Sinner, Blood Debts Must Be Repaid in Blood

"He escaped."

Xiong Jun released his Spiritual Power and meticulously searched the surrounding area.

"Mm..."

Bai Wanwan softly acknowledged him, retracting her Martial Soul and the Reverse Wave Dragon Spine Spear in her hand. However, she did not put away the Azure Dragon Heart Crown on her head for the time being. Instead, she activated the Divine Skill, Ten Thousand Rivers Return, gradually recovering from her injuries.

"Let's return to Suotuo City."

After deeply gazing in the direction of Shrek Academy, Bai Wanwan turned and headed straight toward Suotuo City.

There was no need to go to Shrek Academy.

From Tang Hao's words at the very beginning, Bai Wanwan had already determined that Flender had not yet violated their original agreement.

Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth as if she wanted to ask something, but after thinking it over carefully, she ultimately did not speak. Instead, she stepped forward and followed Bai Wanwan.

Xiong Jun's figure vanished back into the dark.

The scene returned to calm, but the traces left behind showed that a fierce battle had taken place here.

Within a dense forest.

Tang Hao descended from midair, reached out to support himself against an Ancient Tree, and spat out a mouthful of bright red blood. It splattered across the ground, staining that patch of earth dark crimson.

His old illness had yet to heal when he suffered new injuries. Combined with the damage Ring Detonation had inflicted upon his body, his already poor condition had only worsened.

"Heh..."

"Given my body's current condition, I probably won't be able to use Ring Detonation again for a long time."

Tang Hao muttered to himself as he leaned against the Ancient Tree and sat down.

He knew his own physical condition best.

His old illness had buried serious hidden dangers within his body. The injuries he had suffered while fighting Xiong Jun made him feel as though he were walking a tightrope. One misstep, and his old illness could claim his life.

It would already be impressive if he could wield fifty or sixty percent of his strength. If he exceeded that limit, his body would very likely be unable to bear it.

He took out a bottle of strong liquor, pulled out the stopper, and took a swig.

After drinking it, Tang Hao raised his eyes toward the Azure Blue sky.

Perhaps the wounds on his body would heal someday, but the scars in his heart were like wounds pierced through by sharp swords, filling him with piercing pain every moment.

Bai Wanwan's words echoed ceaselessly through his mind, turning into blades that tore open old scars and stabbed deep into the wounds.

Scenes from twelve years ago surfaced before his eyes.

Ah Yin's sacrifice.

The Clear Sky Sect's retreat into seclusion.

The collapse of the Single Attribute Four Sects.

They were like a heavy hammer, brutally pounding against his mind.

"When you woke from your dreams at midnight, did you ever see the Clear Sky Sect disciples who died so miserably? Did you ever see the ground dyed red with blood? Did you ever hear their wails before death?"

Tang Hao muttered to himself, then suddenly let out a bleak laugh.

He did not want to see those scenes, nor did he want to hear them.

Because to the Clear Sky Sect, and to the Single Attribute Four Sects, he truly was a sinner.

Twelve years ago, he had failed to protect his wife.

When the Clear Sky Sect suffered an undeserved disaster, he could do nothing.

The Single Attribute Four Sects had fallen apart because of him, turning against the Clear Sky Sect as enemies.

He did not know how many people had died because of him.

His father, the former sect master of the Clear Sky Sect, had also been riddled with illness. Tormented by anxiety and fury over Tang Hao's affairs, he had ultimately passed away.

Bang!

Tang Hao drove a fist into the Ancient Tree. It snapped in response and crashed onto the ground with a dull thud. Yet the strike seemed to pull at his injuries. After coughing several times, Tang Hao spat out another mouthful of blood.

"She was right. I am a sinner."

"A sinner of the entire Clear Sky Sect."

Tang Hao glanced toward the Clear Sky Sect, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. But he soon shifted his gaze toward Spirit Hall. Flames seemed to ignite in his eyes—flames called vengeance. "But blood debts must be repaid in blood!"

The fuse for everything had been the events of twelve years ago.

The former Pope of Spirit Hall had not been wrong to hunt Spirit Beasts. After all, Soul Masters relied on hunting Spirit Beasts and attaching Spirit Rings to increase their strength. This was something that had been done since ancient times.

Tang Hao had likewise not been wrong to protect his wife. That was the responsibility of a husband.

Right and wrong merely depended on one's perspective, producing different outcomes.

The chain reaction unleashed after the fuse had ignited was the true beginning of a sea-deep blood feud.

Tang Hao rose from the ground, draped his black robe over himself once more, and walked forward with heavy steps until his figure disappeared at the end of sight.

Suotuo City.

Before a rather plain food stall, Xiao Wu angrily stuffed herself with sweet and sour pork.

"Has Grandmaster lost his mind?"

"He insisted on sending you to that lousy academy. Just look at the kind of people there! A greedy swindler who'd reach into a coffin for money, and that old man guarding the gate. So what if he's a Spirit Emperor?"

"He throws his weight around. One look and you can tell he's no good person."

"They won't even refund the registration fee if you don't enroll. Ten Gold Soul Coins! Even counting the monthly subsidy from Spirit Hall, Xiao San, when you were blacksmithing in Notting City, you only earned one Silver Soul Coin a day."

"Ten Silver Soul Coins equal one Gold Soul Coin. Ten Gold Soul Coins are more than a hundred days of blacksmithing for you, Xiao San."

Xiao Wu complained without stopping, but her eating did not slow in the slightest.

"Alright, alright."

"Let's wait until Teacher gets here before discussing Shrek Academy."

"Complaining now won't help anything."

Tang San gave a helpless smile and reached out to stroke Xiao Wu's hair, soothing her emotions.

"The more I think about it, the angrier I get!"

"Bring me another plate of sweet and sour pork."

Xiao Wu put the final piece of sweet and sour pork into her mouth, her cheeks puffed up adorably.

"Alright, alright~"

"Boss, another plate of sweet and sour pork."

After calling to the owner, Tang San turned his gaze back to Xiao Wu. "Xiao Wu, let's not stay at the Rose Hotel later. We should find a cheaper hotel instead."

"Why?"

Xiao Wu blinked her eyes a few times, confusion appearing in them.

"The savings between the two of us amount to just over five hundred Gold Soul Coins."

"When we bought the Rutilated Quartz, we spent two hundred. We've spent over another hundred playing around Suotuo City these past two days. We also have no idea when Teacher will arrive in Suotuo City. If we keep staying at the Rose Hotel, our money pouches might give out first."

Tang San spread his hands helplessly.

"Then after we finish eating, let's see if there are any cheaper hotels."

Xiao Wu spoke softly, but she felt a little more resentment toward Grandmaster in her heart.

Mm, if it had been Grandmaster, we should already have enrolled in some Intermediate Soul Master Academy by now—one with free tuition, meals, and lodging.