Tang Xiao slowly rose and walked toward the sleeping duo, rudely breaking their dreamland.
"Brother Hao, Ah Yin… Wake up, it's time for us to leave."
"Ah… Big Brother…" With a jolt, Tang Hao and Ah Yin opened their eyes.
Seeing the sun climb the horizon and their big brother staring at them lying together like a pair of lovebirds, Tang Hao flushed with embarrassment and awkwardness.
Ah Yin hurriedly shoved Tang Hao's head off her lap and got up, lowering her gaze as her earlobes blushed crimson—clearly ashamed of her romantic sleeping posture.
Watching this display, Tang Xiao had the violent urge to smack both their heads at once.
"You two mongrels… Are you trying to test my patience?" Tang Xiao grumbled inwardly.
Although after a night of assimilation the original Tang Xiao's emotions had mostly subsided, he still couldn't stop himself from growing irritated at the dog food being sprinkled in front of him.
"And seriously… how the hell did this Tang Xiao survive living with them until now?" he questioned himself in disbelief.
From the memories it was obvious Tang Hao and Ah Yin had been glued together long ago. This wasn't some new development. So how on earth did this Tang Xiao—who also loved Ah Yin—manage to stomach watching his beloved hugging another man and letting him nap on her lap?
Okay… even if you're some saintly martyr willing to hand your love to your brother because you wish her happiness… why not just quietly walk away instead of sitting here stabbing your own heart every day?
Are you a masochist addicted to heartbreak, or do you secretly enjoy watching your lover cuddle and kiss another man?
Tang Xiao almost clutched his head in exasperation.
If not for the memory of the original Tang Xiao deciding to leave later tonight, he would have sworn this man was a complete lunatic.
"Oh man…" With frustration gnawing at him, Tang Xiao let out a deep sigh.
Still, he didn't reveal a hint of irritation on his face. Instead, he smiled faintly and urged the couple to get ready.
Soon, the pair had washed up and were ready to move.
"Big Brother, we can leave," Tang Hao said, fingers tightly holding Ah Yin's hand.
"Mm…" Tang Xiao nodded, hiding his thoughts.
As planned, the three began their journey toward their destination, a place hundreds of miles away—Lover's Lake.
Lover's Lake was rumored to bless couples who bathed there together.
From the predecessor's memories, when the duo had stumbled upon this information, they instantly decided to go, regardless of the long trek.
Anyway, they had nothing better to do. They had already been wandering the world for three years. With the brothers' cultivation level, opponents were scarce. Now, their lives consisted of sightseeing, traveling, and—of course—endless public displays of affection.
"Now I finally understand why this spineless man decided to sneak away tonight…" Tang Xiao thought, feeling he had solved the riddle.
All because of their next destination.
Even though this man had the heart to endure pain, he wasn't a complete cuck. Watching his beloved strip and bathe naked with his brother was apparently a line he couldn't cross.
"At least you drew the line somewhere…" Tang Xiao sneered inwardly. The deeper he dug into Tang Xiao's memories, the more disgust churned in his chest.
But what could he do? He had no choice. He had already occupied this man's body through some freak accident and couldn't change it now.
"Alas… if possible, I should find someone capable of erasing these memories. Honestly, this is psychological torture."
…
Nothing noteworthy happened the whole day.
The three trudged toward their destination at a leisurely pace.
By nightfall, they still hadn't crossed beyond a small forest.
For the lovey-dovey couple, it was perfectly fine. They acted as though the world didn't exist—only each other did.
For Tang Xiao, however, it was absolute torment.
But to avoid derailing the timeline, Tang Xiao grudgingly restrained himself from storming off.
It was best to keep things running according to plan for at least the next few years.
Let Tang San be born… let Ah Yin sacrifice herself.
Although it stung to give up Ah Yin's hundred-thousand-year soul ring and bone, he knew the gains would outweigh the losses.
Sure, he could kill her and seize them now. But what then? Just a soul ring and a bone. It would boost his strength, yes, but not enough to change his body's future.
Anyway… it wasn't as though he'd suddenly become a god.
But if he let things play out naturally… not only would his younger brother become injured and possibly crippled… he himself will become the Clear Sky Clan's next leader.
And if he didn't change anything, he might even snatch Xiao Wu later.
Not only that— with Tang San's birth, if he played his cards right, he could still end up a first-class god, or at least a second-class one.
Even if Tang San turned out to be an ungrateful hypocrite, surely he would grant him at least a god-officer position at bare minimum, right?
Of course… maybe Tang San would ignore him as an uncle and refuse to help him ascend. But so what?
Since he couldn't become a god on his own anyway, it was still better to leave that possibility open.
Even if Tang San didn't help, his existence alone meant at least a hundred years of peace.
"Even if I save Qian Xunji from dying and being devoured by Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue is already born… so the continental war is inevitable. If no god rises to oppose Spirit Hall, then when they come knocking, it'll be the end of me…" Tang Xiao mused grimly.
He had already thought it all through last night.
The stakes were too high. A god had to appear to block Spirit Hall's ambition and safeguard the Clear Sky Sect.
Since that god couldn't be him, he didn't care if it was Tang San or anyone else.
Even if Tang San turned villainous like in future installments of Douluo Dalu, it wouldn't make Tang Xiao's life any worse.
But if some random became god, not only was it uncertain whether they would help him ascend, it was also uncertain whether they would oppose Spirit Hall at all. After all, Spirit Hall's reputation in the world wasn't exactly evil.
"Only Tang San… This two-faced brat fits the role perfectly. For that, everything must continue as it is. Let the grudges simmer… and let me collect the spoils when the time comes."
Having reached his conclusion, when Tang Hao and Ah Yin fell asleep, Tang Xiao quietly departed.
Before leaving, he took one last lingering look at Ah Yin.
"Maybe… this will be the last time I see her." With a strange glint in his eyes, Tang Xiao turned away and vanished into the night.