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"From your mother?"
Tang Hao's eyes narrowed slightly at the words, his gaze locking onto the handsome young man with the long blue hair. After a moment, a sudden realization hit him. A familiar, youthful face began to merge with the person standing before him.
"You... you're... Xiao Chen?" He was utterly stunned. "This... impossible! How... how do you know your mother is...?"
His body trembled violently, and the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand nearly slipped. The Slaughter God Domain around him fluctuated wildly for an instant. He shakily pointed at Tang Chen, his voice a hoarse whisper. "When did you secretly awaken the Blue Silver Grass Spirit into the Blue Silver Emperor?"
"You... how do you know all this?"
Though his mind was in chaos, Tang Hao couldn't understand how his adopted son knew these deep secrets. Could someone from Spirit Hall have told him?
Tang Chen remained silent, his cold, emotionless eyes fixed on Tang Hao. It felt as if an impenetrable wall stood between the two of them.
Unexpected Arrivals
"There's someone else? A Titled Douluo!?"
Tang Hao took a deep breath, and his Slaughter God Domain slowly receded, vanishing like a retreating tide. Just as he was about to walk toward Tang Chen, his expression abruptly changed.
He clearly sensed two unfamiliar auras rapidly approaching from not far away using his mental force. One of the auras was as powerful as his own.
"There's actually a powerhouse in Heaven Dou City whose strength is comparable to mine?"
He frowned deeply, a mix of ruthlessness and apprehension flashing in his eyes. His gaze swept coldly toward the horizon as he muttered to himself, "Could it be... people from Spirit Hall?"
"You wait for me, unfilial son!" The next second, he looked back at Tang Chen with an expression of complex, swirling emotions. Then, his figure flickered and vanished into the vast night.
The Aftermath
The poisonous mist in the alley gradually dispersed, allowing the moonlight to shine through once more.
"I didn't expect that old fellow Tang Hao to just run off like that?" Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, looking in the direction Tang Hao had left. Doubt covered his face, and his eyes showed confusion and surprise as he muttered to himself.
"By the way, kid, your surname is Tang, and you know Tang Hao," Dugu Bo said, shifting his gaze to Tang Chen and narrowing his eyes. "You wouldn't be from the Clear Sky Sect too, would you?"
Tang Chen shook his head, looking back at Dugu Bo, and laughed, slightly exasperated. "My Spirit is Blue Silver Grass. Do you really think it's possible for me to be from the Clear Sky Sect?"
Dugu Bo was momentarily startled. He nodded thoughtfully. "That's true," he said slowly. "The Clear Sky Sect always places extreme importance on Spirits. Unless you're the Sect Master's child, they won't even acknowledge the descendants of direct disciples if they don't inherit the Clear Sky Hammer.
"He paused, a look of deep thought flashing in his eyes. "Since your Spirit is Blue Silver Grass, the people from the Clear Sky Sect wouldn't acknowledge your identity." He lowered his voice, "Tang Hao just mentioned your mother. Do they know each other?"
After a moment of silence, Tang Chen slowly let out a deep breath, just about to explain.
New Arrivals
Suddenly, a whooshing sound came from not far away, followed by a golden light rapidly approaching like a shooting star. Looking up, a golden-haired girl with a long spear landed gracefully nearby.
"Rui'er, why are you here?" Tang Chen was slightly surprised to see her and asked.
Xiao Ruier quickly moved to his side, worry in her eyes. "What happened here just now? Are you alright?" she asked softly.
Tang Chen shook his head. "Just now, some guy who thought he was big just because he's a Titled Douluo suddenly attacked me," he replied in a low voice. "Luckily, Senior Dugu Bo was here, so I'm fine." He even managed a smile, turning to look at Dugu Bo beside him.
Dugu Bo snorted coldly at Tang Chen's somewhat strange gaze. "I don't have that much ability," he said indifferently. "The reason Tang Hao left so quickly was probably mostly because of his appearance, right?"
As he spoke, Dugu Bo slowly raised his head, his gaze settling on the rooftop not far away. A man in red stood there with his hands behind his back, radiating a terrifying, heart-stopping pressure. Dugu Bo's expression became solemn after his gaze lingered for a moment. He realized only then that this "Red King" was Xiao Ruier's bodyguard, not Tang Chen's.
Hearing Dugu Bo's words, Xiao Ruier's expression also changed slightly, her brows furrowing. She quickly recovered her smile, however, turning her gaze back to Tang Chen. "It looks like you've made quite a few enemies," she said with a gentle smile. "Let's stick together from now on."
Tang Chen was startled, then smiled awkwardly, looking a little embarrassed.
Just then, Dugu Bo's voice cut in again. He stared intently at Tang Chen. "Kid, what are your plans now?"
Making a Deal
"Plans? Senior Dugu Bo," Tang Chen said seriously after a moment of thought, revealing a slight smile. "Didn't you promise me that as long as I help you and your granddaughter get rid of the poison, you'd grant any request I have?"
Dugu Bo's eyes flashed, and he nodded. "Yes, I did," he said with a deep voice. "Tell me what you need. As long as this old man can do it, I won't refuse."
Tang Chen's expression became serious. "It's simple," he said. "As you just saw, I have quite a few enemies on this continent. I hope you can stay by my side for the next three years and, when necessary, step in to solve some of the troubles for me."
"What did you say?" Dugu Bo blinked, then looked at Tang Chen with a strange expression, rolling his eyes. "You're a pretty sly schemer, kid. You want me to be your long-term thug?"
"You want me to help you deal with Tang Hao just for detoxifying me? I can't beat him! That's too bad a deal for me," Dugu Bo scoffed. "That guy is someone who even dares to fight the Supreme Pontiff."
Tang Chen, however, simply smiled, a hint of teasing in his voice. "Senior, you're not actually scared of Tang Hao, are you?"
A sharp light flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes, and he snorted fiercely. "Scared? How could I be scared of him? Humph! If he really provokes me, I... I'll just sneak into their Clear Sky Sect at night and take a little stroll.
I guarantee that for the next hundred years, their Sect won't have any talented disciples left, creating a massive power vacuum for them!" A sinister smile crept onto his face as green light surged in his eyes.
"It's just that I don't want to be used as a pawn by you for no reason," Dugu Bo continued. "Even if you've been helpful to me and Yan Yan, you can't just keep me tied down and order me to do this and that, can you? You should know that what this old man fears most in life is being bossed around by others."
Tang Chen pondered this for a while, his gaze sweeping over Dugu Bo. "Senior Dugu Bo," he said with a smile, "how many levels of Spirit Power do you have right now?"
"Ninety-two levels," Dugu Bo said begrudgingly, his expression stiffening. "You helped me detoxify, and I believe it won't be long before my Spirit Power can breakthrough to ninety-three levels. Why do you ask, by the way?"