Redeeming Themselves

Tai Tan had only just regained consciousness, but he was already pointing at Yang Wudi's nose and cursing him.

"You old goat! If you dare become Spirit Hall's lackey and betray the Clear Sky Sect, don't blame me for showing no mercy! We're through!"

Yang Wudi glanced at the Breaking Clan members still hesitating behind him, Yang Wushuang among them.

"What are you standing around for? Seize them! Seize Tang Hao's Accomplices! Seize these disloyal, unfilial, heartless traitors!"

He turned to Bai He and Niu Gao.

"What are you waiting for? The Clear Sky Sect abandoned us. They brought this on themselves! The moment they used us as cannon fodder, our ties to them were over!"

"Bai He! Listen to me! You're the uncle of Tang Hao, Tang Xiao, and Yue Hua, and Tang Zhong's brother-in-law! They didn't even take you with them when they fled! Why would you still risk your life for them? If you truly care about your clan—and your sister—then preserve what remains of her bloodline and act now!"

"Spirit Hall only wants an accounting for what Tang Hao did. Hurry up!"

"Or do you want to be counted among Tang Hao's Accomplices?"

"Why not redeem yourself now and clear your name?"

Bai He gritted his teeth and lowered his head. A few tears fell.

He drew a deep breath. At last, he raised his head.

"Speed Clan, heed my order! Seize the Clear Sky Sect fugitives."

Beside him, Niu Gao gritted his teeth too.

"Defense Clan! Move!"

The Three Great Clans and the Clear Sky Sect plunged into chaos, fighting on every side.

Tang Zhong watched it all, his heart twisting with pain. He unleashed the aura of a level ninety-five Titled Douluo, bringing everyone to a halt, then bowed to Bibi Dong again.

"Your Holiness, this was my decision alone. The Clear Sky Sect members had nothing to do with it. If anyone must be punished, punish me!"

Bibi Dong, Qian Xunji, and the others from Spirit Hall regarded Tang Zhong with amused eyes. They wanted to break the Clear Sky Sect for good. What use was one old man already at death's door?

"Sect Master Tang Zhong, please don't try to take the blame for your people. They insulted Spirit Hall just now. That is beyond dispute, and it makes them Tang Hao's Accomplices."

"As for Sect Master Tang Zhong, you are the son of Tang Chen, a dear friend of Spirit Hall's Grand Priest, and a close friend of Spirit Hall yourself. How could you do such a thing? You must have been coerced and deceived by Tang Hao's Accomplices, with no choice but to go along."

"Your Holiness! That's—"

Qian Xunji cut him off.

"Sect Master Tang Zhong, say no more! Breaking Clan! Defense Clan! Speed Clan! And you Clear Sky Sect members who were used as cannon fodder! Get them!"

Chaos erupted again. These Clear Sky Sect members were already injured, and some were still unconscious. With all three clan leaders at the Soul Douluo level, they were soon subdued.

Tang Zhong tried to intervene, but an overwhelming aura locked onto him. He could barely summon his martial soul.

An old man stood there, built like a mountain, frost-white hair spilling over his shoulders. His face was rugged and stern, the lines around his eyes as deep as the grooves between crocodile scales. A faint, dark-gold pressure radiated from him, like that of a Ferocious Beast.

He stared Tang Zhong down.

Only the remaining Clear Sky Sect elders and the leaders of the Three Great Clans were still fighting.

"Yang Wudi! After all the kindness the Clear Sky Sect has shown you! If I'd known this day would come, I'd have had the old sect master kill you and wipe out your Breaking Clan!"

Seventh Elder Tang Lie, left with only one arm, struggled to hold on.

Those words finally enraged Yang Wudi, who had been holding back. He exploded into action and sent the Seventh Elder flying.

"Enough talk. Surrender!"

Qian Xunji had tired of watching the drawn-out fight below. He unleashed his full pressure against the elders.

The three clan leaders seized the opening and subdued them.

Qian Xunji looked toward the abandoned Clear Sky Sect members who had just finished fighting. He quietly noted which of them had fought hardest and acted most eagerly.

"You abandoned members of the Clear Sky Sect, and you people of the Three Great Clans! Spirit Hall needs your help investigating Tang Hao's Accomplices. Will you give it?"

"Yes! Of course!"

One of the most eager among the abandoned Clear Sky Sect members stepped forward. He had long been at odds with Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, and Tang Hao had even beaten him once. At eighty-six, he was only level sixty-eight. People had looked down on him for years; he was at the bottom among his peers, and even many younger members scorned him.

Now they had abandoned him too. Whatever guilt he might have felt was gone. As far as he was concerned, they deserved it.

"What's your name?"

"Tang Jingwei!"

"Good. Tell us what you know."

"Him! Tang Dai! He once openly insulted Spirit Hall and praised Tang Hao for..."

"Him! Tang—"

Once he began, more and more people joined in. The Clear Sky Sect was full of arrogant people; nearly everyone had spoken ill of Spirit Hall.

And because Tang Hao was so powerful, most had expressed admiration for him. There was grounds to accuse almost everyone who had been captured.

"Him! Tang Ri! He once tried to force my daughter to marry him." Members of the other three clans began adding accusations of their own.

"Bullshit! I never did! You once..."

At last, as Tang Zhong listened to the accusations flying around him, all strength drained from his body. He trembled from head to toe. Under Golden Crocodile's pressure, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed unconscious.

"Sect Master! Sect Master!"

"Father!"

The captured Clear Sky Sect members looked desperately toward Tang Zhong, unable to break free.

Bibi Dong gave Yue Guan a look, and he stepped forward to examine him.

"Your Holiness, Sect Master Tang Zhong has no breath or heartbeat. He has passed away."

"Ah. We must respect the dead. Spirit Hall has always cared about people. Release Tang Xiao and let him spend a final moment with Sect Master Tang Zhong."

Bibi Dong shook her head, unable to bear looking at Tang Zhong.

Spirit Hall's pope truly wins people over with virtue!

"Father! Father!"

Tang Xiao rushed over and lifted Tang Zhong with his one remaining arm. He checked him himself. Sure enough, there was no breath or heartbeat.

"Spirit Hall! I, Tang Xiao—!"

But Tang Xiao stopped himself. He only shot a fierce glare at the people of Spirit Hall, especially Bibi Dong and the Eighth Worshipper.

"Tang Xiao! What is that look supposed to mean? Spirit Hall kindly let you be with your father, and you still dare show us disrespect?"

Tang Xiao jerked his head away. He looked at them no longer, holding Tang Zhong as he wept.

"Enough! All the fugitives among Tang Hao's Accomplices have been captured! They should all be executed on the spot as punishment. But Spirit Hall has always been merciful and does not wish to kill indiscriminately. Instead, each will lose one arm!"

"Tang Jingwei! And you—what's your name?"

Qian Xunji looked toward another man who had distinguished himself in the fight.

"Your Holiness! Eighth Worshipper! My name is Tang Hui!"

"Good. You two will lead the others. Apart from women and children under twelve, everyone is to have one arm cut off as punishment! Are you willing to redeem yourselves?"

"Yes! We are, Eighth Worshipper!" Tang Hui and Tang Jingwei answered through gritted teeth.

The two began directing the other abandoned Clear Sky Sect disciples to carry out the punishment.

The others gritted their teeth and followed.

Most knew their targets. Even after years of mistreatment and now abandonment, many could hardly bear to do it.

"Tang Tang! I've never treated you badly all these years!"

"You bastard son of a bitch! How dare you? Get away from me!"

In silence, they sought out those who had mistreated them and cut off their arms, while steering clear of people they had gotten along with.

Many wept as they struck.

Many others smiled with excitement.

They all knew they were no longer one family.

Screams rose one after another. Every elder except the Sixth Elder lost an arm too.

"Ah! Tang Jingwei! I've always treated you well!"