offered the celestial herb to Yu Xiaogang and he refused, then it would have been a reasonable compromise to offer something lesser afterward.
However, the fact that Tang San began by giving Yu Xiaogang a non-legendary herb was curious.
In the original story, considering Yu Xiaogang's kindness to Tang San, it would have been perfectly acceptable for Tang San to offer him a legendary herb!
Yet, he didn't, which suggests that for Tang San, personal gain held greater value than gratitude!