...
The atmosphere in the upstairs suite became somewhat somber for a moment.
Na'er and her friends, who were eavesdropping on the carpet, heard the suppressed sobbing downstairs clearly.
Although they had occasionally heard Xiao Wu mention some of Tang San's hardships in his childhood, hearing it with their own ears from across the floor was a completely different and deeply moving experience.
Ning Rongrong slowly got up from the carpet, patted her skirt, and a complicated look flashed across her face:
"To be fair... Tang San seems to have really suffered a bit too much."
"Think about it. If Tang San were really just the son of an ordinary blacksmith, then it would be understandable that he had to endure such hardship since childhood.
After all, someone who has never experienced anything good wouldn't have such a strong sense of disparity."
Ning Rongrong sighed, "But the problem is, who is he?
He is Tang Hao's son! The sole heir of the number one sect in the world, Haotian Douluo!"
"He clearly possesses the most prestigious lineage and noblest bloodline in the entire Douluo Continent, yet what kind of miserable life has he lived for the past ten years, a life worse than a dog's?!"
Xiao Wu also got up from the ground, her tone full of emotion and agreement:
"Yes. Back in Nottingham, Xiao San was incredibly hardworking.
He not only had to juggle his heavy coursework at the academy, but also work at the blacksmith's shop to earn money for tuition, complete his work-study duties, and even squeeze in time at night to study the dry theories assigned by the masters..."
"With so many things on his shoulders, he was still able to cultivate step by step to this point and become a Soul Master of level 30 or above... Xiao San is really amazing."
Listening to Xiao Wu's description, Dugu Yan crossed her arms, touched her chin with a strange expression, and said, "If that's the case... then Tang San's talent is actually far more terrifying than we imagined!"
"If it weren't for that old bastard Tang Hao being so inhuman, abandoning such a promising talent in a remote and impoverished area and wasting six golden years of his foundational development, without even giving him a decent meal..."
If he had enjoyed the top-tier resources of the Haotian Sect from a young age, this guy would have been a world-renowned, top-tier genius by now!
Instead of being like this now, where although he's outstanding, he can only be considered an average genius.
Ye Lingling, who had been standing quietly to the side, listened to the discussion.
A thoughtful look flashed in her clear, cold eyes, and she suddenly spoke softly.
"Looking at it this way... it seems that Tang Hao, the Haotian Douluo who is famous throughout the world, is not as good as Yu Xiaogang in terms of his conduct and actions."
After these words were spoken, the entire living room fell silent for a few seconds.
Then, everyone looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
"Lingling is absolutely right!" Dugu Yan snorted coldly.
"Although Yu Xiaogang is a good-for-nothing with no skills, and a coward who only knows how to run away from problems, he really put his heart into it when it came to Tang San!"
"Even if the worthless theories that Yu Xiaogang taught are not of much practical use to improve Tang San's current strength, he has indeed invested a lot of time and effort in Tang San, and he really takes care of his daily life like his own son!"
"But what about Tang Hao?!"
Ning Rongrong couldn't help but roll her eyes wide, her tone full of disdain.
"That's his own father!
His own biological father, whose blood is thicker than water!
He doesn't teach his son how to cultivate, and he doesn't even care that his four-year-old son can't reach the stove and has to stand on a stool to cook for himself.
He just gets drunk and doesn't care!"
If an outsider who didn't know the details saw this, they'd probably wonder if Tang San was some wild child they'd picked up from a garbage dump!
"No wonder..."
Ning Rongrong clapped her hands in sudden realization, "No wonder when Brother Xuanhao was revealing Tang San's background to us, he specifically reminded us not to view Tang Hao through the lens of a great hero, saying that the guy is essentially a selfish bastard!"
"Now it seems, this is no ordinary bastard!"
Ning Rongrong couldn't help but rant, "In terms of being irresponsible and harming those around him, Tang Hao is even worse than that good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang!"
"Having such an unreliable father, plus such a terrible teacher..."
The girls exchanged glances, the image of the boy downstairs crying his heart out flashing through their minds, and a feeling of genuine pity rose in their hearts.
Tang San... what a pitiful, unlucky fellow!
...
Time passed slowly.
Just as Tang San finally finished venting the grievances that had been suppressed in his heart for more than ten years, and gradually calmed down, he slowly sat up with red eyes.
"Knock knock knock—"
A knock on the door suddenly broke the quiet warmth in the reception room.
The old Titan, who was guarding the door, wiped away his tears, quickly composed himself, and reached out to open the door.
As soon as the door opened, they bumped into Xuan Hao, who was dressed casually, with his hands in his pockets and a relaxed expression.
"Why are you here?"
Old Titan was taken aback for a moment, then blurted out instinctively.
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, looking at him with a half-smile:
"Shouldn't I be asking you that, old Titan? What are you doing here?"
Old Titan, as imposing as an iron tower, stood firmly in the doorway, refusing to budge an inch, and said in a deep voice:
"There are important guests talking inside; you cannot go in now."
Why can't we go in?
Xuan Hao rolled his eyes. "Old Titan, are you getting senile? Who doesn't know that I own a tenth of the shares in the Tiandou Royal Hotel?
This is my territory! And you're trying to boss me around on my own turf?"
Old Titan stared intently at Xuan Hao with his tiger-like eyes, his composure as firm as a mountain:
"I don't care whose territory this is, but you can't go in and disturb us now."
Xuan Hao's smile slowly faded, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh, old Titan, so you're saying you want to test your skills against me today?"
Titan's expression remained unchanged, but his powerful soul force began to surge faintly.
He looked at Xuan Hao, and even a hint of fighting spirit ignited in his eyes:
"I heard you broke through to the Soul Saint realm not long ago. Although I'm quite old, I'd really like to see what this peerless genius like you can do!"
The next second, space suddenly distorted in a strange way.
By the time the old Titan reacted and tried to stop him, Xuan Hao had already teleported past his burly body and landed steadily on the carpet in the room.
"Learn from me? What a load of rubbish!"
Xuan Hao turned his head, pointed to the priceless antique ornaments and luxurious furnishings around the room, and cursed irritably.
"I already said this is my territory! Fight here?
If we really start fighting, are you going to pay for all the damage to these things?
You poor blacksmith, can you afford to pay for it?!"
The old Titan was furious and turned around to capture the unsportsmanlike brat.
"Senior Titan, please stop."
Just then, Tang Yuehua's gentle voice, with a slightly nasal tone, rang out, "Let him in, it's alright."
Old Titan then suppressed his anger, glared fiercely at Xuan Hao, and angrily stopped.
Xuan Hao patted off non-existent dust from his clothes, turned around, and looked at Tang San sitting to the side.
He raised an eyebrow and asked, feigning surprise, "Oh? What are you doing here?"
Tang San was also completely dumbfounded, and his muscles even tensed up unconsciously.
Xuan Hao and Tang Yuehua know each other?!
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