Heaven Dou City, Lucien's Residence
"Lucien! Why did you have to clash with Tang Hao?"
Qian Renxue started reprimanding the moment she arrived.
She had drilled it into him repeatedly: stay hidden, don't expose yourself, don't attract eyes. She'd even prepared a perfect disguise.
All wasted.
Instead, Lucien threw himself headlong against Tang Hao in full view—sword blazing, martial soul blazing. He was now one of the most recognizable figures on the continent. That sword and his bizarre, mismatched spirit rings were too unique.
Tang Hao only needed to ask a few questions, and he'd know exactly who had taken the Blue Silver Emperor.
Qian Renxue had already scattered false rumors across the Douluo Continent, muddying the waters to throw Tang Hao off the scent. But they would only last so long.
"Xuexue, don't fuss," Lucien said lazily, drinking from his jar with eyes half-shut. "If I didn't fight him, how would I know how far my Martial Soul has evolved?"
"…Ugh." Qian Renxue could only sigh. The damage was already done. She would just have to stir more chaos—spread further rumors until no one could tell truth from lies.
But then her gaze froze at the window.
There, sitting on the sill, in a wine jar no less, was a pot of Blue Silver Grass.
Her pupils contracted. She bent closer. So this is the Blue Silver Emperor…
It was unmistakable. The veins were far too refined, the faint regal aura too distinct.
But…
Her lips twitched.
Why is it planted in a wine jar?
Lucien grinned proudly. "Xiao Xuexue! Nice, isn't it? Look at my green plant—beautiful!"
Qian Renxue forced a smile. "…Yes. Very nice. Thank you, Lucien, you really brought back something precious."
She reached over and picked the jar up naturally, intending to take it with her.
"Hey!" Lucien lunged forward, snatching it back from her hands.
"Xuexue, when did you turn into a thief? I worked my butt off for this, and you think you can just open your mouth and claim it?"
Qian Renxue rolled her eyes skyward. This bandit dares call me the robber?
Wasn't he the one throwing wine over the Blue Silver Emperor every day like it was a houseplant? If Tang Hao ever found out his wife had been "nourished" with liquor… the entire Heaven Dou Empire wouldn't be safe from his hammer.
"Lucien," she tried, jaw tight, "I asked you to help bring something back. And now you intend to swallow the prize all for yourself?"
Lucien shook his head sternly, hugging the jar like a child clinging to candy. "No, no, no. Xuexue, you said bring someone back. You didn't say anything about grass. This was just my little lucky haul. Nothing to do with your mission."
Her patience frayed. "Fine, I'll trade you wine."
"No trade," Lucien said happily. "I've already got plenty. Meng Shenji promised me three hundred jars if I fight for Tiandou Academy in the tournament. Can drink myself half to death without running dry."
"…You…"
Qian Renxue nearly collapsed from sheer frustration. Reasoning with Lucien was useless. Logic fell dead at his feet.
And so, Blue Silver Emperor remained in Heaven Dou—soaked in wine by Douluo continent's most incorrigible drunkard.
The Li Clan
"Tang Hao dares strike the Papal Palace? Hah! Look at the waves he's stirring now. Rumors everywhere, the whole mess pinned on Spirit Hall," old Titan chuckled grimly, recalling the past as he pounded his chest.
At the side, his son Tylenol munched peanuts with disdain. "Father, don't be so quick to praise. No matter how mighty Tang Hao was… Clear Sky Sect abandoned us four great subsidiaries like old boots. Used us when needed, discarded us after. Where's their honor now?"
Titan's brows knitted.
When Tang Hao had turned his hammer against Spirit Hall, Haotianzong's might still refused to shield their affiliates. Their families had suffered since.
Especially the Agility Clan—now nothing but history.
"Out of line!" Titan roared, slamming the table. Dishes spilled everywhere.
"You may insult Clear Sky Sect. But Tang Hao? Never!"
Tylenol shrank back instantly. His grandfather's copper-bell eyes glinted with fury.
He sighed bitterly. Grandfather will defend Tang Hao until the very day he dies… even though Tang Hao abandoned us, never spoke for us once in ten years.
Later that night.
Titan sat in his chambers, face still stormy. Tylenol's words gnawed at him because they weren't wrong. The Clear Sky Sect had left them in the dust. Yet still his heart resisted acknowledging it.
And then…
"Titan! It's been a long time."
A voice, gravelly yet familiar, shook him upright like a lightning strike. His massive body stiffened, eyes widening with stunned recognition.
That voice—he could never forget it.
"Master?" Titan whispered, trembling.
"It's me."
A figure stepped through the window, weathered and scarred, with hands like bronze stone. Tang Hao's palm fell firmly on Titan's shoulder.
"Master!" Titan dropped heavily to one knee, fists pressed to the floor.
Tang Hao clenched his jaw. "No. I'm not your master anymore. Call me Tang Hao."
But Titan's eyes burned with tears. "You will always be my master."
Under the lamplight, he almost couldn't recognize Tang Hao's face, cut through with so much weather and suffering it looked carved by blades of time.
"…Alright enough of that." Tang Hao's deep voice rumbled. "I didn't come to reminisce. I need your help."
In truth, he had been hiding within forests these past days, hunted by Martial Soul Hall without pause.
But he needed information. He needed someone loyal.
And at Shrek, he had learned his son Tang San had already crossed paths with the Li clan.
Now, searching for A Yin, he returned to the one subordinate he could still trust—Titan.
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