Just as Yang Chang'an took Niu Wenchuan away to bandage his wounds, hurried footsteps sounded outside.
"Second Brother! This is bad! Something terrible has happened!"
The voice was unmistakably panicked. They knew at once that it was Yang Xue.
Yang Xue was usually composed and levelheaded, rarely losing her cool like this. Anything that could leave her so frantic had to be earth-shattering.
Yang Wushuang and Niu Yue, who had been talking nearby, turned almost simultaneously, their expressions instantly grave.
With a shift of his feet, Yang Wushuang appeared before Yang Xue. He reached out to steady her and lowered his voice. "Xiao Xue, don't panic. Take your time. What exactly happened?"
Niu Yue hurried over as well. His burly frame stood beside them as his wary gaze swept their surroundings, his soul power secretly coiled tight.
What could have frightened Yang Xue so badly? Had something gone wrong with Spirit Hall?
Yang Xue panted, her face slightly pale. Grabbing Yang Wushuang's arm, she said urgently, "Second Brother, Demon Bear Douluo is here! And the moment he came through the door, he demanded to see you by name!"
"What?!"
Yang Wushuang's and Niu Yue's expressions changed at the same time.
Both of them knew that name all too well.
Demon Bear Douluo was a veteran elder of Spirit Hall's Elder Hall, a genuine level-ninety-four Power Attack System Titled Douluo. He was immensely powerful, and his domineering temper was even more notorious.
More importantly-
Of everyone in Spirit Hall, the one who disliked the Yang and Niu families most, targeting them at every turn, was this very Demon Bear Douluo.
People in Spirit Hall generally held one of three attitudes toward their families: some, like Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, treated them with reasonable courtesy and occasionally lent them a hand;
Some ignored them completely, treating them like empty air;
And the last sort were sworn enemies like Demon Bear Douluo, who despised them from the bottom of their hearts, made trouble at every turn, and suppressed them at the slightest excuse.
Yang Wushuang's gaze instantly chilled, and a powerful unease rose in his heart.
Yang Xue's face turned deathly pale, and even the hand gripping Yang Wushuang trembled slightly.
The first thing that sprang into her mind was the Seven-Colored Splendor. Could it be... that Spirit Hall was finally turning hostile, ready to kill us to silence us?
Yang Wushuang quickly patted the back of her hand and said in a low voice, "Don't panic. Nothing will happen."
He swiftly weighed the situation. Chang'an had already established a connection with Light Feather Douluo. However arrogant Demon Bear Douluo might be, he still belonged to the Worship Hall's faction and would never dare slight Light Feather Douluo.
Once he had thought that through, Yang Wushuang felt considerably more at ease.
He patted Yang Xue's arm, his voice firm. "Don't worry. With me here, nothing will happen. I'll go see him now."
With that, Yang Wushuang straightened his robes and strode toward the reception hall.
Niu Yue immediately followed, his gaze icy and every muscle taut, ready to strike at any moment.
The two soon reached the front reception hall.
In the seat of honor lounged an immensely burly man, broad and powerful as a black bear, his legs planted wide. He wore black robes, his bulging muscles almost bursting through the fabric. His face was thick with flesh, and his eyes were vicious.
It was Demon Bear Douluo.
Beside him, carefully attending to him with a forced smile, was Yang Quji.
Catching sight of Yang Wushuang and Niu Yue from the corner of his eye, Demon Bear Douluo immediately snorted. His voice was rough and cold, heavy with displeasure:
"Hmph! How long has it been, Yang Wushuang, and only now do you deign to see me? What, has your Yang Family already forgotten its place? Do you no longer regard me as an elder?"
Yang Quji inwardly groaned.
Demon Bear Douluo had been seated for less than a minute and had not even finished a cup of wine, yet he was already impatient.
But Yang Quji could only steel himself and smooth things over, hastily smiling apologetically. "Please calm your anger, Your Eminence! Please! Wushuang was attending to a small family matter and was unavoidably delayed. He never meant to slight you. Please don't hold it against him!"
"Delayed?" Demon Bear Douluo swept Yang Quji with a disdainful glance, his tone mocking:
"How busy could a bishop with no authority possibly be? Busier than a Titled Douluo like me? I think you're deliberately making a fool of me!"
As his words fell, Yang Wushuang and Niu Yue reached the middle of the hall.
Yang Wushuang stepped forward and bowed slightly to Demon Bear Douluo, offering the salute of a subordinate. His tone was respectful. "Your subordinate, Yang Wushuang, greets you, Elder. I was caught up in other matters and failed to welcome you at the door. Please forgive me, Elder."
Demon Bear Douluo acted as though he had not seen him. Holding his cup, he sipped his wine leisurely and watched the bowed Yang Wushuang with an amused gaze, showing no intention of allowing him to straighten.
Beside them, Niu Yue's eyes reddened at the sight. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and fury filled his face.
Demon Bear Douluo was going far too far!
Yang Wushuang remained bowed where he stood, utterly motionless.
Time crept past, every second seeming unbearably long.
Demon Bear Douluo "admired" the sight for quite some time before finally losing interest. He waved a hand languidly. "Enough. Stand up. Keep bowing like that, and anyone who doesn't know better might think I was bullying you."
"Thank you, Elder."
Only then did Yang Wushuang slowly straighten. His expression remained calm, betraying neither anger nor grievance, as though he had not been the one deliberately humiliated just now.
He raised his eyes to Demon Bear Douluo and asked evenly, "May I ask what important instructions have brought you here today, Elder?"
At the words "important instructions," a mocking smile curled across Demon Bear Douluo's lips. His gaze slowly swept the Yang Family's humble reception hall, and his voice dripped with sarcasm:
"What? Can't I visit your Yang Family without a reason? Is your doorstep higher than the Papal Hall's?"
Yet Yang Wushuang showed not a trace of panic. Instead, he smiled faintly, neither servile nor overbearing. "You jest, Elder. Your personal visit is an honor to our Yang Family. Your presence lends splendor to our humble home. We couldn't welcome you warmly enough."
His unshakable composure, impervious to every jab, left Demon Bear Douluo thoroughly bored. He had wanted to see Yang Wushuang flustered and frightened, but had seen none of it.
"Boring." Demon Bear Douluo snorted impatiently and leaned back in his chair, his gaze turning to Niu Yue. "Good, you're here too. That saves me another trip."
"Some time ago, the lords over at the Worship Hall decided to set up a special training camp, just to amuse themselves. Those above have taken an interest in Yang Chang'an and Niu Wenchuan from your two families."
"Send them over tomorrow. Understood?"
At those words, Yang Wushuang and Niu Yue were both startled!
What surprised Yang Wushuang was that Niu Wenchuan had been selected too. He had thought the Worship Hall would name only Chang'an, never expecting Wenchuan to catch their eye as well.
Niu Yue, meanwhile, was both shocked and furious. How long had it been since those two children awakened their martial souls? They had only been Soul Masters for a few days, and Spirit Hall's people had already set their sights on them!
Before Niu Yue could speak, Yang Wushuang stopped him.
The next moment, Yang Wushuang stepped forward and answered respectfully, "Understood! I will deliver both children on time tomorrow without fail!"
Crisp, decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Demon Bear Douluo raised his brows in mild surprise and glanced at Yang Wushuang. Whether his words were praise or mockery was impossible to tell. "You certainly know which way the wind blows."
Yang Wushuang's expression did not change. He gave Niu Yue a reassuring look, then slowly said, "As members of Spirit Hall, it is only right that we share Spirit Hall's burdens."
"Is that so?"
Demon Bear Douluo suddenly spread his lips in a savage grin, his tone turning sharply cruel. "Just like when you served as shields for the Clear Sky Sect back then?"
The instant those words left his mouth, deathly silence fell over the hall.
Yang Wushuang, who had remained as calm as still water throughout, suddenly darkened, a trace of barely concealed malice flashing in his eyes.
Beside him, Niu Yue was even more furious, his soul power on the verge of erupting!
Those words did not merely mock them. They also insulted the dead of the Yang and Niu families!