Tang Hao turned around, a hint of surprise in his eyes, but his lips curved genuinely, "Suisui."
The smile on the girl's face bloomed even brighter, like a fledgling bird returning to its nest. With a light push off her feet, she leaped into her father's embrace.
"Dad, I missed you so much!"
Her soft cheek pressed against the coarse fabric, but Tang Sui nuzzled without any hesitation, her entire demeanor becoming docile.
Like a startled kitten in an unfamiliar place, her bristling fur settled down once her parents appeared. She snuggled against them, purring and conveying a sense of grievance.
Tang Hao ruffled his younger daughter's black hair, which had become somewhat messy from the wind during her journey, and patted her back reassuringly.
Bony. The moment his large palm touched her, he could clearly feel how thin she was, as if she could snap with a little force.
Tang Hao's gaze darkened, and his initial intention to stay waned considerably.
He wrapped his arm around his younger daughter, used the wind to leap, and disappeared from the sight of the frequent passersby who cast curious glances at the heartwarming father-daughter pair.
Without disturbing the patrolling guards of Spirit City, and without attracting anyone's attention as he skimmed over the rooftops, Tang Hao landed in a secluded alley after a few leaps.
He extended his spiritual power to maintain vigilance, carefully set Tang Sui down, and only after confirming their surroundings were safe did he look at her and ask in a low voice, "Suisui, why are you here?"
"I sensed Dad's aura and came. Back in the arena, it was you who told brother to stop, wasn't it?" Tang Sui clasped her hands behind her back, smiling mischievously at Tang Hao.
Tang Hao's lips curved upward further. He didn't admit it directly, merely saying, "You are very perceptive."
Flattered by the praise, Tang Sui's eyes curved. She then asked, "Dad, are you here in Spirit City for me and brother?"
Tang Hao no longer dodged the question and nodded frankly, "Yes. The Spirit Hall already knows your identities. I feared they might interfere during or after the matches."
The Grandmaster's Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament had begun nearly half a month ago. He was unaware of the ambush the two had experienced in the Death Canyon, as he had only arrived in Spirit City in the past couple of days.
Tang Sui, also realizing that Tang Hao was unaware of the Death Canyon incident, her eyes flashed. She didn't complain to her father but instead earnestly agreed, "I think you're right, Dad. Tomorrow is the final match between us and the Spirit Hall Academy team. Will you be there too?"
Tang Hao confirmed, "I will be there. In the finals, you and Xiao San can fight with all your might."
If the Spirit Hall dared to make a move when his children were at their weakest, he would ensure they would never return!
This was the primary reason for his presence.
Tang Sui, feeling Tang Hao's protective intent, felt her heart warm.
She didn't tell her father about the injustices she had suffered. Instead, like a child who had learned a new skill, she slightly raised her chin, projecting a dignified and proud demeanor, wanting to showcase her learned abilities to her father and receive praise.
"Then you must watch closely tomorrow, Dad! I'm not the same person I was six months ago!"
Tang Hao looked at Tang Sui with a gentle gaze and patted her shoulder. "I will be watching. Suisui, you should go back quickly. Xiao San and your teammates are likely waiting for you."
Tang Sui nodded and didn't refuse. As she turned to leave, she turned back again and said, "Dad, if the Spirit Hall really throws away all pretense and finds an excuse to attack us, could you... when you save brother and me, also take Xiao Wu sister with you?"
Tang Hao paused, met his daughter's serious gaze, his own deepening slightly, and he nodded faintly, "I will."
Receiving Tang Hao's promise, Tang Sui became even happier.
She set off, stepping from the shadows cast by the tall walls into the fading crimson light of the setting sun.
Just as her footsteps were about to land on the patches of light on the ground, her entire form suddenly distorted in mid-air, as if dissipating like morning mist, or a moth drawn to a flame, consumed before the arrival of light.
Tang Hao, standing in the dimly lit alley, his gaze concentrated, felt a sudden wave of inexplicable dread and a sense of loss. His arm, raised halfway, froze. His fingertips, cooled by the wind, twitched stiffly before slowly curling into his palm.
Tang Hao, now alone, stood like a petrified statue. He gazed for a long time in the direction of the disappearing light before moving and vanishing from the spot.
A dark figure silently swept through the streets and alleys of Spirit City, finally standing silently between two lush trees planted in the hotel's backyard. He stared at the brightly lit room, his gaze fixed on the drawn curtains.
The spacious deluxe double room he had specifically booked proved its worth at this moment.
Jiang Zhu's healing staff emitted a soft glow, its warm power, combined with the Dragon Ganoderma leaves the Shrek Seven Devils had taken to strengthen their foundation, nourished every inch of their meridians.
Fatigue gradually receded. The Shrek Seven Devils, who had been meditating in a circle on the floor and sofas, gradually relaxed their tightly furrowed brows.
The four mentors, including the Grandmaster, stood nearby. It was at this moment that Tang Sui knocked on the door.
"I'm back!"
With her voice several octaves higher, Tang Sui beamed a happy smile at Qin Ming, who opened the door for her.
Qin Ming's tense nerves eased slightly upon seeing her unclouded smile. Soudan Novel Network
"Welcome back, Suisui."