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"Hao, how are you feeling now?"
Through the haze, Tang Hao heard someone calling to him. With great effort, he forced his eyes open.
The first thing he saw was a familiar face, and his taut nerves relaxed ever so slightly.
Cough, cough… "Brother, I'm fine for now."
Though he said this, Tang Hao's heart burned with humiliation and fury.
He, the dignified Clear Sky Douluo, had been beaten to the point where he couldn't even fight back.
What was worse, everything that had happened in the Star Dou Forest had already been etched into his memory—something he would never be able to erase for the rest of his life.
Now, with nowhere else to turn, he had no choice but to shamelessly return to the Clear Sky Sect, which he had once implicated in disaster.
The worry on Tang Xiao's face eased slightly, but when he saw Tang Hao's missing left leg and right arm, a sharp pain struck his heart.
"Hao, with your strength, who could possibly wound you so badly? Was it the work of the Spirit Hall?"
Tang Hao was about to answer when suddenly—bang!—the door was violently kicked open.
"Tang Hao, you still have the gall to come back to the Clear Sky Sect? Even Tang Xiao won't be able to protect you today!"
Led by the Seventh Elder, a group of sect members stormed into the room, glaring at Tang Hao who lay in bed.
Tang Xiao quickly stood and stepped in front of Tang Hao, his voice cold. "Are you trying to rebel? You dare trespass into the Sect Master's quarters?"
Before his words had faded, he unleashed the pressure of a Titled Douluo, hoping to subdue the crowd.
But the Seventh Elder only sneered and gestured toward several disciples beside him, whose cultivation was only at the Grand Soul Master level.
Those few Grand Soul Masters showed no fear, pressing forward toward Tang Xiao and Tang Hao.
"Tang Xiao, I may not be your match, but would you dare strike your fellow sect members just to protect this traitor Tang Hao?"
A proud smile spread across the Seventh Elder's face.
Over the past few days, he had been anything but idle—secretly rallying those whose loved ones had been killed by the Spirit Hall because of Tang Hao.
Every one of them bore deep, unshakable hatred for him.
The few Grand Soul Masters now stepping forward—each of their parents had perished at the hands of the Spirit Hall.
And all of it had started because of Tang Hao.
Seeing that they were only Grand Soul Masters, Tang Xiao quickly retracted his soul power, afraid of accidentally harming them.
"Stop at once! As Sect Master, I order you to leave this room immediately!"
But the Grand Soul Masters did not halt. Instead, they fixed their eyes firmly on Tang Hao.
"Sect Master, my parents died because of this traitor Tang Hao. With my enemy right before me, how can I possibly remain calm?"
"To defy the Sect Master's orders is disloyal; to fail to avenge my parents is unfilial. Does the Sect Master wish for us to be both disloyal and unfilial?"
"Sect Master, as long as you hand this traitor Tang Hao over to us, you will still be the leader we respect."
Their voices rang out forcefully, each word cutting deep.
Though these lines had been planted in advance by the Seventh Elder, they were no less true.
Their goal was simple—to force Tang Xiao into backing down.
Sure enough, Tang Xiao's body trembled when he heard them.
His gaze sharpened like a blade as he locked eyes on the Seventh Elder.
The Seventh Elder stood his ground, unfazed by the killing intent in Tang Xiao's eyes.
"Seventh Elder, what exactly are you after? Stirring them to speak such words—do you mean to incite internal strife within the sect?"
"Hmph! Nonsense?" the Seventh Elder scoffed, clenching his fists. "Their loved ones died because of Tang Hao. What's wrong with wanting revenge?"
Tang Xiao was momentarily at a loss for words. Looking at the hatred burning in the eyes behind the Seventh Elder, guilt weighed heavily on his heart.
As Sect Master, he knew better than anyone how deep their hatred for Tang Hao ran.
But Tang Hao was still his younger brother—he could not simply watch him fall into a desperate situation.
"Seventh Elder, how my brother is to be punished is not for you or me alone to decide. If he is to be judged, it must be by the entire sect."
Tang Xiao knew that continuing to shield Tang Hao would only backfire.
Not everyone in the sect hated him, and only by letting the whole sect decide could Tang Hao hope for even a slim chance of survival.
Seeing Tang Xiao back down, the Seventh Elder accepted the proposal to have the sect collectively decide Tang Ḣao's fate.
After all, Tang Xiao was still the Sect Master and the strongest man in the Clear Sky Sect.
Provoking him too far would benefit no one.
"Hmph. I hope the Sect Master won't keep sheltering this traitor. If you chill our hearts and cause internal chaos, that will be on you. Let's go!"
The Seventh Elder left in a hurry with his men, going to prepare the venue—it was time to put Tang Hao on trial.
Tang Hao glared after the Seventh Elder's retreating figure, murderous intent surging in his eyes.
"If I were still at my peak, you wouldn't even dare to breathe in my presence!"
But alas, he was far from his peak now, and could only roar in helpless rage within his heart.
Tang Xiao sighed. "Hao, these are the sect's rules. I can protect you for a time, but not forever."
Tang Hao put on a look of grievance. "Brother, are you going to abandon me too?"
Tang Xiao would never abandon him, but neither would he attack fellow sect members.
He had to find a middle ground.
"Hao, if the sect truly moves to kill you, I will fight our way out with you."
Tang Hao nodded repeatedly—this was the brother he knew.
Yet he never considered what would become of Tang Xiao for doing so.
Unlike Tang Hao, Tang Xiao would take responsibility for his actions.
Soon, all the prominent members of the Clear Sky Sect gathered.
Tang Xiao and Tang Hao's younger sister, Tang Yuehua, rushed back to the sect as well.
Perhaps this would be her last time seeing Tang Hao.
Too late… they're already about to start the trial? Tang Yuehua's heart was in knots, but there was nothing she could do.
As the Head of the Moon Pavilion in the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial court, she arrived with imperial soldiers at her back.
At that moment, the soldiers received an order from Emperor Xue Ye.
"Captain, His Majesty wants us to deliver a message to the Clear Sky Sect. Should we go in with Lady Tang?"
The captain thought for a moment, then said gravely, "Let's first see what's going on. It seems something major is happening inside the sect."
As a reclusive sect, the Clear Sky Sect was not to be provoked lightly, even by the Heaven Dou Empire.
Indeed, the moment they arrived at the sect's gates, the soldiers were blocked.
Tang Yuehua said softly to the sect disciples, "He is my escort. Let him enter the sect with me."
Seeing that the man was only a Soul Emperor, the disciples gave Tang Yuehua face and let him pass.
After all, she was the Sect Master's own sister.
Tang Yuehua led the captain quickly into the sect.
By then, all of the sect's major figures had already taken their places.
Tang Hao, under the eyes of the crowd, was brought onto the execution platform to face public judgment.
Tang Xiao's heart ached for him, but all he could do now was wait for the verdict.
Soon, the elders of the sect appeared together, looking down on Tang Hao from above.
The Seventh Elder was the first to step forward, glaring coldly at him.
"Tang Hao, in the past you acted for your own selfish reasons, bringing calamity upon countless disciples of the Clear Sky Sect. Do you admit your guilt?"
(End of Chapter)