Grandfather and Grandson Reunited
Upon seeing the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King annihilated by the power of the Ring Detonation, and after Bibi Dong's decisive action, Tang Chen's dignified and murderous aura quickly faded, replaced by a sickly pallor and an undeniable weakness.
His body swayed slightly, the knuckles of his hand holding the Clear Sky Hammer turned white from the force, and his breathing became heavy and intermittent.
For decades, he had been Parasite the Nine-Headed Bat King, which relentlessly eroded his flesh and Soul Power like a maggot clinging to his bones, leaving his body, which had once touched the level of a god, riddled with holes.
The "Ring Detonation" he unleashed in anger just now, while annihilating his nemesis and frightening away a powerful enemy, also completely drained the last bit of energy he had managed to muster. Now, the backlash was striking, and his internal organs felt as if they were being scorched by fire and placed in an ice cellar, with his meridians experiencing excruciating pain.
With a flash of light from his right hand, the awe-inspiring dark golden Clear Sky Hammer was retracted into his body.
As the Martial Soul receded, the overwhelming pressure that had changed the color of the heavens and earth also receded like the tide, leaving only an old figure with a weak aura, as if he might collapse at any moment.
Only then did Tang San, who had narrowly escaped the Soul Power storm and was hiding behind the broken wall in the Simulation, begin to recover.
He withdrew the layers of Blue Silver Emperor vines that had been protecting him and looked towards the center of the battlefield with lingering fear.
When his gaze met Tang Chen's, he felt a chill run down his spine.
Although Tang Chen's eyes were slightly unfocused due to his weakness, the awe and scrutiny of Peerless Douluo still lingered deep within them.
He clearly regarded Tang San as one of the Fallen Ones struggling to survive in this Slaughter City. His brows furrowed slightly, and even in his poor condition, the authority and latent vigilance he had long held in his superior position had not completely disappeared.
In the Simulation, Tang San's mind raced, recalling the earth-shattering Clear Sky Hammer that the opponent had just unleashed.
Without hesitation, he raised his left hand, and light condensed in his palm—the Clear Sky Hammer, small yet incredibly solid, appeared in his hand.
Upon seeing this familiar hammer, the symbol of the direct lineage of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Chen's eyes narrowed sharply!
The last trace of scrutiny and sternness in his eyes was quickly replaced by surprise, doubt, and a hint of disbelief and gentleness.
He looked Tang San up and down, as if searching for a familiar outline.
"Boy, whose child are you?" Tang Chen's voice was hoarse and tired, yet carried a hint of barely perceptible urgency.
In the Simulation, Tang San quickly stepped forward, stopped at an appropriate distance, and responded respectfully and clearly:
"My name is Tang San, and my father is Tang Hao."
"Tang Hao?!"
These two words exploded in Tang Chen's ears like a thunderclap!
His already pale face instantly lost all color, followed by a flush of excitement.
He took a sudden half-step forward, but stumbled due to weakness, his eyes fixed on Tang San, his voice trembling with excitement:
"You are... you are Hao'er's son?! Hao'er... Hao'er actually has a child?!"
He repeated it, as if confirming something, or perhaps processing this sudden and enormous surprise.
A moment later, a desolate yet exhilarating laugh burst forth from his chest:
"Hahaha! Good! Good!! Hao'er has an heir! He has an heir!!"
The laughter aggravated his injuries, and he coughed violently again, but the joy and excitement in his eyes were hard to hide.
In the Simulation, Tang San looked at the suddenly agitated old man who claimed to know his father, and his doubts deepened. He couldn't help but ask:
"Senior, do you... know my father?"
Tang San, watching from the sidelines, secretly thought to himself, "What do you mean?"
[How could I not recognize my own grandson? ૮₍¬_¬''₎ა]
"You know them? Hahahaha!"
Tang Chen stopped coughing, but his laughter grew even louder and more hearty, as if he wanted to laugh away a century's worth of pent-up frustration.
"More than just acquaintances! My Tang Chen! You should address me by name—"
He suppressed his smile, straightened his slightly hunched back, and despite his weakness, the domineering aura of the former sect leader of the Clear Sky Sect, a pinnacle of power in the world, resurfaced faintly. He declared clearly, word by word:
"--Great-grandfather!"
"Hao'er is my grandson! You, naturally, are my great-grandson, Tang Chen!"
The scene of grandfather and grandson recognizing each other, amidst the carnage and devastation of a bloodbath, a scene that had just witnessed the aftermath of a divine war, surprisingly evoked a touching and strange warmth.
However, this warmth did not last long.
Once Tang Chen had calmed down a bit, filled with relief and concern, she naturally asked that question:
"Child, tell your great-grandfather, how is the Clear Sky Sect doing now?"
"Are your father, grandfather, and uncle all well?"
This problem is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.
In the Simulation, the excitement and respect on Tang San's face as he met his relatives for the first time instantly froze, and then his expression turned gloomy at a visible speed, and his eyes became cold and distant.
Tang Chen immediately noticed the change in Tang San's expression and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart. He pressed for an answer:
"What's wrong, Xiao San? Has something happened to the sect?"
Tang San remained silent for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head. When he raised his head again, his face was completely indifferent.
He looked at Tang Chen, his voice calm and undisturbed, yet carrying an unwavering resolve:
"Great-grandfather, although my surname is Tang and my given name is San, I have no connection whatsoever with the Clear Sky Sect, nor do I wish to have any connection with it in the future."
These words were spoken with crystal clarity, each one as sharp as ice.
Tang Chen's excitement and relief froze instantly, then turned gloomy.
He could sense that the child's alienation and disgust towards the Clear Sky Sect was not youthful impetuosity, but rather a deep-seated wound rooted in his heart.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his blood caused by his emotional fluctuations, and his expression became serious and solemn:
What exactly happened?
"Xiao San, tell Great-Grandpa everything."
Why are you so distant from the sect, even... to the point of such disgust?
"Did someone in the sect bully your family? Or...?"
"Great-grandfather," Tang San interrupted him, shaking his head again, his tone still calm but now carrying a hint of coldness:
"I don't want to bring up the Xiao San anymore. I just hope my great-grandfather understands that Tang San is just Tang San, and has nothing to do with the Clear Sky Sect."
"Nonsense!" Tang Chen shouted in a low voice. In his agitation, his already severely injured body could no longer hold on. He swayed violently, staggered, and coughed violently, with a trace of dark red blood even spilling from the corner of his mouth.
"Great-grandfather!" Upon seeing this, Tang San quickly stepped forward to support his swaying body and carefully helped him to sit down on a relatively flat stone stool.
Tang Chen caught his breath for a moment, suppressed the urge to cough, and raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He didn't look at the blood on his hands, but stared intently at Tang San with his tired yet still sharp eyes, his tone more serious and heavy than ever before: