Tang Hao

Seeing Zhao Wuji's expression soften a little, Tang Xuan hurriedly took out another bottle of pills.

"Teacher Zhao, this is a bottle of Third-Grade Healing Pills. They'll help your injuries heal. Please also accept them as my thanks for your hands-on combat guidance today," Tang Xuan said with a smile.

Zhao Wuji looked at Tang Xuan. This kid really knew how to say things that pleased the ear. "All right, then. I'll accept them," he said, taking the pills and leaving. An entire bottle of third-grade pills was a considerable fortune to Zhao Wuji, who had only received his salary a handful of times. As for why Tang Xuan had given him a whole bottle, it was mainly because he feared Zhao Wuji wouldn't have enough for tonight. Tang Xuan had already faintly sensed a familiar presence appearing around Shrek. Zhao Wuji wouldn't escape what was coming tonight.

After the battle, everyone was tired. Following Dai Mubai's arrangements, they returned to their respective dorm rooms to rest. Dai Mubai already had a roommate, while Tang San shared a room with Oscar. On the girls' side, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing stayed together. That left Tang Xuan with a room to himself, which suited him perfectly. Living alone would make his usual pill refining and cultivation more convenient.

After returning to his room, he went straight into meditative cultivation. His battle with Zhao Wuji today was well worth reflecting on.

Late that night,

"Ah! Oh, ah..." A scream interrupted Tang Xuan's cultivation in his room. He opened the window and saw a flock of startled birds rise from the woods.

"That should be it," Tang Xuan muttered. Then he leaped out the window and flew toward the woods beside the academy, where the cries had come from.

In the woods, a large swath of vegetation had been knocked down, leaving the surroundings in shambles. A man in black robes was brutally beating Zhao Wuji. Facing this black-robed man, the mighty level seventy-eight Power Attack System Battle Soul Saint Zhao Wuji couldn't fight back in the slightest. Flender was there too, but he merely stood to one side and watched quietly, showing no intention of stepping in to help Zhao Wuji. His expression went through all sorts of changes, and every so often, he even covered his eyes with the wings on his back. Zhao Wuji was being beaten so badly that he couldn't bear to watch.

The utterly one-sided beating lasted a quarter of an hour before the black-robed man stopped. Zhao Wuji struggled to climb off the ground, his head swollen all around. The injuries elsewhere were less obvious, but he had taken a severe beating all over. Poor Zhao Wuji hadn't yet recovered from his battle with Tang Xuan, and now he had fresh injuries on top of the old ones. He was drenched in sweat, as though he had just endured a passage through purgatory. He swayed, unable to stand steadily, and Flender stepped forward to support him.

"Thank you for showing mercy, Your Eminence," Zhao Wuji said to the black-robed man, cupping his fist.

The black-robed man didn't respond. Like a phantom, he appeared beside Zhao Wuji in an instant, despite having been four or five meters away just a moment earlier. He lowered his head and whispered something into Zhao Wuji's ear, and a trace of joy gradually appeared on Zhao Wuji's bruised face.

"Zhao Wuji, do you understand?" the black-robed man asked.

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Eminence," Zhao Wuji immediately said, cupping his fist and bowing.

Tang Xuan searched from the air for a while before finally pinpointing their location. They were several hundred meters from the academy; without his precise spiritual power perception, he really wouldn't have found them. He landed a little over ten meters away and quietly observed them.

The black-robed man suddenly turned his head, looking straight toward Tang Xuan's hiding place. "Since you're here, come out," he said abruptly. Hearing his words, Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged a glance, then looked around in confusion. Could there be a fourth person here besides the three of them?

Tang Xuan knew those words were directed at him. Realizing he had been discovered, he could only step out of the bushes.

"Xuan, what are you doing here?" Flender exclaimed. More than anything, though, he was astonished. Tang Xuan, a mere Soul Elder, had hidden nearby without either him or Zhao Wuji, two high-level Soul Saints, noticing a thing. How had Tang Xuan done it?

"Dean Flender, Teacher Zhao." Tang Xuan bowed to them. Then he turned to look at that face he knew better than any other. His emotions were tangled, and he didn't know what to say.

"Dad," he called in a trembling voice. He didn't know whether he felt excitement or resentment. The bonds of family were the hardest to sever. The black-robed man who had beaten Zhao Wuji was Tang Hao, who had disappeared for six whole years! His hair was still a tangled mess, his sallow face looked even older, and the black robes he wore were somewhat tattered. Seeing Tang Hao like this, Tang Xuan felt an inexplicable ache in his heart. Tang Hao merely looked straight at him without speaking.

"Your Eminence, we'll take our leave, then," Flender said to Tang Hao, cupping his fist. Father and son had been reunited; he and Zhao Wuji were far too out of place here. Tang Hao gave no response, tacitly accepting Flender's request. Flender supported Zhao Wuji, and the two limped away.

Zhao Wuji really had it rough: beaten by the son during the day, then thrashed by the father at night. He had received the whole family combo. Just how vast was the shadow this had cast over his heart?

"Xuan, you've been a wonderful surprise. You've done very well all these years," Tang Hao suddenly said after a long silence. Tang Xuan didn't answer, merely listening quietly. Tang Hao continued, "You're an outstanding Soul Master and a worthy older brother. You've done better than I have as a father. Xuan, do you and San resent me?" He paused, then added, "For leaving you and San alone when you were so young, and staying away from you for six whole years."

"I have to admit that I haven't been a proper father." As he spoke, Tang Hao turned his back to Tang Xuan. He felt guilty toward both brothers, and had ever since they were born. He hadn't protected their mother, leaving them to grow up without ever knowing a mother's love. He didn't want Tang Xuan to see him looking so sentimental.

Looking at Tang Hao's back, Tang Xuan stepped straight forward and hugged him.

"Dad, I don't blame you, and San has never blamed you either. We felt lost when you left us, but we've never hated you. You'll always be our father." Perhaps he had felt a little resentment toward Tang Hao before, but now that he saw him again, all that remained in his heart was a son's longing for his father.

Tang Hao turned and hugged Tang Xuan. "Thank you, Xuan." Tang Xuan's words had lifted much of the burden from his heart.

During their embrace, Tang Xuan casually placed his hand over Tang Hao's pulse. Over these years, alongside his studies in pill refining, he had learned some pharmacology as well, so a simple pulse diagnosis was naturally no trouble for him. The moment his hand touched Tang Hao's pulse, however, he jolted in shock, his eyes widening in disbelief. Was this even a human body? His internal organs were displaced, his meridians twisted and knotted, and the flow of blood and vital energy throughout his body was obstructed. Only Tang Hao could survive injuries like these. An ordinary person would have dropped dead long ago. Tang Hao's profound soul power allowed him to suppress his injuries, but the more he forcibly suppressed them, the worse they would accumulate. Tang Xuan had anticipated that Tang Hao was injured, but he hadn't imagined his condition was this severe. It was completely beyond his expectations.

Tang Xuan withdrew his hand and asked carefully, "Dad, your injuries...?" Tang Hao released him.

"Xuan, you noticed."

"Dad, your injuries need to be treated immediately. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what? I'll die? Don't worry. Your old man isn't that fragile. You don't need to concern yourself with me. Just take care of your own affairs." Tang Hao interrupted Tang Xuan and stubbornly turned away. Seeing his unyielding attitude, Tang Xuan knew he wouldn't be able to persuade him. He took several small medicine bottles from his Heaven and Earth Ring and handed one to Tang Hao.

"Dad, there are three Fourth-Grade Healing Pills in here. Taking one a month will effectively suppress your injuries. Once I find a solution, I'll help you cure them for good." After years of painstaking exploration, Tang Xuan had finally reached the threshold of refining fourth-grade pills. He had prepared these three pills specifically for Tang Hao.

"And these three bottles contain third-grade Meridian-Opening Pills. They promote blood circulation and clear blood stasis. Take one every day; they'll help your injuries too." This time, Tang Hao didn't refuse. He accepted them one by one, knowing they were an expression of Tang Xuan's care.

"Dad, aren't you going to see San? He's at the academy right now." Tang San missed Tang Hao no less than he did.

"No. You'll take good care of him. Seeing me now won't do him any good." With that, Tang Hao turned to leave, but Tang Xuan blocked his path. "What else is there?"

"Dad, I want you to promise me something."

"What is it? Tell me."

Tang Xuan thought for a moment, then spoke anyway. "I hope you'll avoid fighting as much as possible, especially with Soul Masters at your level, so your injuries won't get any worse. If your condition deteriorates further..."

"All right, all right. So much nagging. I'll do my best." Tang Hao impatiently cut him off, then leaped away and vanished into the night. Looking in the direction Tang Hao had disappeared, Tang Xuan muttered, "Stubborn old man." Then he turned and sped toward the academy.