Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

"No! Second Brother, don't say that!" Tang Yuehua's tears welled up again.

“No one has ever felt that you have dragged us down! It was the Spirit Hall! It was their greed and tyranny that ruined you and forced our Clear Sky Sect to this point! You have shed blood and made contributions for the sect; you are the pride of the sect! Even on his deathbed, Father never blamed you; he only regretted that he was powerless to change the situation and only hoped that you could live a good life…”

Upon hearing his father's name, Tang Hao's body trembled violently. Something warm slipped uncontrollably from the corner of his tightly closed eyes and mingled with his beard.

Chapter 131 Hidden Affection

The man did not shed tears, but he did not go to the sad place.

The current state of the sect and the passing of his father are wounds in Tang Hao's heart that can never heal.

Seeing her brother silently shedding tears, Tang Yuehua's heart broke.

She knew that her second brother must have had an incredibly difficult time these past few years. She stopped asking for details, and simply held her brother's cold hand tightly, trying to give him a sliver of warmth and strength.

"Second brother, let bygones be bygones. It's good that you're back now," Tang Yuehua comforted him softly.

"You should rest and recover here. Yuexuan is safe; no one will find this place. Your injuries..." Her worried gaze fell on Tang Hao again.

Tang Hao waved his hand, the movement aggravating his internal injuries, causing him to frown slightly, but he still forced himself to speak: "It's nothing. Just a minor injury, I'll be fine after some rest."

He had roamed the continent for many years, suffering countless serious injuries. Although the explosion of the ring had severely depleted his vital energy, he believed that as long as he didn't die, he would recover. It was only a matter of time.

A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the two people's slightly heavy breathing.

Tang Hao hesitated for a moment, then looked at Tang Yuehua with a faint, almost imperceptible hope in his bloodshot eyes.

He finally spoke, revealing the core purpose of his trip: "Yuehua, do you have that kind of elixir here?"

Tang Hao paused, feeling his explanation wasn't clear enough, and added, "I have two children. One is named Xiao San, and the other is named Cindy. They are both very talented, both possessing innate full soul power. I want to obtain elixirs for them to help them navigate their future paths more smoothly."

When Tang Yuehua heard about the two children, her heart clenched, and an indescribable bitterness welled up inside her.

Second brother... he and that woman who was a 100,000-year-old soul beast in human form did indeed have a child.

But soon, this bittersweet feeling was replaced by a stronger sense of responsibility.

Looking at Tang Hao's cautious manner, she felt an overwhelming pang of heartache.

When had her second brother ever been so humble?

Without any hesitation, Tang Yuehua said resolutely, "Second Brother, your children are my children. I am their aunt, and it is only right and proper for me to raise them and love them! Rest assured, as long as I, Tang Yuehua, have a breath left, I will never let them suffer! Leave the matter of the elixir to me!"

Her promise was resounding, as if it were not a heavy burden, but a natural responsibility and a secret joy.

Yes, joy.

Although this joy was mixed with too much bitterness and complexity, it truly existed in the deepest part of Tang Yuehua's heart.

Since she was a child, her gaze had always followed her second brother, who was as dazzling as the sun and as reliable as a mountain.

He was the most brilliant genius of the Haotian Sect, someone his peers looked up to, and someone she could never replace in her heart—an admiration and...love.

This relationship is against morality and cannot be tolerated by the world.

Tang Yuehua knew this well, so she suppressed this girlish feeling deep in the most secret corner of her heart, never revealing it to anyone. She didn't even dare to think about it deeply most of the time, using the affection between brother and sister to numb herself.

She watched him meet and fall in love with Ah Yin, feeling both blessings for her brother's happiness and an uncontrollable, venomous jealousy and sense of loss.

Later, the devastating news arrived: her second brother had fled to the ends of the earth. She was heartbroken but powerless to help. All she could do was run Yuexuan in Tiandou City, holding on for the sect, or perhaps for that faint hope of receiving news of him again.

Now, many years have passed.

Ah Yin has passed away, and her second brother, having endured many hardships and bearing numerous wounds, returned to her side.

He was no longer that unattainable sun, but a vulnerable and real man who needed her protection and care.

Moreover, he is now single again.

When he was desperate, he chose to come to her.

This realization was like a pebble thrown into a stagnant pond, stirring up ripples that could not be calmed in Tang Yuehua's heart, which had been dormant for many years.

A mixture of heartache, bitterness, and a forbidden, secret joy of regaining something lost quietly spread through her heart.

She has a chance.

I have the opportunity to truly get close to him, take care of him, and become an indispensable part of his life now.

Even just being her younger sister was enough to bring a touch of humble warmth back to her heart, which had been barren for many years.

"Second Brother." Tang Yuehua suppressed her complicated feelings and tried to keep her tone calm as she spoke reassuringly.

"You should focus on recovering from your injuries first. There's no rush for the pills now. The children are still young, and it will take time for them to acquire their soul rings. The pills will only be useful then."

She paused, then reassured Tang Hao: "Besides, you don't need to worry. There are still some pills left in the Moon Pavilion that I managed to exchange with Her Majesty Gedo last time. Although the quantity is not large, it is enough for the children to use."

Sure enough, upon hearing that there were pills stored in Yuexuan, Tang Hao's tense heart instantly relaxed a lot, and even his heavy breathing became smoother.

"That's good." Tang Hao let out a long sigh of relief. The exhaustion he had been holding on to instantly overwhelmed him, making him feel dizzy and causing his body to sway involuntarily.

Seeing this, Tang Yuehua quickly stepped forward to support him: "Second Brother, you are badly injured and need to rest immediately!"

She helped Tang Hao up and, without saying a word, led him to the inner part of the room, to the carved wooden bed covered with soft brocade quilts and exuding a faint fragrance.

"You will sleep here tonight and get some rest." Tang Yuehua's tone was firm and unwavering.

Tang Hao wanted to refuse, but he was covered in dust and blood, how could he defile his sister's clean and elegant bed?

But at this moment he was indeed extremely weak, barely able to stand, and in the end he could only let Tang Yuehua settle him down to sit by the bed.

"I will find a reliable support-type Soul Master tomorrow to heal your wounds," Tang Yuehua said as she took off his tattered coat, which was covered in mud and blood.

"No!" Tang Hao suddenly grabbed her wrist, causing Tang Yuehua to wince slightly.

"My whereabouts must not be exposed! The Spirit Hall's eyes and ears are everywhere!"

Seeing his startled reaction, Tang Yuehua felt another pang of pain in her heart.

She gently grasped Tang Hao's large, calloused, and scarred hand, and softly reassured him, "Second Brother, don't worry. The person I'm looking for isn't an outsider. He's a disciple of our Clear Sky Sect. Father secretly arranged for him to come to Heaven Dou City with me to assist me in managing Moon Pavilion and to be responsible for secret communications with the sect. His name is Tang Zhong, his martial soul is the Healing Scepter, and although his soul power cultivation is only Soul King, it's remarkably effective in healing internal injuries. Moreover, he's absolutely loyal and reliable."

Chapter 132 Resources

Upon hearing that it was someone from the Haotian Sect, Tang Hao's tense nerves slowly relaxed. He released his grip and said in a low voice, "It's someone from the sect, that's good."

He let Tang Yuehua help him take off his outer clothes and shoes and socks, and lay down in the soft and warm bedding.

The quilt carried Tang Yuehua's unique fragrance, lingering around his nose, making Tang Hao feel as if he had returned to the carefree days of his time at the Haotian Sect many years ago.

After completely relaxing, the exhaustion and pain from his injuries surged forth like a burst dam, making Tang Hao's eyelids grow heavier and heavier, and his consciousness gradually blurred.

Tang Yuehua sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Tang Hao's furrowed brows and his face etched with the marks of hardship and pain, even in his sleep. A mixture of tenderness and sorrow welled up in her heart.

She reached out and gently brushed away a few strands of messy hair stuck to Tang Hao's forehead with sweat.

"Second brother, sleep well." She murmured softly, her voice as light as a feather.

"This time, Yuehua won't leave you alone again..."

Tang Yuehua sat quietly by the bed, watching over Tang Hao, listening to his breathing gradually become steady and long. She felt that the emptiness in her heart over the past ten years had been filled at this moment.

For Tang Yuehua, this night was the first time in years that she felt at peace, even though this peace was built on Tang Hao's pain and an unspeakable, secret affection.

……

The Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City.

After several days of travel, the Xingluo delegation's convoy finally returned to Xingluo City.

The atmosphere within the team was incredibly somber, the shadow of defeat in the exchange competition weighing heavily on the hearts of every member of the delegation.

Although they have achieved their main objective for this trip, the crushing defeat in the exchange competition is undoubtedly a glaring stain.

Moreover, the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy reversed the situation in full view of everyone, and the Netherworld White Tiger was defeated head-on.

The convoy split up in front of the majestic imperial city. Zhu Tianlin needed to enter the palace immediately to meet the emperor and report in detail on the gains and losses of this Tian Dou trip, especially the humiliating defeat and important information about Ge Duo and the elixir.

Meanwhile, members of the royal family, including Davis and Dai Mubai, returned to their respective residences.

Davis remained expressionless and quickly departed, surrounded by his guards, as soon as he stepped off the carriage.

Dai Mubai, with his head down, blended into the crowd, seemingly no different from the other dejected members of the delegation, and quickly walked towards his relatively quiet residence.

The Zhu residence, deep within its courtyards.

Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly by the window, like an exquisite jade sculpture, gazing at the ink bamboo in the courtyard that still stood tall in the cold wind.

The news of their father Zhu Tianlin's return had already reached the mansion long ago.

From the moment she learned the news, her heart was never at peace.

Zhu Zhuqing's unease wasn't due to her father's return itself, but rather to the true and false news that followed, news that was enough to shake the entire upper echelons of Xingluo.

It seems that my father's trip has led him to make contact with that mysterious and powerful expert who can refine elixirs.

A pill that allows a higher-level spirit ring to be absorbed!

These words floated back and forth in Zhu Zhuqing's mind like a spell.

Who doesn't crave power?

Especially for someone like her, mired in the quagmire of royal infighting, whose fate is like a candle flickering in the wind, desperately needing power to save herself.

Zhu Zhuqing subconsciously clenched her small hand in her sleeve, her nails digging slightly into her palm.

She wanted to ask her father immediately if there was any... if there was any possibility of giving her one of the pills he brought back this time.

Even if it's just the most basic one, could it help her cultivate faster and gain the power to break free from her shackles more quickly?

This thought grew wildly in Zhu Zhuqing's mind like weeds, filled with a burning desire.

But the next second, Zhu Zhuqing regained her senses.

It's too early for her to ask now.

First of all, Father has just returned and needs to face His Majesty's questioning and deal with the aftermath of the defeat in the exchange competition. There are countless things to do, and this is definitely not a good time to discuss the distribution of elixirs.

Secondly, and most importantly, her current soul power level is still quite a distance from level 20 when she can obtain her second soul ring.

Even if we obtain the pills now, we cannot use them immediately; instead, they may attract unnecessary covetousness and trouble.

In the Zhu family, resources are always tilted towards the stronger and more valuable.

Although she was the legitimate daughter, her talent was not exceptional; her older sister, Zhu Zhuyun, had already far surpassed her in soul power level.