Blue Tyrant Academy.
Tang Hao stood on the academy's training ground, his weather-beaten face grave.
Across from him stood Tang San, who had only just learned the truth about his origins and was still reeling from the shock.
"Xiao San."
Tang Hao's voice was hoarse.
"Your mother was a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor who had taken human form. Back then, Spirit Hall discovered her identity and persecuted her. To save us, she sacrificed herself."
"I planted the seed she left behind in a cave in Holy Soul Village. All these years, I've guarded it day and night, waiting for it to sprout and grow again. But..."
His voice suddenly caught in his throat. "A year ago, that Blue Silver Emperor vanished without a trace. I searched the entire continent, combed every inch of land, and found nothing."
Tang San came back to himself. "So, Dad, you're a Titled Douluo? Mom was a soul beast who took human form?"
Tang Hao nodded. His murky old eyes were filled with pain and guilt. "Yes. I was useless. I couldn't protect your mother. Now I've even lost her seed."
He took a deep breath, forcing down his grief. "Now, come with me to find your aunt, Tang Yuehua. With her current strength, and her relationship with that Brother Cao, we might be able to find out what happened to your mother."
Tang San fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
At the edge of the training ground, Liu Erlong leaned against a corridor pillar and watched the two figures recede into the distance, her expression strange.
Ah Yin? Of course she knew her.
More precisely, she knew her very well from their dreams.
The Blue Silver Emperor had taken human form—gentle as water and considerate. In the Dream Space, she and Liu Erlong had been close sisters who shared everything.
The three of them had practiced together, and their teamwork had been absolutely top-notch.
Now Ah Yin had vanished? Liu Erlong's mouth twitched.
She shook her head and turned to leave.
Tang Hao, Tang Hao, you'd better stop looking. If you find her, you'll only suffer more.
Heaven Dou City, Moonlight Pavilion.
Tang Yuehua sat in the main seat of the pavilion, her silver palace gown trailing on the floor. The white jade hairpin in her hair gleamed softly in the candlelight.
Tang Hao and Tang San entered side by side.
Their faces were full of urgency and hope.
"Yuehua," Tang Hao said bluntly, "Xiao San's mother, Ah Yin, vanished a year ago. I've searched the entire continent and found no trace of her. You're powerful now, and you're close to that Brother Cao. Could you help me find out where she is?"
Tang Yuehua furrowed her brow slightly, a hint of difficulty showing on her cool, composed face. "Second Brother, I don't know where Sister-in-law is. But..."
She paused, her tone softening a little. "I can help you look."
Tang Hao was about to thank her.
Boom!!!
A golden pillar of light descended from the sky, piercing straight through the roof of Moonlight Pavilion and enveloping the graceful figure behind the folding screen.
Tang Hao and Tang San looked up at the same time. On the Sky Screen, golden light churned wildly as a new ranking appeared with a thunderous rumble!
[Combat Power Ranking, Rank 12: Ah Yin.] [Identity: Hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor who took human form; wife of the Clear Sky Douluo.] [Strength: Level 99 Titled Douluo.] [Techniques: Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique, Heavenly Demon Chaotic Dance.] [Rewards: 8 Teleportation Talismans, which can transport the user to any location on Douluo Continent; Soul Power increased by one level; divine skill: Thousand-Lady Hundred-Change—allows the user to change her body at will.]
Tang Hao froze. He stared blankly at the two words "Ah Yin" on the Sky Screen. His body began to tremble violently, and tears streamed down his face.
"Ah Yin! My Ah Yin!"
He grabbed Tang San by the shoulders, his voice trembling. "Xiao San, do you see? It really is your mother! Thank heavens, she's all right! She's all right!"
He was so excited that he could barely form a coherent thought, completely lost in the joy of being reunited with his wife.
Only after a moment did he notice Tang San's expression.
Livid.
Tang San's face had turned a purplish green.
"Xiao San, what's wrong?" Tang Hao asked, bewildered. "We found your mother. Why do you look like that?"
Tang San stared fixedly at the Sky Screen. "Dad, surely you know what the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique means?"
First Xiao Wu, and now even Mom...
This was going too far. Were they taking him for a Japanese man to mess with?
The hatred of having his wife stolen and the grudge of having his mother taken were irreconcilable!
Tang Hao's smile froze instantly.
The Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique. Brother Cao.
Those girls on the Genius Ranking and those women on the Combat Power Ranking—which one hadn't cultivated the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique? Which one hadn't ended up with that Brother Cao?
His Ah Yin had cultivated the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique too!
"Ah!!!" Tang Hao let out a heart-rending scream. "No! It can't be! Ah Yin would never do such a thing! She must have been forced! She must have!"
He charged madly toward the source of the golden pillar, with Tang San close behind.
The folding screen was swept aside.
A figure slowly emerged from within the golden light.
She wore a blue-and-gold gown, its elegance and grandeur accentuating her unearthly beauty.
Her azure eyes were as pure as crystal. Her long hair fell like a waterfall, and her skin was smooth as jade—her beauty took one's breath away.
It was Ah Yin, the woman Tang Hao had yearned for over a decade, the wife he'd thought was dead.
Tang Hao stood stunned.
He remained where he was, gazing dazedly at that familiar yet unfamiliar face. His lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a word.
The golden light gradually faded.
Ah Yin tucked the reward from the Sky Screen into her sleeve and slowly opened her eyes. Her azure gaze was as calm as water.
Only then did Tang Hao totter forward and reach out, wanting to embrace the person he had longed for day and night. "Ah Yin, my Ah Yin... I've finally found you. But... what's this Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique?"
He already knew the answer, but he still clung to a sliver of hope.
What if—what if Ah Yin had been forced? What if that Brother Cao had her under his control?
But Ah Yin wouldn't let him come any closer. Soul Power surged from her palm and gently pushed Tang Hao away.
"Tang Hao."
Her voice was soft, but cold.
"You and I ended things long ago. The person I like now is Brother Cao. Don't come looking for me again. I don't want Brother Cao to get the wrong idea."
Tang Hao stiffened, staring at her in disbelief.
How could the gentle, kind Ah Yin, who had willingly sacrificed her life to save him, say something so heartless, so shameless?
"Mom!" Tang San rushed forward, his eyes full of fury and confusion. "How can you treat Dad like this? You're going to abandon us for that bastard?"
Ah Yin turned to look at Tang San. Her gaze held none of the motherly affection it once had.
"You're not my son."
"You're just a visitor from beyond the heavens."
Tang San's face turned deathly pale.
How did she know? He hadn't told anyone about this.
Ah Yin said nothing more. She simply waved her hand and activated a Teleportation Talisman. As Tang Hao cried out in despair, her figure turned into a streak of light and slowly disappeared.
"Don't!!!" Tang Hao's heart-wrenching wail echoed through Moonlight Pavilion. "I don't believe it! Ah Yin must have been forced! She must have! I'm going to find her! I have to ask her what happened!"