Chapter 119: The Deep Brotherhood of Tang Xiao and Tang Hao
"Haodi!"
That single call, filled with raw emotion, pulled Tang Hao back to reality.
He looked up and saw, standing not far away, a tall and broad-shouldered figure. That iron-boned, rugged presence—it could only belong to his elder brother, Tang Xiao.
"Haodi, I knew you hadn't gone far. Is it true? Has Ah Yin truly disappeared?" Tang Xiao's voice trembled as he spoke.
"Big Brother!"
Tang Hao's cry broke, his eyes instantly reddening.
This forest was close to the Clear Sky Sect, a place filled with memories between the two brothers.
Tang Hao had wandered here unconsciously, drawn by nostalgia and grief.
Tang Xiao strode forward, embracing him tightly.
"Brother… I lost Ah Yin. The spirit bone meant for Xiao San—it's gone too!"
His voice was thick with sorrow.
Seeing his brother again, all the pain Tang Hao had kept buried surged out like a flood. Tears welled in his eyes.
Tang Xiao sighed deeply.
It had been nearly six years since they last met.
The last time Tang Hao had returned to the sect, it had been with hope in his heart and good news to share: his son, Tang San, born of Ah Yin, had awakened twin martial spirits—the Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer.
That night, the brothers had shared this very forest—drinking heavily, eating heartily, laughing and crying beneath the stars.
They believed that with Tang San's birth, revenge would one day be possible once he grew strong enough. But fate had dealt a crueler hand.
"Haodi, what happened exactly? Tell me everything," Tang Xiao pressed.
He felt something was wrong—the exposure of the sect's power, Ah Yin's disappearance, the stolen spirit bone—it all seemed too deliberate.
Tang Hao's voice was grim. "Xiao San became the Grandmaster's disciple. After graduating from the primary academy, the Grandmaster sent him to study at Shrek Academy in Soto City, founded by Flender, one of the Golden Iron Triangle.
It was Xiao San's first journey away from Nuoding City. I protected him along the way until he settled safely at Shrek. Only then did I return to the place where I had hidden Ah Yin's remains and spirit bone.
When I arrived, they were gone.
And there were words carved into the ground: 'Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. I'll be waiting, Clear Sky Sect's seven Title Douluo!'
The sight of it made me lose all control. In my rage, I destroyed nine of Spirit Hall's branch halls."
He clenched his fists. "Afterward, I feared Spirit Hall's retaliation on the sect and rushed to the area."
Tang Xiao's face darkened. "To steal the spirit bone and leave a taunting message—it's clearly meant to provoke us."
Tang Hao continued, shaking his head. "After destroying the Nuoding branch, I realized too late—but who else has hunted me ceaselessly all these years apart from Spirit Hall?"
Tang Xiao's frown deepened.
"No… Xiao San is in danger! Haodi, you've been too careless!"
His roar snapped like thunder.
For a moment, Tang Hao's killing intent erupted uncontrollably, fury rolling off him like a wave.
"Come. We're going to Soto City!"
Without hesitation, Tang Xiao grabbed him, and together they soared into the air, speeding across the sky.
"The spirit bone was taken while you were escorting Xiao San. That means the enemy knows your movements perfectly—and knows exactly who Xiao San is. And to hold such hatred…"
Flying through the freezing winds, both men felt a deeper chill in their hearts.
Each passing moment made their dread grow heavier.
Tang Xiao dared not voice his worst thought, afraid it would break his brother completely.
He knew Tang Hao inside and out—outwardly fierce, proud, an unbending titan—but within, fragile as glass.
From childhood, Tang Hao had been the sect's favored prodigy, the star of the Clear Sky Sect, pampered and undefeated.
It made him proud, domineering, self-assured—traits that had led to every tragedy that followed.
And when calamity struck, he couldn't bear the weight. He shattered inwardly and vanished from the world.
When he returned six years ago, it was only because Xiao San had rekindled his pride.
If harm befell his son now, Tang Xiao feared his brother's sanity would collapse beyond recovery.
They flew swiftly over endless forests until the peaks of Shrek Academy came into sight.
Extending his spiritual sense, Tang Hao found Tang San almost instantly.
Tang Xiao exhaled in relief—he was alive.
But the relief curdled the next instant.
Tang San was cross-legged in his dormitory, cultivating, yet his aura was weak, his face pale—like one recovering from a grievous illness.
"Haodi, calm yourself! He's alive!" Tang Xiao grabbed Tang Hao, who looked one breath away from exploding.
"I told Flender and Zhao Wuji to protect him. I even gave them guidance—and they let this happen? Damn it…"
Rage blazed in his eyes. Without Tang Xiao's restraint, the Clear Sky Hammer would already have descended, obliterating Shrek's teachers on the spot.
"Haodi, think. With your status, and given your and the Grandmaster's connection, Flender wouldn't neglect Xiao San intentionally. Something unexpected must have happened."
Tang Xiao's voice remained steady.
Tang San might appear frail, but he was still meditating—his condition was stable. That was at least a small comfort.
When they'd regained composure, the two appeared directly in Flender's office.
The dean, buried in ledgers and debts, nearly jumped to the ceiling.
Ever since the Grandmaster's arrival, Shrek's already poor finances had plummeted even further, and Flender had been losing sleep over it.
Two towering figures suddenly materialized before him, radiating oppressive power. His blood froze.
"Your Holiness Haotian… Your Holiness Xiaotian... please, let me explain!"
He immediately understood the purpose of their visit, seeing Tang Hao's grim face and Tang Xiao's restrained fury.
"The situation was this," Flender said quickly, bitter-faced. "Xiao San's body underwent a strange mutation—eight spider legs sprouting from his back. Even I'd never seen anything like it.
Just then, an evil soul master appeared and abducted him. The man had an earth-escape ability—neither I nor Zhao Wuji could trace him."
His tone was heavy with self-blame.
Tang Hao's hands clenched. "Then how was Xiao San rescued?"
"It was Xiao Wu," Flender said honestly. "She left the camp shortly after the incident—but soon returned, bringing him back. I never asked how she managed it."
Tang Hao froze, stunned. Xiao Wu?
"An external spirit bone…" Tang Xiao murmured, grief in his expression. "An external spirit bone, lost… Haodi, this is a great blow to him."
He could barely think of anything else—those eight spider legs must have been exactly that.
Flender added cautiously, "After the Grandmaster's examination, he found that Xiao San had some of his life force devoured—but his Blue Silver Grass spirit's resilience is remarkable.
Give him a few months of rest, and he'll recover fully."
He spoke carefully, praying his reassurance would prevent Tang Hao's fury from exploding again.
(END CHAPTER)
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