Tang San's Request

Thinking back on what had happened, including the events of six years ago, Tang San began to feel differently.

"Lin Hao has always been straightforward with me. He never hides anything. Judging by everything he has done for me, he truly cares about me!"

"After my father had me, he hardly raised me at all."

"Now that I think about it, what Lin Hao said years ago wasn't entirely without reason!"

As Tang San was still lost in these thoughts, Lin Hao patted him on the shoulder and urged, "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and dissect the Indigo Tide Profound Flood Dragon's corpse. This is the Star Dou Great Forest, and danger lurks everywhere. We need to leave as soon as possible!"

"Mm."

Tang San nodded and walked over to the Indigo Tide Profound Flood Dragon's corpse to dissect it.

Lin Hao took in his actions.

Watching Tang San dissect the corpse, Lin Hao thought, His attitude toward me really does seem to have changed!

The Indigo Tide Profound Flood Dragon was no low-grade Soul Beast. It was a rare high-level subspecies dragon Soul Beast.

The reason Lin Hao was willing to give it up was because he could travel to the Battle Through the Heavens Plane.

The Indigo Tide Profound Flood Dragon was a rare Soul Beast in the Douluo Plane. But in the Battle Through the Heavens Plane, there were pure-blooded true dragons.

Before transmigrating, Lin Hao had held a different view of Tang San.

He felt that there was something wrong with Tang San. Yet compared with historical figures, Tang San did not seem to have any major flaws.

Tang San was selfish, but which emperor in history had not been selfish?

Some said Tang San had plotted against Xiao Wu's Spirit Ring. But throughout history, those who could not resist the greed in their hearts slept with their daughters-in-law, took their fathers' consorts as their own after becoming emperor, drove their sons to death, and forced their emperor fathers to abdicate.

Sometimes, to stabilize imperial power and secure their sons' thrones, they had no choice but to marry their husbands' younger brothers—the regents.

Every one of them had been praised by history as enlightened rulers, yet none of them had been without stains, whether great or small.

Compared to those stains, what wrong had Tang San truly done?

If enlightened emperors were like that, what was wrong with Tang San being the same?

Good and evil were one.

Light and darkness coexisted.

On the contrary, Lin Hao felt that while Tang San possessed darkness, there was also light in his heart.

For instance, he had generously given away the Seven Monsters' Immortal Herbs.

Perhaps hypocrisy was the flaw people criticized Tang San for, but those in this world who did improper things for their own interests—were they not just as hypocritical?

Lin Hao stared at Tang San, a faintly cunning curve appearing on his lips as he thought, If Tang San can stay righteous, then I can guide him further. Even if he turns against me, I have the ability to guide him, and I also have the ability to destroy him!

Holy Soul Village welcomed another summer break, year after year.

Lin Hao, Xiao Wu, and Tang San returned to Holy Soul Village as usual.

The moment he entered the village, Tang San felt as though he had come home.

But the instant he thought of Tang Hao's departure, negative emotions rose uncontrollably within him.

Xiao Wu gently patted Tang San on the shoulder and pointed toward the blacksmith shop by the stream. "Why are you spacing out at such a young age? You're home."

"Home? Do I still have a home?" Tang San asked in return.

"Isn't that your home?" Xiao Wu pointed at the blacksmith shop ahead.

"That is my house." Tang San lowered his head and sighed softly.

Where one's family was, that was home.

Without family, a home was merely a house to Tang San.

Xiao Wu fell silent, not knowing how to comfort Tang San for the moment. She guessed that he must have thought of his father again.

Lin Hao also remained silent.

After a while, Tang San suddenly said, "Xiao Wu, Lin Hao, you are both orphans. Having a father or not makes little difference for me. The three of us are all orphans. I really want to have another family member in my heart!"

Perhaps Tang San had begun to doubt Yu Xiaogang's abilities, or perhaps it was for some other reason. Subconsciously, he had excluded Yu Xiaogang from the ranks of family.

Xiao Wu smiled and asked, "Do you want to become my little brother?"

Tang San raised his head, looked at Xiao Wu, and smiled slightly. "You seem to be younger than me, don't you?"

Xiao Wu pouted and turned her back on Tang San. "I'll only be the older sister. I won't be the younger sister!"

"Xiao Wu..." Tang San walked in front of Xiao Wu and met her gaze sincerely. "I truly want to acknowledge you as my younger sister. Lin Hao will be the eldest brother, I'll be the second brother, and you'll be the third sister... The three of us will become sworn siblings. Are you willing?"

"Lin Hao..." Xiao Wu looked toward Lin Hao, her heart stirring slightly.

For the past five years, Lin Hao and Xiao Wu had always shared a bed.

Whenever there was thunder, Xiao Wu would always be frightened and could only fall asleep after hugging Lin Hao.

Over time, Xiao Wu realized that she had developed unusual feelings for Lin Hao.

Xiao Wu asked eagerly, "Lin Hao, are you willing?"

"I am." Lin Hao smiled.

If it had been five years ago, Lin Hao definitely would not have been willing to become sworn brothers with Tang San.

Things were different now.

Lin Hao had seemingly treated Tang San with sincerity, and Tang San had begun to develop a different understanding of Yu Xiaogang and Tang Hao than in the original storyline.

Moreover, Lin Hao believed Tang San cared greatly about his pride. If he had to find someone in history to compare him to, Tang San somewhat resembled those pedantic scholars who clung desperately to their dignity.

For someone like Tang San, Lin Hao felt that it would be best if he could be guided toward righteousness... by using righteousness to cultivate wickedness.

Xiao Wu's eyes glistened with emotion. Thinking of her identity as a Soul Beast, she turned her back to Lin Hao and said, "But... what if one day, many people want to kill me, and they are people you cannot defeat?"

"Then they can step over my corpse!"

"Then they can step over my corpse!"

Lin Hao and Tang San spoke in unison.

Not a single word in either of their answers was unnecessary.

Lin Hao and Tang San met each other's eyes.

Tang San looked slightly surprised, while Lin Hao only smiled faintly.

To Lin Hao, the question Xiao Wu had posed was an open-book test.

Sure enough, Xiao Wu was moved. She softly called out, "Big Brother, Second Brother!"

At the center of Holy Soul Village stood a Spirit Hall.

There was a pool in front of the hall, with a toppled stone pillar lying across it. A handprint was visible on the pillar.

Old Jack stood nearby in a daze.

Lin Hao, Tang San, and Xiao Wu walked over to Old Jack.

Lin Hao called out, "Grandpa Jack."

Old Jack turned around excitedly and faced Lin Hao. "Lin Hao, Little San, I heard that you have become two-ring Soul Grandmasters. Is that true?"

Lin Hao and Tang San nodded.

Old Jack said excitedly, "Good, good! At such a young age, the two of you are already two-ring Soul Grandmasters. In this old man's opinion, you both have the potential to become Soul Sages!"

"What, Soul Sages?" Xiao Wu burst into laughter. "Grandpa Jack, are you trying to scare people? The two of them can at least become Soul Douluos!"

"Soul Douluos?" Old Jack's eyes lit up as he said expectantly, "When they become Soul Douluos, what should our village be called? Battle Soul Village... Soul Soul Village..."

"Xiao Wu, Tang San, go home first. I have something to discuss with Grandpa Jack," Lin Hao suddenly said.

"What do you need to say behind our backs?" Xiao Wu asked curiously.

"Be good."

"Fine. I won't listen, then. Little San, let's go." Xiao Wu called to Tang San and pulled him toward a shadowy corner.

Lin Hao walked to the corner and stared at Xiao Wu and Tang San.

After failing to eavesdrop, Xiao Wu cutely stuck out her tongue at Lin Hao, then left together with Tang San.

Only after confirming that Xiao Wu and Tang San had left did Lin Hao walk over to Old Jack and say seriously, "Grandpa Jack, I need to leave for another period of time. Tell Xiao Wu and Tang San after I'm gone."

To keep Xiao Wu from following him, Lin Hao chose to send her away.

And so that Old Jack, who cared about him, would not worry, Lin Hao chose to inform Old Jack before leaving, unlike last time.

Over the past few days, as his cultivation rose, Lin Hao discovered that the runes on the ground within the Spirit Domain Space had lit up. He could return to the Battle Through the Heavens Plane once.