Tang Hao Entrusts His Child to Another

"Your strength isn't much to speak of, but I'll give you credit for courage..."

The black-robed man spoke slowly, a note of approval in his voice. As he spoke, he pulled back the hood that covered half his face, revealing an old face with a scraggly beard and unkempt hair.

"You're..."

At the sight of that vaguely familiar face, the coldness in Yu Xiaogang's eyes vanished, replaced by bewilderment.

"It's been twenty years since we last met, hasn't it? Looking like this, I can hardly blame you for not recognizing me."

Tang Hao gave a bitter smile and raised a hand, summoning his Martial Soul.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black... red!

The Clear Sky Hammer appeared out of thin air with nine Soul Rings around it. The red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring was especially dazzling.

Yu Xiaogang sucked in a sharp breath and forced four words through clenched teeth.

"Clear! Sky! Dou! Luo!"

"That's right. It's me."

Tang Hao nodded calmly, regarding Yu Xiaogang with a hint of approval.

"No need to bring up my old title. I'm just an ordinary man now. You don't have to be so formal..."

"How can you say that, Your Excellency? You're the youngest Titled Douluo on the entire continent!"

Yu Xiaogang looked downright displeased by Tang Hao's self-deprecating words.

A Titled Douluo! A level Yu Xiaogang could never reach in his lifetime, and Tang Hao had attained it only to act as though it meant nothing?

How was a conceited failure like Yu Xiaogang supposed to take that?

"Your Excellency, I may be an outsider to you, but as a member of the Soul Master world and a researcher of its theories, I must say one thing: please pull yourself together!"

"You have the finest talent for a Soul Master, the finest Martial Soul, and the finest set of Soul Rings. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call you the best on the Douluo Continent. How can you squander your years and waste your gifts like this?"

"I have some idea what happened to you, and I can guess why you've become like this, but you're my idol..."

"Enough!"

Before Yu Xiaogang could finish lecturing him, Tang Hao raised a hand and cut him off coldly.

I was just being polite, damn it. Who does this old failure think he is, lecturing me? What gives him the right to tell me what to do?

"I came here today as Tang San's father, as the parent of one of your students. There's no need to discuss anything else!"

"Uh... yes, of course..."

Realizing Tang Hao was genuinely upset, Yu Xiaogang immediately backed down. Even his voice grew quieter.

"Tang San truly is a genius, as expected of your son, Your Excellency. I'm honored to have the chance to take him as my disciple. But may I ask why you don't teach him yourself?"

"You know my situation. Xiao San would only waste his precious years of growth by staying with me. Besides, I have important things to do."

Tang Hao's voice was low and carried an authority that brooked no argument.

"We met a few times back then. Others may think you're a madman, but I know you're a man of conviction. With you as Xiao San's teacher, I can rest easy."

Perhaps to show his goodwill, Tang Hao recalled the Clear Sky Hammer as he spoke. The glow of its nine Soul Rings faded into the night, but the pressure of a Titled Douluo still lingered in Yu Xiaogang's heart.

Yu Xiaogang swallowed and hurriedly bowed.

"Thank you for your confidence in me, Your Excellency. Rest assured, I'll teach Tang San everything I know. It's just..."

He hesitated, then asked anyway.

"When I formally accepted Tang San as my disciple today, I noticed he seemed to be injured. I wonder..."

"That's his own business."

Tang Hao raised a hand to cut him off before he could finish, his gaze turning cold.

"If he can't endure a setback like that, he doesn't deserve to be my son. You only need to teach him Soul Master theory, how to cultivate, and how to grow stronger. As for anything else..."

Tang Hao paused and gave Yu Xiaogang a pointed look.

"I have it in hand. Don't ask questions you shouldn't."

Yu Xiaogang's heart tightened, and he nodded at once.

"Yes, I understand."

Only then did Tang Hao's expression soften slightly. He took a token from inside his robe and tossed it to Yu Xiaogang.

"You should recognize this. It's no use to me anymore, so take it. If you run into trouble you can't resolve, it should carry some weight. You know how to use it."

Yu Xiaogang caught the token with both hands. It was heavy, and its emblem was composed of six designs.

They were a sword, a hammer, a crown, an incomplete human figure, a dragon, and a chrysanthemum.

It was Spirit Hall's highest-ranking elder token!

Yu Xiaogang had a similar token himself, but his was only a third-tier Spirit Hall warrant. It couldn't compare to Tang Hao's.

Yet receiving such a precious token brought Yu Xiaogang no joy. Instead, he frowned.

"Your Excellency, by giving me this, do you mean..."

"You guessed right. I'm leaving soon. He's the only one I'm concerned about, so I want to entrust Xiao San to you."

"You're leaving? Where are you going? He's your son."

The Grandmaster stared hard at Tang Hao, his gaze growing sharp.

Perhaps because his own Titled Douluo father had abandoned him for lacking talent, Yu Xiaogang was particularly sensitive to such things.

Tang Hao, however, remained as cold as ever.

"He's your disciple too. I have to leave. There are many things I must do, and his presence would only hold me back."

"For six years, I've shut myself away from the world. Now that he's grown, there are things I must do."

The Grandmaster took a deep breath.

"I have some idea what you've been through, but you're still his father. Xiao San is deeply attached to you. Don't you think leaving like this is too cruel to him?"

"He chose an extraordinary path for himself. Staying with me would be the real cruelty."

Tang Hao waved a hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"That's all I have to say. Whatever happens, remember that he's my son."

"I'm leaving Xiao San in your care. Remember, his second Martial Soul must never be exposed. Not until he can protect himself."

"Of course!"

Yu Xiaogang gave his solemn promise.

"I'll devise the most suitable cultivation plan for him. For now, he'll show only his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. Once his Soul Power reaches a certain level, we can consider adding Soul Rings to the Clear Sky Hammer."

Tang Hao nodded, apparently satisfied with the arrangement. He turned to leave, then seemed to remember something and looked back.

"Are there any other unusual new students at the academy?"

Yu Xiaogang froze. Chu Chen's stern face immediately came to mind, along with the sorry sight of himself after Chu Chen had beaten him black and blue.

He touched the mask over his face without thinking and stammered.

"N-no, no one in particular..."

"Is that so?"

Tang Hao narrowed his eyes. A Titled Douluo's senses were keen; Yu Xiaogang's moment of hesitation had not escaped him.

"Then what happened to your face?"