[ Ding! The host has successfully caused the key figure Ah Yin to completely break with Tang Hao, severing a core chain of causality and drastically distorting the original story's central emotional arc! ] [ Reward: 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone Set—left arm bone, right arm bone, torso bone; one portion of Blue Silver Emperor Origin Essence; 10,000 Magic Modification Points! ] [ Notice: Blue Silver Emperor Origin Essence can greatly promote the growth of Plant-type Martial Souls or Soul Beasts. ]
The system's prompt sounded in his mind, confirming that this time, the story had truly changed significantly.
But Gu Han had no time to examine his rewards just then. His gaze remained fixed on Tang Hao, who stood below, utterly bereft, and his wariness had not faded.
Chen Xin stood with his sword in hand, the point of the Seven Kill Sword still aimed at Tang Hao.
Just then, two figures came running back along the edge of the training grounds, panting heavily.
They were Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, who had just finished the physical training Yu Xiaogang had set for him.
Yu Xiaogang's face was pale, and Tang San was practically supporting him as he walked.
His dogmatic theories had made Tang San's training almost torturous. He had tried to forcefully improve Tang San's physical strength this way so he could absorb a higher-year Soul Ring, but even he was close to collapsing.
Although Tang San was drenched in sweat too, he still stood perfectly straight.
At a glance, he spotted Tang Hao in the middle of the training grounds, his aura feeble. His heart jolted. He immediately let go of Yu Xiaogang and hurried over.
"Father, what happened to you?" Tang San asked anxiously, supporting Tang Hao by the arm.
He could feel the despair in Tang Hao's heart. His father seemed even more broken than he had when all he did was drink.
But Tang Hao showed no reaction to his call. His vacant eyes stared in Gu Han's direction, and his lips moved, but not a sound came out.
Just as Tang San was growing both anxious and bewildered,
the Breath Soil in the system space within Gu Han suddenly trembled faintly.
The Blue Silver Emperor that had just returned to the Breath Soil seemed to sense something. A stirring that came from deep within her bloodline left her unable to remain calm.
A vibrant blue glow, brimming with life, shone from Gu Han's chest once again.
This time, it carried no sense of anger. The light was exceptionally gentle.
Ah Yin's phantom form gathered once more, clearer than before. Excitement touched her gentle face, and her gaze fell directly on Tang San, who was supporting Tang Hao.
The moment Tang Hao's lifeless eyes saw Ah Yin appear again, light burst into them. He opened his mouth.
"Ah Yin, look. This is our child, Xiao San. He's all grown up..." Tang Hao's voice was hoarse and dry as he tried to use Tang San to win something back.
But Ah Yin's phantom didn't spare him a glance. All her attention was fixed on Tang San.
She floated gently in front of him and reached out with a slightly trembling hand. It seemed she wanted to touch Tang San's cheek, but then she lowered it again.
Her gaze brimmed with years of longing. Tang San stiffened all over and instinctively took half a step back, furrowing his brow.
The beautiful woman before him looked at him with an emotion he found unfamiliar, and even... hard to describe.
Deep down, he had always believed himself to be human, Tang Hao's son. The moment he saw that his mother was Blue Silver Grass, he felt an instinctive sense of distance and rejection.
Of course, Gu Han hadn't set this up. Tang San had long since learned not to trust others easily.
"Child... my child..." Ah Yin's voice was tender, yet choked with emotion. "Are you Xiao San? You've grown so big..."
Tang San pressed his lips together and didn't answer. His eyes were full of distance. He turned to Tang Hao, seemingly hoping for an explanation or confirmation.
Seeing that Ah Yin was finally willing to appear again—and that she was looking at Tang San—Tang Hao felt a glimmer of hope rekindle in his heart. He hurriedly said,
"Ah Yin, look. Xiao San is fine. He's outstanding. He's our son!"
Only then did Ah Yin slowly shift her gaze from Tang San to Tang Hao. The warmth in her eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by accusation.
"Our son?"
"Tang Hao, tell me: does he know who his mother is?"
"Does he know that his mother wasn't human, but a Soul Beast who cultivated from Blue Silver Grass?"
"Does he know that his mother sacrificed herself for you, his father, leaving behind only a sliver of life in that lightless cave?"
"I..." Tang Hao was at a loss for words.
He had never clearly told Tang San who Ah Yin was. He had only said that she died of an illness.
Partly, it had been to protect him. And perhaps, he simply hadn't wanted Tang San to know the truth.
"You never told him anything, did you?" Ah Yin's voice held both sorrow and mockery.
"You keep saying you love our child, yet you won't even let him know the truth about his mother?"
"You've left him unaware of the very source of his bloodline?"
"Is that what you call fatherly love? Or deep down, are you ashamed of me too?"
"No! That's not it! Ah Yin, I was trying to protect..." Tang Hao's defense was feeble and hollow.
"Protect him?"
Gu Han's voice rang out at just the right moment. He took a step forward.
"Protect him by hiding his mother's existence from your own son?"
"Protect him by leaving him ignorant of his own bloodline?"
"Tang Hao, your 'protection' is nothing more than your refusal to face reality."
"Are you afraid that Tang San will tell Spirit Hall once he learns the truth?"
"How could that be? Don't you trust your own flesh and blood? Or are you afraid Tang San will question you after he finds out—ask why you left his mother in that cave?"
Gu Han's words cut into Tang Hao like blades.
"Enough!" Tang San suddenly shouted, his face dark.
The sheer volume of information in those words shook everything he knew.
He abruptly raised his right hand and released his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. A few blades of grass swayed in his palm.
Almost the instant the Blue Silver Grass appeared, Ah Yin's phantom glimmered faintly. The grass in Tang San's hand began to sway on its own, as if resonating with her.
Tang San froze. He stared blankly at the Blue Silver Grass in his hand, which had actually begun to resonate with the woman. Then he felt that inexplicable stirring in his heart, and the truth seemed to be right before him.
"I... I need time to think."
He couldn't immediately accept that his mother was a Soul Beast.
Looking at Tang San's bewildered expression, Ah Yin's phantom dimmed slightly. She let out a sigh, her heart aching.
She didn't pressure him, only said gently, "All right, child. We... have plenty of time."
With that, she took one last look at Tang Hao and Tang San, who still couldn't believe the truth.
The Blue Silver Emperor's phantom dissolved into specks of light and returned to Gu Han once more.
A heavy, stifling mood settled over the training grounds. Seeing what had just happened, Xiao Wu, behind Gu Han, felt a pang of sympathy for Ah Yin.
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