Too Lazy to Argue About This Nonsense

"Senior Brother, what are you thinking about?"

Tang Sanmei handed Huo Yuhao a slice of snow pear she had cut. Seeing his thoughtful expression, she asked softly.

"Nothing. Just thinking about where to take you to find some opportunities once we've settled in."

Huo Yuhao swallowed the pear and tossed out a casual answer.

Tang Sanmei's eyes brightened. She assumed her senior brother was wearing himself out over the sect's grand cause again. Touched and aching for him, she silently vowed to take even better care of him once they reached Heaven Dou City.

Several days later, the carriage finally crossed the Heaven Dou Empire's vast plains.

The outline of a towering city gradually appeared on the horizon.

They had reached Heaven Dou City.

The carriage slowed to a stop beside a quiet grove, still some distance from the city gate.

The curtain lifted, and Tang Hao jumped down from the driver's seat with a grim face, flinging an empty wine jar aside.

As they approached Heaven Dou City, where the various powers were tangled together like roots, a hint of wariness crept into Tang Hao's usually clouded eyes.

He turned. His gaze paused on Xiao Wu, who was carefree as ever, gnawing on a carrot. Something complicated flickered in his eyes.

But he said nothing to her, turning instead to Huo Yuhao and Tang Sanmei.

"You kept the letter I left you, right?"

Tang Hao asked.

"Don't worry, Dad. I've kept it on me the whole time!"

Tang Sanmei patted her chest and answered earnestly.

Tang Hao nodded, his expression grave.

"Once you're inside, don't wander around the streets. Go straight to Moonlight Pavilion in the east of the city. Take the letter to its mistress. She's your... your aunt..."

"My aunt?"

Surprise filled Tang Sanmei's face.

This was the first time in her life Tang Hao had mentioned that she even had an aunt.

Through all those years in Holy Soul Village, Tang Hao had spent his days either drinking or forging. He had never mentioned any other relatives.

"Yes. Your aunt by blood."

Tang Hao's voice dropped, and guilt flickered in his eyes.

"Her name is Tang Yuehua. She's my younger sister. She has some standing in Heaven Dou City; even the imperial family treats her with respect."

"Take the letter to her. She'll arrange a place for you to stay and help you enter an advanced Soul Master Academy."

As he spoke, reluctance flashed in Tang Hao's eyes when he looked at Tang Sanmei.

After all, they had been father and daughter and had lived together for more than a decade.

Tang Hao's hand hesitated in midair before settling on Tang Sanmei's head. In a rare show of affection, he ruffled her hair.

But he quickly withdrew it and coughed twice to hide his embarrassment.

"Sanmei, Heaven Dou City isn't some backwater like Nuoding City. There are people from all the major sects there, and a Platinum Bishop from Spirit Hall."

He glanced at Huo Yuhao and said reluctantly,

"I may not like this brat, but he does know a thing or two about dealing with people. If something's beyond you, listen to him."

Tang Sanmei nodded solemnly, her eyes reddening.

"Yes! I know, Dad. I'll definitely listen to Senior Brother!"

Tang Hao's mouth twitched at her earnest expression. He had the feeling his warning had gone to waste.

"You don't have to listen to him about everything... especially when the brat tries to take advantage of you! Keep your wits about you!"

Tang Sanmei blushed. Having grown up alongside Xiao Wu, she understood what Tang Hao meant, but she lifted her chin and protested.

"What are you saying, Dad? Senior Brother is a true gentleman, and he's our hope! Whatever he asks me to do, it's for the Tang Sect's grand cause. Even if... even if..."

Her eyes darted toward Huo Yuhao. Blushing to the tips of her ears, she muttered,

"That wouldn't be out of the question either..."

"Hiss!"

Tang Hao sucked in a sharp breath, nearly dropping dead on the spot.

Do you have any idea what you're saying?

What the hell!

I don't want to become a grandfather this early!

"Actually... Uncle Tang is right... Sanmei, you don't have to be so... so..."

Huo Yuhao's face went red. After struggling for words, he finally found one that fit.

"...ready to sacrifice yourself."

What the hell?

What the fuck was going on with Tang Sanmei?

He had lived a second life and even shattered a divine seat, but looking at his blushing junior sister, ready to sacrifice herself for the Tang Sect's grand cause at a moment's notice, Huo Yuhao felt his scalp prickle.

In his previous life, Tang San had been ruthless and scheming, manipulating everyone under heaven. How had reincarnating as a girl left her head so full of feudal nonsense?

She had not only volunteered to serve as a maid, bringing tea and water; now she was prepared to surrender her freedom and her whole self!

"Senior Brother! Don't listen to my dad's nonsense!"

Huo Yuhao's words only made Tang Sanmei more anxious. She argued her case with solemn conviction.

"By the Tang Sect's rules, an outer disciple who receives the inner sect's secret arts must swear a death oath! Everything I can do comes from the Tang Sect. As the sect's only legitimate heir, you have a claim not just on me. Even if you asked for my life one day, I wouldn't so much as furrow my brow!"

Tang Hao's mouth twitched.

What a fine Tang Sect.

What a fine legitimate heir.

The Tang Sect, is it? You'd better hope I never catch you, or you'll be sorry.

I'd like to see who managed to brainwash my daughter right under my nose!

Grinding his teeth, Tang Hao silently cursed that damned Tang Sect from top to bottom, back eighteen generations.

He was a direct descendant of the Clear Sky Sect, the Clear Sky Douluo whose name shook the continent, yet he had never even heard of this sinister sect that brainwashed little girls!

If he ever found out where this so-called Tang Sect was based, he would take his Clear Sky Hammer there and smash its main hall to pieces!

Tang Hao drew a deep breath and pressed a hand to his throbbing temple.

He knew that if he kept arguing about this blasted subject,

his own daughter would finish him off before they even entered the city.

"Enough! I'm too damn lazy to hear you go on about this nonsense!"

Tang Hao waved a hand irritably, cutting the conversation short.

He turned away, avoiding Tang Sanmei's gaze as though she were a plague.

His eyes settled on Xiao Wu.

Caught without warning under that fierce gaze, Xiao Wu froze mid-bite, her cheeks puffed out around a mouthful of carrot. Even the bunny ears on her headband seemed to stand upright in fright as she instinctively shrank behind Tang Sanmei.

Tang Hao lowered his voice, his tone heavy.

"And you, Xiao Wu!"

Xiao Wu timidly poked half her head out and answered in a trembling voice.

"Huh? U-Uncle..."

"Don't play cute with me!"

Tang Hao stared at her. A complicated look crossed his eyes as he warned her, stressing every word.

"I made everything clear to Yuehua in the letter! Once you reach Moonlight Pavilion, you are not to set a single foot outside its doors without her permission! Even if the sky falls, you stay inside that building. Got it?"