They headed back toward Spirit City.
On the way, Lin Hao deliberately brought something up with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
"Teacher, Uncle Ghost, I suspect that Tang San might be Tang Hao's son."
"Golden Chrysanthemum Village doesn't have a blacksmith, but I've heard the uncles and aunties in the village mention him."
"There's a blacksmith named Tang Hao in Holy Soul Village. He drinks all day and named his son Tang San. It sounds like he barely put any thought into it."
"The time and place both match up. They're probably the same person."
A sharp gleam flashed through Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes, and he nodded.
"This information is very important. We'll report it to His Holiness the Pope as well."
Soon, after returning to Spirit City,
Lin Hao headed straight for the Pope Hall with his teacher, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo.
Inside the Pope Hall.
Bibi Dong sat high on the papal throne. After hearing Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo's report, fury spread across her elegant, regal face, and she slammed the Pope's Scepter against the floor.
"Tang Hao!"
"First he killed my teacher, Qian Xunji, and now he dares to plot against a genius of our Spirit Hall. He's courting death!"
After rising and pacing back and forth a few times, Bibi Dong spoke coldly.
"Although Tang Hao escaped, if his son is at Nuoding Academy, this will be easy."
"As long as we capture that Tang San, Tang Hao will have no choice but to show himself!"
"I will personally accompany you and bring Tang Hao to justice!"
"In addition, I will inform the Great Enshrined and request assistance from the Worship Hall."
Soon, inside the Angel Temple in the Douluo Hall,
Qian Daoliu received the news.
Yet his brows knitted tightly, and he pondered it for a long time.
"Tang Hao has appeared again?"
He knew full well that Tang Hao was not the true murderer of his son, Qian Xunji.
As for Bibi Dong's proposed plan to capture Tang Hao's son and use him to threaten Tang Hao,
by Qian Daoliu's moral standards, it was rather dishonorable.
But when he considered that Tang Hao had even attempted to ambush and kill Lin Hao, whom he thought highly of, Qian Daoliu deliberated briefly before issuing an order.
"Notify Demon Subduing Douluo and Qian Jun Douluo to accompany them."
"But remember, there is no need to act against Tang San. Simply ensure the safety of Lin Hao and the Spirit Hall personnel!"
Soon, a formidable party departed from Spirit City.
Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, Qian Jun Douluo, Demon Subduing Douluo, and Lin Hao headed straight for Nuoding City.
But when they reached Nuoding Academy, they found their target absent.
Bibi Dong had the headmaster summoned for questioning and learned that Tang San seemed to have gone to hunt for a Soul Ring and had not yet returned.
Bibi Dong frowned slightly, then made her decision after a moment's thought.
"Elder Ju, Ghost Elder, come with me to lie in wait at the Soul Hunting Forest Tang San went to."
"Hao, wait for news in Nuoding City with Qian Jun Douluo and Demon Subduing Douluo."
Lin Hao was delighted to hear this.
With things arranged this way,
once they returned, he could naturally tell his teacher and Uncle Ghost that he had discovered Xiao Wu!
After Bibi Dong left with his teacher, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo,
to keep Qian Jun Douluo and Demon Subduing Douluo from discovering Xiao Wu,
Lin Hao offered an excuse.
"Grandpa Qian Jun, Grandpa Jiang Mo, we can't just keep waiting around at Nuoding Academy."
"Why don't we stay at the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City instead? I can use this time to cultivate."
"As for keeping an eye on Nuoding Academy, we can have the Spirit Hall Branch send someone to watch it and notify us immediately if there's any news."
Qian Jun Douluo and Demon Subduing Douluo exchanged a glance. Both felt that his suggestion made sense, and approval shone in their eyes.
He was so talented, yet still so devoted to cultivation.
Excellent! Excellent!
The two readily agreed and accompanied Lin Hao to the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City.
Once they reached the Spirit Hall Branch,
Lin Hao asked Grandpa Ma Xiunuo for a quiet room. After consuming a Spirit-Gathering Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, he sat cross-legged and immersed himself in cultivation.
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong flew through the air at full speed with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
Before long, they arrived outside the Soul Hunting Forest.
The three stationed themselves outside the forest gates, waiting for Yu Xiaogang and Tang San to emerge.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
That day, at the Soul Hunting Forest's exit,
two figures slowly emerged, supporting each other.
They were none other than Tang Hao and Yu Xiaogang!
This trip to the Soul Hunting Forest had gone just as it had in the original plot.
Whether because of his own schemes or sheer arrogance, Yu Xiaogang had actually taken Tang San to hunt for a Soul Ring all by himself.
They had nearly become a feast for a Mandala Snake.
In the end, he had only been saved thanks to Tang San.
Everyone had been registered upon entering the Soul Hunting Forest.
Thus, once Yu Xiaogang and Tang San emerged, showed their entry tokens, and gave their names, the captain guarding the Soul Hunting Forest recognized them.
The captain glanced at the names in the register, then looked up at the two before him. A cold smile curled his lips, and he discreetly waved a hand.
Several fully armed guards immediately closed in, surrounding Yu Xiaogang and Tang San.
"Seize them!"
The captain barked coldly.
"What are you doing?!"
Yu Xiaogang's expression changed drastically, and he instinctively shielded Tang San behind him.
"We're a teacher and student from Nuoding Academy, and we have valid Soul Hunting permits! What right do you have to arrest us?!"
The captain merely smiled coldly.
"By order of His Holiness the Pope and the two elders, we are taking Tang San into custody!"
"Save whatever you have to say for His Holiness the Pope!"
Yu Xiaogang and Tang San struggled desperately.
But Yu Xiaogang was merely a Soul Grandmaster who could do nothing but fart. He had also been poisoned by the Mandala Snake and, having only just been treated, was extremely weak.
Tang San was only a Soul Scholar who had just obtained his first Soul Ring, with nothing but the hidden weapon Sleeve Arrow at hand.
How could they possibly be a match for these well-trained guards?
Soon, both were subdued and had their hands bound.
The captain immediately sent someone to notify Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo.
Shortly afterward,
having received the message, Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo hurried to the Soul Hunting Forest's exit.
But when Bibi Dong clearly saw the middle-aged man with bound hands, dressed in a black scholar's robe, his hair cropped short and his face stiff and weak, she froze. Her footsteps involuntarily came to a halt.
How could it be him?
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking.
The reason they had not reported beforehand that Tang San's teacher was Yu Xiaogang was precisely because they feared Bibi Dong would soften upon learning it and refuse to arrest them.
The headmaster of Nuoding Academy had also only said that Tang San had gone Soul Hunting, without mentioning that his teacher, Yu Xiaogang, had accompanied him.
Thus, Bibi Dong had never expected to encounter Yu Xiaogang here.
At the sight of Bibi Dong, a flicker of astonishment first crossed Yu Xiaogang's stiff face, then anger surged through him. Struggling, he roared hoarsely.
"Bibi Dong! Whatever this is about, come at me!"
"Why are you targeting my disciple, Tang San?!"
"I, Yu Xiaogang, have no son. In my heart, my disciple Tang San is no different from my own flesh and blood!"
"If you dare harm a single hair on his head, you'd better kill me along with him today. Otherwise, I, Yu Xiaogang, will never let you off for as long as I live!"
Bibi Dong fell silent at his words.
A complicated, indescribable emotion flashed through her beautiful violet-black eyes.
There was pain, inner conflict, remembrance, anger...
Looking at the man before her, the man for whom she had once given everything, yet who had wounded her so deeply, Bibi Dong could not find any words.
Only after a long while,
did Bibi Dong give a cold laugh and speak.
"Your disciple's father is Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao!"
"He previously attempted to attack a genius of our Spirit Hall. So what if I kill this disciple of yours?"
Yu Xiaogang froze for a moment, then stiffened his neck and shouted indignantly.
"Your Spirit Hall proclaims itself the leader of the continent and always boasts of acting openly and honorably!"
"His Excellency Haotian's feud with your Spirit Hall is his own affair!"
"If you use a child to threaten him, aren't you afraid the whole world will mock you when word gets out?!"
Bibi Dong fell silent again. She stood there without speaking for a long time, as though his words had struck home.
The air around them seemed to solidify.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo watched her anxiously, but neither dared urge her on.
After a long while, Bibi Dong drew a deep breath, her voice cold and resolute.
"He is Tang Hao's son. That alone is his crime!"
Yet immediately afterward, Bibi Dong changed her tone and continued.
"But he is indeed still young."
"Since Tang Hao is not beside him, our Spirit Hall naturally will not stoop to using a child to threaten someone!"
"We're leaving!"
With that, Bibi Dong abruptly turned, ready to leave.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo could scarcely believe their ears.
Both stood rooted to the spot, their faces filled with disbelief.
Chrysanthemum Douluo could not help stepping forward and speaking urgently.
"Your Holiness! When Tang Hao attacked Lin Hao, Lin Hao was only an eight-year-old child!"
"If Tang Hao could do it, why can't we?!"
Bibi Dong halted. She turned back, her gaze icy as frost and carrying an authority that brooked no resistance.
"Yue Guan, Gui Mei, do you two intend to defy my orders as Pope and bring dishonor upon Spirit Hall?"
Anger and humiliation surged through Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, but in the end, neither dared disobey the Pope's command.
They clenched their teeth and lowered their heads. Their voices carried suppressed resentment, yet all they could do was answer.
"...Yes!"
Before you continue