A Father's Love, a Daughter's Devotion

Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Tang Sanmei was still worried, but she obediently stepped aside.

Of course, she still held a long needle between her fingers, and a flicker of purple crossed her eyes.

If Huo Yuhao showed the slightest sign that he might get hurt...

Dad, please don't blame me...

Tang Sanmei prayed silently.

She had lived two lives, and finding a father had not been easy.

But the Tang Sect's legacy was more important.

Consumed by anger, Tang Hao failed to notice her small movements. Huo Yuhao, however, had the foundation of god-level spiritual power and saw them clearly.

Huo Yuhao sucked in a sharp breath and nearly burst out laughing.

Well, well. Tang San, so your fierce protectiveness and double standards were carved into your bones!

But Tang Hao saw Tang Sanmei obey Huo Yuhao, and it hurt worse than being killed.

When he spoke, his daughter talked back.

When this boy so much as farted, his daughter treated it like an imperial decree.

Huo Yuhao raised his head and met Tang Hao's furious gaze. Neither servile nor arrogant, he said,

"Uncle Tang, right? I understand how you feel. But meeting me was a blessing for Third Lady—and a stroke of fortune for your family."

"Bullshit!"

Tang Hao rolled his eyes in fury.

"You're some half-dead street urchin, and you call it a blessing that my daughter's looking after you?"

"She's doing it willingly. She's happy, isn't she?"

A faint smile tugged at Huo Yuhao's lips as he glanced at Tang Sanmei.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Tang Sanmei nodded beside him like a pestle pounding garlic, afraid Huo Yuhao might change his mind.

"Dad! Serving Senior Brother is a blessing I earned over lifetimes! You don't understand the rules between us..."

"Shut your mouth!"

Clutching his chest, Tang Hao staggered back against the wall. He felt as if he were about to have a heart attack.

Huo Yuhao paid that no mind and went on,

"Uncle Tang, I'm letting this go for Third Lady's sake. Rest assured: since she's sworn to follow me, I'll grant her a fortune beyond measure."

"As long as she behaves, does the laundry, cooks, and takes good care of me, she'll have a place at the pinnacle of Douluo Continent one day."

Tang Hao's face darkened.

A little beggar who looked frailer than his daughter was solemnly claiming he would take her to the pinnacle of the continent?

And the price was making the daughter of the mighty Clear Sky Douluo a maid?

"What arrogance!"

Tang Hao bristled with rage. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to throw out this boy who spouted nonsense without end.

But Tang Sanmei dropped to her knees before Huo Yuhao's bed again, tears of excitement shining in her eyes.

"Thank you for accepting me, Senior Brother! Third Lady swears never to betray you in this life. If I break this oath, may thunder strike me down!"

A male heir!

The rightful lineage!

Restoring the Tang Sect!

To Tang San, steeped in rigid feudal thinking, those three things mattered more than anything.

Huo Yuhao had not rejected her for being a girl. He was even willing to accept her.

To Tang Sanmei, he was practically a living bodhisattva reborn!

"..."

Tang Hao stared at his daughter as she swore her dire oath on the floor. His raised hand froze in midair, and he went numb all over.

At last, he understood.

The tender cabbage he had raised had not only grown legs; she had washed and chopped herself, brought her own pots and pans, and was crying and begging this wild boar to root her up.

Hit the boy? His daughter would stop him.

Drive him away? His daughter would elope with him.

As the mighty Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao had hammered Spirit Hall and hammered Qian Xunji.

Yet today, a little beggar and his own daughter had nearly driven him mad.

"Fine... fine! Just my rotten luck today!"

Tang Hao pointed at Huo Yuhao through gritted teeth and took several deep breaths, trying to talk himself into a compromise.

Then he forced out each word:

"Boy, you can stay here to recover! But from today on, you sleep in the woodshed! And keep your hands off my daughter, or I'll smash you into mince with one blow!"

With that, Tang Hao swept out, his sleeves flaring.

He feared that if he stayed another second, he would either smash the brat to death or burst from the rage those two had given him.

At last, the room fell quiet. Only the patter of rain beyond the window remained.

Watching Tang Hao leave, Huo Yuhao nearly lost his composure.

Who would have thought the Clear Sky Douluo was such a doting father? Tang Sanmei had him wrapped around her finger.

"Senior Brother..."

Only when Tang Hao's footsteps had faded did Tang Sanmei edge up to the bed and look at Huo Yuhao, her face full of guilt.

She anxiously studied his expression, afraid her father's offense had angered the Tang Sect's only male heir enough to cast her out.

"I'm sorry. My dad has a bad temper, and he doesn't know much of the world. He offended you, Senior Brother. Please don't be angry with him."

Tang Sanmei lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes between two uneasy fingers.

Looking at this obedient female version of Tang San, Huo Yuhao finally let out the breath of resentment he had held in since his previous life.

"It's fine. He didn't know any better, so I won't blame him."

Huo Yuhao reached out and patted Tang Sanmei's head, imitating Tang Buddha's sanctimonious manner as he said earnestly,

"Third Lady, I've seen how loyal you are."

"From today on, you're one of mine."

At that promise of a place beside him, an excited flush spread across Tang Sanmei's delicate face. She nodded hard.

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

"Go. Bring me water to wash my feet."

Huo Yuhao lay back on the bed as though it were only natural and closed his eyes.

"After I soak my feet, I'll give you a thorough test tonight on your mastery of our sect's secret arts."

"Yes, Senior Brother! Third Lady will heat the water right away!"

Tang Sanmei felt not the slightest humiliation at being treated like a maid. Instead, she scampered out as if she had received a magnificent reward, her very back brimming with eager energy.

As Tang Sanmei chopped wood and heated water in the courtyard outside, Huo Yuhao leaned against the headboard and gazed at the night sky from ten thousand years ago. A cold smile curled his lips.

The Douluo Continent of ten thousand years ago was truly fascinating.

Yu Xiaogang, Shrek Academy, the Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and Spirit Hall...

Since heaven gave me another chance with my memories intact, I, Huo Yuhao, will take over every path Tang San was meant to walk and every opportunity he was meant to claim!

Then he heard Tang Hao grumbling in distress over Tang Sanmei heating the water, followed by her indignant retort. The smile in Huo Yuhao's eyes deepened.

As for you, future Sea God and Asura God King?

In this life, you can stay behind me and obediently spend your days as an outer disciple of the Tang Sect!

Huo Yuhao closed his eyes, and his consciousness sank into his spiritual sea once more.

Though Brother Sky Dream, the Ice Empress, and the others were still asleep, he could feel the gray power that had protected his true spirit slowly flowing.

Teacher, Bing'er, Brother Sky Dream... once I've repaired my spiritual sea, I'll wake you.

In this life, we won't be pieces moved by a God King.

We'll be the only ones holding the pieces on Douluo Continent!