Does This Make Sense?

Early the next morning, at the south gate of Nuoding City.

Yan Zheng's carriage was waiting by the roadside, and he was giving the driver instructions for the journey.

Tang Hao came strolling over, whistling like a street punk.

"Your Excellency." Yan Zheng nodded to him. "We'll pass two branch halls on the way. I've already arranged places for us to stay."

"Inns will do." Tang Hao swung onto his horse. "I'm going to see Bibi Dong, not inspect your branch halls."

Yan Zheng did not insist. He told the driver to set off.

Along the way, the two spoke only when changing horses or eating.

Yan Zheng did not ask how Tang Hao's injuries had healed, and Tang Hao made no inquiries about the defenses of the Pope's Hall.

It was not until the third day that Yan Zheng brought something up.

"The urgent report from the Nuoding Branch Hall reached Spirit City a day ahead of us."

Tang Hao's chopsticks stopped midair. "Has Bibi Dong seen it?"

"She has."

"And Qian Daoliu?"

Yan Zheng set down his chopsticks. "The Pope's Hall received the report. All I can tell you is that His Holiness the Pope isn't the only person in Spirit Hall who wants news of you."

"You already said that on the South Slope."

"You hadn't agreed to go to Spirit City then."

Tang Hao looked up at him.

Yan Zheng went back to eating without explaining further.

Tang Hao understood: once he entered the city, Bibi Dong might not be the only one who came to see him.

Yan Zheng was warning him in advance so he would not lay every move at the Pope's feet.

"Thanks for the warning," Tang Hao said. "But whoever comes looking for me, I'll ask them myself."

On the afternoon of the fifth day, they reached Spirit City.

Yan Zheng led Tang Hao straight into the Pope's Hall.

The guards at the entrance inspected Yan Zheng's token and stepped aside, though one hesitated as he looked at the Clear Sky Hammer on Tang Hao's back.

Tang Hao stopped and raised an eyebrow at him. "What, do you confiscate Martial Souls at the door?"

The guard immediately lowered his gaze. "There is no such rule."

"Good." Tang Hao walked on. "I thought I'd have to take my hand off before coming in."

Yan Zheng walked ahead without answering.

Over the past few days, he had heard more than enough from that foul mouth. It was hard to imagine that the legendary Clear Sky Douluo was such a rascal in private.

Deep inside the hall, Bibi Dong sat on the Pope's throne.

She had not summoned the elders. Only two attendants were in the hall.

After Yan Zheng reported back, he withdrew at her signal.

The doors closed, and the attendants left as well.

Only then did Bibi Dong speak. "Tang Hao, it's been six years..."

"Missed me?"

"I wanted to know why you dared come to Spirit City." Bibi Dong faltered for a moment. "Yan Zheng said your injuries had healed. I wanted to see for myself."

Tang Hao smiled. "And after you've seen? Shall we have dinner and talk about our hopes and dreams?"

Bibi Dong stared at him. He wasn't like this back then.

Did the Blue Silver Emperor's death hit him that hard?

Forget it. That's none of my concern.

Bibi Dong composed herself. "You killed the previous Pope and still dared reveal your identity in public. Aren't you afraid Spirit Hall will come to settle the score?"

Tang Hao gave her a half-smile. "You know damn well who killed Qian Xunji, don't you?"

Bibi Dong said nothing.

Standing on the steps, she looked down at Tang Hao.

The hall remained quiet for a long while before she asked, "What do you know?"

"I know what I should and what I shouldn't. Which part are you asking about?"

Bibi Dong found herself on the back foot again. She could hardly admit to killing Qian Xunji herself. What if he was bluffing?

I can't let him take control. Bibi Dong ended that line of questioning.

"What do you want?"

"You want to deal with Qian Daoliu. I want to put an end to the score Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect have been settling for years."

Bibi Dong fixed her gaze on him. "The Clear Sky Sect expelled you. What gives you the right to negotiate on its behalf?"

"I can't yet," Tang Hao said. "That's why I need to find Tang Xiao after I leave here."

"The Clear Sky Sect doesn't work the way Spirit Hall does. You know that."

"You want me to lift the blockade on the Clear Sky Sect?"

"That's only the first step." Tang Hao looked at her. "Our opponent is Qian Daoliu, and you're his daughter-in-law in name. That's not enough for the sect to trust you."

"What do you propose?"

"A marriage alliance!" Tang Hao said with utter confidence. "Since ancient times, marriage has been the best way to seal an alliance."

"Tang San and Qian Renxue?"

Bibi Dong frowned. "To be honest, I can't be sure Qian Renxue would take my side."

"Not them." Tang Hao shook his head and pointed at Bibi Dong. "You and me!"

"To outsiders, your man drove my woman to her death, and I killed your man. It's only natural we'd end up together."

Did that really make sense?

Bibi Dong froze.

She looked first at the hand Tang Hao was pointing at her, then up at him.

"Say that again?"

"I said, the two of us should marry."

"Have you lost your mind, or have I?"

Bibi Dong descended the steps but did not return to the Pope's throne.

"You can betray your Ah Yin today, and I can turn my back on Qian Xunji. That proves marriage offers no guarantees."

Tang Hao spread his hands. "It's still better than promises made with nothing but our mouths."

Bibi Dong sneered. "If we really married, Qian Daoliu would likely turn against us outright."

"That's the point. We need a clean break with him. But before he turns against us, he'll have to think hard about whether he can destroy the Clear Sky Sect."

Tang Hao said confidently, "Your forces and the Clear Sky Sect together are enough to stand against his Worship Hall."

"Even if the two of us can't kill him, we can keep him tied down."

"An even match is the best way to keep him in check. Don't you think?"

"We keep each other in check, and then what? Wait for him to die of old age?"

"That depends on the next generation."

Bibi Dong frowned. "You mean Tang San? You have that much faith in him?"

"He's my son. Who else would I have faith in?" Tang Hao said proudly. "Believe it or not, my son will bring down Spirit Hall within ten years."

"According to the records, Tang San's Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. It seems he has another Martial Soul too—the Clear Sky Hammer, correct?"

"One correction: it's the Blue Silver Emperor."

"Even if he inherited Ah Yin's bloodline," Bibi Dong said, "he'll only be sixteen in ten years. You expect a sixteen-year-old to deal with Qian Daoliu for you?"

"I never said he'd fight him alone."

"Besides, Qian Daoliu certainly won't become a god in ten years. Who's to say you and I won't have grown stronger by then?"

"Maybe one swing of my hammer will be enough to finish him off."

After a moment, she raised another objection. "Have you considered Qian Renxue? She has the Angel Martial Soul!"

"Qian Daoliu raised and trained her. If you and I marry, she'll see it as me bringing you and the Clear Sky Sect over to her grandfather's enemies."

"How do you think she'll choose?"

"Simple. If she plays nice, she can marry my son and we'll be one big family. If she doesn't, she gets a hammer to the head."

Bibi Dong frowned in thought, plainly weighing whether the plan was feasible.

After a long while, she suddenly said, "What nonsense. I have no idea what Ah Yin saw in you."

"Maybe she liked how big my tool was and how well I used it?"

Bibi Dong blinked, initially thinking he meant the Clear Sky Hammer and his blacksmithing skills.

Then she caught his meaning. Her face reddened, and she shouted, "Get out!"

"You got it!"

Seeing that she really was about to lose her temper, Tang Hao hurried toward the doors.

"I'll head back to the Clear Sky Sect first. Think it over. You might come around."