Chapter 320: The Forlorn Tang San
"Little San!"
Yu Xiaogang roared.
But the boy lying on the bed did not respond.
Fuming, Yu Xiaogang marched to the bedside, about to slap him.
Then he hesitated.
Even asleep, Tang San should have sensed him by now.
Tang San was always vigilant.
He never slept deeply.
Despite all the noise Yu Xiaogang made, there was no reaction.
A chill gripped Yu Xiaogang's heart.
Could something have gone wrong with Tang San's cultivation?
"Little San…"
He pressed a hand to Tang San's arm and shook gently.
At that instant, he noticed the anomaly.
There were small bloodstains spattered across Tang San's clothing and bedding.
All of them trailed toward his back.
Tang San's face was pale, his brows furrowed, lips cracked. He looked nothing like a healthy Soul Emperor—
But rather like a man long gravely ill.
Yu Xiaogang panicked completely.
With trembling hands, he felt Tang San's back.
One!
Two!
Three!
Eight!
Eight puncture holes!
Eight bleeding holes!
External spirit bone!
Yu Xiaogang's face drained of color as his senses probed the ribs beneath.
Then he froze.
The external spirit bone was gone again!
"No!"
Yu Xiaogang lifted his head and let out a piercing howl.
A scream as sharp and pitiful as if his very soul were crushed.
"No… no—what monstrous sin… Who did this…"
Yu Xiaogang nearly collapsed, weeping.
"To steal even a fused external spirit bone—this is bullying, utter bullying!
Once fused, it shouldn't be possible—you bully us…"
He fell over Tang San, sobbing incoherently.
Tears and snot streaming, Yu Xiaogang was utterly distraught.
Why target my son!
If you have grudges, come for me!
He's only a child!
His wails shook the entire residence.
Everyone recognized the voice and went pale.
That was Tang San's room.
Tang San was the Haotian Sect's treasured prodigy.
Tang Hao, Tang Xiao, Tai Tan, Bai He, Yang Wudi, and Niu Gao all rushed toward it.
Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, in a flash, were at the bedside.
They found Yu Xiaogang on the verge of fainting from grief.
Their spiritual senses swept over Tang San's body, instantly discovering his weakness—and the missing external spirit bone.
Their eyes widened, furious as wrathful gods.
The evil soul master again?
Would this never end?
Before they could even rage, Yu Xiaogang sprang up.
He spun on Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, shouting, "Little San's room is right next to yours—how did you fail to protect him?
He toiled endlessly for that external spirit bone! Once on Seagod Island, under Bo Saixi's protection, he would finally have been safe.
But before he could even leave, the evil soul master came again!
You are mighty Titled Douluo—how could you let someone harm him under your noses?"
Yu Xiaogang erupted.
Truly, he had guts—to scold two Titled Douluo to their faces!
Bai He, Tai Tan, Niu Gao, and Yang Wudi, just arriving, stared in shock.
Yet seeing Tang San's condition, they too wondered—
Could even two Titled Douluo not protect him?
Bai He's face grew dark as ink, his gaze hostile toward his own nephews.
Tang Hao's anger boiled—this was his son! He hadn't even vented his fury yet, and Yu Xiaogang was blaming him, joined by his uncle's condemning glare.
Whose son is this anyway?
But he couldn't say it. It had happened, and both he and Tang Xiao bore the blame.
They hadn't sensed a thing all night—what negligence!
"Tai Tan, notify Sect Master Ning immediately!"
Tang Xiao, still rational, issued the order, then strode to Tang San's side and clasped his hand.
Warm soul power flowed into Tang San's meridians.
Tang Xiao's heart sank.
The energy of the external spirit bone was utterly gone from all eight ribs.
Some life force had been drained too.
Hence his comatose state.
And this was Dugu Feng showing mercy.
Otherwise, he could have reduced Tang San to a husk.
Tang Xiao kept pouring soul power in to restore Tang San's vitality.
Time ticked by. After a long while, Tang San's body twitched, then his eyes slowly opened.
Sharp pain lanced through his back as memories returned.
Last night—he had been cultivating—then the terrifying evil soul master returned and relentlessly devoured his external spirit bone again.
No matter how he struggled, he could not escape.
That helpless despair made Tang San shiver.
His pitiful expression shattered Yu Xiaogang's and Tang Hao's hearts.
Poor child.
"From now on, forget the external spirit bone—it's a curse. It will only bring more harm."
Tang Xiao rose quietly, speaking in resignation.
Strangely, neither Tang Hao nor Tang San objected.
Even their fury ebbed away, leaving only fear of the unknown.
Bai He and Yu Xiaogang began in fury as well, but their lips trembled—they could not refute it.
This was the third time.
Even under their strictest guard, it had happened again.
That alone proved how unfathomably strong the assailant was.
When Tang San had absorbed the sixth ring, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo had both been present.
Only close allies even knew of the external spirit bone.
Later, Tang San had trained at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect during his fusion, then returned to this manor.
The entire process had been under protection.
Yet the enemy still knew—and struck silently to seize it once more.
Tang Xiao's hands trembled.
"A disgrace… the disgrace of the Clear Sky Sect. If Grandfather were alive, he'd slaughter us unfilial descendants.
We can't even protect the next generation…"
Tang Xiao sighed to the sky and left the room.
Tang Hao said nothing. His proud nature felt crushed—he wished he were dead.
"Ah Yin, Ah Yin, our son is hurt again. It's my fault… my strength is not enough…"
Tang Hao mumbled in madness.
The room fell silent.
Moments later, Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo arrived.
After examining Tang San's injuries,
Ning Fengzhi quickly applied healing and patted Tang Hao and Yu Xiaogang's shoulders.
"Let Little San cultivate calmly. Don't think of the external bone again."
His judgment matched Tang Xiao's.
After all these incidents, it was fortune enough Tang San still lived.
Lying on the bed, Tang San's eyes went hollow,
his spirit empty,
his mind blank.
His mentality shattered utterly, overwhelmed by despair.
Perhaps he truly had no fate with the external spirit bone.
He would simply focus on cultivating soul power from now on.
Two lonely tears slid down his face.
(END CHAPTER)
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