Xiao Wu, How Could You Leave Me?

The Voice Pack sounded again.

[Whatever else you say about Tang Hao, he really went to great lengths for his son Tang San—even if his methods were a little rotten.]

[When he first saw through Xiao Wu's true identity, he didn't hunt her down right away.]

[Instead, he let her spend every day with Tang San and experience the sweetness of young love.]

[Once she couldn't bear to leave Tang San and had fallen deeply in love, he could find a way to make her sacrifice herself!]

[I strongly suspect Tang Hao had a hand in Xiao Wu's first sacrifice!]

[Otherwise, how could the timing be so perfect? Xiao Wu had barely sacrificed herself to save Tang San from certain death when Tang Hao rushed in to save the day!]

[First he gave her the illusion of tenderness, then pushed her into the abyss. Truly a tale to bring tears to your eyes!]

"..."

Ning Wen stared blankly.

Come on, man. You're rewriting the story again?

What the hell do you mean Tang Hao showed up after Xiao Wu sacrificed herself?

Are you sure we read the same book?

Or did you make up another plotline on your own?

Xiao Wu sacrificing herself twice? How did you even come up with that?

Xiao Wu: "???"

You call that a tale to bring tears to my eyes?

Watching Tang San and Yu Xiaogang play out their touching master-and-disciple reunion, Ning Wen's mouth twitched.

That's it?

I haven't seen enough of the show yet!

Xiao Wu's body was tense. Her gaze swept over Tang San, then darted around her surroundings.

After hearing Ning Wen's inner voice, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone hidden in the shadows was watching her intently.

The thought made every hair on her body stand on end.

"Teacher, from now on, I'll remember your teachings and never defy you again."

Tang San let out a long breath. Relief spread across his face as he spoke earnestly to Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang was clearly pleased. He gave a slight nod, his face settling into the solemn expression of a teacher.

Ning Wen gave Tang San an odd look.

This guy crossed over from the Tang Sect. How did Yu Xiaogang manage to fool him so completely?

The Tang Sect took different forms in different worlds. Sometimes it was an ambitious faction vying for supremacy in the martial world; sometimes it was a secretive power outside the divide between good and evil. But it was always renowned for hidden weapons, poisons, and mechanical traps.

Whatever version of the Tang Sect Tang San came from, he had managed to secretly learn the inner sect's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record despite being only an Outer Disciple. He was clearly no innocent.

Even setting aside the fact that Yu Xiaogang was useless, his intentions were far too obvious. Any normal person with half a brain could see them.

Then again, it made sense.

Ning Wen, who came from the modern world, couldn't truly understand what a master meant to people of ancient times.

Heaven, earth, sovereign, parents, teacher.

The bond between master and disciple ranked below only one's ruler and parents.

A teacher for a day, a father for life.

That age-old saying captured it perfectly.

And as a martial-world sect that stood between good and evil, the Tang Sect certainly wouldn't teach its disciples to put loyalty to the sovereign first.

Otherwise, wouldn't the Tang Sect become a recruiting ground for the imperial court?

Most of its Outer Disciples were orphans taken in from outside.

Naturally, their upbringing placed special emphasis on the idea that a teacher for a day was a father for life.

That was precisely why Yu Xiaogang had Tang San so thoroughly under his thumb.

Just then, the Voice Pack sounded again.

[Tang San, not only am I going to steal your woman, I'm going to watch you choke down your anger with nowhere to vent it. How mad does that make you?]

Ning Wen: So the idea is to make him furious and get away with it? Works for me!

"Brother, thanks for looking after my Xiao Wu this past year."

With that thought, Ning Wen smiled faintly. Deliberately holding Xiao Wu's hand, he walked straight up to Tang San, his voice brimming with "gratitude." "Don't worry. I'll remember this favor and repay you someday."

He added silently:

To repay your kindness, I'll take the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the Asura God's divine position.

He had already offended Tang San, so offending him a little more hardly mattered.

Whether Xiao Wu was flustered by his words or deliberately playing along to upset Tang San, she shot Ning Wen an indignant look. "Who... who says I'm your Xiao Wu?"

Despite her protest, she made no attempt to pull away. Instead, she let Ning Wen keep a firm hold on her hand.

Watching the two flirt as though no one else were there, Tang San felt a stifling, sour ache surge up from his chest, tangled with nameless anger.

For the past year at Notting Academy, he and Xiao Wu had been almost inseparable.

Deep down, Tang San had long since come to see Xiao Wu as the most important person in his life.

Yet now this boy of unknown origins was calling her "my Xiao Wu" in front of everyone and openly holding her hand.

What hurt even more was that Xiao Wu made no attempt to pull free.

Her cheeks were flushed and she scolded Ning Wen, but she stood there calmly and let him hold her hand.

Tang San was about to speak when he remembered his teacher's words. He fell silent.

[Hahahaha! Tang San, just look at yourself!]

[You're burning with rage, but you can't let out a bit of it. Your fists are clenched so tight they're creaking, yet all you can do is swallow it down. What a sight!]

[Tang San, how does it feel to watch the girl you long for get taken away by someone else?]

[Does it feel like a knife scraping back and forth across your heart?]

[I just love watching you rage helplessly!]

Ning Wen: "..."

That Voice Pack really knows how to rub salt in the wound!

Every line hits the mark.

Still, it's exactly what I wanted.

Aside from being a little noisy, there's nothing wrong with it!

Seeing Tang San so utterly devastated, a flicker of sympathy crossed Xiao Wu's eyes, only to turn cold a moment later.

She lifted her gaze. Her voice was gentle, but every word carried a chill of finality. "Brother San, you'll wish us well, won't you?"

Boom!

That brief question struck Tang San like a thunderclap, throwing his heart into turmoil.

His whole body shuddered. It felt as though an invisible hand had crushed his heart, sending pain through every limb and leaving him barely able to breathe.

Wish them well?

Why should I?

The girl who had been by his side every day, the sister he treasured more than life itself, was leaving him for good.

Endless bitterness and helplessness consumed Tang San.

His throat tightened. Countless words struggled to come out.

Do you know you matter more to me than my own life?

Do you know that ever since Father disappeared, I've thought of you as my only family?

But every word lodged in his throat, leaving only dead silence.

It wasn't just because of Yu Xiaogang. Tang San had no right to say them.

Ning Wen was her rightful fiancé. Tang San was nothing more than a self-deluded "brother" with no claim to her.

It hurt!

It hurt down to the bone!

Xiao Wu, how could you leave me?

All Tang San could do was watch as someone took his most precious treasure from him in front of everyone.

And there was nothing he could do about it.

If Ning Wen had to describe him, he'd call him a helpless husband.

Though given their relationship, Tang San was nothing of the sort.