Tai Tan
Wang Xingyu carefully put away the autographed fan, already making plans in his mind—he'd get Old Poison to sign one too, and then have the Shrek Academy members write their names on it, so he'd have two heirlooms.
The auction continued. The highlight of the second half, just like in the original story, was a catwoman.
The girl looked to be no more than ten years old, with cat ears and a cat tail. She was huddled in the corner of the cage, her big, round eyes filled with terror.
Ning Fengzhi raised a sign, saying that this patient could be saved, and should be saved.
In the opposite box, Prince Xue Xing also raised his paddle. The two sides went back and forth, the price soaring. Finally Ning Fengzhi announced a number that silenced the entire room. Prince Xue Xing snorted and put down his paddle.
Ning Fengzhi then casually bid on Tang San's "Sand-Shooting Shadow" item, selling it for 20,000 Gold Soul Coin. He fiddled with the iron box in his hand, turned to Tang San, and smiled, "Consider it a little pocket money from an elder to a junior. No need to refuse."
Tang San said thank you.
Wang Xingyu thought to himself, "I might as well just give it to them directly; that way, I'll just have to pay a handling fee."
As dusk fell, the event ended. Ning Fengzhi left first with the catwoman, saying he would help her find her mother. Before leaving, Sword Douluo glanced at Wang Xingyu and nodded slightly, as if bidding farewell.
The three walked back along the way they came. Xiao Wu talked about the catwoman the whole way, saying how bright her eyes were and how pitiful she looked curled up in her cage. Tang San listened quietly, occasionally responding with a word.
As I approached the college gate, I could see two burly men blocking the way from afar. One of them was Tai Long, who had his head down and his face was covered in bruises.
The other one was a generation older Tai Long, with a more robust build. His arm muscles stretched his sleeves so tight they looked like they were about to burst, making him stand at the door like an iron wall.
"So it's the three of you?" The man took a step forward, his gaze sweeping over the three men. "I am Tai Long's father, Tai Nuo. You've treated my son like a dog. This isn't over until you give me an explanation."
Xiao Wu wasn't intimidated at all. She turned her head to look at Tai Long, her tone mocking, "Tai Long, you're such a grown man, yet you start trouble, and after losing the fight you call your parents? Aren't you ashamed?"
Tai Long's face flushed red, and he muttered under his breath, "I didn't want to say it either... but you guys went too far! Especially that support!" He suddenly pointed at Wang Xingyu, "I didn't even want to play anymore, and he still healed me! Making me go in and out! Dying again and again!"
Wang Xingyu's gaze drifted to the sky, and he whistled twice before looking down, saying with a chuckle, "Don't be angry. Look, after this special training, your combat skills and Soul Power have definitely improved, haven't they?"
Xiao Wu continued, "So if you hit your dad, will your grandpa come out too?"
Wang Xingyu scratched his head, actually wanting his grandfather Tai Tan to come out.
Tai Nuo snorted, his gaze falling on Xiao Wu, and uttered four words: "A femme fatale."
Tang San took a step forward.
Four Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet, one yellow, two purple, and one black, dazzlingly bright.
Who are you calling a femme fatale?
Tai Long's eyes widened, and he stammered, "You... you're actually Soul Ancestor? You should have said you were Soul Ancestor earlier..." If you're Soul Ancestor, why would I even bother?
Tai Nuo was equally shocked. What kind of Soul Ring Configuration was this? Soul Ancestor at just over Level 40, with a black Fourth Soul Ring —ten thousand years! He himself was a Soul King with five Soul Ring, two yellow and three purple. He thought he could easily teach a few greenhorns a lesson, but it turned out that the other person's Soul Ring age was even more impressive than his.
A circle of students had already gathered at the academy gate, whispering amongst themselves—"Whose genius is this?" "Fourth Soul Ring of ten thousand years? Never even heard of him!" "That big guy looks like the academy's top student's father..."
Tai Nuo was in a dilemma. If he went in, he wasn't sure he could win, and he didn't know what kind of power the other side had; if he didn't go in, where would he put his old face in front of so many people?
Just as he gritted his teeth and prepared to charge forward, Wang Xingyu stepped out from behind Tang San.
"Wait a minute. We're all family, no need to get physical."
"What?" Tai Nuo's fist froze in mid-air. Tai Long was also stunned. Xiao Wu turned her head, looking surprised. "How come you're a family again?"
Wang Xingyu said unhurriedly, "Tai Long's grandfather is related to Little San's father."
Tang San was also stunned. "What relatives?"
Wang Xingyu didn't answer in detail, but turned to Tai Nuo and clasped his hands in a fist salute. "Please inform Senior Tai Tan that the Young Sect Master is here."
Tai Nuo was silent for a moment. What young sect master? But right now, he was in need of a way to save face.
"Alright, I'll give you face. Go back and ask my father." Tai Nuo put away his fist, grabbed the still-dazed Tai Long, and said, "Let's go."
The two slunk away.
As the three walked back to their dormitory, Xiao Wu looked around and whispered, "Who exactly is Little San's father? How does he have such powerful relatives? And what is this Young Sect Master?"
"A distant relative," Wang Xingyu replied casually. "The young sect leader—that's what they used to call each other."
Xiao Wu gave a half-believing "oh" and didn't ask any further questions. Wang Xingyu thought to himself that Xiao Wu would naturally find out after the Soul Master Tournament ended. Explaining the Clear Sky Sect and Clear Sky Douluo now would probably scare her.
That's not right either, isn't Dugu Bo also Titled Douluo? Maybe Xiao Wu can sense that the Lovesick Heartbreak Red can conceal the aura of Soul Beast.
That night, only Tang San and Wang Xingyu remained in the dormitory. An oil lamp was lit, its flame casting flickering shadows on the wall.
Wang Xingyu sat cross-legged on the bed, having already revealed the secret about the Little San's mother; there was no need to hide such a small secret anymore.
So he explained the relationship between the Clear Sky Sect and its four affiliated sects in detail. The Strength Clan, the Defense Clan, the Speed Clan, and the Breaking Clan were all affiliated sects of the Clear Sky Sect in the past. After the Clear Sky Sect closed its gates, the four clans lost their protection and have not had a good time in the past twenty years.
Tang San remained silent for a long while after listening. "That's why the Clear Sky Sect closed its gates for twenty years, ignoring the lives of the four clans. Now they hate the Clear Sky Sect."
"Right."
"Then why did you send Tai Tan over?"
"The Tai Tan of the Strength Clan is different," Wang Xingyu said. "He doesn't worship the Clear Sky Sect, but your father, Tang Hao. The other three clans harbor resentment towards the Clear Sky Sect, and it is precisely because of this resentment that we can invite them to join us in building the Tang Sect."
Tang San seemed to understand something, then gave a thumbs up. "Great plan. It has to be you."
"Keep a low profile, keep a low profile."
The next morning, as soon as the two opened the door, there was a person standing outside.
He has white hair and a white beard, and he is as tall as Tylenol. A string of Buddhist beads hangs around his neck, and the middle one is engraved with a vigorous word "strength". He has been standing at the door for I don't know how long.
"You say you're the young sect leader." Tai Tan's gaze swept over the two of them, his voice deep and steady. "What young sect leader? If you're lying to me, neither of you may leave this room today."
Wang Xingyu smiled and calmly cupped his hands in greeting, "Senior Tai Tan, I've long admired your name. Little San."
Tang San stretched out his hands. In his left hand was the Blue Silver Grass, and in his right hand was the Clear Sky Hammer, one large and one small, shining side by side in the morning light.
Tai Tan's gaze was fixed on the Clear Sky Hammer, his white beard trembled slightly, his lips moved, and his voice changed. "Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer... Your father, is he really Tang Hao?"
"Yes." A deep voice came from the side, "The Little San is my son."
Tai Tan turned around abruptly. Tang Hao was standing in the shadows in the corner, dressed in a black robe, his hair still messy, but his eyes were no longer cloudy from drunkenness, and his mental state was much better.
Hope is indeed very nourishing.
"Master!" Tai Tan bent his knees and was about to kneel down, but Tang Hao grabbed his arm and helped him up.
"What happened back then was my fault." Tang Hao patted Tai Tan's shoulder firmly. "Let's go, let's catch up."
"Okay." Tai Tan nodded vigorously.
The two left just like that. Tang Hao didn't look at Wang Xingyu once from beginning to end. He took big strides and walked quickly, and in the blink of an eye, he was already out of the courtyard gate.
Wang Xingyu opened his mouth, but the words "Uncle Hao, can I have the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone now?" stuck in his throat, and he hadn't even managed to utter a single syllable.