For a week, the kids were trained by Tang Hao, who still hadn't revealed his title yet.
Tang Zen was already somewhat used to it, but Xiao Wu and Tang San fainted repeatedly. It was clear that Tang Zen's strength had depth.
However, Tang San didn't back down from this new challenge. He would rather train like this daily because he could feel the progress in his strength, speed, endurance, and fortitude.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, got a fever. Tang San couldn't understand why her face got pale on the first day, and her condition got worse the next day. Maybe it was the change of atmosphere. She was excused from the training for a while.
It wasn't long before the departure day of Tang Zen came.
To pick him up, his journey partner showed up in a carriage pulled by two white wind horses—domestic spirit beasts.
It was a woman in a long dress that had lavish embroidery and was made with soft but durable silk threads.
She was also six feet tall but shorter than Tang Hao. Her blue hair matched her blue eyes.
From a distance, she looked very thin. But upon closer look, men couldn't help but gasp at her perfectly round ass and D-cup sized breasts (not bad).
Her face gave people the impression that she was the queen of elegance. But the moment her feet landed on the ground, she shot her body like an arrow and gave Tang Hao a warm hug.
The kids were dumbfounded.
Tang Zen lifted both of his thumbs, 'Father, you still got it.'
Tang San thought, 'Father didn't hug her back. Is it one-sided love?'
Xiao Wu nodded her head, 'Understandable. Some women are suckers for strong men.'
Patting lightly on her shoulder, Tang Hao told her, "Kids are watching."
Only then did the beautiful woman separate from him and greet the kids with a slight bow, "Pardon my rudeness, but how could I calm down after seeing my dear big brother whom I haven't met for a decade... I am brother Hao's little sister, Tang Yuehua; you kids can call me aunt."
The mouths of the kids opened wide in surprise.
She was really like moonlight, as her name suggested. Her voice was even more pleasant to the ears.
Tang Hao and Tang Yuehua didn't look like siblings in terms of appearance. But both of them aura of higher beings.
The kids introduced themselves one by one with a 90-degree bow.
"My name is Tang Zen. I am the eldest of my siblings. "
"My name is Tang San. I am the second sibling. Nice to meet you, Aunt."
"My name is Xiao Wu, the youngest and cutest here. Glad to meet you."
Tang Yuehua pondered with a smile, 'Tang San got his mother's eyes. But the other kids must be adopted. They are sweet too. I am glad that second brother wasn't lonely like me.'
Tang Hao didn't tell the sect and Ah Yin about Tang Zen's birth because at that time he was too heartbroken.
He also didn't find the need to explain everything to Tang Yuehua.
Why would he? He wasn't the type of man who would discriminate against his children. He was a passionate man from inside. Nothing like his father, who cared about honor and the strength of the sect above all. He raised Tang Zen as his own flesh and blood. So he expected his sister to take care of Tang Zen as her own nephew.
"Get your luggage, " Tang Hao said to Tang Zen.
But Tang San and Xiao Wu knew that they had to leave Tang Hao and Tang Yuehua alone for a while.
As the kids went inside the house, Tang Hao and Tang Yuehua were standing outside the fence.
"Are you not even gonna ask me to spend a night at your home?" Tang Yuehua was upset with his cold hospitality.
"There's no time to waste. You need to leave immediately to get the snow berries that only appear in the fifth month of the year, " Tang Hao said flatly.
Contrary to his indifferent appearance, he was a deep thinker. He always knew what his priority was.
But still, Tang Yuehua wished for him to be selfish once in a while.
Then Tang Hao asked her, "Is the driver reliable?"
The carriage had a driver's seat ahead of the compartment, where an old man was sitting. He could hear them talking about him, but he didn't even turn his face.
"He is one of my best men. Mao Lingfeng is a rank 65 spirit emperor from the Mao Clan (Spear Clan)." She couldn't boast about the strength of the old man in front of Tang Hao, who may be a titled Douluo like her eldest brother Tang Xiao.
Let me give you a systematic description of this guy:
Name: Mao Lingfeng (age 72)
Spirit rank: 65 (spirit emperor)
Alias: Soaring wind
Spirit rings configuration: Yellow, yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black
Spirit force: 21,400 years
Martial soul: Wind Piercing Spear
Also Tang Yuehua
Name: Tang Yuehua (51)
Spirit rank: 9 (spirit scholar)
Spirit force: 13,000 years
Martial soul: Wishful Ring (variant spirit from Clear Sky Hammer)
Innate domain: Noble Circle (Releases a gentle, elegant wave of energy from her body that washes away all killing intent within its range.
Name: Tang Hao (57)
Spirit rank: 92 (titled Douluo)
Title: (unknown)
Spirit rings configuration: Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black
Spirit force: 210,000 years
Martial soul: Clear Sky Hammer
Name: Tang San (11)
Spirit rank: 16 (spirit master)
Spirit rings configuration: Yellow
Spirit force: 590 years
Martial souls: Blue Silver Grass + Clear Sky Hammer
Name: Xiao Wu (11/+100,000)
Spirit rank: 18 (spirit master)
Spirit rings configuration: Yellow
Spirit force: 650 years (+100,000 years [sealed])
Martial soul: Soft-boned Charm Rabbit
Name: Tang Zen (11)
Spirit rank: 3 (spirit scholar)
Spirit force: 329 years
Martial soul: Blue Silver Grass (variance 39%) [mutation possibility 67%] [evolution possibility 72%] [malfunction possibility 86%]
This is making me worried about this kid. He couldn't be unfortunate like Tang Yuehua and Yu Xiaogang, right?
Mutation can bring new surprises, some good and some bad. Given the unpredictable nature of variant spirit, it is too early to say that it is bad news.
But one thing is sure: Tang Zen won't be walking the same path as Tang San.
[A/N: It will be interesting if his variant spirit can do necromancy or beast taming or some dark magic. (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)]
A variant spirit could develop its own innate abilities before reaching rank 10 or without the help of a spirit ring. However, those abilities weren't always helpful.
"Do you hate them?" Tang Yuehua asked without any reservation.
Knowing her brother well, she didn't beat around the bush.
Tang Hao, Tang Xiao, and Ah Yin were close friends, maybe like siblings. Just like Tang San, Tang Zen, and Xiao Wu. But fate brought Ah Yin and Tang Hao close together only to separate them with a cruel twist.
Tang Hao's eyes penetrated her eyes, showing his honesty, "I am way past that stage."
"Time..."
"Time changes everything. My hands are full with raising my kids while avoiding any confrontation with spirit hall bastards."
Tang Yuehua wished to say more, but seeing his determined eyes, she gave up. 'Maybe... This is also fate. I want to tell him so many things. Like how sister Ah Yin has been living for these years. She and eldest brother have two kids one year after Tang San's birth, but that was it.'
'They never shared the same room again. They are a couple with broken hearts. Telling this would only hurt the second brother.'
She sighed and looked in the direction of the door of the house, as the walls around the house were only at the height of her neck.
"What about you?" Tang Hao asked unexpectedly.
But then his eyes quickly scanned her hands and fingers. There was no ring. He sighed and scolded her lightly, "Are you a nun? Why aren't you married yet? You know how much I hate temples, priests, and nuns."
She made a rebellious face, completely out of her elegant appearance, "Huh—? What kind of nun is as beautiful as me? Do you even know how many nobles and royal family members are courting me? It is not my fault if they are not up to my standards."
Tang Hao gave her a speechless look, saying, 'Wow! You are still so full of yourself.'
They chatted casually until the kids returned.
Drama wasn't Tang Hao's cup of tea, so he sent them off without any melodrama.
Only he looked at the back of the carriage that was moving towards a far horizon with his sad eyes.
Another parting.
First, he parted with her wife, then with his clan, and now with his son. He hoped it would be different this time.
Even he would die if his heart were to take so many wounds from these partings.
'Big brother is doing such a courageous journey to become strong. I can't be left behind. I can't be satisfied with my cheap achievements.' Tang San was more determined to become strong now.
He looked up at his father, "Father, please train me without showing mercy. I want to be strong. Strongest spirit master in Soul Land."
Seeing his youngest son's raging spirit, Tang Hao forgot all sadness, switching to his fighter self, "Then prepare yourself, because the training is going to be intense beyond your imagination."