Beyond fate, Tang San was reborn

Night fell.

The little courtyard was quiet.

Moonlight filtered through the branches and leaves, spreading a layer of broken shadows across the ground.

Xu Fan had already gone to bed.

Despite talking so much during the day, he did not feel tired at all.

After eating and drinking his fill, he lay down on the bed, and before long, all was still.

Qian Renxue, however, was still sitting in the courtyard.

She gazed up at the starry sky, holding a cup of tea that had long since gone cold, and remained motionless for a long while.

The conversation from earlier that day kept echoing through her mind.

Someone from another world had been reincarnated on the Douluo Continent with memories of his previous life,

and through the methods of his previous life and the opportunities of this one, he had ultimately claimed the Dual Godhood of the Sea God and the Asura God.

In the past, she would never have believed such a thing.

But what truly kept her from finding peace were those few remarks from Xu Fan.

"She was actually pretty pitiful."

"Tang San wasn't the only transmigrator."

"In a simp's script, the simp is the protagonist."

He had said it casually at the time, even as though it were only natural.

Qian Renxue set down her teacup and gently rubbed the space between her brows.

All these years, she had been following the established plan.

She disliked the feeling of not being in control of the situation.

If that future was real, wouldn't all her years of effort have gone down the drain?

After a moment, her gaze gradually grew resolute.

No.

My fate is mine to decide, not Heaven's!

Why should she deny everything she was doing now because of an ending that had yet to happen?

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind her.

"Young mistress, it's late. Please get some rest."

Seeing that she had been standing there all night, Snake Lance Douluo could not help reminding her.

As a conscientious elder serving as her guard, he naturally had to care about his superior's health.

"Don't mind me."

Qian Renxue answered offhandedly, her gaze still resting on the starry sky.

Snake Lance did not press her.

Having followed Qian Renxue for years, he naturally understood her temperament and knew what he should and should not ask.

But after a moment of silence, he could not help speaking again.

"Young mistress, I have a suggestion regarding what Xu Fan said today."

"Speak."

"Young mistress, what Xu Fan said today is no small matter." He spoke slowly:

"I believe we should perhaps report this to the Worship Hall and inform the Great Enshrined."

Snake Lance's expression grew more serious.

"The information Xu Fan possesses is far too unusual.

"Both Tang San's origins and his future attainment of Dual Godhood have major implications for our Spirit Hall.

"Although we have yet to determine whether it is true, even if only part of it is factual, it will affect Spirit Hall's future plans."

However, after a moment of silence, Qian Renxue said firmly:

"There's no need."

Snake Lance froze slightly.

"Young mistress?"

"For now, this matter must not be reported."

Qian Renxue finally turned her head to look at him.

Snake Lance frowned slightly, still wanting to persuade her:

"Young mistress, I understand your concerns. But this matter is of great importance. If hesitation causes us to miss-"

"I said, not yet."

Qian Renxue interrupted him.

She did not raise her voice, but her tone brooked no argument.

"I have my own plans."

Snake Lance fell silent.

"Understood."

He lowered his head and did not insist any further.

The courtyard grew quiet again.

Holy Soul Village.

Dusk had barely fallen, yet most of the village was already dark. Every household had shut its doors, and even the barking of dogs was rarely heard.

Porcupinefish Douluo hid in a secluded spot outside the village, his gaze fixed on the blacksmith's shop not far away.

Under Qian Renxue's orders, he was only to investigate on this trip and was forbidden from taking action.

But Tang San had not even awakened his Martial Soul yet. This truly was a perfect opportunity to strike.

Unfortunately, the young mistress had given her orders, so he could only watch for now.

Just then, a swaying figure came walking back from outside.

It was a middle-aged man in disheveled clothes, reeking of alcohol,

staggering as he walked, as though he might topple headfirst to the ground at any moment.

The man pushed open the blacksmith's door and mumbled indistinctly.

"Is the food ready yet?"

Porcupinefish Douluo's gaze sharpened slightly.

He faintly sensed the flow of Soul Power within the other man.

Although that presence seemed somewhat disordered, it was still astonishingly powerful.

This was absolutely not power an ordinary Soul Master could possess!

His heart jolted.

Clear Sky Douluo!

He reached his conclusion almost instantly.

Sure enough, the Clear Sky Douluo who had once shaken the continent and gravely wounded the former Pope with a single hammer blow

was indeed hiding in this remote little village!

Pufferfish did not act rashly. He merely suppressed his presence and continued carefully sensing the movements inside.

Tang Hao did not notice anyone spying on him. He simply found somewhere to sit down in his drunken stupor,

and before long, snores rang out.

Only then did Pufferfish secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

That was close.

Although Tang Hao looked utterly dispirited, his strength was still undeniable.

Even if he had not fought for years, he was by no means an opponent to be taken lightly.

Had he not spent his days drinking heavily, damaging his body with alcohol and even affecting the circulation of his Soul Power,

Pufferfish might not have been able to evade his senses.

Even so, he dared not let his guard down in the slightest.

Inside the blacksmith's shop, Tang San crouched in front of the stove, looking at Tang Hao with helplessness written all over his face,

then turned back to watch the contents bubbling in the pot.

He felt thoroughly frustrated.

Because he had been reborn again.

And it had happened just as he had attained the Dual Godhood of the Sea God and the Asura God and was preparing to fly to the Divine Realm,

when his vision suddenly went black. By the time he regained consciousness, he had actually returned to his childhood and had to start all over again.

Not only was his divine power gone, but the strength he had cultivated for years had vanished without a trace. Even cooking a meal required him to readjust to this young body.

Still, frustrated as he was, he did not dwell on it any longer.

He had already been reborn, so he could only accept reality.

Besides, this time, he had thought things through.

Heaven had given him another life, and he would never squander this opportunity.

The regrets left from his previous life had to be made up for in this one.

At that thought, Tang San's movements paused slightly.

A familiar figure surfaced in his mind.

Xiao Wu.

I wonder how she's doing now.

Counting the time, I only have to hold on for another year or so before I can awaken my Martial Soul.

After my Martial Soul Awakening, I can leave this poor, remote backwater and head to Nuoding Academy.

Once I'm there, I'll be able to see Xiao Wu.

At that thought, his somewhat gloomy mood finally improved a little.

He picked up the spatula again and continued battling the mass of food in the pot that had almost lost all resemblance to its original form.

"Just hold on a little longer."

Tang San muttered under his breath.

"Once I get to Nuoding Academy, I won't have to stay here suffering every day."

After all, he was still only a child.

Even with the memories of his previous life, his current body did not allow him to do very much.

Tang San glanced into the room.

Besides, he had a father at home who spent all day drunk.

Cooking, cleaning the house-he had to do many things himself.

His father was still living in the same drunken stupor.

For the time being, there was little he could do about that.