The person who entered was the lady of the house.
She wore a fully covered, tight-fitting red dress. Her beautiful oval face was filled with nervousness, flushed red down to her neck. Yet, in her eyes, a trace of hidden expectation lingered.
Tang Xiao, already feeling slightly irritated by his earlier thoughts, spoke to her in a cold tone:
"Come here and kneel before me."
"Yes, Master."
Without a sound, as though resigning to her fate, she obediently walked toward him and knelt between his legs.
"Mmm… Massage my thigh," Tang Xiao ordered, resting his right leg on her shoulders domineeringly, as though she existed merely as a place for him to rest his leg.
"Hmnn, yes, Master." The woman complied with an obedient voice.
Power can grant a person everything. In front of a powerful soul master, even weaker soul masters are but tools to be used—let alone a fragile mortal woman.
But everyone knew… Tang Xiao was a man with a good heart.
He harbored no evil intentions.
That day, he merely used her as a pillow. Even now, he only wanted her to massage his body. No immoral acts.
It was just that, when embracing her in sleep, his hands would never stay idle, moving on their own by habit. And his snake, too, had its own habit… standing at attention in the presence of beauty.
Thus, to avoid discomfort, it became inevitable for him to sleep unclothed.
"Enough… Let's sleep." Feeling her hand inching up his inner thigh toward his forbidden place, Tang Xiao cast her a stern look and pulled her onto the bed, removing his clothes.
The married woman stood dazed, her eyes wide, her face crimson as she took in the vision before her.
Tang Xiao paid her no mind. To him, enjoying life mattered most. He simply pulled her down, pinned her beneath him, and fell asleep soundly upon her bare stomach after stripping away a layer of her clothing.
That night, He also made a decision regarding his ninth soul ring... Since there was no way now... then he would simply wait ten years... And within those years, he might also try fishing in muddy waters when Bibi Dong went to hunt Xiao Wu's mother...
Anyway... Even without absorbing the ninth soul ring, one could still cultivate and accumulate soul power... It's just, he couldn't use that soul power since it wouldn't belong to him...
Of course, he might face opposition from the clan elders... After all, he would have to be the sect master in four years... Tang Xiao was a little troubled by this too, but what could he do? With no other solution, he could only fabricate words convincing enough to sway them...
With plans laid in his mind, Tang Xiao slept contently with a voluptuous body in his arms.
When dawn broke, he bid farewell to the mature woman, whose face was covered in unknown white liquid, and left westward toward his clan.
....
Two weeks later...
On this day, Tang Xiao reached the Clear Sky Sect... his appearance that of a haggard and exhausted man with a disappointed heart.
"This look is enough to fool the elders, right?" Tang Xiao thought to himself, examining carefully.
"I have already prepared what to tell them about my search for my younger brother Tang Hao... I'm sure when they hear my heartfelt story, they will be touched by my brotherly devotion and the suffering I endured for him."
Tang Xiao did not forget the excuse he gave to leave the sect... Since he chose that reason, he had to see it through and finish his act...
Anyway... It wouldn't be a problem for him...
Finding Tang Hao within seven months was an impossible task... Even with decades, no one could confidently claim they had the ability to search the entire continent... The elders must know this too. They wouldn't blame him...
"In two weeks... I am also going to marry... Hehe... Then, I'll stay put and work hard so Ning Ruoyan bears me a child... Then when the four years end, when Ah Yin's and Tang Hao's matters are over... I'll begin carrying out my master plans... Hehe."
Thinking of his beautiful fiancée and the bright future ahead, Tang Xiao couldn't help but laugh happily in his heart...
But he soon restrained himself, forcing his lips to remain still... His current role was that of a good elder brother returning empty-handed, weighed down with sorrow and disappointment after seven months of searching... Tang Xiao had to maintain that persona...
Passing through the gates under the watchful eyes of Clear Sky disciples, ignorant of all that had occurred in the continent, Tang Xiao walked toward the great hall with heavy steps.
....
Knowing his father and the elders must already be aware of his return and waiting in the hall, Tang Xiao directly pushed open the grand door...
"Father, elders... I have disappointed everyone and failed to find my brother Hao...."
With head bowed, Tang Xiao spoke solemnly, his voice resonating through the entire hall...
His appearance—haggard face, long grown beard, uncut hair—all testified to the hardship he endured these past months...
To achieve this look, Tang Xiao even concealed his smooth and fair skin with makeup techniques, staying low and deliberately disguising himself...
With all this, Tang Xiao was certain his act would succeed and none would doubt him...
But why, then, after his words fell, did the hall remain silent, as though muted?
Even without raising his head, he could feel the presence of many people. It wasn't that the hall was empty.
So why were they silent?
Tang Xiao's heart skipped.
Had his disguise been exposed? Or had someone monitored him and learned he had not searched for Tang Hao at all?
"No… Impossible. With my cultivation, if someone had tailed me, I would have noticed long ago. Only Father could hide from my perception at such speed. No one else could…"
Thousands of thoughts raced through his mind, yet he could not discern what had gone wrong.
"Father…" With self-blame etched on his face, Tang Xiao slowly lifted his gaze toward the hall.
It would have been fine had he not looked up. But the instant he did, his pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Boom!
It was as if thunder exploded in his mind.
How…
How could this be…?
Where in the world…
Tang Xiao stood frozen in disbelief, his mind utterly blank.