When Yue Heng returned to the Worship Hall, his right hand was still trembling and his legs were still shaking.
His Martial Soul was already retracted, but the feeling of Tang Hao's final hammer pressing down remained within his arm.
He could clearly feel that if Tang Hao had exerted just a tiny bit more force at that moment, he would have already been turned into meat paste.
He stood outside the hall for a while, waiting for his breathing to steady before pushing the door open.
Qian Daoliu quietly listened to the recount, then softly asked, "Which soul skill did he use?"
"None." Yue Heng lowered his head. "All nine soul rings lit up, but he simply struck with brute force. I failed to force him to use a soul skill."
The hall fell silent.
"The three of you took him on together?"
"Yes."
"How are your injuries?"
"Not considered heavy." Yue Heng paused. "He held back his force at the critical moment."
Qian Daoliu's eyes narrowed slightly.
He valued Yue Heng and sent Yue Heng to intercept Tang Hao precisely because his shield had a suppressive effect against the Clear Sky Hammer.
Yet the result clearly exceeded his expectations.
Not only did Tang Hao not even use a soul skill, but he was also able to easily defeat Yue Heng while controlling his strength.
This situation was enough to prove that the difference in strength between the two sides was enormous!
Qian Daoliu had to admit a fact: the current Tang Hao was even stronger than he was six years ago!
"There is also one more matter..." Yue Heng hesitated somewhat, not knowing whether this should be spoken.
"What matter?"
"I asked him what he and Bibi Dong talked about, and he said..."
"That his wife is dead and Bibi Dong's husband is dead, so they were discussing getting together to live as partners."
"He also told you to prepare the dowry, as he will come to propose marriage in a few days."
Qian Daoliu's tranquil, ripple-less gaze finally underwent a change.
"His exact words?"
"His exact words. Yan Zheng was also present, and many passing merchants heard it."
"What did Bibi Dong say?"
"She was not present."
After finishing, Yue Heng recalled how Tang Hao had glanced toward the distant shadows of the trees before leaving.
He had been busy steadying his shield at the time and had not sensed whether anyone was there, so he did not report his guess as a fact.
Qian Daoliu asked, "How believable do you think it is?"
"He kept provoking me at the time." Yue Heng said, "I feel he said that deliberately, wanting to generate a rift between us and the Pope."
Qian Daoliu nodded.
Tang Hao had entered the Pope's Hall and stayed for nearly an hour, only to come out and utter such words right in front of an elder of the Worship Hall.
That could have been him spouting nonsense off the cuff, or it could have been him intentionally letting those words spread into the Worship Hall.
Whichever it was, he had no intention of helping Tang Hao pass them along any further.
"Let this matter rest here for now." Qian Daoliu tapped the armrest. "No one is permitted to bring up what happened at the South Gate."
Yue Heng nodded and asked, "Then... are we still sending people to pursue?"
"If you catch up, then what? Can you bring him back?"
A wave of heat washed over Yue Heng's face. "No."
"Then do not send anyone else to establish prestige for him." Qian Daoliu said, "Just check where he went after leaving the city."
"In addition, investigate whether there has been any abnormality in the Clear Sky Sect recently."
"Understood!"
Yue Heng retreated outside.
Qian Daoliu stood alone in the hall, recalling the phrase "live as partners" that Yue Heng had repeated, and his brow gradually furrowed.
At first hearing, the words sounded like a joke.
Yet upon shifting perspectives and thinking about it, it actually seemed quite reasonable.
Qian Daoliu knew of Bibi Dong's ambition, and he even suspected that his son had died at Bibi Dong's hands.
However, such a conjecture was unfavorable to unity, so he had always kept it suppressed at the bottom of his heart.
In his view, as long as his own strength could suppress Bibi Dong, she would not dare to act rashly.
Yet now a Tang Hao had appeared...
If Bibi Dong and Tang Hao truly joined forces, would he still be able to suppress them?
Inside the Pope's Hall, Bibi Dong was also listening to reports from her subordinates.
The elder who came to report finished recounting the clash outside the South Gate before lowering his voice: "Yan Zheng said Tang Hao mentioned you in front of Yue Heng."
"I heard everything he said."
The elder was startled. The Pope had actually heard such outrageous talk and didn't even refute it? Could the two of them...
Bibi Dong put down the documents in her hands. "What he proposed is his business; I did not agree."
"Pass down the order: people in the Pope's Hall are not allowed to discuss this matter, and even less are they permitted to privately jump to conclusions about it."
"If the Worship Hall comes to ask?"
"Let them come ask me, and I will answer personally."
The elder accepted the command, yet still remained somewhat hesitant. "There are also some passing merchants who heard it. Should we..."
"There is no need." Bibi Dong said, "As the saying goes, the upright are self-cleansing, and certain matters only grow darker the more one tries to paint them. You may withdraw first and simply keep a close eye on Tang Hao's movements at all times."
"Obeyed!"
After the elder withdrew, Bibi Dong picked up the documents once more, yet failed to flip a single page for a long time.
When she invited Tang Hao this time, her original intention was merely to see to what extent Tang Hao's injuries had recovered and whether there was any possibility of cooperation.
She simply had not expected this fellow to play completely outside the rules.
Now she had indeed witnessed his strength, as Yue Heng lacked even the qualification to force him to use a soul skill.
Compared to his prime, he was probably even several points stronger, and even if she herself took action personally, she likely wouldn't gain any advantage.
The problem, however, was that the condition he proposed was truly...
Within Bibi Dong's mind, Tang Hao's wretched, cheeky facial expression was continuously growing clearer.
Not a single man is any good; I am merely utilizing him, and nothing more!
The battle outside the South Gate fell into the eyes of countless caravan travelers and passersby.
They had not heard the conversation inside the Pope's Hall, nor did they know why Qian Daoliu had sent Yue Heng to act.
They only knew two things: first, the Clear Sky Douluo had re-emerged into the pugilistic world, had even injured an elder of Spirit Hall, and had finally left in a swaggering manner.
As for the second matter, it made them feel even more novel, to the point that it overshadowed the impact brought by the first.
The Clear Sky Douluo was actually going to marry the Pope, Bibi Dong!
"Have you heard? The Clear Sky Douluo has appeared, and he even went to Spirit City to propose marriage."
"Are you talking about that Clear Sky Douluo from the Clear Sky Sect?"
"Nonsense, is there a second one?"
"I remember doesn't he have a wife? Wasn't it precisely because of that affair that he had a falling out with the Clear Sky Sect back then?"
"Hehe, that's not even the crucial part. Do you know who he is proposing to?"
"Who?"
"The Pope, Bibi Dong!"
"Pfft..."
When they first heard this piece of intelligence, most people felt it was utterly absurd.
Yet upon calming down and thinking about it, they felt it was quite reasonable.
Both of them were Titled Douluos, one was the Pope of Spirit Hall, and the other was the brother of the Clear Sky Sect's master.
One had lost a husband, and one had lost a wife.
Regardless of strength, background, or current status! They were simply a perfect match.
Public opinion grew increasingly distorted under such circumstances.
From everyone opposing it at the very beginning, to later on, the "ship them for ninety-nine years" faction and the opposition faction reaching a fifty-fifty split.
Of course, these were all matters for later.
The Clear Sky Sect likewise received the intelligence regarding Tang Hao storming Spirit City.
"Tang Hao bravely charges into Spirit Hall for love, risking his life to severely injure a Worship Hall elder, all just to prove he is worthy of the Pope."
Tang Xiao placed the intelligence on the table and massaged his temples with a headache.
"Everyone, what do you make of this?"
An elder replied, "Although it is utterly absurd, he is indeed capable of pulling off such a thing."
"Who is asking you about that? I am asking about his injuries! Whether his injuries are truly healed."
Six years.
The last time he had received precise intelligence regarding his younger brother was when someone said Tang Hao was living in seclusion with a child, unwilling to see people from the sect ever again.
Now Tang Hao had not only surfaced, but had even made a trip into Spirit City.
This younger brother of his was always so worrisome!
"Report... Sect Master! A person has arrived outside the mountain gate, and he claims to be Tang Hao!"
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