"Outrageous! The Tang Clan's son-in-law has turned traitor!"
Tang Hao shouted in rage and suddenly sat up from the bed in the inn.
"Huh? What Tang Clan son-in-law? Hao-di, what are you talking about?" On the other bed, Tang Xiao asked in confusion.
Hearing that, Tang Hao looked at Tang Xiao in a daze, not recognizing him for a moment.
"You're… Tang Xiao?"
"Are you stupid? If I'm not Tang Xiao, who else would I be?" Tang Xiao replied.
Tang Hao shifted his attention, touching his chest, feeling the beating of his heart. He was still alive.
Having grown accustomed to the supreme power of a Plane's Master, Tang Hao wasn't used to being this weak.
Tang Xiao, his older brother, had died over twenty thousand years ago. How could he be here? A guess formed in Tang Hao's mind.
He asked his brother about the current year and the state of the continent. Finally, Tang Hao reached a conclusion—
He had been reborn.
Reborn twenty thousand years ago—when Spirit Hall was still standing, Xiao San hadn't been born, and his relationship with Ah Yin hadn't yet begun.
At this time, he was as weak as an ant, with only the strength of a Soul Sage.
But this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Xiao San was a brilliant genius. Every step he took pushed the Tang family to the peak of the Douluo Continent and turned it into one of the strongest families in the universe.
However, the one thing he miscalculated was Huo Yuhao—a white-eyed wolf that could never be tamed or satisfied.
The title of "Child of Destiny" should have belonged to the Tang family. They gave that role to Huo Yuhao, nurtured and supported him, even married a beautiful granddaughter to him to help him reach a first-tier god position. Who could have guessed that, at the crucial moment, he would turn on them?
Every time he recalled Ah Yin's fall, and the moment Huo Yuhao crushed his heart, Tang Hao wished he could travel to the future and kill that ungrateful wolf with his own hands.
But now that he had been reborn—though a little too early—it didn't matter.
In his past life, he hadn't known Tang San was under the protection of the Asura God, so he'd lived like a dog hunted by Spirit Hall. Only after Tang San became a god did Tang Hao learn the truth.
It turned out their family had been protected by the Asura God all along. In critical moments, the Killing God Domain could even draw upon Asura's power, allowing Tang San to challenge stronger foes with ease.
With such powerful backing, what did Tang Hao have to fear? Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu of Spirit Hall were nothing but corpses in his eyes. If given another chance, he'd dare to defecate and urinate right on their heads.
Stirred by ambition, Tang Hao reviewed his memories and realized that, in this era, Spirit Hall was not a threat. Even retracing his old path, Xiao San was destined to become a god. Once he did, with the power of a dual-god system, Spirit Hall would be destroyed.
The only thing he needed to watch out for was Huo Yuhao, ten thousand years in the future.
But by then, Xiao San would already be a high and mighty God King. Manipulating a still-maturing Child of Destiny like Huo Yuhao would be as easy as flipping his hand. He just needed to warn Xiao San ahead of time.
"What a pity," Tang Hao sighed. "Over the past twenty thousand years, I've already become a god. I always scoffed at soul tools from ten thousand years in the future and soul armor from twenty thousand years later, dismissing them as cheap tricks, never studying them deeply. Otherwise, if I had mastered those technologies, I could have helped Xiao San even more."
"Hao-di, you're acting a bit strange today. Are you feeling unwell?" Tang Xiao's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"No problem. Just a bit unsettled right now," Tang Hao shook his head.
"As long as you're okay. Today, let's go confess to Ah Yin together!" Tang Xiao said with a relieved smile.
Tang Hao nodded. Xiao-ge's words brought back memories from twenty thousand years ago. On this very day, he and Tang Xiao had confessed to Ah Yin—never imagining that it would become the turning point in both their destinies.
On this critical day, Ah Yin accepted Tang Hao's confession and fell into his embrace.
Her brother, Tang Xiao, heartbroken, quietly withdrew and returned to the sect to inherit the family legacy.
Tang Hao traveled the continent with Ah Yin. During this time, the fruit of their love—Tang San—was born.
However, Tang San's birth triggered a soul beast aura from Ah Yin, attracting the greedy gaze of the Spirit Hall.
Qian Xunji led two Hall Guardian Douluo and a legion of soul masters in hot pursuit, forcing Tang Hao into a desperate situation.
Ah Yin sacrificed herself for him. Tang Hao tearfully accepted her soul ring and soul bone, and in a one-against-three battle, seriously injured Qian Xunji, crippled Golden Bell Douluo, and killed Silver Hammer Douluo.
Not long after, Qian Xunji died. Upon being reborn, Tang Hao learned that it was Bibi Dong who had assassinated Qian Xunji.
But Qian Daoliu placed the blame on Tang Hao, leading to a deadly hunt and forcing the Clear Sky Sect into seclusion.
Tang Hao, disillusioned and depressed, hid away in Holy Soul Village, drinking day after day.
Six years later, his son Tang San awakened twin martial spirits, defying fate and rising against the odds.
He ultimately ascended as a dual god, destroyed the twin gods of Spirit Hall, and completely ended their evil rule.
Before ascending, Tang Hao retrieved a core seed of life from the Lake of Life and planted it in Shrek Academy, preparing for Ah Yin's rebirth into godhood.
He himself merged with the Duoluo Core, becoming the Master of the Douluo Continent Plane.
Tang Hao's older brother, Tang Xiao, never married out of lingering love for Ah Yin.
Though he was Tang San's uncle, he wasn't taken along when Tang San ascended, due to limited slots.
He died alone and sorrowful more than a hundred years after the Spirit Hall war.
Two brothers—
One whose family flourished, becoming the master of a realm;
One who grew old in solitude, ending in melancholy.
It was Tang San who truly changed their fates.
From a young age, Tang San was extraordinary. Though Tang Hao wallowed in drunkenness, he always paid attention to his son.
Before Tang San awakened, Tang Hao suspected he had been possessed and considered eliminating him.
But once Tang San awakened twin spirits, Tang Hao saw him as a tool of revenge.
After Tang San rose to power, he resurrected Ah Yin. Tang Hao gradually saw him as his own son.
Tang San lived up to that role—ascending to godhood and securing great benefits for both Tang Hao and Ah Yin.
At that point, whether he was a biological son or not no longer mattered—even a real son couldn't have been more filial.
Moreover, Tang San's body was birthed by him and Ah Yin, carrying their bloodline—how could he not be his own son?
After becoming a god, Tang Hao learned from Tang San about his reincarnation.
Tang San was originally a disciple of the Tang Sect in another world, chosen long ago by the God of Asura to reincarnate into the Douluo Continent and succeed the divine authority of the God of Asura and rule the divine realm.
(Note: This is the difference between a true reincarnator and a fake one—a true reincarnator never asks this question. They wouldn't ask about true vs. adopted fatherhood.)
This was clearly a divine blessing, not a demonic possession from beyond!
Tang San also told Tang Hao that when the Asura God arranged his reincarnation, he selected the Clear Sky Hammer's martial soul line and the soul beast bloodline as the vessel for his arrival in the Douluo world.
The god chose Ah Yin as the mother, but the father could be either Tang Hao or Tang Xiao—whoever impregnated Ah Yin would be the father.
Tang Hao, upon realizing that he would become plane master in ten thousand years while his brother Tang Xiao had died in obscurity tens of thousands of years earlier, was filled with emotion.
Truly, whoever wins Ah Yin wins the world.
Had Huo Yuhao not emerged later, Tang Hao's lineage would have ruled Douluo Continent forever.
"No matter who Ah Yin chooses in the end, the loser must step back. After all, love requires mutual consent," Tang Xiao said to Tang Hao with guilt in his eyes.
He could see Tang Hao's deep love for Ah Yin, but he also knew who she would choose.
He just hoped his younger brother could accept the outcome.
In the past, as the elder brother, he always gave way to Tang Hao—but love wasn't something one could yield.
"Mm, brother," Tang Hao replied, also looking at him with guilt.
Two thousand years of memories had told him that the outcome of this confession was already set the moment they first met.
Ah Yin had always preferred his strong, domineering male lead aura—not Tang Xiao's reserved, sentimental second male lead image.
For the sake of Ah Yin, of Tang San, and of the Douluo Continent's future, he could not back down.
"Sorry, brother," he thought, "you'll just have to be the loser again."
So, the brothers woke Ah Yin, and the three of them set off.
Tang Xiao brought Ah Yin and Tang Hao to a flower-filled field outside the city.
"Xiao-ge, Hao-di, why did you bring me to such a place?" Ah Yin asked.
"Hao-di?" Tang Hao was momentarily stunned.
In his past life, Ah Yin should have been their third sister and called him "Hao-ge."
But then he remembered how Tang San used to call Xiao Wu "Sister Xiao Wu," then made her his sister, then lover, then finally Asura Sword Sheath.
So a little naming inconsistency didn't bother him anymore.
Tang Xiao gave Tang Hao a look, as if saying,
"You confess first. I'll let you have the chance."
The implication being, if he confessed first, Tang Hao wouldn't even get a chance.
Tang Hao replied with a look:
"Brother, you go first. I'll be the last."
Having lived a second life, Tang Hao was confident in Ah Yin's fiery love for him.
This confession had no suspense.
In fact, this life, he didn't even plan to confess.
He knew Ah Yin was obsessed with his bronze chest and domineering physique.
This life, Tang Hao would simply stand there and watch the woman who loved him walk toward him bravely.
He had already imagined the scene:
Tang Xiao confesses affectionately,
Ah Yin gently says: "Sorry, Xiao-ge. You're a good man, but I only see you as a brother. The one I truly love is Hao-ge."
Then she walks over to Tang Hao, takes his hand, rests her head on his chest, and softly says:
"Hao-ge, will you spend your life with me?"
Thinking of this, Tang Hao was overjoyed.
Tang Xiao gave another look:
"Are you sure? You won't regret it?"
Tang Hao replied with his eyes:
"Sure. Brother, go ahead. Stop dithering."
Tang Xiao's final look:
"Don't regret it later."
"Xiao-ge, what are you doing with all these glances?" Ah Yin asked.
Tang Xiao quickly said:
"Ah Yin, we're preparing a surprise for you!"
"A surprise? What kind of surprise?" Ah Yin looked at him eagerly.
Tang Xiao pointed to a nearby big tree and said:
"Ah Yin-meimei, go lie on that tree. When I call you, turn around."
"Okay, Xiao-ge. I'll wait for your surprise."
Ah Yin, seemingly guessing what was coming, followed the instructions and lay on the tree.
Tang Hao was confused—this dynamic between Ah Yin and Xiao-ge felt off.
But with the confidence of a reborn man, he assumed it was just a minor ripple.
Tang Xiao picked the surrounding flowers and wove them into a bouquet, which emitted a fragrant aroma.
Once satisfied, he hid the bouquet behind his back, silently approached Ah Yin step by step using his soul power, and said softly, "Ah Yin, you can turn around now."
"Okay, Brother Xiao." Ah Yin turned around and immediately saw Tang Xiao's tall and imposing figure standing before her. Feeling the aura he emitted, her cheeks instantly turned red.
Tang Xiao knelt on one knee, raised the bouquet in his hand, and confessed affectionately, "Ah Yin, from the moment I first saw you, I found myself hopelessly in love with you. You are the warmest light that has shone into my heart. My soul drifts with yours, and my world blooms like spring because of you. This bouquet is nothing compared to your smile; I would trade my life to stay in this moment for you. Ah Yin, will you marry me?"
Upon hearing Tang Xiao's heartfelt confession, Ah Yin trembled slightly. She covered her mouth, unable to hide her excitement. Her eyes were filled with deep affection, openly showing her love for Brother Xiao.
With trembling hands, she reached out and accepted the bouquet from Tang Xiao, saying, "Brother Xiao, I'm willing."
The two gazed at each other lovingly, as warm sunlight shone down on them, casting a radiant halo. A gentle breeze blew, and petals danced through the air.
At that moment, the scene seemed frozen in the most romantic frame—like they were the only two people in the world. Oh, wait—except for the "Too Many Fish" ruining the harmonious scene.
When Tang Hao saw Ah Yin accept Tang Xiao's proposal, his mind instantly crashed. He actually... succeeded?
Tang Hao felt as if his memories from a past life had scrambled. He wasn't supposed to be the Plane Lord of Douluo Continent—he should have been in Gotham, locked in a battle of wits with someone called Batman.
When his brain rebooted, the first thing Tang Hao did was—
"No!"
Tang Xiao and Ah Yin were still immersed in their romantic moment when Tang Hao's untimely "No" shattered it.
Tang Hao urgently looked at Ah Yin and said, "Ah Yin, you haven't responded to my confession yet. I love you—be with me!"
Ah Yin looked at Tang Hao apologetically and said, "Hao, I'm sorry. You're a good person, but I've only ever seen you as a younger brother. The one I truly love is Brother Xiao."
Tang Hao was stunned.
"Come back, Tang Hao, return to Gotham. I promise not to beat you to death." That bat-like man seemed to whisper in his ear.
"No, Ah Yin, you're not like this..." Tang Hao looked disbelieving, his eyes turning red. "You're supposed to love me. You're supposed to love me!"
As he spoke, Tang Hao unconsciously stepped toward Ah Yin.
Just before he could reach her, Tang Xiao pulled Ah Yin behind him, shielding her and saying coldly, "Hao, Ah Yin already accepted my proposal. She's my woman now. Please stop clinging on, okay?"
"I'm clinging on?" Tang Hao's eyes were bloodshot, his breath ragged as he stared at his brother. "Tang Xiao, Ah Yin was supposed to love me! You must have used some dirty trick to win her heart!"
"Hao, you…" Tang Xiao looked at Tang Hao in disbelief, unable to imagine his own brother would malign him like that.
Tang Hao's eyes grew redder. The Killing God Domain erupted from him as he summoned his Clear Sky Hammer, pointing it directly at Tang Xiao: "Duel me, Tang Xiao! Today, we'll settle this as brothers—whoever wins gets Ah Yin!"
"I refuse," Tang Xiao replied. "Ah Yin is a person, not a prize."
These words only infuriated Tang Hao further. He shouted, "What, are you scared?"
A small hand pressed against Tang Xiao's waist, and Ah Yin's voice came from behind him: "Brother Xiao, step aside. I have something to say to Hao."
Tang Hao's near-berserk aura instantly calmed. What was Ah Yin going to say? Could it be…? His heart surged with hope, his eyes cleared, and his breathing steadied.
Tang Xiao stepped aside, and Ah Yin emerged from behind him.
"Ah Yin, what do you want to say to me?" Tang Hao asked eagerly, thinking: At last, things are back on track. The woman who truly loves me is walking toward me.
Slap—
Ah Yin struck Tang Hao across the face. In an instant, his dominant aura and the ruthless Killing God Domain vanished into thin air. His head turned with the force of the slap.
"Tang Hao, I've only ever seen you as a friend, a little brother. If I don't like you, then I don't like you. Don't be a sore loser. Otherwise, I'll only look down on you," Ah Yin said coldly.
Tang Hao stood frozen, clearly unable to process what had just happened.
"Hao," Tang Xiao said, "do you remember our agreement? We'd both confess to Ah Yin, and whoever lost would back off. Ah Yin chose me, and I won't give her up. Are you saying the men of the Clear Sky Clan can't even keep a promise?"
At that moment, Tang Hao felt utterly humiliated.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. In his past life, Ah Yin had chosen him over Tang Xiao. Why? Why...
But to avoid upsetting Ah Yin, Tang Hao could only bury his negative emotions deep inside.
This confession seemed to finally break the last emotional barrier between Tang Xiao and Ah Yin, bringing them even closer.
Watching them be so intimate, Tang Hao's eyes turned red again. He gasped heavily, unable to do anything but seethe with helpless rage. His fists clenched, and his teeth ground audibly.
After getting together with Ah Yin, everything became inconvenient, especially with Tang Hao's hostile stares. Tang Xiao felt uncomfortable, and while holding Ah Yin, he said:
"Hao, Ah Yin and I plan to travel the continent. Our next stop is Coconut Grove City. Where do you plan to go next?"
Tang Hao heard the hidden dismissal in his brother's words, and it pierced his heart. He recalled the past:
Back then, Ah Yin had rejected Tang Xiao and chosen him. Not long after, Tang Xiao had quietly left the trio and returned to the Clear Sky Sect.
Before leaving, Tang Xiao had taken Tang Hao's hand and said sorrowfully, "Hao, since Ah Yin chose you, I shouldn't stay. I entrust my love to you—please cherish Ah Yin with the love I couldn't give."
At that time, Tang Hao had looked proud and confident, scratching the back of his head as he said, "Don't worry, Brother. My love for Ah Yin is no less than yours."
"You're careless and not gentle," Tang Xiao said. "Please, be gentle with her… especially when you're doing that. Don't hurt her—I'd feel terrible."
Could it be… Could it be that I have to be like Tang Xiao, hold her hand with a pained expression, and say: "Brother Xiao, love her with my share of love too"?
Do I also have to be like him, begging Tang Xiao to be gentle when doing that thing, not too rough, because it hurts me to think of it?
No. Absolutely not.
Faced with his brother's question, Tang Hao could only thicken his skin and speak hoarsely:
"Brother Xiao, what a coincidence. I'm also heading to Yelin City. Looks like we're on the same road—let's go together."
Hearing Tang Hao's words, displeasure appeared on Tang Xiao's face, and Ah Yin looked at Tang Hao with even more disgust.
But Tang Hao didn't care anymore. He knew that if he backed off now, yes, he could maintain the friendship between him and his brother—but that would also mean his defeat. He refused to accept that ending. No matter what shady tricks Tang Xiao had used to steal Ah Yin's love, Tang Hao would take her back from his hands.
…