Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

Chapter 83 Last Words
A brief silence fell over the deep blue forest, as if unwilling to see its people suffer any more. The turbulent spiritual energy gradually subsided. The blue silver grass ceased to sway, the suspended dewdrops fell silently, and the entire forest seemed to hold its breath.

Just then, an ancient and weathered spiritual wave emanated from the depths of the forest, like the whispers of countless blades of grass in the wind, carrying a profound sense of awe and remorse:

"Your Majesty...please forgive your people..."

The voice was deep and resonant, containing the tranquility and majesty unique to plants and trees, yet it also concealed an indescribable sorrow, as if it were begging for forgiveness from some supreme being.

She Long's scarlet snake eyes narrowed slightly, a cold smile curving his lips as he chuckled sinisterly, "Heh... you're smart to know what's good for you."

His voice was like a viper's hiss, filled with undisguised contempt.

She Long and Ci Xue exchanged a glance, a ruthless glint in their eyes. Ci Xue's body surged with blood mist, and his nine spirit rings suddenly bloomed. His chilling voice echoed through the forest: "Tang Hao, today is your death day!"

Before he could finish speaking, Ci Xue's figure had already transformed into a blood-red afterimage, heading straight for Tang Hao. His hands formed claws, and his blood-red soul power condensed into sharp thorns, tearing the air apart with a piercing shriek wherever it passed.

Tang Hao's gaze darkened, and his right arm suddenly trembled. The jet-black Clear Sky Hammer appeared out of thin air, its heavy shaft wreathed in dark red soul power, like a ferocious beast awakening. He let out a low roar, and the Clear Sky Hammer fiercely met the attack—

"boom!"

Two terrifying forces collided, and a violent shockwave of soul power exploded instantly, shattering all the Blue Silver Grass within a radius of dozens of feet, and causing spiderweb-like cracks to appear on the ground. Tang Hao groaned, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, and his figure staggered slightly. Ci Xue was also forced back several steps, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"As expected of Haotian Douluo, even heavily injured, he still possesses such combat power." She Long's cold voice came from the side. He had somehow circled around to Tang Hao's side, his serpent spear gleaming with golden light, aiming straight for Tang Hao's throat!
Tang San's pupils constricted sharply, his Purple Demon Eye activated to its limit, and he instantly flung out a hidden weapon: "Dad, watch out!"

Dozens of cold glints shot through the air, aiming straight for She Long's vitals. She Long snorted coldly, sweeping his spear horizontally, blasting away the hidden weapons. However, this brief disruption was enough for Tang Hao to react. He whirled around, his Clear Sky Hammer, carrying immense force, crashing down upon She Long!
"Seventh Soul Skill, Haotian True Form!"

The dark, giant hammer phantom suddenly expanded, pressing down like a mountain. She Long's expression changed drastically. He hastily raised his spear to block, but was still sent flying by the hammer, crashing through several ancient trees before barely managing to regain his footing.

"Damn it!" Thorn Blood roared, and the blood mist suddenly boiled. "Ninth Soul Skill, Blood Demon Heart Devouring!"

A torrent of blood poison erupted from his body, transforming into countless ferocious, blood-red ghostly shadows that roared and lunged at Tang Hao and his son. Tang Hao pulled Tang San aside, slamming his Clear Sky Hammer heavily into the ground: "Clear Sky Protection!"

A dark red soul power barrier suddenly rose, and the blood-red ghostly shadow crashed into it, emitting a corrosive sound that made one's teeth ache. The barrier trembled violently, and Tang Hao's face grew increasingly pale, clearly having reached his limit.

"We can't delay any longer..." Tang Hao gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes, and the hammer suddenly burst forth with a blinding blood-red light.

"Ring Explosion! Sixth Ring! Shattered!"

"boom--"

A terrifying storm of soul power erupted centered on Tang Hao, catching Ci Xue and She Long off guard and sending them flying backward. When the dust settled, Tang Hao and his son were nowhere to be seen in the forest.

"Damn it!" She Long scrambled to his feet, his snake-like eyes filled with venom. "Chase them! They can't have gone far!"

Tang Hao, carrying Tang San, moved like a ghost through the dark forest. The night wind howled, and the leaves whipped against their faces, but Tang San was oblivious, his eyes fixed on his father's blood-stained robes and increasingly pale face.

"Dad..." Tang San's voice trembled, his fingers unconsciously clenching.

Tang Hao's breathing was heavy and rapid, but his steps didn't falter. He turned his head, his gaze piercing, his voice low and hoarse: "Little San, listen up."

"You must remember everything I'm about to say, word for word."

Tang San's heart tightened, and he immediately held his breath and focused his mind.

"After you leave here, find a safe place and absorb the soul bone," Tang Hao's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Then go find your aunt and ask her to persuade your uncle to come out of seclusion."

The night wind rustled the fallen leaves. Tang Hao suddenly stopped and looked back into the distance—the very spot where they had just fought their deadly battle.

“Remember the location of that forest,” he said in a deep voice. “When your uncle arrives, take him back there. Your fifth spirit ring is there.”

Just as Tang San was about to nod, he saw a complex look flash across Tang Hao's eyes.

"Finally..." Tang Hao's voice suddenly became extremely soft, as if he were revealing a secret buried for many years, "Take him to the waterfall where you cultivate."

"Behind the waterfall, there is a cave."

The moon was obscured by night clouds, and the forest suddenly darkened. Tang Hao's face was hidden in the shadows, only his eyes shone brightly.

"Once you're inside the cave, your uncle will tell you everything."

He suddenly coughed violently, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his lips, yet he still gripped Tang San's shoulders tightly: "Finally... let him send you to the City of Slaughter."

The last few words carried immense weight.

Before he could finish speaking, Tang Hao suddenly coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood that splattered onto his chest, blooming in a glaring crimson. He swayed, but still clung tightly to Tang San's shoulders, as if it were the last strength that kept him standing.

Tang San's tears instantly welled up, glistening in the moonlight. He trembled as he supported his father's swaying body, his voice choked with emotion, "Dad, please don't say anymore. I remember everything, every single word."

The night wind howled, scattering his unfinished words. Tang Hao slowly raised his bloodstained hand, his rough thumb wiping away the tear stains on his son's face, leaving a dark red bloodstain.

“Good boy,” his voice was hoarse and almost inaudible, yet it carried a heartbreaking tenderness, “remember. This is the path you must take.”

Tang Hao's voice suddenly turned low and somber, like a rusty knife scraping against gravel. His bloodied hand gripped Tang San's collar tightly, his knuckles white from the force: "If I die..."

A mouthful of blood welled up in his throat, but he swallowed it down, leaving only a dark red mark at the corner of his mouth.

“I’ll give you my soul bones.” He spoke each word with extreme emphasis, as if he wanted to etch them into Tang San’s very marrow. “This is what I owe the sect.”

The night wind suddenly stopped, and even the chirping of insects ceased. Tang San felt his father's hands trembling; those hands, which were usually as steady as a rock, now seemed like a candle flickering in the wind.

"No! Father, no...you won't die!" Tang San's voice trembled, almost breaking. He gripped Tang Hao's wrist tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. The Xuan Tian Gong's internal energy surged wildly into his father's body, but the moment it touched his meridians, it vanished like a stone thrown into the sea—those damaged meridians were already shattered, like a dried-up riverbed, unable to bear any flow of soul power. Tang San's pupils contracted sharply. In his perception, his father's body was like a crumbling ruin, with only a faint glow of soul power remaining in his dantian and heart meridian—a lifeline that Tang Hao, with his formidable Title Douluo cultivation, had preserved with his last strength.

"Don't waste your soul power." Tang Hao's voice was terrifyingly calm, a faint smile playing on his bloodied lips. "I'm not going to die anytime soon. You heard what I said earlier, but you can't come here alone until your uncle arrives."

Moonlight filtered through the shadows of the trees, casting dappled patterns on his pale face. The hand Tang San had been tightly gripping suddenly turned, now holding his son's trembling fingers firmly. The warmth of the palm sent a shiver down Tang San's spine—warmer than he'd imagined, a warmth that was heartbreaking.

"Dad, let's go back to Heaven Dou City!" Tang San's voice was strained, his fingers unconsciously gripping Tang Hao's sleeve. "Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia can at least stabilize your injuries. As long as we buy time, I will definitely... I will definitely find a way to heal you!"

Tang Hao paused slightly. In a daze, he seemed to see Tang Yuehua standing in the garden of the Haotian Sect, a teacup in her hand emitting wisps of steam, her eternally gentle eyes looking at him with concern.

“That’s enough.” He shook his head gently, his withered fingers brushing over his son’s clenched fist. “You shouldn’t let your aunt worry.”

A barely audible sigh was carried away by the night wind. Tang Hao gazed at the faintly visible lights in the distance, in the direction of Tian Dou City.

“I know my own body.” His voice was low, yet carried an undeniable resolve. “Besides, the Spirit Hall has already discovered my whereabouts.”

Before he could finish speaking, a sharp pain suddenly struck. Tang Hao groaned, his hand, which was gripping the tree trunk, left five bloody marks on the rough bark.

"Tian Dou City," he gasped, straightening up, a sharp glint in his eyes, "is not only unsafe, but it could also bring your aunt's death."

Before he could finish speaking, Tang Hao's body suddenly swayed, and his sharp, hawk-like eyes abruptly lost focus. His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but only a trickle of dark red blood escaped from the corner of his mouth.

"dad!"

Before Tang San could even finish his exclamation, Tang Hao's imposing body collapsed like a broken ancient pine tree. His black robe fluttered in the wind before crashing heavily onto the ground covered in Blue Silver Grass, sending up a ring of fine grass clippings.

The pale moonlight shone on Tang Hao's bloodless face. His hands, which had once struck fear into the hearts of the Spirit Hall, were now lying limply at his sides, the fingertips still bearing traces of dirt and blood from the battle.

Tang San gritted his teeth, swallowing back the sobs that welled up in his mouth. He knelt on one knee and hoisted his father's heavy body onto his back, Tang Hao's scalding blood immediately soaking through his back.

The Ghostly Shadow Steps unfolded beneath his feet, his figure transforming into a blur as he swiftly traversed the forest. The night wind whistled in his ears; he could not hesitate at this moment.

"Spirit Hall—"

A cold flame ignited in Tang San's eyes, a flame tempered with blood and hatred. He gripped his father's drooping wrist tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"If I don't avenge this, I'll be unworthy to be a son!"

The oath, mingled with the stench of blood, was crushed between their teeth, disappearing into the vast night along with their figures.

As dusk settled, Feng Yao's figure quietly appeared beneath the majestic gates of Tian Dou City. He brushed off non-existent dust from his sleeves, raised his eyes to gaze towards the imperial palace, his golden pupils gleaming with an unfathomable light in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Before the guards at the palace gates could even salute, that tall, slender figure had already swept past the palace walls like a gentle breeze. Qian Renxue was handling state affairs in her study when her quill pen suddenly paused—she sensed that familiar presence.

"Little Wind!"

As she rose, her snow-white skirt billowed in the evening breeze, and a hint of girlish joy flickered in her usually composed expression. The quill pen on the table, not placed properly, fell to the floor.

"How was the harvest this time?" She strode forward, her golden eyes shining brightly.

Feng Yao's lips curled slightly, his fingertips gently brushing against the girl's temple: "With two His Majesties personally intervening," he deliberately drew out his words, "how could we possibly return empty-handed?"

Qian Renxue was about to smile when she suddenly frowned. "Wait, why are you the only one here?" Her gaze swept over the empty corridor behind Feng Yao. "Where are Uncle She and Uncle Ci?"

Feng Yao's smile gradually faded. He gazed at the last rays of the setting sun in the west, his voice so soft it was as if he were afraid of disturbing something: "On the way back, I met Tang Hao."

"Tang Hao?!"

Qian Renxue's pupils suddenly contracted, and her fingertips unconsciously dug into her palms. The temperature in the study seemed to drop to freezing point instantly.

Everything about my father's death was inextricably linked to that damned name.

Feng Yao, observing the cold glint in Qian Renxue's eyes, lowered his voice further: "I've discovered he's at his limit. His internal organs are damaged, and his soul power is exhausted." He traced the gold thread embroidery on his cuff with his fingertips. "I've already... hinted at conveying this information to the two Your Majesties."

The night breeze swept through the corridor, carrying the coolness of early autumn.

"Perhaps..." Feng Yao raised his eyes and looked southwest, the direction from which he had discovered Tang Hao, "After tonight, Haotian Douluo will truly become a legend."

Qian Renxue's eyes suddenly turned cold, and her slender fingers clenched tightly, her knuckles gleaming with a chilling white light under the moonlight.

"He got off too easily."

Her voice was soft, yet like a poisoned ice blade, each word carrying a chilling edge. Deep within her golden eyes surged a hatred suppressed for twenty years—the pain of not being able to witness that man's last breath, the pain of not being able to avenge her father's blood debt.
The night breeze brushed against her golden hair, but it couldn't dispel the intense, palpable killing intent emanating from her forehead.

Feng Yao suddenly stretched out his arms and pulled her into his embrace, his warm palms gently stroking her tense back. As he lowered his head, his breath brushed against her flushed earlobe: "Xue'er, shall we skip the simulation training ground tonight?"

Qian Renxue trembled. The killing intent that had been so sharp just moments before melted away like spring snow meeting the sun. Her eyelashes fluttered, and the icy coldness in her golden eyes transformed into shimmering water: "No, I won't go to the training grounds..." Her voice trailed off, "Then where do you want to go?"

"These days we've been living on wind and dew," Feng Yao suddenly tightened his arms, his nose brushing against the cool, snow lotus scent in her hair. "Of course I will."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly scooped her up in his arms. Qian Renxue gasped in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Wait!" Qian Renxue suddenly realized something, and angrily punched his shoulder. "You have no idea which direction my bedchamber is in!"

Feng Yao laughed loudly, picked her up, and spun her around in the moonlight: "Then, Your Highness, please show us the way?"

(End of this chapter)