Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends.

"Hmm." Tang Hao nodded, a hint of humiliation and resentment flashing in his eyes.

"I heard about it and wanted to give it a try."

He didn't say "steal," he just said "try."

But Tang Yuehua was incredibly clever. Looking at her brother's appearance and recalling his fierce and proud nature, as well as the rumors of His Majesty Gedo being mysterious and unpredictable and having extremely harsh terms in transactions, she had already guessed seven or eight parts of the truth.

What my second brother called a "trial" is probably far from a gentle discussion.

Her heart sank.

Did my second brother provoke that Lady Gedo?

No wonder he was injured like this. That was a mysterious titled Douluo whom even Duke Zhu Tianlin of the Star Luo Empire had to personally visit with generous gifts!

"Second Brother, did you have a conflict with Her Majesty Ge Duo?" Tang Yuehua's voice was filled with lingering fear and a hint of reproach.

“How could you be so impulsive! That Your Majesty's strength is unfathomable, and his temperament is eccentric. Even the royal family and the three upper sects treat him with utmost respect. You…”

"That's enough!" Tang Hao suddenly roared, interrupting Tang Yuehua, his face showing annoyance and pain.

What he least wanted to face was his sister's reproach, which was filled with concern and incomprehension; it hurt him more than the enemy's swords.

This made him feel like an immature child who only knew how to cause trouble.

Seeing her brother's sudden outburst of emotion and his eyes turn bloodshot in an instant, Tang Yuehua was startled, and her words trailed off.

She realized she had touched her brother’s most sensitive nerve: his unassailable pride and dignity.

Tang Yuehua quickly softened her tone, pleading, "Second Brother, don't get agitated. It's Yuehua's fault. Yuehua shouldn't have asked so many questions. Calm down, your injuries are more important..."

Tang Hao was breathing heavily, his chest heaving. It took him a while to barely suppress his surging blood and the nameless fire within him.

Looking at his sister's worried and cautious expression, he felt another pang of pain in his heart.

He slumped back in his chair, as if all his strength had been drained away, his voice becoming incredibly weary and hoarse: "Yuehua, I'm sorry, it's my fault for being useless, it's my fault for dragging you down, for dragging down the sect..."

He had kept these words to himself for over a decade, and today he finally uttered them in front of his sister, filled with endless regret and sorrow.

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

“No one has ever thought 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 his powerlessness to change the situation and only hoped that you could live a good life…”

Upon hearing his father's voice, Tang Hao's body trembled violently. Something warm slipped uncontrollably from the corner of his tightly closed eyes, mixing into his beard.

Chapter 131 Hidden Affection

Men don't easily shed tears, unless they are truly heartbroken.

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

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

She knew that her second brother must have had a very difficult time all these years. She stopped asking about the details, and simply held her brother's cold hand tightly, trying to give him some 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 and causing him to frown slightly, but he still forced himself to speak: "It's nothing. It's just a minor injury, I'll be fine after some rest."

He had roamed the mainland for many years and suffered countless serious injuries. Although the explosion had severely damaged 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 his bloodshot eyes, a hint of barely perceptible hope in them.

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

Tang Hao paused, feeling that his explanation was not clear enough, and added, "I have two children. One is named Xiao San, and the other is named Xian Di. They are both very talented, both possessing full innate soul power. I want to seek out elixirs for them to help them on their future path, so that it will be smoother."

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, that sour feeling was replaced by a stronger sense of responsibility.

Seeing 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 decisively, "Second Brother, your children are my children. I am their aunt, and it is only natural for me to raise them and love them! Don't worry, 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 matter-of-fact 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.

From a young age, 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 defies morality and is unacceptable to the world.

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

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

Later, 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, for the sake of the sect, or perhaps for that faint hope of receiving news from him again.

Now, many years have passed.

Ah Yin has passed away, and her second brother, having endured many hardships, returned to her side, scarred and battered.

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

Moreover, he became 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.

Even just as her younger sister, it was enough to make her heart, which had been barren for many years, feel a touch of humble warmth again.

"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 right now. The children are still young, and it will take time for them to acquire their soul rings. The pills will only be useful when that time comes."

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 relaxed considerably, 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 swept over 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 supported Tang Hao and led him to the inner part of the room without saying a word, to the carved wooden bed with soft, warm fabric and 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, softly reassuring 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, secretly arranged by Father to come to Heaven Dou City with me to assist me in managing Moon Pavilion and to be responsible for secret communication 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, and he's absolutely loyal and skilled!"

Chapter 132 Resources

Upon hearing that they were from the Haotian Sect, Tang Hao's tense nerves gradually relaxed. He loosened his grip and said in a low voice, "It's good that they are from the sect."

He let Tang Yuehua help him take off his coat 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 flood. Tang Hao's eyelids grew 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 very gently brushed aside a few strands of messy hair stuck together by sweat on Tang Hao's forehead.

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

"This time, Yuehua won't let you be 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 Heavenly Battle, especially the humiliating defeat and important information about Ge Duo and the elixir.

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

Davis, expressionless, quickly left the carriage surrounded by his guards.

Dai Mubai lowered his head and mingled in the crowd, seemingly no different from the other dejected members of the delegation, and quickly walked towards his relatively deserted 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 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 stemmed not from her father's return itself, but from the true and false messages that followed, messages powerful 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 Soul 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, with her life hanging by a thread, desperately needing the strength 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 him giving her one of the pills he had brought back this time.

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

This idea grew wildly in Zhu Zhuqing's mind like weeds, carrying 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 so many things to worry about, so this is definitely not a good time to discuss the distribution of pills.

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; in fact, it may attract unnecessary covetousness and trouble.

In the Zhu family, resources always gravitate 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.