Niu Gao and Tai Tan

Niu Gao's face immediately darkened. Looking at Tai Tan, who was blocking his way, he angrily said:

"Old gorilla, what do you mean by this?"

His voice was filled with barely suppressed anger as he spoke:

"Hasn't the Clear Sky Sect harmed us badly enough? If it weren't for Tang Hao, we wouldn't be in this state!"

He stared intently at Tai Tan, his eyes filled with disappointment and anger, and continued:

"Still calling him master? Haven't you had enough of being a dog?!"

Tai Tan frowned slightly, his arms still tightly wrapped around Niu Gao, and replied with displeasure:

"Old Rhino, calm down."

"If it weren't for what happened to my master, would the Spirit Hall have let the Clear Sky Sect off the hook?"

"I also hate the Clear Sky Sect for treating us affiliated sects like pawns! But our master wasn't involved in this decision!"

"Moreover, we don't know the full details of what happened back then!"

He shook Niu Gao's shoulder forcefully and continued to persuade him:

"Calm down first!"

Tang Hao then stepped forward, looking at the two with a complex expression, and said in a deep voice:

"Tai Tan, let go of Niu Gao first."

Upon hearing this, Tai Tan still hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Tang Hao:

"Master, this..."

Upon hearing this, Niu Gao looked at Tai Tan with resentment and said in a gruff voice:

"Did you hear that? You old gorilla, your master told you to let go!"

Tai Tan looked at Tang Hao, and only after Tang Hao nodded again did he slowly release his grip.

And at the very moment he let go—

Niu Gao suddenly charged towards Tang Hao!

He clenched his fist, veins bulging, and with a surge of anger and resentment, slammed it hard into Tang Hao's face!

Tai Tan's expression changed drastically; it was too late to stop him!

However, what they didn't expect was --

Tang Hao didn't even try to dodge!

"Bang--!"

A punch landed squarely on Tang Hao's face!

That heavy blow sent Tang Hao flying, tracing an arc in the air before crashing heavily onto the ground three zhang away, kicking up a cloud of dust!

"Owner!"

Tai Tan exclaimed in surprise, glaring angrily at Niu Gao:

"Old Rhino, you--!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already rushed towards the direction where Tang Hao had landed, bending down to help him up.

Tang Hao waved his hand at him.

He slowly got up from the ground, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, and a clear fist mark on his face.

But he didn't even glance at his own injuries; instead, he looked at Niu Gao with a complicated expression and said in a deep voice:

"If hitting me can make you vent your anger, then keep hitting me."

Upon hearing this, Niu Gao's anger intensified. He clenched his fists again and was about to step forward!

Clearly, that punch wasn't enough to quell his anger!

Tai Tan's expression changed drastically, and he was about to speak to stop him—

A slender figure, yet faster than anyone else.

Ah Yin suddenly stepped forward, stood directly in front of Tang Hao, and spread her arms to protect him behind her.

Her large, bright eyes stared directly at Niu Gao, and she spoke in a clear, cold, and firm voice:

"What happened back then was all because of me. If you want revenge, come and fight me!"

Upon hearing this—

Tang Hao, Tang San, Tai Tan all changed their expressions drastically!

Even Niu Gao was suddenly stunned.

He raised his fist, staring blankly at the woman in front of him.

In his eyes, beating Tang Hao was something Tang Hao owed them.

But would he really beat a woman?

He really couldn't bring himself to do it.

Niu Gao's fist froze in mid-air, his face a mixture of anger and bewilderment.

Ah Yin didn't stop. She looked directly into Niu Gao's eyes and said, word by word:

"Moreover, our family has fallen to this state because of the Clear Sky Sect's schemes! Do you think we wanted that?"

She took a deep breath, just as she was about to continue speaking.

"Several people."

A gentle and calm voice rang out at just the right moment.

Fu Shiyan stepped forward, stood beside the group, and slowly swept her gaze over them before speaking:

"Let's sit down and talk things out. This isn't the place to talk."

Ah Yin was startled, and then suddenly realized what was happening.

There are many people and a lot of opinions here.

Inside the Academy, countless craftsmen were still busy at work.

If she were to reveal the details of what happened back then here, her identity would inevitably be exposed.

And if word got out that she was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor in human form...

She pursed her lips, swallowing back the words that were about to come out.

Tai Tan seized the opportunity to step forward, took Niu Gao's hand, and whispered words of advice:

"Yes, Old Rhino. Let's sit down and have a good talk. Perhaps there's more to the story than meets the eye back then!"

Niu Gao, who was being pulled by him, angrily shook off his hand.

He glanced again at Tang Hao, whose expression was complex, then at Ah Yin, who was protecting Tang Hao, and then at Tang San, who was standing to the side.

Finally, he snorted coldly and withdrew his fist.

He turned to look at Fu Shiyan, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with a hint of apology in his voice:

"I apologize, Your His Excellency Tianqing. I was presumptuous."

Fu Shiyan smiled slightly, clearly not taking the earlier conflict to heart.

He raised his hand in a gesture of invitation and said softly:

"Let's go. The Academy's council hall is now complete; let's go there to discuss things."

The others all nodded in agreement.

Tang Hao then gently patted Ah Yin's shoulder and whispered:

Let's go.

Ah Yin nodded and followed beside him.

Tang San followed silently behind his parents, but his gaze remained fixed on Niu Gao, lost in thought.

Tai Tan walked beside Niu Gao, whispering something along the way, as if trying to soothe his emotions.

The group followed Fu Shiyan through numerous courtyards and finally arrived at a spacious council hall.

As you push open the door, sunlight streams through the carved window frames, illuminating the entire hall with brightness and warmth.

Fu Shiyan took her seat in the main seat and raised her hand to indicate:

"Please be seated, everyone."

Upon hearing this, Tang Hao, Ah Yin, Tang San, Tai Tan, and Niu Gao took their seats in turn.

After everyone took their seats, they looked at each other in bewilderment. Niu Gao still stared at Tang Hao with a resentful expression.

At this moment, Fu Shiyan stood up, glanced at the people present, and spoke calmly:

"Then you two go first."

Then, he turned to look at Tang San and said:

"Xiao San, come out with me for a moment too."

After saying that, he turned around, pushed open the door, and walked out.

Upon hearing this, Tang San quickly stood up and replied:

"Yes, Master!"

He then quickly followed.

The door closed gently after he left.

--

Inside the hall, only Tang Hao, Ah Yin, Tai Tan, and Niu Gao remained.

The atmosphere became somewhat tense for a moment.

Niu Gao's gaze fell on Tang Hao, the anger in his eyes not yet completely subsided.

But when his gaze swept over Tang San's departing figure, he paused slightly.

The young man just now His Excellency Tianqing as "Master".

And the boy's face...

She bears some resemblance to Tang Hao, and is almost identical to Ah Yin —especially her eyebrows and eyes, which are practically identical.

Niu Gao immediately understood.

That's Tang Hao's son.