Selling His Wife

New Clear Sky Sect

Tang Xiao had just led his clansmen to settle here. During the journey, several elders had confirmed him as the new sect master of the Clear Sky Sect, leaving him to shoulder the burden of this shattered sect.

He looked at his clansmen, nearly all of them missing an arm, then lowered his gaze to his own empty left sleeve. Regret and humiliation overwhelmed him.

If we hadn't fled, fought back, or resisted—if we'd just negotiated with Spirit Hall—would any of this have happened?

Would Father still have died? Would our clansmen have lost their arms? Would the Clear Sky Sect have split apart? Would Yue Hua have been taken? Would our sect have ended up like this?

It's all that damned Spirit Hall's fault! If they'd told us sooner that we could simply negotiate, would we have run?

"It's all Tang Hao's fault! If he hadn't fallen in love with a beast and provoked Spirit Hall, how could our sect have suffered such a disaster?"

"Who knows where Tang Hao is enjoying himself right now? Meanwhile, we've lost our arms, and Spirit Hall will keep us trapped here forever!"

"It's the old sect master's fault! Why did he run in the first place?"

Listening to the countless voices around him, Tang Xiao grew dizzy and dazed. His chest felt so tight he could barely breathe. He wanted to reprimand them, but he had no right to. This had, after all, started with his brother Hao.

In the end, Tang Xiao pretended not to hear. He led the elders into the Council Hall to assign duties, organize the sect's permanent settlement here, and discuss its future development.

The meeting had barely begun, and the Seventh Elder was just getting started, when a disciple arrived with a report.

"Report! People from Spirit Hall are here! That traitor Tang Hui is with them!" The disciple knelt on one knee, bracing himself against the floor with his hand. Normally, he would have cupped his fists to deliver the report, but with only one arm, he had chosen to steady himself instead.

Tang Xiao and the elders drew heavier breaths at the news. The air seemed ready to burst into sparks.

"Those beasts from Spirit Hall! We've only been here a few days, and they're already chasing after us!" Tang Lie spoke first.

"That traitor Tang Hui actually dared to come! I'll find a chance to finish him off! I won't let him lord it over us!"

"Let them in..." Tang Xiao answered weakly.

"Sect Master Tang Xiao, it's been a long time."

Tang Hui, Qian Jun, and Jiang Mo entered the Council Hall.

Qian Jun and Jiang Mo didn't bother with greetings. They glanced at the others, found seats, and sat down as though they owned the place. Jiang Mo even wore a mocking smile.

"Sect Master Tang Xiao, Spirit Hall has come to settle the practical details with the Clear Sky Sect." Tang Hui couldn't hide the satisfaction in his voice, though he still sounded a little deferential. He belonged to Spirit Hall now, not the Clear Sky Sect, but years of feeling cowed by Tang Xiao and the elders would not vanish overnight. He was still somewhat afraid of them.

"No need to tell us, Tang Hui! Don't think that clinging to Spirit Hall means you can walk all over us! You're just a useless wretch the Clear Sky Sect cast aside! Now you're nothing but Spirit Hall's dog!"

"Ahem. Seventh Elder, mind your manners."

Tang Lie had launched straight into an attack, and Tang Xiao hurried to cut him off.

Tang Hui froze at Tang Lie's insult. He looked blankly at Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, who were grinning as they watched the show, then at everyone around him, and finally around the Council Hall.

Suddenly, he burst out laughing.

"Tang Lie! Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? Your Clear Sky Sect is nothing but a pack of homeless curs now! You call me Spirit Hall's dog? Then that makes you my dogs!"

At the sight, Jiang Mo could no longer hold back. Laughing, he walked over to Tang Hui and patted him on the shoulder.

"Not bad, kid. That dog Tang Lie just dared to insult Spirit Hall. How do you think he should be punished?"

Tang Hui trembled at the weight of the hand on his shoulder. He felt as though the goddess of fortune had chosen him. A mighty rank-96 Titled Douluo had praised him! Neither of these two lords had said a word to him throughout the journey.

"My lord! I've only just joined Spirit Hall, so I don't know the rules. How about slapping his mouth?" Tang Hui asked eagerly.

"Good! We'll do it your way!" Jiang Mo gave his shoulder another encouraging pat.

"Tang Hui! Don't you dare!"

But Tang Hui's eyes held nothing but fervor now. Ignoring Tang Lie's threat, he walked toward him step by step.

Tang Lie released the pressure of a Soul Douluo, trying to stop Tang Hui in his tracks.

At only rank 46, Tang Hui naturally couldn't withstand that pressure. Yet when it struck, it merely made him pause.

Tang Lie, meanwhile, inexplicably coughed up a mouthful of blood. The instant he had released his pressure, a far stronger, more violent force had borne down on him.

Jiang Mo licked his lips with a teasing smile.

"Tang Hui, you—!"

Smack! Smack! Smack!

"That slap was for disrespecting Spirit Hall!

That slap was for all the times you bullied me!

And that slap was for failing to pay your respects to the two elders!"

The sharp sound of slaps rang through the hall. From beginning to end, neither Tang Xiao nor the other elders tried to stop him. They had even shut off their hearing and sight, having anticipated what would happen.

Jiang Mo's eyes flickered as he thought, This kid catches on fast. Then he said:

"He's a Soul Douluo. What good will a few slaps do? Hit him with your Clear Sky Hammer!"

"Yes, my lord!"

"Aaaagh!"

Screams echoed through the hall.

At New Clear Sky Sect Square, everyone in the sect had been gathered together. Tang Hui stood above them.

"Ahem. Everyone of the Clear Sky Sect, we're all old acquaintances, so I'll get straight to the point. I know the past few days have left you disheartened and upset. Some of you may even be dissatisfied with Spirit Hall's ruling. But today, in the spirit of humanitarianism, Spirit Hall has brought you wonderful news! We're here to offer you a benefit!"

"First, as everyone knows, the Clear Sky Sect has signed an agreement with Spirit Hall. From now on, none of you may keep private property. Apart from what you need for food and clothing, everything must go toward repaying your debt. That will make life extremely hard and may cause discord between husbands and wives."

"So, in the spirit of humanitarianism, Spirit Hall is offering you another choice! Every woman in the Clear Sky Sect under fifty may choose to leave the sect and join Spirit Hall! For each woman who joins, Spirit Hall will cancel a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins of the sect's debt and give one of her family members three thousand Gold Soul Coins as private property to improve their life. It won't have to be handed over! Every woman who joins Spirit Hall City will also receive a subsidy of three thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

"What?! You want me to sell my daughter?"

"Juan, what if you..."

"Liang! How could you?"

The crowd erupted in discussion. Wasn't Spirit Hall asking them to sell their daughters, their wives, even their mothers? How could they possibly do that? It was too humiliating! These were the women they loved! They would need to offer more money!

Still, many had already begun to consider it.

"Juan, think about it. If you go, you won't have to suffer with me, and I'll have an easier time too. Look, my stomach's already shrunk from hunger these past few days. If this goes on, I really will starve to death!" Tang Zhanliang said, sticking out his large belly.

"Liang! How could you? I'm your wife! Are you really going to sell me for three thousand coins?" Juanzi stared at him in disbelief.

"That's enough! If you don't go, where am I supposed to get money for Menzi? Say you won't go again and I'll give you a taste of my Flavor-True Fist!" Tang Zhanliang raised his fist threateningly.

"Waaah..."

Discussion, arguments, sobbing, and words of comfort rose and fell across the square.

Some could no longer bear the hardship and wanted to send away their wives, daughters, or even mothers, whether the women agreed or not.

Other women wanted to leave the Clear Sky Sect of their own accord. They had suffered enough these past few days, while their husbands, fathers, and sons begged them to stay.

Some fathers couldn't bear to see their young daughters suffer alongside them and wanted to send them away...

Watching all this, Tang Xiao realized that Spirit Hall was plotting to wipe out the Clear Sky Sect's bloodline. He wanted to stop them, to call on the women not to leave the sect, but one glare from Qian Jun lodged the words in his throat.

In the end, of the Clear Sky Sect's nearly 150 women of eligible age, eighteen chose to leave and join Spirit Hall.

Qian Jun and Jiang Mo saw that only eighteen had joined, but they weren't in a hurry. This was only the beginning. The Clear Sky Sect had endured hardship for less than a week; it wasn't enough to overcome years of family bonds. They could wait and let the sect suffer a little longer...

"Ahem! Spirit Hall's service office is right here in the Clear Sky Sect! Any woman who wishes to join Spirit Hall in the future is welcome at any time!"