The Zhen Hexagram's Response

After leaving the Small Grove, Chen Xin arrived at a corner of Nuoding Academy.

There, he saw a middle-aged man holding a wine flask, looking dejected as he sat leaning against the wall.

Chen Xin sized the man up, his brows rising in surprise. "You are... Hao Tian?"

"Senior Sword Douluo, long time no see." Tang Hao rose to his feet and greeted him.

He and Chen Xin were both Title Douluo, so there was no real need for him to address Chen Xin as senior. However, out of respect, he still used the honorific.

After all, in terms of seniority, Tang Hao, who was around fifty, truly was a junior.

"Why are you here?" Chen Xin asked with a frown.

A descendant of his clan was here, and Tang Hao was here as well. He could not help but suspect Tang Hao's intentions.

Tang Hao naturally understood Chen Xin's doubts. He pointed toward the distant Small Grove. "I'm here to look after my boy."

"Xiao Feng is actually your—" Chen Xin's eyes widened. Could things really be this dramatic?

"...No, I mean the other one," Tang Hao said.

Chen Xin thought for a moment before recalling the child who had sparred with Chen Feng earlier.

Because that child had barely spoken and had little presence, Chen Xin had hardly paid him any attention.

"I see." Chen Xin nodded.

He had thought Tang Hao had married someone from another branch of the Chen Clan, and had been wondering why Chen Feng had the surname Chen instead of Tang.

"By the way, what happened back then? Why did Spirit Hall target you?" Chen Xin asked curiously.

That incident had truly been earth-shattering to their older generation.

Spirit Hall had suddenly mobilized on a massive scale to attack members of the Clear Sky Sect.

Tang Hao, who had originally been thought to be only Rank 78, had broken through to become a Title Douluo during that battle. He had then severely injured Qian Xunji with overwhelming force, directly leading to Qian Xunji's death.

Afterward, Spirit Hall issued a warrant for Tang Hao's arrest. Tang Hao vanished without a trace, while the Clear Sky Sect sealed its gates and stopped involving itself in the affairs of the continent.

One event after another had been utterly dizzying.

That was why Chen Xin was so curious about what Tang Hao had experienced back then.

Tang Hao fell silent for a while before speaking in an indifferent tone. "Spirit Hall attacked me, which led to my wife's death."

Chen Xin's expression grew more solemn. "Did you get revenge?"

"I did." Tang Hao nodded.

Yes, strictly speaking, he had already taken his revenge. Qian Xunji, the true culprit, was dead. In truth, he no longer had any enemies.

It was simply that Ah Yin's death had dealt him too great a blow. That was why he had retreated into seclusion in a small village, refusing to concern himself with anything anymore. He had not even had the heart to care for his son.

During that time, Tang Hao had hated. He had hated everyone in Spirit Hall, hated them for destroying his life.

But gradually, his hatred for most of Spirit Hall had faded.

If one had to ask why, it was probably because some brat had once said, "Repay kindness with kindness, and Repay Resentment with Uprightness."

Yes, repay kindness with kindness, and Repay Resentment with Uprightness. Even a child understood such a principle. How could he, Tang Hao, fail to understand it?

After coming to understand it, he no longer hated the majority of innocent people in Spirit Hall.

Even toward the current Pope, Bibi Dong, Tang Hao did not bear much ill will. After all, she had nothing to do with what happened back then.

Tang Hao had already decided that as long as Spirit Hall did not come provoke him again, he could not be bothered to deal with them.

His two greatest wishes now were, first, to ensure his son grew up safely; second, to resurrect Ah Yin.

"I had originally planned to protect Xiao San until he was capable of establishing himself on this continent, then go do what I needed to do. But now that Senior Sword Douluo is here, I can let go sooner." Tang Hao looked toward the distant Small Grove, a trace of sorrow showing in his eyes.

"You want to entrust your son to me?" Chen Xin asked in surprise.

Tang Hao nodded. "My son is with Xiao Feng, and they probably won't be separating for a long time. As long as you protect Xiao Feng, Senior, my son will be safe."

As for that Little Rabbit, since she had left, she should not come back. The human world was simply too dangerous. Tang Hao did not want to see the tragedy of the past happen again.

"But before that, I need to help them deal with one last problem." Tang Hao looked toward the outskirts of the city and spoke calmly.

Chen Xin looked in the same direction. "Quite a few people have come. Just as Fengzhi said, more than half of the Spirit World has been stirred up."

Tang Hao chuckled. "That junior of yours is really capable. I've never seen someone so young who was so good at causing trouble. Fortunately, his Thesis only discussed biological Spirit Masters. Otherwise, I'm afraid even the Clear Sky Sect would have sent people."

"So, what do you plan to do?" Chen Xin asked.

"Obviously, beat them all up and make them pull back their claws," Tang Hao said domineeringly.

Chen Xin considered it, then shook his head.

"That would be inappropriate. If you show yourself, it will alert Spirit Hall and bring even greater trouble. You help me protect Xiao Feng and the others, so that no sneaky things can slip in. Fengzhi and I will take a trip outside."

Tang Hao thought it over and agreed to the arrangement. "That works. Xiao Feng is from your Chen Clan, so it's more justified for you to step forward."

Once the plan was settled, Chen Xin returned to the Small Grove and found Ning Fengzhi. "Fengzhi, people have arrived outside. Let's go take a look."

"What about here?" Ning Fengzhi was worried that someone might sneak in and harm Chen Feng.

"Someone will help us guard this place. Don't worry." Chen Xin gave Ning Fengzhi a meaningful look.

Years of tacit understanding made Ning Fengzhi hesitate no longer. He left the Small Grove with Chen Xin and headed for the school gate.

Grandmaster and Flender exchanged a glance. Flender pointed at himself and asked with a baffled look, "Was Sword Douluo talking about me?"

Grandmaster shot him a glance and ignored him.

What an ego. You'd even take credit for something like this?

Grandmaster looked around. He felt that there should be another powerhouse nearby, but neither he nor Flender could detect them.

Master just met with Tang Hao. Did the two of them reach some kind of agreement? Chen Feng guessed inwardly.

He walked to the edge of the Small Grove and looked outside the school.

Chen Feng could feel the Tai Chi Bagua Sword's resonance being repeatedly stirred as the people outside drew closer.

Yet to his disappointment, although these people triggered the Tai Chi Bagua Sword's resonance, there was no obvious difference from Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing.

It was merely the difference between health pools of tens of thousands and several thousand.

Aside from the man in black, whose resonance differed from everyone else's and gave Chen Feng a strange sense of rejection.

Just as Chen Feng was growing anxious, an even stronger resonance suddenly appeared.

Chen Feng looked toward the school gate and saw that the newcomers were wearing Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan uniforms.

And what they had stirred was the Zhen Hexagram!