Tang Hao, Your Wife Is Gone

Tang Hao could see the sincerity in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he nodded. "Remember your promise today. When I return, I don't want to see Xiao San in any more trouble."

"Return?" Yu Xiaogang was startled. "Clear Sky Crown, are you leaving? But Xiao San is your son!"

Tang Hao paused, sensing something off. When it clicked, he glared at Yu Xiaogang, his tone sharp. "What did you just say? Say it again."

"No, no, no." Yu Xiaogang waved his hands frantically. "I meant, Xiao San is your son. He'll worry about you if you're not here."

Tang Hao took a deep breath. If Yu Xiaogang weren't uninjured, he'd have slapped him a few times to vent his frustration.

"I have to go. If he follows me, he won't find happiness either.

It's been ten years. I've been in hiding for ten years. There are things I must do.

Remember your promise. If I come back and find you haven't taken good care of Xiao San, I'll hold you accountable."

With that, Tang Hao raised his hand and tossed a pitch-black token to Yu Xiaogang.

Then he pushed open the window and leaped out.

As Tang Hao left, the oppressive pressure that had filled the room vanished.

"Phew!"

Yu Xiaogang let out a long breath. Without realizing it, he was drenched in sweat, feeling utterly drained, as if he'd just run ten laps.

No sooner had Tang Hao left than a knock came at the door.

"Who is it?" Yu Xiaogang asked, startled like a bird startled by a bow.

"Teacher, it's me." Tang San's voice came from outside.

"Phew, come in." Yu Xiaogang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, half expecting Tang Hao to have returned.

Yu Xiaogang couldn't help feeling relieved. If Xiao San hadn't shown up, Tang Hao might not have let him off so easily.

Meanwhile, after leaving Notting Academy, Tang Hao rushed back to the cave where Ah Yin was without a moment's delay.

It wasn't that he sensed Ah Yin had been dug up; he simply wanted to see her before he left.

Time came to the next day.

Surrounded by mountains, the sun blazed high.

Tang Hao descended from the sky and plunged straight into the waterfall.

When he saw what was behind the waterfall, his heart sank.

The rock blocking the cave entrance was gone, the opening exposed, proving someone had been there before him.

And when he reached the stone room inside the cave, Tang Hao's heart plummeted to the depths.

Ah Yin was gone. He looked up—the spot where the spirit bone had been stored was empty.

How? How could this be?

Tang Hao staggered back a few steps, as if all his strength had been drained, looking utterly dejected.

His peripheral vision caught words on the stone wall.

The handwriting was a bit sloppy, but still legible. Tang Hao read as he went, "Tang Hao, your wife is beautiful. I'll help her grow faster. Once she transforms, I'll dote on her daily. No need to thank me. A brother's wife is fair game. I'm a good man.

Also, consider the spirit bone her dowry from you. Thanks for the gift, Clear Sky Crown!

One day, I hope Xiao San can call me Dad too."

Tang Hao's face turned green. He cursed loudly, furious, nearly exploding on the spot.

His eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead, his breathing heavy as an old ox, teetering on the edge of a rampage.

"Bastard! Dog thief! Tang Hao will never rest until you're dead..."

The thought of someone else pressing down on his Ah Yin, ravaging her freely, made him feel like his head was a vast green grassland.

Huff... huff... huff...

After dozens of deep breaths, his emotions finally calmed slightly.

What was done was done. Getting angry wouldn't help. The most urgent thing now was to find this thief and recover Ah Yin and the spirit bone.

That spirit bone was meant for Xiao San—how could he let someone else take it?

But who could it be? Tang Hao had no clue at all.

Little did he know, things were still spiraling in a worse direction.

A black dot streaked across the sky like a meteor.

When the dot stopped, four figures came into view.

Below was a dense forest. The plants here looked ancient, as if they had weathered long years.

Towering trees stood everywhere, their thick foliage making it hard even for sunlight to reach the ground.

Accompanied by Xue Di and Bing Di, Lin Ye slowly descended toward the forest below.

Their gazes locked onto a massive plant ahead.

This plant—or rather, this behemoth—was entirely a clear, crystalline blue, its surface shimmering with a peculiar luster. Slender vines coiled upward, tangling together until they reached about ten meters into the air.

Under their watch, it swayed gently. At the center of the vines, a face had formed from the tangled growth, as if smiling.

The next moment, the vine-woven face opened its mouth wide and spoke in human tongue.

"Humans, what business do you have here?"

Lin Ye glanced left and right, then laughed. "Humans? They're not human."

Hearing this, Bing Di planted her hands on her hips. "Hey, Stinky Brat, what are you saying?"

Even though she truly wasn't human, hearing it from Lin Ye's mouth made her feel like he was cursing her—no, cursing a beast.

Lin Ye smiled faintly and didn't argue with Bing Di.

The Vine Face swept its gaze over the group. When it spotted Lin Qiu'er lying on Lin Ye's shoulder, the vine-woven trunk jolted violently.

"You... you are the Auspicious Beast?" Its tone was agitated, as if in disbelief.

Lin Qiu'er glanced up at it, then listlessly lowered her head, closing her eyes to feign sleep.

"Blue Silver King, look here."

Lin Ye spoke, drawing the Blue Silver King's attention to himself. Then he reached out and brushed a hand over the Dragon Pattern Jade Pendant.

The next moment, a potted plant appeared in his hand.

"This is... the Empress?" The Blue Silver King was suddenly overcome with joy and alarm.

"Humans, what have you done to the Empress?"

Lin Ye: "..."

"Don't spout nonsense. We didn't turn her into this."

The Blue Silver King pressed urgently, "Then how did the Empress end up in your hands?"

Lin Ye smiled. "That brings us to her fine husband. But it seems you don't know much about your Empress's affairs, so let me enlighten you."

"Your Empress, Ah Yin, once entered the human world and met a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect—one of the Clear Sky Twin Stars, Tang Hao, along with his older brother, Tang Xiao.

Ah Yin had a wonderful personality and treated the Tang brothers well. After knowing each other for a while, they decided to become sworn siblings.

For the next three years, the three were inseparable, their bond growing ever closer.

They say even heroes struggle to resist a beauty's charm, and the Tang brothers were no exception. Both fell for Ah Yin.

In the end, Tang Xiao left alone, returning to the Clear Sky Sect, choosing to let Ah Yin and his younger brother Tang Hao be together.

After Tang Xiao left, Ah Yin confessed, revealing her identity as a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

After his initial shock, Tang Hao said he didn't mind her identity.

Soon after, the two married, and Tang Hao decided to bring Ah Yin back to the Clear Sky Sect."