Tang Hao's Scheme

[Ah Yin: Brother Hao... he is not that kind of person...]

As Ah Yin typed these words, the text on the public screen trembled slightly; though she was refuting the claim, there was not a shred of conviction behind it.

She was certainly not afraid of the Chat Group Master's vast supernatural powers, nor was she worried about her own safety.

It was simply that, deep down, she did not want to think about it, nor did she want to delve any deeper.

[Wu Xing: Not that kind of person? Then let me ask you: even if he wasn't the one who leaked your whereabouts to Martial Soul Hall, your Blue Silver Empress talent, Forest Eternal Treasure, and All Rivers Run into Sea, naturally require the spiritual energy of plants. You can only maintain smooth soul power and a stable body in forests, grasslands, or places where Blue Silver Grass is lush. After becoming pregnant, you needed even more abundant vitality to nourish yourself.]

[Wu Xing: Tang Hao knew this better than anyone, didn't he?]

[Ah Yin: ...Yes.]

Ah Yin responded subconsciously, the panic in her heart growing even more.

[Wu Xing: Then tell me, after you became pregnant, why did he take you to nothing but barren mountains and desolate ridges where not a blade of grass grew, keeping you away from all forests the entire time? (In the anime version, while fleeing the pursuit, you were even taken to places filled with magma.)]

[Wu Xing: These places were clearly unsuitable for your recovery and pregnancy. Why would he do that? Shouldn't a normal man take you to a place with lush vegetation to rest and nurture the fetus in peace?]

[Wu Xing: He took you to the most unsuitable places possible. Was this protecting you, or was he deliberately tormenting you?]

As soon as these words appeared, the group exploded.

[Ning Rongrong: That's right! Sister Ah Yin, you are the Blue Silver Empress; you definitely need to stay in a forest or a place where Blue Silver Grass is lush. Tang Hao's actions are too strange.]

[Xiao Wu: Brother Wu Xing is right. That guy must have done it on purpose. It's a principle everyone understands, yet he insisted on taking you to places unsuitable for your recovery. Sister Ah Yin, you must not let such a person blind you.]

[Ah Rou: Ah Yin, I am also a hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast, and I know how much one values their feelings. But if what the Benefactor says is true—that Tang Hao knew your talents and still led you toward a dead end—then his intentions were clearly malicious.]

Ah Yin trembled all over. The memories of those years flooded her mind. Back then, her body felt heavy and uncomfortable, and she had mentioned to Tang Hao that they should head to a forest, but Tang Hao had told her to avoid the exhaustion of travel and the risk of being disturbed.

It was her first pregnancy; she didn't know how to care for the fetus and mistakenly thought that staying in a secluded place was better for the child.

But now, in the eyes of the Group Master and the many group members, all of those moments had become glaring flaws.

Before Ah Yin could recover, Wu Xing's next point of suspicion followed immediately.

[Wu Xing: Let me ask you again: when you and Tang Hao were being hunted by Qian Xunji and his Title Douluo subordinates, your soul power was greatly depleted and you were incredibly weak. If you had just run toward a forest or a place dense with Blue Silver Grass, you could have used the thousands of Blue Silver Grass to hide your aura and unleash soul skills to protect yourself. Martial Soul Hall would never have been able to find you.]

[Wu Xing: But what about Tang Hao? Did he do that? Blue Silver Grass covers the entire continent; don't tell me he couldn't find such a place!]

[Wu Xing: But in the end, he forced you into a dead end, leaving you without even a single place to draw power from.]

[Wu Xing: If you had found a place with lush Blue Silver Grass, your talent would have allowed you to command countless amounts of energy. Even with Qian Xunji and several other Title Douluos, they wouldn't have been able to touch a hair on your head on your home turf, right?]

This question made Ah Yin tremble so violently that her leaves began to curl.

[Xue Qinghe: The matter is already clear. Fellow group member Ah Yin, the Group Master is right. Tang Hao wanted you to have nowhere to escape, forcing you to choose the path of sacrifice just to save the child.]

[Nine-Tailed Sky Fox: Indeed, fellow group member Ah Yin. Do not be deceived by your emotions. Tang Hao never loved you; he simply treated you as a tool from which he could seize a soul ring and soul bone at any time.]

[Ah Rou: Ah Yin, Tang Hao wanted you to be backed into a corner so that you would choose to sacrifice yourself, allowing him to obtain your soul ring and soul bone. That was his true goal. Do not be blinded by your own perspective.]

The words of the group members were heart-piercing. Especially coming from Ah Rou, who was also a soul beast, the mental defenses she had held onto so tightly were being smashed open by these doubts and accusations.

She wanted to refute them, but she couldn't say a single word. Everything from the past now had a corresponding explanation; all the deep affection had turned into cold calculation.

[Wu Xing: One last point: after you sacrificed yourself, your original form returned to a single stalk of Blue Silver Grass. Why did he place you in a dark, damp cave instead of a place dense with Blue Silver Grass, which would have been more conducive to your recovery?]

[Wu Xing: By that time, Tang Hao was already out of danger, and he had been living under an assumed identity for over a decade. Surely there is no excuse he could use to comfort himself for that, right?]

As soon as Wu Xing's final words appeared, Ah Yin's entire body stiffened, as if something had pierced her mind.

It was true. She had never been able to figure that out.

She was the Blue Silver Empress, and Brother Hao knew her condition, yet he had placed her original form in the depths of a dark, damp cave that never saw the sun. Aside from cold dirt, there wasn't even a blade of grass to be seen.

If she had been placed among the Blue Silver Grass, with her abilities, she wouldn't have needed to wait over a decade; she could have recovered long ago through the nourishment of her own subjects.

Even if she hadn't reached the point of transformation, she would certainly not be as fragile as she was now.

As if sensing Ah Yin's thoughts, Wu Xing continued in the chat group.

[Wu Xing: Let me tell you why. The reason he did this was that he was afraid of you recovering and facing him. He was afraid you would discover his schemes, so he placed you in a location unfavorable for your growth.]

[Wu Xing: After all, his persona as a deeply devoted man could not be destroyed.]

After reading this, Ah Yin froze once more. Her emerald leaves trembled in the air, and her roots squirmed uneasily in the soil.

The mental defense she had guarded for over a decade finally developed a clear crack following this explanation.

[Wu Xing: Of course, if you still don't believe me, I have the most direct evidence: Tang Hao is the one who has set his sights on Xiao Wu.]

[Wu Xing: Furthermore, he plans to use the exact same method: making Xiao Wu fall in love with his son, then waiting for the appropriate moment to make her sacrifice her soul ring and soul bone!]

[Ning Rongrong: What!]

[Zhu Zhuqing: What!]

[Xiao Wu: Brother Wu Xing, is... is this true!]

[Ah Rou: Benefactor, please help Xiao Wu. She must not fall into Tang Hao's trap.]

When Wu Xing revealed that Tang Hao was the one targeting Xiao Wu, both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were shocked.

Xiao Wu was even more panicked. She had been feeling indignant for Ah Yin, never expecting that the gossip would suddenly involve her. A chill shot from the soles of her feet straight to her scalp.

Seeing this, Ah Rou's soul trembled violently, her heart filled with worry and terror for her daughter. If she were targeted by someone so calculating, could Xiao Wu possibly have a good ending?

Ah Yin was equally horrified. If there had only been cracks before, hearing that Xiao Wu—a fellow soul beast—was already being targeted by Tang Hao and that he intended to use the same method, it was no longer just a suspicion or a guess. It was concrete, direct evidence!

Brother Hao, is he truly such a person? Have I really misplaced my heart???