Then he smiled.
It wasn't a happy smile, but a bitter one, filled with an emotion he couldn't quite put into words.
"You think I'm going to hurt her?"
Tang San didn't say anything, but he didn't move aside.
Tang Hao shook his head.
"Xiao San, your old man may not be a good person, but I'm not that despicable."
He looked Tang San in the eyes.
"She's your younger sister. I won't hurt her."
Tang San stared at his father for several seconds, feeling a little awkward.
He'd been found out.
Then Tang San moved aside, but not all the way. He only gave him half a step.
Tang Hao noticed it all and felt a little bitter.
When had his own son started being wary of him?
"You can't stay at this academy." Tang Hao got straight to the point.
Tang San frowned.
"Why, Dad?"
"Didn't you see? The people from the Worship Hall already know you're my son." Tang Hao's voice sank.
"If you keep staying here, something will happen sooner or later."
"Then I can just use a different identity."
"Xiao San! Since when did you become so disobedient?" Tang Hao cut him off.
Tang San gritted his teeth.
He knew his father had a point.
But he didn't want to leave.
Grandmaster had recommended that he come here, saying this academy had something special that could help him grow quickly.
He trusted Grandmaster's judgment.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I'm not leaving."
Tang Hao's eyes widened. "What did you say?"
"I said I'm not leaving." Tang San lifted his head and met his father's gaze.
"Grandmaster recommended this place, so there must be a good reason for me to come here. I don't want to give up just because I'm afraid."
Tang Hao stared at him for several seconds. His fists clenched, then relaxed.
"You—"
"Dad." Tang San interrupted him.
"I want to become stronger."
Tang Hao's words caught in his throat.
Become stronger.
Those words carried a different weight coming from a twelve-year-old child.
Because Tang Hao knew why he wanted to become stronger.
Tang Hao fell silent.
It was a long while before he spoke.
"What about that girl?" He looked toward Xiao Wu.
"She can't stay here."
Tang San glanced back at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu stepped out from behind Zhao Wuji, came to Tang San's side, and grabbed his sleeve.
"I'm not leaving." Xiao Wu's voice still trembled, but her tone was firm.
"Wherever Xiao San is, that's where I'll be."
Tang Hao looked at the two children. Each was more stubborn than the other.
They really weren't afraid of dying!
Forget it.
"Do as you like." Tang Hao turned around, his back to Tang San.
Tang San froze.
He'd thought his father would force him to leave.
"Dad?"
"But," Tang Hao's voice came from ahead.
"You have to promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Stay alive."
Tang San's nose stung for the third time.
This time, he couldn't hold it back. Tears welled in his eyes, then trickled down his cheeks.
"Okay."
Tang Hao didn't turn around.
He didn't know how to face his son's tears.
This child had grown up without a mother, and as his father, Tang Hao had never given him anything good.
He hadn't even given him a proper childhood.
Tang Hao started walking.
His figure grew farther and smaller until, at last, it disappeared at the end of the road.
Tang San stood rooted in place, watching in the direction his father had vanished. For a long time, he didn't move.
Xiao Wu tugged at his sleeve.
"Xiao San."
Tang San came back to himself and wiped his face.
"I'm fine."
He turned around and looked toward Shrek Academy.
The dilapidated gate, the crooked wooden sign, the ground strewn with broken stones and dirt.
Flender was still lying unconscious on the ground.
Dai Mubai was leaning against a tree trunk, dried blood at the corner of his mouth.
The teachers were panting heavily, clearly still shaken by what had just happened.
Tang San took a deep breath.
There had to be something different about this academy.
Zhao Wuji got to his feet and walked over to Tang San and the others.
He sighed deeply, then asked again.
"Are you still willing to join my Shrek Academy?"
"My name is Ning Rongrong. I'm willing." The girl in the blue-green dress was the first to step forward.
If that teacher hadn't stood in front of them just now, she would probably have been hurt too.
Hearing this, Zhao Wuji nodded in relief.
Then he turned his gaze to the others.
"I'm willing. Zhu Zhuqing." The cat-tailed girl answered coolly, feeling the same way as Ning Rongrong.
"Teacher, my name is Tang San, and this is my younger sister, Xiao Wu. We're willing too." Tang San held his chest and helped Xiao Wu up.
"Good, good, good!"
Zhao Wuji's eyes filled with tears.
With his discerning eye, he'd long since seen that these youngsters had extraordinary talent.
Thank goodness.
The academy hadn't lost so many promising talents because of Flender.
"Come on, let's go inside."
With that, Zhao Wuji carried the unconscious Flender into the academy.
The other teachers helped one another as they went inside.
Tang San exchanged glances with the others and gave a slight nod.
Then they followed.
Two days later.
On the plaza in front of the Worship Hall, Ji Ye was locked in an even match with Demon Subduing Douluo.
Or rather, they only seemed evenly matched. Demon Subduing Douluo had suppressed his strength to the Soul King level to serve as Ji Ye's sparring partner.
The Void Sword traced transparent arcs through the air. Each swing came with a humming sound as space warped around it.
Demon Subduing Douluo's Coiling Dragon Staff blocked left and right, leaving him in a thoroughly awkward position.
This kid's sword ignored defenses. He didn't dare meet it head-on and could only dodge.
A Titled Douluo being chased around by a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor—no matter how you looked at it, the scene was ridiculous.
The maids watching nearby held trays of fruit and tea, their eyes glued to Ji Ye.
"Is Young Master Ji wearing a new uniform today? It fits him so well."
"Look at him sweating. So sexy..."
"That waist, those broad shoulders, ahhh—"
Demon Subduing Douluo grew angrier by the second. He swept his staff out, putting in the strength of a Soul Emperor.
Ji Ye's Second Soul Ring lit up. He flashed away, reappearing ten yards behind Demon Subduing Douluo, the void power on the tip of his sword not yet dissipated.
"Senior, you're cheating."
"I'm not cheating. I'm teaching you how ruthless the world can be." Demon Subduing Douluo sounded perfectly justified.
Ji Ye was about to retort when the doors of the Worship Hall suddenly swung open.
Everyone stopped moving.
Mighty Lion Douluo entered, one hand pressed to his chest, taking one step at a time.
His face looked terrible, his lips were pale, and his left arm was wrapped in bandages, blood seeping through from beneath them.
His gait was off too. His right leg seemed unable to bear weight, and he limped as he walked.
Mighty Lion Douluo lifted his head. Seeing everyone staring at him, he forced a crooked smile.
"You're all here?"
Demon Subduing Douluo was the first to rush over.
"Old Lion, what happened to you?"
Feather Douluo hopped down from his chair.
"Who did this to you?"
Azure Luan Douluo straightened up from where he'd been leaning against a pillar, his gaze turning cold.
Qianjun Douluo also walked over.
Ji Ye put away the Void Sword and hurried toward him.
Looking at Mighty Lion Douluo's injuries, Ji Ye's thoughts raced.
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