The Tang Brothers' Departure!

"Hao, why have those dark circles under your eyes been getting worse lately?"

"Make sure you get a good night's rest."

Over the next few days, they all stayed at the inn.

They went out shopping and sightseeing during the day and returned to the inn to rest at night.

Ever since she had begun dual cultivation with Gu Shengge, Ah Yin had been radiant, growing more beautiful by the day.

And whenever they went shopping, she practically wanted to hang off Gu Shengge to stake her claim.

After all, whenever they went out shopping, the women outside looked at Gu Shengge as though they wanted to devour him.

The way those women looked at Gu Shengge made her jealous and uncomfortable.

But even as she felt jealous, Ah Yin was also delighted.

Such an outstanding man belonged to her, Ah Yin.

After entering Gu Shengge's room that night, Ah Yin had simply given up her own room and chosen to live with him.

Now, Ah Yin and Gu Shengge's relationship was completely out in the open among the four of them.

Tang Hao, who stayed next door to Gu Shengge, lay awake every night. Listening to the sounds from the next room, he felt as though knives were slicing through his heart.

Under this repeated self-torment, Tang Hao felt his state of mind growing increasingly abnormal.

Hearing his older brother's voice, Tang Hao's eyes flickered.

"It's nothing. I've just been having trouble sleeping lately."

Hearing this, Tang Xiao, who sat opposite Tang Hao, looked at him with a grave expression and said earnestly, "Hao, tell your big brother the truth. Do you have feelings for Ah Yin?"

"I..."

At his eldest brother's words, Tang Hao was at a loss for words.

"Hao, don't you know that a friend's wife is off-limits?"

"What's more, she's Brother Gu's woman."

"Brother Gu is our brother. How could you harbor such filthy thoughts!"

"Ah Yin is indeed beautiful and gentle, but she isn't yours."

Seeing Tang Hao at a loss for words, Tang Xiao exploded. He strode up to Tang Hao, grabbed his collar with both hands, and stared at his dispirited face, furious at his failure to do better.

"If Ah Yin didn't like Brother Gu, you could compete openly and honorably with him for that chance."

"But anyone with eyes can see that Ah Yin trusted and relied on Brother Gu from the very beginning. Lately, she's been glued to his side all day, inseparable as a body and its shadow."

"Brother Gu and Ah Yin are already together. How can you still harbor such thoughts!"

"Tang Hao, are you even human!!!"

Watching his younger brother look increasingly dispirited, Tang Xiao flushed red with anger and wished he could slap him twice to bring him to his senses.

"Do you think I want this?"

"I don't want this either!"

Hearing his eldest brother's words and seeing his fury, Tang Hao looked at him in utter distress. "I don't know why, but the moment I first saw Ah Yin, a voice appeared in my mind, as though it were telling me that Ah Yin was mine."

"If I lose Ah Yin, I'll lose what matters most."

"I don't want to be like this. I don't want to be like this either."

"I know this is wrong, but... but I can't control myself!"

"When I see how Ah Yin acts toward Brother Gu, it feels like knives are slicing through my heart."

"I know there's something wrong with me, but I really can't control myself."

"Every night, staying next door to Brother Gu and hearing the sounds from his room, my heart feels as though it's being sliced by knives, bleeding without end."

"Big Brother, I don't want this either."

"I'm sorry, Big Brother. I'm sorry."

"I've wronged you and Brother Gu, but... but I really can't control myself."

As he spoke, tears were already streaming down the young man's face.

Seeing his younger brother breaking down in tears before him, Tang Xiao released his grip, his gaze filled with heartache.

His younger brother had always been strong-willed since childhood and had never cried.

Even when he had been injured back then, he had never shed a single tear.

But seeing his younger brother crying like a child before him, Tang Xiao's own eyes slowly reddened.

"Hao, you haven't wronged me."

"The one you've wronged is Brother Gu."

This time, Tang Xiao's voice was very gentle.

As he spoke, Tang Xiao reached out and patted Tang Hao's shoulder, his voice filled with resolve. "Hao, feelings are something no one can fully explain."

"To keep you from continuing down the wrong path or doing anything that would wrong Brother Gu, I'll take you to bid Brother Gu and Ah Yin farewell tomorrow."

"After that, I'll keep traveling with you."

"There are countless women out there. You'll eventually meet someone better than Ah Yin."

"No matter what, we must never do anything to wrong Brother Gu. Even thoughts like yours shouldn't exist."

"We men of the Tang family should stand tall between heaven and earth. We must never become filthy, despicable scoundrels."

"Bury this matter deep in your heart and forget it completely."

"Tomorrow, we'll apologize to Brother Gu, then say goodbye."

"Only when you've truly let go and put this behind you will we have the face to see Brother Gu again."

Hearing his brother's words, Tang Hao nodded, determination showing in his eyes. "We'll bid Brother Gu farewell first thing tomorrow morning."

"If this goes on, I think I really will go mad."

"No matter what, I can't do anything to wrong Brother Gu."

Seeing his younger brother return to normal, Tang Xiao reached out and patted his shoulder. "That's the Hao I know."

Early the next morning, Ah Yin happily drank her fill of milk to replenish her nourishment.

Gu Shengge got out of bed with an arm around Ah Yin. Looking at the sunshine outside, he was in a very good mood.

In the ten days or so since he had met Ah Yin, Gu Shengge's cultivation had increased by twenty thousand years.

The pleasure points Ah Yin brought him kept shooting up, rising at every moment.

Especially after dual cultivation, those pleasure points rose so fast they practically took flight.

"Brother Gu, Ah Yin, are you up?"

Hearing the voices of the brothers Tang Hao and Tang Xiao outside the door, Gu Shengge opened it.

"What is it?"

"Brother Gu, I'm sorry."

"I fell in love with Ah Yin at first sight. To keep myself from continuing down the wrong path, I've decided to leave with my eldest brother and train on my own."

"Staying by your side now, Brother Gu, I simply don't have the face to look at you or Ah Yin."

"I'm truly sorry."

Seeing Tang Hao bowing in apology before them, Gu Shengge and Ah Yin both froze for a moment.

"It isn't your fault that you like someone. After all, feelings aren't something you can control."

"Hao, since you can be so open and honest, how could I blame you?"

"Since this is the knot in your heart, I'll wait until you've untied it. Then the three of us brothers can drink and talk merrily again."

Looking at the forthright Tang Hao, Gu Shengge reached out and patted his shoulder.

"Brother Gu, I'm truly sorry."

Hearing Gu Shengge's words, both Tang Hao and Tang Xiao looked at him with guilt written all over their faces.

"There's no need for such words between us brothers."

"I won't hold you back. Once you've untied the knot in your heart, we'll drink and talk merrily again and travel through these splendid mountains and rivers."

"All right. Brother Gu, Sister-in-law, take care."

With those words, the brothers Tang Hao and Tang Xiao departed from Gu Shengge's presence.