Chapter 86 Tang Ba's Ruthlessness

  Tang Hao took Tang Yan and escaped into the deepest part of the mystical forest, concealing all their auras and hiding completely.

  Du Yang's situation is extremely grim. For that one crazy, reckless compression of potential, again and again, his meridians were severely damaged, his spiritual energy unable to circulate on its own, with danger to his life at all times.

  Tang Hao had an extremely delicate control over his spiritual power and carried some life-saving elixirs with him, so he personally guarded Du Yang and helped him recover his spiritual power bit by bit. After spending the whole night, he managed to save Du Yang's life. However, Du Yang's internal and external injuries were still very severe, and no one could give an answer as to whether he would be able to open his eyes again, when he would wake up, or what kind of sequelae he would have in the future.

  Whether it was Tang Hao, Tang Qing, or Tang Ba, they were all cold-blooded people by nature, with a cool and indifferent temperament, rarely having good feelings towards anyone, let alone helping others. However, Du Yang's unwavering pursuit and repeated life-saving efforts when Tang Yan was abandoned by the entire city made them look at him in a different light, valuing his dedication and righteousness.

  A single affection, what is heavy, a pinch of righteousness, how to show, only in times of hardship.

  This is also the main reason why Tang Hao didn't mind exhausting himself to save his life.

  But Du Yang was somehow comforted, while Tang Yan's situation left them at a loss, unable to find any solution.

  Nowadays, Tang Yan is now thin and haggard, with dry yellow hair and wrinkled skin that is cracked and dry, like an old man who is about to die, not at all like a fifteen or sixteen year old youth.

  Tang Ba's eyebrows were almost twisted into a knot: "What kind of evil martial arts did this little guy practice? How did he end up like this?"

  Tang Qing gazed at Tang Yan's condition, and muttered: "Stealing one's lifespan, extracting their vital energy, forcibly increasing their strength... I've heard of martial arts that extract vital energy, but never ones that can steal lifespans too. I've lived for over 40 years, and have never heard of such a bizarre thing. This kind of martial art seems to save lives, but the consequences... are enough to ruin his life."

  Tang Hao sat down beside Tang Yan, his worried expression evident as he said: "Having lost his lifespan and also losing his vital energy, even his internal organs have begun to age. Even if he manages to survive, it's likely that he won't live for much longer."

  Tang Ba sat down beside him: "Looking at him like this, he can hold on for at most three to five years, or else he'll decline to the point where he can only lie in bed for three to five years."

  Tang Qing raised an eyebrow and looked at the two of them: "We have to think of a way, don't we? We finally helped him escape, only to die here in the blink of an eye? The old master's intention was for us to protect him for his whole life... this... can't be just three or five years... what meaning is there in that?"

  "Shut your thick lips and don't speak, no one takes you for a mute." Tang Hao glared at him with annoyance.

  "Am I wrong? Unless one digs a hundred million feet into the earth to find the spiritual pulse of this mystical forest, who can provide longevity under heaven? Even then, it's not necessarily possible!"

  The atmosphere fell silent for a moment, but gradually... Tang Ba's eyes slowly became strange: "What Xiao Qing said also makes sense. Ershao's lifespan and essence are severely depleted, leaving only a few years of life. The path of martial arts is also difficult to progress further. Is there still meaning in living such a life?"

  Tang Hao raised his eyes and looked at Tang Ba with a strange gaze, then looked at Tang Qing who was pretending to be calm: "You mean... to settle him ahead of time?"

  Tang Qing shrugged: "I didn't mean it."

  Tang Ba leaned against the root, silent for a moment, and said expressionlessly: "No one expected things to turn out like this, no one wanted anything to happen to him, but... Fifth sister, think carefully. Would Grandfather suddenly announce that we are being expelled from the family in such a situation just because of impulse? Or would he just want to show his attitude in front of outsiders and not let people criticize the Tang family for being indifferent to their own descendants being slaughtered? With Qiong Ergei's life or death unknown, if we three leave again, the only martial arts experts left in the Tang family will be Tang Mingjing and Jun Lao Da. Even with Grandfather presiding over the family, the Tang family's status may plummet."

  The old man might have been impulsive at the time, but we must consider this seriously. Should we continue to guard a completely abandoned and dying Second Master who can only struggle on for two or three more years, or should we return to the family and do what we should be doing?

  Tang Hao's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and he didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked at Tang Qing: "What do you mean?"

  "I don't mean it."

  "Speak!!"

  "Hmm...alright...cough cough...it's like this. Let's not discuss whether we can save the second young master or not, even if we do manage to save him, his current state will probably only allow him to live in pain and suffering, it'll be hard for him to have any quality of life. And all we can do is accompany him every day, sighing and complaining, watching him endure the pain. Rather than that...we might as well...do a good deed ahead of time, help him out, give him a quick death."

  Tang Bazi's mouth hooked up in a smile that was not quite a smile: "Two to one, we feel this matter is not necessary to insist on. Let's just get rid of it directly, and then hide outside for a while before sneaking back home. Old Master may scold us on the surface, but secretly he will still be very happy. What do you think, Fifth Sister?"

  Tang Hao's eyebrows furrowed even tighter, and his expression turned slightly gloomy: "Put away this set of grandiose excuses. Aren't you just tired of the trouble? Don't you just want to return to your family? Don't you feel that as a Martial King, protecting an abandoned child is humiliating?! In the past when Second Young Master was useless, didn't Eldest Brother Qiong guard him for ten whole years?! Did he ever complain? Hmm? Answer me!!"

  Tang Qing stroked his bald head and smiled awkwardly: "You see, you asked me to say it, I said it, and now you're getting impatient. Isn't this what we're discussing?"

  "No room for discussion! Just follow Master's orders! Guard Second Young Master until he leaves this world."

  "Huh? This doesn't seem like your style?" Tang Ba raised an eyebrow and looked at Tang Hao, when did this bloodthirsty girl ever have a kind heart?

  "You've followed the old master for so many years, is he a pretentious person? Is he someone who likes to put on an act? Since he's arranged things this way, he must have his own thoughts. What we need to do is faithfully carry out his plans, rather than wildly guessing at the old master's intentions! I'm warning you, Tang Ba, don't harbor any crooked thoughts, this child, I'll guarantee it!"

  Tang Ba didn't say another word, staring at Tang Yan for a while with an unreadable expression, then hummed softly and leaned back against the root of the tree, closing his eyes to rest. Tang Qing rubbed his bald head, looking somewhat bored, glancing around before lying down on the ground with the whetstone as a pillow, soon starting to snore.

  The atmosphere became slightly strange, Tang Hao silently guarded beside Tang Yan, vigilantly watching the two.

  She actually understood the emotions of both, especially Tang Ba. His temperament was cold and ruthless, so cold that his heart was frozen with ice crystals, and so ruthless that his soul seemed to have been soaked in poison. In this life, he only owed loyalty to Old Master Tang, and was willing to shed hot blood for the Tang family. Apart from that, he would never yield to anyone else, nor would he pretend to be friendly to others. Now, being suddenly expelled from home and coming to guard someone he had never had a good impression of, it was indeed somewhat difficult for Tang Ba. At that time in Giant Elephant City, the reason why he chose to accept was purely because he was influenced by the atmosphere, feeling very excited and stimulated. Now that he had calmed down, his heart's first reaction was to erupt with murderous intent.

  Tang Qing is thick-skinned, honest and somewhat poor at words, but his soul is equally dirty and ugly, a smiling tiger with a knife hidden in his heart. Except for the old master, no one can command him, even if he agrees, he will secretly stir up trouble for you. If Tang Yan was still as strong as he was in Juexiang City, he might have followed quietly, but Tang Yan's current situation is quite disappointing to him. In Tang Qing's eyes, there is only one solution for things that disappoint - erase them!

  Although Tang Hao also had some difficulty accepting the departure from the Tang family, she had followed Lao Yezi for seven or eight years and was most clear about his doting love for Tang Yan. The word "doting" could hardly express it. Today's decision would probably make even Tang Ming Jing feel uneasy. She couldn't imagine if Lao Yezi knew that they three had killed Tang Yan halfway, or watched him die without lifting a finger, he would probably be unable to accept it and wouldn't forgive them three either.

  Unless absolutely necessary, Tang Hao did not want to make a rash decision.

  After a long silence, Tang Qing suddenly opened one eye and said in a low voice: "Fifth sister, you say... why is the old man so doting on him, it's simply excessive. Will he..."

  "What's wrong?"

  "Isn't it Tang Ming Jing's child?"

  "Huh?"

  Tang Qing turned over and lowered his voice: "Is he Old Master's illegitimate son?"

  Tang Hao was speechless: "Your imagination is so rich! I admire you, little girl!"

  "I'm serious, whose grandfather spoils his grandson to this extent? Why does he only spoil the second young master, but not the eldest young master who has a good talent? I'll ask another question, do you still remember that person who was carrying a paper bag?"

  "After the fight, I didn't see him again, what else did you find out?"

  "I feel like he's very close to Second Young Master."

  Tang Hao glared at him fiercely: "If you dare to say that there's something going on between them, I'll twist your bald head off and use it as a stool right now."

  Tang Qing chuckled: "Just take a guess, I'm just curious, Fifth Sister don't get excited."

  Tang Hao said irritably, "If you have the leisure to think about this, you should be thinking of how to avoid the Spirit King's pursuit troops instead. We killed Zhou Lingluo and caused such a big disturbance, they won't let it go easily. With the Spirit King's power, it's possible that he'll dispatch the Hawk Group Army to surround the entire Mystic Forest. And even if we manage to evade the pursuit troops and escape the Mystic Forest, where will we go? Qing Erge is in the Spirit King's palace, are you thinking of a way to rescue him?"