Chapter 46: For Ah Yin, I, Tang Hao, Shall Stand Against the Entire Soul Master World!
"I'm not stupid!" Ah Yin grumbled, rubbing the painful spot on her head.
A faint smile played at Qian Xunji's lips. "So you're saying you're smart – like how you traveled around the continent with two Contras who could see through your identity at any time, when your human form isn't even fully matured?"
Ah Yin's cheeks colored in embarrassment. She spoke up, "I can't return to the Wuhun Hall with you so soon!"
Qian Xunji's gaze showed a hint of displeasure. "Are you going back on our agreement? Then I won't be in such a patient mood any longer."
Ah Yin lowered her head. "No, it's not that. I just don't know enough about you; I don't know if you're lying to me the same way Brother Hao and Brother Xiao did. I want to keep traveling, healing people, and when that's done, I'll go to the Wuhun Hall with you."
"Very well, as you wish. Tag along at my side while you heal, and maybe that empty head of yours will gain a little something."
"I'm telling you, I'm not stupid!" she retorted with a huff.
Clear Sky Clan.
After several days of urgent travel, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao arrived at the Clear Sky Clan's compound without even pausing for a drink of water. They went straight to the clan's main hall, where Tang Zhen was in the middle of some affairs.
"Tang Xiao, Tang Hao—why are you back so soon? You still have over a year left of your five-year training," Tang Zhen said, not in reproach but full of approval. As a Titled Douluo, he could see at a glance how dramatically Tang Xiao and Tang Hao's cultivations had risen over just three years, particularly Tang Hao, who had soared by twelve ranks. Word from beyond the clan had reached him too—how the Clear Sky Twins, two future Douluo in one clan, were hailed throughout the soul master world and had brought great honor to the Clear Sky Clan.
"Father, save Ah Yin!" x2
They both dropped to their knees with a thump. Tang Zhen was taken aback. "Ah Yin—your sworn sister who traveled with you? What happened to her?"
"Father, Ah Yin was taken by Qian Xunji!"
"You fools! Utter fools! The Wuhun Hall isn't a force we can provoke at will. Have I not warned you? They still have Qian Daoliu. Without your grandfather here, our Clear Sky Clan can't afford a grudge with them!" Tang Zhen's immediate reaction was that Tang Xiao and Tang Hao must have provoked the Hall. Otherwise, why would Qian Xunji, the Pope, leave Wuhun Hall just to capture a single girl?
Even though the top three sects—Clear Sky, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile, and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—had formed closer ties, Tang Zhen, an old hand, knew such unity was mostly on the surface. Unless significant interests were at stake or the Wuhun Hall made a blatantly hostile bid for dominance, the other two sects wouldn't risk themselves for the Clear Sky Clan.
"Father, we didn't offend the Hall. Ah Yin is our sworn sister. I… I fell in love with her. Please, Father, save her!" Tang Xiao pleaded bitterly, finally admitting his feelings for Ah Yin.
"Ridiculous… Absolutely ridiculous!" Tang Zhen fumed. "You're the Young Sect Master of the Clear Sky Clan. How can you treat marriage so lightly? Even if she's a beauty, she's just a commoner soul master with no backing. If the Pope took her, let it be!"
In Tang Zhen's mind, the clan's interest should dictate that Tang Xiao and Tang Hao marry from within the sect—preferably a daughter of one of their four affiliated families with strong talent. That way, the clan would bond more tightly with them. Tang Chen did it; Tang Zhen himself did it. Most of the soul master world did likewise. Clan alliances often formed through marriage.
"Father, Ah Yin was born with full soul power," Tang Hao said.
"What?! Innate full soul power?" At those words, Tang Zhen did a one-eighty, eyes alight. Such a peerless prodigy, destined for Titled Douluo, was worth far more than an alliance with an affiliated family. A single Titled Douluo carried more weight than an entire branch clan. And if Tang Xiao and Ah Yin bore children, the offspring would be potential Titled Douluo. That guaranteed a Titled Douluo guarding the clan for two centuries! Tang Zhen's interest soared.
He slammed the table. "I'll get in touch with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clans. We'll jointly put pressure on the Wuhun Hall to release Ah Yin!"
A genius born with full soul power—future Titled Douluo—snatched away for no reason. The two other top sects would worry their own future disciples could face the same. This provided the perfect excuse to unite against the Hall.
"Thank you, Father!" Tang Xiao and Tang Hao smiled in relief.
"Father… Ah Yin is actually a shapeshifted soul beast…" Tang Xiao said after hesitating. Hearing that, Tang Zhen's writing brush fell to the ground, eyes bulging, coughing fiercely. "Cough… cough… cough…!"
"You insolent brats! Are you trying to kill me with anger?!" he sputtered. In just a few minutes, Tang Zhen's emotions had whipsawed from one extreme to another. The only other time he'd felt such turmoil was when Tang Chen left. Liking a shapeshifted soul beast—indeed wanting to marry her—would place the Clear Sky Clan at odds with all humanity?
After a long fit of coughing, Tang Zhen, thoroughly worn down, waved them away. "Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, forget her. We lack both power and moral high ground. There's nothing we can do."
Tang Hao's voice rang with fierce emotion. "Father, why must it be impossible? Must she be denied just because she's a shapeshifted soul beast? If she ever attains maturity, she'll be no different from a human!"
Wearily, Tang Zhen said, "Hao, if you truly wed a shapeshifted soul beast, the Wuhun Hall can declare you a traitor to humanity and mobilize the entire soul master world against our clan. Without your grandfather's presence, how would we survive? Would you let your so-called love bring doom to thousands in the Clear Sky Clan?"
Tang Hao felt an inward lurch. Even if he wouldn't sacrifice Ah Yin, neither did he want the clan destroyed. Yet he latched onto Tang Zhen's slip. "Father, you mean if we had Grandfather's level of power, it'd be fine?"
Tang Zhen paused, turning that detail over in his mind. "Yes, Hao. If your strength surpassed your grandfather's, no one in the soul master world would dare oppose you. At that point, do as you please."
Tang Hao's eyes blazed with determination. "Then I'll surpass Grandfather's realm and bring Ah Yin home!"
Tang Zhen said, "Hao, remember: she's a hundred-thousand-year shapeshifted beast. A ring and bone like that is invaluable. The Hall won't casually hand it to anyone else. Likely they'll give it to the next generation of the Qian Clan. Even if it takes them forty years for that child to reach Titled Douluo, so what?"
His gaze like steel, Tang Hao declared, "Forty years is enough! In forty years, I'll reach Grandfather's level—I'll save Ah Yin! Whoever dares harm her, I'll slaughter them all! Even if the entire soul master world turns on her, I, Tang Hao, will stand against them alone for her sake!"
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