Tang Ya

Chasing all the way, a pale-faced Vista followed behind, shouting at the top of his lungs in an attempt to salvage some shred of his dignity.

Under the signal of Xue Yuheng, the Heavenly Dancing Maiden tore a gap in her domain, allowing Vista to fly inside.

Tieli endured his excruciating pain, looked up at the livid Vista, then glanced at the god-like Heavenly Dancing Maiden, and instantly understood what was happening.

He fell to his knees with a thud, slapping his own face hard while weeping and begging: "Spare me, my lords! It's all a misunderstanding! Everything is a misunderstanding!"

Xue Yuheng couldn't be bothered to look at his pathetic display, asking in a cold voice: "Where is Tang Ya?"

If not for Tang Ya, he wouldn't have cared about this mess of a Tang Sect at all.

Tang Lin and his wife exchanged a glance; the wife was about to speak, but Tang Lin grabbed her.

Tang Lin watched the strange young man before him with vigilance, not answering immediately, intending to observe the situation first.

Tieli slapped his own head, finally realizing who Xue Yuheng was looking for, and began to cry even harder: "This young master! Lord Vista!

I am already sending men to find Miss Tang Ya! They will find her soon! They will find her soon!"

Everyone present was shrewd; they instantly understood that this young man with the terrifying background had only intervened tonight for the sake of the girl named Tang Ya.

Seeing this, Tang Lin felt a surge of joy. He quickly knelt on the ground, kowtowed heavily to Xue Yuheng, and wailed in grief: "My lord! My lords!

Tieli has long coveted the industries and secret techniques of my Tang Sect. Tonight, he took advantage of the fact that our two sect elders were away and colluded with the city guards to launch a night raid!

This is an attempt to destroy the ten-thousand-year heritage of my Tang Sect!

According to the laws of the Heaven Dou Empire, those who trespass into private residences and exterminate a sect shall be executed by slow slicing, with their three clans implicated!

I implore you, my lords, to seek justice for my Tang Sect!"

Tieli was scared out of his wits and hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly: "Spare me, my lords! It was those bastards under my command who incited me!

I haven't laid a finger on a single life from the Tang Sect!"

He truly hadn't killed anyone from the Tang Sect tonight; he had originally intended to kill Tang Lin himself and then seize his wife, but he hadn't expected to be stopped by Xue Yuheng just as he was about to act.

At this moment, Tieli looked into the emotionless eyes of the Heavenly Dancing Maiden and felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Only one thought remained in his mind: I cannot die! I still have over twenty wives waiting for me to support them!

Xue Yuheng looked down at the cowering Tang Lin kneeling at his feet and spoke indifferently:

"Shouldn't your Tang Sect be destroyed?"

In the underground secret passage of the Tang Sect.

The dusty air was thick with the scent of blood.

Tang Ya was being dragged by her arm by her uncle, Tang Chuan, stumbling forward as they ran.

She was only ten years old, her small body running until she was out of breath. Her once beautiful dress was torn in several places by the stone walls, and her face was stained with soot and tear tracks.

From behind came the shrill and familiar screams of her sect, each one like a hammer striking Tang Ya's heart.

"Second Uncle... where are Mom and Dad? Why aren't they coming with us?" Tang Ya asked, choking back sobs. She was ten; she wasn't ignorant of what was happening.

Tang Chuan's body stiffened. He didn't look back, catching his breath as he said: "They will catch up. Be a good girl, Ya, let's go out and wait for them first."

Just now at the entrance of the secret passage, Tang Ya had seen with her own eyes her father being pushed to the ground by a man in black, and her mother throwing herself onto the man to hold his legs, only to never stand up again.

She dared not speak, nor did she dare to ask. She was afraid that if she said it out loud, her last remaining relative would also disappear.

The secret passage was long, seemingly endless.

Blisters had formed on Tang Ya's feet, and every step was agonizing, but she gritted her teeth and followed Tang Chuan without a sound.

Suddenly, chaotic footsteps and shouting came from behind.

"They're over there! Don't let Tang Ya escape! The Sect Master said, catch Tang Ya and there's a reward of ten thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

"Hehehe, I heard this little girl is quite the beauty."

Tang Chuan's face changed drastically. He pushed Tang Ya toward a corner of the passage: "Ya, keep running along this path. The exit is at Duanhun Gorge outside Tiantou City.

Remember, never look back, and never return to Tiantou City!"

"Uncle!" Tang Ya reached out to grab his sleeve, tears instantly welling up, "I don't want to go alone! I want to go with Uncle!"

Tang Chuan squatted down, wiped the tears from her face with force, and showed a smile that looked worse than crying: "Silly girl, Uncle has to stop them.

Otherwise, none of us will make it out."

He took a black ring from his pocket and placed it on Tang Ya's finger.

The ring was cold to the touch, engraved with intricate Blue Silver patterns. It was the perfect size, as if it had been made just for her.

"This is the Tang Sect Master's ring. From today on, you are the three hundred and twenty-third Sect Master of the Tang Sect."

Tang Chuan's voice was incredibly solemn, his gaze firm: "Ya, remember, the Tang Sect is not some damn glory, nor is it some ten-thousand-year heritage.

The Tang Sect is your home, and the home of all Tang Sect disciples.

Uncle is useless; I couldn't protect the Tang Sect, and I couldn't protect your mom and dad. From now on, it's all up to you."

"You must survive. If you can, carry on the legacy of the Tang Sect..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he shoved Tang Ya away, turned around, gripped his longsword, and charged toward the pursuing enemies.

"Uncle! No!"

Tang Ya screamed in agony, wanting to chase after him, but her body was encased in her uncle's Blue Silver soul skill, making it impossible for her to take a single step.

Hiding around a corner, Tang Ya watched as her uncle's figure plunged into the ranks of the pursuers.

Sword light flickered, and blood sprayed through the air.

Tang Chuan, a Soul King, fought like a crazed lion, cutting down one Iron Blood Sect disciple after another.

But there were too many enemies, surging forward in an endless stream.

A blade pierced through his chest from behind.

Tang Chuan's body jolted, and he slowly collapsed to the ground.

In the final moment before losing consciousness, he turned his head toward Tang Ya and offered a gratified smile.

"Run... run quickly..."

Tang Ya covered her mouth, biting her lip so hard that she prevented herself from crying out.

Blood trickled down the corner of her mouth, yet she felt no pain at all.

Tang Ya turned around and ran forward with all her might.

The wind whistled in her ears, and tears blurred her vision.

Tang Ya did not know how long she had been running, nor how many times she had fallen.

She rushed out of the secret passage and stumbled to the edge of Duanhun Gorge.

Beneath her feet was a bottomless abyss, and behind her were the footsteps of the pursuers.

Tang Ya leaned against the cold stone wall and slowly slid down to a sitting position.

She raised the Sect Master Ring, which still held the warmth of her uncle's body, and pressed it against her cheek.

In the past, she had always thought her parents and uncle were too stubborn.

Even though the Tang Sect had already fallen into decline, and they could barely afford to eat, they still clung to this dilapidated courtyard and the so-called glory of the Tang Sect.

She didn't understand what was so important about those pieces of scrap metal called hidden weapons or those dull, boring cultivation techniques.

Until today.

Until her parents fell before her eyes, and until her uncle died in the secret passage to protect her.

Only then did she finally understand.

The Tang Sect was not about glory.

The Tang Sect was her home.

It was the place her parents had guarded with their lives, and the responsibility her uncle had entrusted to her with his final breath.

But now, her home was gone.

Everyone was dead.

She was the only one left.

Tang Ya hugged her knees, sitting at the edge of the gorge, sobbing heart-wrenchingly.

Her cries echoed through the empty gorge, filled with endless despair and sorrow.

The footsteps behind her grew closer.

"Found her! She's over there!"

"Little girl, let's see where you can run now!"

Tang Ya slowly lifted her head and wiped the tears from her face.

She absolutely could not fall into the hands of those animals from the Iron Blood Sect.

Her parents and uncle had traded their lives for her freedom; she could not let their sacrifices be in vain.

Tang Ya closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

I'll jump...

Just then.

A golden ray of dawn suddenly pierced the horizon.

The first beam of sunlight broke through the thick clouds and spilled onto the earth.

The darkness receded, and dawn arrived.

Tang Ya was stunned; she opened her eyes and looked toward the morning light.

She saw a breathtakingly beautiful figure in white, stepping on the morning glow as she slowly flew in from the horizon. Her long dress fluttered in the wind, and her entire body radiated a soft, sacred light, as if she were the Nine Heavens Fairy from legend.

Beside her stood a young man dressed in fine robes.

The boy looked to be no more than six or seven years old, his features refined and as gentle as jade.

A flash of blue and white light flickered across his wrist, instantly transforming into a soft ribbon.

As if endowed with life, the ribbon gave a light flick; before Tang Ya could react, it had already gently coiled around her body, pulling her toward the boy.

Tang Ya stared blankly at the boy before her.

His eyes were dark, bright, and incredibly profound.

The boy reached out his hand and pulled the stunned Tang Ya gently into his embrace.

His embrace was very warm, dispelling all the cold and fear from Tang Ya's body.

The boy lowered his head and, in a voice of incomparable tenderness, said firmly by her ear:

"Don't be afraid, Xiao Ya. From now on, you have me."