It didn't take long...
Tang Zhen, seated on the main seat, slowly crumpled the letter in his hand. Each crease he pressed seemed to echo his fury and disappointment. In that instant, it was as if Tang Zhen had aged ten more years in an unbearable heartbeat.
"This foolish son of mine..."
"He says… he loves that soul beast more than his own life… Heh heh." Tang Zhen could only mutter this to the elders. He no longer knew whether to scold, curse, or simply despair at his son's recklessness.
The second letter—obviously from Tang Hao—spoke of everything: what had happened between him and Ah Yin, the events of three weeks ago, his apology, and his decision not to return to the sect… for now.
Tang Zhen was utterly speechless.
Tang Xiao, watching his father's exhausted face, smiled inwardly. From this moment on… even if Ah Yin did not sacrifice herself and Qian Xunji survived… Tang Hao inheriting the position of Sect Master was utterly impossible.
After all, Tang Hao's name was already smeared with dirt... A man who loved a soul beast, a sinner to humanity.
Although Spirit Hall had kept Ah Yin's identity confidential and did not reveal to the world exactly what crime Tang Hao committed... they had their reasons. They didn't want others hunting Ah Yin down; they wanted to monopolize her soul bone and soul ring. Qian Xunji intended to gift Ah Yin to Bibi Dong... That was the reason.
But if they failed to acquire her, and Tang Hao returned to the sect to claim the leader's seat... they would surely expose all the details of the incident, turning Tang Hao into the shame of mankind.
Tang Xiao understood this... Likewise, Tang Zhen and all the elders were aware of it. To shelter a soul beast... even to love one... was unacceptable.
"Alas..."
"Sigh..."
All the elders let out a collective sigh of disappointment.
Tang Xiao remained silent, inwardly bemused. He had expected a grand theatrical display: elders wailing, Tang Zhen clutching his chest, the room thick with despair. But no… the reaction was lukewarm, almost mundane.
"Hmm... Perhaps it's because all the future events—Tang Hao striking the Pope, Spirit Hall seeking revenge, the sect losing countless clansmen, and even Tang Zhen's death—have not yet occurred. They don't bear deep resentment toward Tang Hao for now... Tang Hao's talent was nearly on par with Grandfather Tang Chen... it is understandable." Tang Xiao silently analyzed.
Since these people hadn't suffered personal losses from Tang Hao's actions yet, they didn't harbor much animosity toward him.
At this moment, the Third Elder spoke his thoughts:
"Hao'er... sigh... It seems that soul beast must have bewitched him... Hao'er is still an inexperienced young man. It's not his fault for falling into the trap of that vicious hundred-thousand-year-old creature."
The Third Elder was very fond of Tang Hao, so his opinion always leaned toward supporting him and never placing blame on him.
Hearing this, everyone's heads lifted, as though they had found an outlet to shift the blame:
"Yes, yes... Otherwise how could Hao'er, who always thought of our sect's well-being, do something that would shame us so greatly?"
"Seduced? Hmph! That vixen must have poisoned Hao'er's mind!"
"Yes, a filthy beast clad in human skin. How else could Hao'er—our sect's pride—fall so low?"
"Slut, harlot... such creatures deserve to be torn apart!"
"Yes, yes..."
"...."
The elders' voices rose into a storm, venom dripping from every word. The room thickened with the stench of hatred. Some even dared to curse her as a "bitch" and "slut."
Tang Zhen's voice finally cut through, laced with fatigue:
"Enough, everyone..."
Then he turned to Tang Xiao:
"Xiao'er… You spent three years with that soul beast alongside your brother, didn't you? Did you never sense her true identity?"
Hearing this, Tang Xiao hurriedly cupped his hands and said:
"Father... I never knew that Third Sister was a soul beast until this very moment... I am also shocked. She was a kind and benevolent person who saved many with her healing skills. To think that she was a soul beast... I never even imagined it." Tang Xiao spoke, his tone supportive of Ah Yin, yet carefully measured so as not to draw too much attention.
If it were the original Tang Xiao, he would have simped, argued fiercely with his father, and even fought with the elders when they insulted Ah Yin, calling her a bitch and slut.
But the current him knew what to say and what not to say...
He did not speak ill of Ah Yin, ensuring that when word reached Tang Hao one day, he would not face his brother's wrath or damage his persona as a supportive elder brother.
Likewise, he did not fully defend Ah Yin or stake his reputation on her, ensuring that when he became Sect Master, his words would still carry weight.
If he supported Tang Hao and Ah Yin—the soul beast—to the very end, wouldn't his prestige plummet among the elders and clan members?
"In the novel, Tang Xiao didn't even have the guts to suppress those old fogeys at the end of their lifespan, even with cultivation at level 97... Everyone dared to talk back to him, and his prestige in the clan was so low. If not for his strength, I suspect they wouldn't have even shown him face... And all of this must have begun with today's events..." Tang Xiao mused.
"Third Sister, huh? It seems the Eldest Young Master holds a good opinion of that evil soul beast," the Seventh Elder spoke, his voice laced with mockery.
"Seventh Elder misunderstands... Yes, I indeed had a good impression of her, born from her benevolent actions. We even swore brotherhood with each other... But that was in the past. Now... knowing she concealed her identity from me and is a soul beast... I can only doubt her motives." Tang Xiao paused briefly.
Then, after casting a deep look at the Seventh Elder and mentally placing him on the red list, he continued:
"But still... I hope everyone understands that, just as there are good and evil people in this world, there are also benevolent and wicked soul beasts. Everything has two sides. If she is truly evil and bewitched Ah Hao, then I don't mind killing her with my own hands. But if it is otherwise, then for Second Brother's sake... it is rational to withhold judgment and understand the truth before speaking ill of her and making decisions."
Tang Xiao clearly remembered that, after Tang Hao married Ah Yin in the future, he would visit Tang Yuehua at her Moon Pavilion. He could not guarantee that this sister of his, who harbored incestuous feelings toward her second brother, would not let slip today's events to him...
So he had to force himself to speak a few more words in support of Ah Yin and Tang Hao... placing himself in a truly difficult position.