The next day, Tang Hao came to Tang Xiao with his hair sticking up like a bird's nest. "Brother, I've decided to give up and return to the Clear Sky Sect to take over the family business."
Tang Xiao patted him on the shoulder. "I'm glad you've come to your senses. I'll introduce you to someone nice one of these days."
"Okay, Brother." Tang Hao said nothing more.
After breakfast, Ah Yin and Tang Xiao decided to continue their travels, while Tang Hao would return to the Clear Sky Sect. Tang Xiao went along to see him off.
They walked until they reached a fork in the road. There wasn't another soul for miles.
Ah Yin held Tang Xiao's hand. Delighted to hear that Tang Hao was leaving, she chatted happily with Tang Xiao about where they should go next.
Tang Hao followed behind them, his stiff expression growing darker by the moment.
Ah Yin, I haven't even left yet, and you're already this excited? Do you hate having me around that much? You weren't like this in our last life. It must be Tang Xiao. He must have put some kind of spell on you.
"How about Vast Sea City?" Tang Xiao said after some thought. "I hear the seafood there is delicious. What do you think, Ah Yin?"
"Sure. I can make you one of my specialties while we're there."
"You're not planning to make me So Many Fish, are you?" Tang Xiao teased.
"No," Ah Yin said. "That's not the only dish I know. There are plenty of others I can make just for you. No one else gets that privilege."
"Haha, then I'm a lucky man."
A Clear Sky Hammer silently appeared in Tang Hao's hand.
With every step he took forward, another Soul Ring descended around him.
"After that, we could visit Gengxin City, the city of blacksmiths," Tang Xiao said. "Once we're there, I can show you what I can do at the forge. I'll make you a suit of protective soft armor."
"Thank you, Brother Xiao."
Tang Xiao was still planning where they would go next when a violent surge of Soul Power erupted behind him.
"Great Sumeru Hammer!" came a roar of anger that had been held back for far too long.
Tang Xiao turned to see a massive hammer bearing down on him with unstoppable force.
Caught off guard, he took the Clear Sky Hammer square in the back.
"Aah!"
With a crack, the hammer's violent Soul Power shattered Tang Xiao's spine. His body flew through the air like a burst blood bag before hitting the ground.
Ah Yin stood frozen, staring at Tang Hao. His eyes were red, his breath came in heavy snorts, and he still held the pose from his hammer strike.
"Brother Hao... why?" Tang Xiao coughed up blood as he lay on the ground. He tried to rise, only to discover in shock that his spine was shattered. He was paralyzed. A daze came over him. He was already a Soul Douluo. In a few years, one more Soul Ring would make him a Titled Douluo, someone who might one day reach his grandfather's pinnacle. Now it was all gone. He couldn't accept it.
Tang Hao thought of Ah Yin, of his son Tang San becoming a God King, and of the Lord of the Plane throne that awaited him. His fury twisted into laughter. "Hahaha! My dear brother, you're stealing my woman and everything that belongs to me, and you ask me why?"
"Shut up. I'm not your woman." Ah Yin snapped out of her shock and rushed to Tang Xiao. Her face went pale when she felt his shattered spine. She hurriedly channeled the Blue Silver Emperor's Soul Power into him and began carefully treating his injuries.
The sight provoked Tang Hao even further. Blood-red killing intent blazed in his eyes. His nostrils flared, sending out white jets of breath. He tossed the Clear Sky Hammer aside, spread his arms, and pounded his broad, bronze-muscled chest. Then he threw back his head and roared in pain and grief.
"Aaaah! Why? Ah Yin, you only ever have eyes for him! Only Tang Xiao! Even now that he's crippled, you won't spare me a glance. We're the ones who should be together! Why?"
"There is no why," Ah Yin said coldly. "I don't like you. I knew that the moment I first saw you. And now I see I was right about you. You're a beast, doing something so vicious to your own brother."
Then she looked at Tang Xiao with deep affection. "I fell in love with Brother Xiao the moment I saw him. Even though a beast like you has gravely injured him, I'll gladly care for him for the rest of my life."
"Ah Yin." Hearing that, Tang Xiao felt his pain fade into insignificance. He gazed back at her with equal affection.
The sight cut into Tang Hao again. He drew a deep breath, struggling to stay calm. "I don't know what spell my brother put on you, Ah Yin, but you're destined to be mine. You'll never escape me in this life. If I can't have your heart, that's fine. I'll have you first and win your heart in time."
With that, Tang Hao walked toward Ah Yin, one step at a time.
"W-what are you doing?" A chill ran through Ah Yin at his words.
Tang Hao lunged at her, sealed her Soul Power, and seized her. He was about to leave when Tang Xiao grabbed his ankle.
"Let Ah Yin go," Tang Xiao said furiously.
"Let me go!" Ah Yin struggled in Tang Hao's grip.
Tang Hao kicked Tang Xiao's hand away and strode off with Ah Yin.
Tang Xiao was left behind, dragging himself across the ground with his hands.
"Tang Hao, stop! Give Ah Yin back to me..."
The Divine Temple, Eternal Temple
Huo Yuhao closed the Eternal Chronicle and glanced toward Douluo Continent. He had seen the entire drama unfold between the three of them. With a cold laugh, he said, "What a fine story. Faced with all the benefits he could see ahead, even pure love had to give way in the end, didn't it?"
Meanwhile, in the Shura God Temple.
The Shura God had just gone to deal with official business. When he returned and activated Divine Vision, he froze.
What just happened? The Shura God was completely baffled.
In his plan, Tang Xiao was supposed to be out of the picture once Tang Hao emerged from the City of Slaughter. Ah Yin would fall for Tang Hao, and the two would have a son. He would then have his Great Treasure seize the child's body. Tang Hao would protect his Great Treasure on his path, while the Soul Beast, no longer useful, would be made to sacrifice everything for love at the crucial moment, paving the way for them both.
But the story had gone off script. When the three met, Ah Yin had fallen for Tang Xiao instead of Tang Hao. That was fine; Tang Xiao was talented enough to father his Great Treasure. Tang Hao could stand guard outside, then protect the child after he was born. When his Great Treasure was ready to inherit the Shura God Throne, Tang Hao could sacrifice himself to open the gates to the Shura God's inheritance. That would work too.
Who could have guessed Tang Hao would explode on the spot, hammer his own brother into a Broken-Spine Dog, and abduct Ah Yin?
The Shura God was stunned. He couldn't make sense of it. If Tang Hao loved her, shouldn't he have let her be happy?
Before you continue