Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

Cinderella sensed the sincerity in Tang San's words, which warmed her heart, but also left her with mixed feelings.

She held Tang San's hand and said softly, "I know that Xiao San is the most powerful. However, we must also be careful. Tian Dou City is not like Notting City. The forces there are complicated and complex. We are new here, so we must be cautious in everything we do."

"I understand." Tang San gripped his sister's hand tightly, feeling the soft touch, and a sense of peace settled in his heart.

As long as he's there, he'll never let his sister suffer the slightest grievance.

Yu Xiaogang? He's nothing but a clown. If he behaves himself, fine, but if he dares to do anything reckless, Tiandou City might just be his burial ground.

……

Inside the Moon Pavilion in Tiandou City.

From that day on, Tang Zhong would come every few days to treat Tang Hao.

The soft white light emanating from the healing scepter flowed like moonlight into Tang Hao's riddled meridians, attempting to soothe the old and new wounds plaguing his body.

However, how could the hidden injuries of a Title Douluo level, especially the severe damage caused by the backlash of the exploding rings and the strange energy erosion of Ge Duo, be easily resolved by the healing soul skill of a mere Soul King?

Each treatment by Tang Zhong was like a careful intervention. He could only barely keep Tang Hao's injuries from worsening, and Tang Hao's true recovery was still a long way off.

At this moment, another treatment has just ended.

Tang Hao sat cross-legged on the soft bed, his bare upper body covered in crisscrossing scars, old and new, making him look ferocious and terrifying.

His face was pale, but compared to its initial deathly ashen color, it at least showed a faint trace of life.

Sweat soaked the messy hair on his forehead, and his tightly pursed lips revealed that he was enduring great pain.

He closed his eyes, feeling the lingering pain in his body, as if he were being pierced by countless fine needles, and his heart felt icy cold.

Tang Hao, who once dominated the continent and looked down on all heroes, never imagined that he would be like a fragile piece of porcelain, needing others to be so careful and repeatedly repair it to keep it from breaking.

Tang Zhong slowly withdrew his healing scepter, the Martial Soul Possession state was lifted, and sweat appeared on his forehead. This treatment had been extremely taxing on him.

He stood respectfully by the bedside, bowing his head, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the channeling is now complete. The blockage in your lungs has been somewhat cleared, but that foreign energy is extremely stubborn and deeply entangled with your old injuries. Forcibly removing it might damage your very essence. We can only proceed slowly, gradually wearing it down with gentle soul power. I urge Your Majesty to rest and recuperate, and absolutely not to use your soul power again, otherwise all previous efforts will be in vain, and the consequences will be unimaginable."

Tang Hao let out a barely audible snort as a response.

He didn't even open his eyes, as if taking another look at the reality of his inability to control his own destiny would cause the violence in his heart to spiral out of control.

Tang Zhong was already used to this. He bowed, quietly left the room, and gently closed the door behind him.

Outside the door, Tang Yuehua had been waiting for a long time. Today, she was wearing a light purple floor-length dress, which made her skin look even more like jade and gave her an elegant demeanor.

But those eyes, which always held a gentle, watery smile, were now filled with an unyielding worry.

Upon seeing Tang Zhong emerge, she immediately stepped forward and asked anxiously in a low voice, "Tang Zhong, how is my second brother today?"

Seeing his young mistress's undisguised concern, Tang Zhong sighed inwardly, but maintained the respectful demeanor of a subordinate, truthfully reporting, "Miss Yuehua, His Majesty Haotian's injuries are still not optimistic. The old wounds are deeply ingrained, and the new injury is bizarre. My abilities are limited; I can only barely stabilize the injury to prevent it from worsening and delay its onset. To completely cure it, only a peerless immortal herb or a healing expert at the level of a Title Douluo can intervene. Moreover, even if a method is found, it will require a long period of recuperation."

He had said these words several times, but each time he repeated them, Tang Yuehua's heart sank a little further.

A peerless immortal herb? A healing-type Soul Master at the Title Douluo level? Which one isn't incredibly rare and hard to come by?

Even with the hidden power of Yuexuan and Haotian Sect, finding it would be no easy task.

Her slender fingers unconsciously tightened the silk handkerchief in her hand, and a trace of paleness flashed across her beautiful face.

After a moment of silence, Tang Yuehua managed to calm herself down and nodded to Tang Zhong: "Thank you for your hard work. Go and rest. I will have someone prepare the necessary medicinal herbs as soon as possible."

"Yes, I'll take my leave." Tang Zhong bowed, but did not leave immediately. He hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Tang Yuehua, lowering his voice even further.

"Miss Yuehua, tomorrow is the routine day to send messages back to the sect. Should we also send back the news about His Majesty Haotian?"

Upon hearing this, the air in the corridor seemed to freeze instantly.

Tang Yuehua's delicate body trembled slightly, and her fingers, which were twisting the silk handkerchief, suddenly tightened.

To send a message to the sect? To report my second brother's whereabouts?

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant. The sect, her father had long since passed away, and now her eldest brother, Tang Xiao, was in charge.

The eldest brother was upright and honest. Although he was heartbroken about what happened to the second brother back then, he also had some complaints.

If the sect were to find out that my second brother is critically injured and hiding with her...

What will happen?

Should we immediately send someone to meet and protect him? Or should we reprimand our second brother for implicating the sect, or even forcibly take him away to distance ourselves from the situation, or make a decision that is even more detrimental to our second brother?

Tang Yuehua dared not gamble.

She knew all too well the true colors of those elders in the sect. When her second brother got into trouble, they insisted on handing him over to appease the Spirit Hall's anger, but it was only after her father's strong intervention that the matter was dropped.

Now that their father has passed away, even though their elder brother is the sect leader, he may not be able to completely suppress those dissenting voices.

With Second Brother in his current state, how can he withstand the internal strife and potential turmoil within the sect?

Moreover, a secret, selfish desire that even she herself was unwilling to delve into was quietly entwining her heart like a vine.

If someone from the sect comes, they will definitely take my second brother away. But what about her?

Can she still stay by his side day and night, take care of him, and be the only person he can rely on, just like she is now?

No, she can't take that risk.

Second Brother is hers now, and can only be hers.

Thinking of this, a resolute glint flashed in Tang Yuehua's eyes. She raised her head, looked at Tang Zhong, and spoke in her usual gentle tone, but with an undeniable firmness: "No, thank you."

She paused, as if considering her words, her voice soft yet clear: "Tang Zhong, as you can see, Second Brother's injuries are difficult to heal, and he is exhausted both mentally and physically. This is precisely the time when he needs absolute rest."

"The situation within the sect is complicated. If my elder brother and the other elders find out about my second brother's condition, their concern might cause more trouble. Visits, inquiries, and even arguments would disturb my second brother's peace and quiet, which would be detrimental to his recovery. Right now, it is most important to let my second brother rest and recuperate here in peace."

Chapter 144 Soul Power Breakthrough Pill

Tang Yuehua's words were reasonable and logical, entirely based on Tang Hao's injuries, while concealing her deep-seated selfish thoughts that were unacceptable to the world.

Tang Zhong listened quietly, his weathered eyes looking at Tang Yuehua as if they could see through her flawless disguise and into the deepest struggles and desires in her heart.

He had been by Tang Yuehua's side for many years, watching her grow from a naive girl into a noblewoman who now runs Yuexuan and navigates the world of powerful figures. How could he not see through her hidden thoughts?

However, as a subordinate and an outer disciple of the Haotian Sect, there were some things he could not say and could not interfere with.

In the end, he simply sighed inwardly, lowered his eyes, and respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. The message to be delivered tomorrow will not mention His Majesty Haotian."

"Okay, go ahead." Tang Yuehua secretly breathed a sigh of relief and waved her hand.

Tang Zhong bowed again, then turned and disappeared silently at the end of the corridor.

In the deserted corridor, only Tang Yuehua remained. She stood there alone for a long time before slowly turning around, her gaze complex as she looked at the tightly closed door.

Inside the door was her brother, whom she had loved for half her life, now as fragile as glass.

Outside the door, there were the secrets and choices she made in order to keep him by her side.

A pang of guilt, like a tiny venomous snake, gnawed at Tang Yuehua's heart. She knew that what she was doing might betray the sect's trust and her elder brother's entrustment.

But... so what?

Tang Yuehua slowly raised her hand and gently pressed it against her violently beating heart. There, she felt an almost morbid sense of satisfaction and peace.

As long as her second brother is here, within her reach, he needs her care and relies on her protection...

So even if this tranquility was stolen, built on lies and selfishness, she was still happy to accept it.

Tang Yuehua took a deep breath, suppressing all the complex emotions in her eyes, and put on a gentle and charming expression again. She gently pushed open the door and went inside.

Inside, the lingering smell of medicine mixed with the stench of blood had not completely dissipated.

Tang Hao remained seated cross-legged, like a silent stone statue, with only the slight rise and fall of his chest proving that he was still alive.

"Second Brother." Tang Yuehua walked to the bedside, her voice so gentle it could melt water. She picked up a warm, damp towel and gently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and the sweat stains on his neck.

"Are you feeling any better? Tang Zhong said it will take some time, but don't worry, you'll get better eventually."

Her fingertips inadvertently brushed against Tang Hao's sensitive skin on the side of his neck, carrying a slightly cool touch and a barely perceptible tremor.

Tang Hao's body stiffened slightly, but he neither flinched nor opened his eyes, only letting out a muffled response from deep in his throat: "Mmm."

He was well aware of the severity of his injuries. However, this long, almost crippling recovery was more painful for him than being slowly sliced ​​to death.

Every breath he took reminded him of his current powerlessness.

But he had no other choice.

The soul power within his body was like a frozen river; the slightest disturbance would cause excruciating, tearing pain.

He is now struggling to even muster a wisp of soul power, let alone wield the Clear Sky Hammer.

If he had known this would happen, he would have rather endured the pain and not sought treatment; at least then he would have had the ability to take revenge.

He was like a tiger whose teeth had been plucked, filled with boundless killing intent and hatred, yet unable to even roar.

Tang Hao now felt a deep sense of powerlessness, mixed with his longing for Ah Yin, his worry for the children, and his confusion about revenge.

Tang Yuehua felt a pang of pain in her heart as she looked at Tang Hao's furrowed brows and taut jawline.

She knew what her second brother was thinking, and it was precisely because she knew that she was even more afraid.

She feared that once he recovered, he would leave without hesitation and disappear from her world again.

I fear that his heart will forever hold only the memory of the deceased Ah Yin and the child far away, leaving no room for her whatsoever.

No, she couldn't lose him again.

Tang Yuehua put down the towel, picked up the ginseng soup that had been kept warm beside her, stirred it gently with a small spoon, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it to warm it up, and held it to Tang Hao's lips, her voice carrying a hint of pleading: "Second brother, drink some ginseng soup to replenish your vital energy. You are weak and need to be properly nourished."

Tang Hao finally slowly opened his eyes.

Those eyes, once as sharp as a hawk's, were now bloodshot, cloudy and empty, reflecting Tang Yuehua's beautiful face, which was filled with worry and affection.

He looked at the spoonful of soup being brought to his lips, and at his sister's slightly red eyes, filled with so many complex emotions, and felt a mix of emotions in his heart.

Do you loathe this powerless dependence?

some.

Grateful for this timely help and protection?

Yes, there was. And there was a trace of longing for this faint warmth, a longing that even he himself was unwilling to admit, amidst this boundless despair.

Tang Hao silently opened his chapped lips, letting Tang Yuehua feed him the warm ginseng soup.

……