Tang San naturally saw his aunt Tang Yuehua at a glance, but he was still drawn to the majestic figure behind the desk.
The man was over two meters tall, with a broad back and a burly physique. His face was chiseled as if by a knife and axe, and his short hair was streaked with gray. Although he also wore simple gray clothes, when he stood there, he seemed like the core of the entire castle, impossible to ignore.
A height of two meters might not be particularly imposing, but if Tang San had to describe the person before him with a single word, it would be "majestic."
As they moved deeper, Tang Sui also clearly saw the man before her, who bore seven or eight parts resemblance to her father, yet appeared even younger than him.
The man's gaze was like a torch. The moment they stood in the light, Tang Sui felt that intense scrutiny.
A vast, unreserved, wild aura surged in, overwhelming them. Tremendous pressure descended. Tang Sui's expression remained unchanged, knowing this was the unique "greeting" of a soul master. However, in her heart, if there were a scoring system for the Clear Sky Sect, the score Tang Yuehua had added would be furiously decreasing by one, then another.
This pressure bypassed Tang Long, having no effect on him whatsoever, and fell entirely upon Tang Sui and Tang San.
Tang Sui's gaze did not waver. She simply circulated her demonic energy, silently forming a circle of barrier around the two of them.
Of course, to maintain a low profile, Tang Sui had specifically infused spirit energy into it this time.
Although it wasn't directed at Tang Long, Tang Long was not weak. He sensed the change in the air and quickly stepped aside, looking at Tang San and Tang Sui with a trace of anxiety.
But to his surprise, facing such immense pressure, neither Tang San nor Tang Sui showed any change in their expressions. Even more astonishing to him was that Tang Sui, who was developing towards the support path, not only remained unaffected but, under this terrifying, all-encompassing pressure, calmly raised her hand, cupped her fist, bowed to the Sect Master behind the desk, and spoke in a voice that was neither subservient nor arrogant, and was faultless.
"Tang Sui greets the Sect Master."
Tang San, who had intended to perform a kneeling禮: "..."
If he were to kneel now, wouldn't that make his sister seem impolite?
So, Tang San could only brace himself and follow Tang Sui, bowing respectfully with clasped fists, "Tang San greets the Sect Master."
Tang Sui stared fixedly at the ground, as if she could make a flower bloom there.
Her voice was clear and coherent, showing no hint of strain or forced effort.
Tang Long's pupils contracted. He looked at Tang San and Tang Sui with an unusual gaze.
Were these siblings... truly human?
Facing the Sect Master's immensely powerful pressure, they could still move, maintain the posture of bowing with clasped fists in mid-air, and even speak.
Could it be that their strength was truly greater than his?
But Second Aunt said that although Tang San was the elder brother, he was only twenty years old, and Tang Sui was just a few minutes younger than Tang San; they were the same age.
Tang Long couldn't help but doubt his entire existence.
The atmosphere was somewhat stiff.
After more than ten seconds without a response, Tang San pursed his lips and was about to transmit a message to Tang Sui, suggesting they humble themselves a bit, when Tang Yuehua sighed and called out, "Big Brother," to Tang Xiao.
Hearing his sister's voice, the man behind the desk's gaze sharpened. He scrutinized the young girl who hadn't raised her head and was still bowing to him with humble posture. His gaze fell upon Tang San's dark blue long hair. His lips moved, and a flicker of complexity appeared in his eyes. All the pressure vanished instantly, and he relented:
"Rise."
Upon receiving the pardon, a resolute look flashed in Tang San's eyes. He suddenly knelt down on both knees and kowtowed three times to Tang Xiao.
"Xiao San, what are you doing!"
Tang Yuehua was startled. The muscles on Tang Xiao's cheek twitched, as if he were about to say something, but he held back.
Tang Sui, the only one still standing, hesitated for a moment, but still did not kneel. She stood beside Tang San with her head bowed, her expression inscrutable.
After completing the three standard kowtows, Tang San half-straightened his body and said to Tang Xiao:
"A son repays his father's debts; it is only right. Sect Master, I, Tang San, am willing to bear all responsibility for my father."
He did not include Tang Sui.
Tang Sui's expression changed slightly. She pursed her lips and let out a barely audible breath. Her clear voice followed closely behind Tang San's lingering final syllable, "Tang Sui, likewise."
Responsibility could be borne, but kneeling was not an option.
Hearing this, Tang Xiao's expression immediately changed, becoming somewhat unpredictable. "Can you bear it?"
Tang San lowered his gaze respectfully. "We do not know if we can bear it, but my sister and I are willing to give our all."
This time, Tang San included Tang Sui, because he also understood that although his sister was stubborn, she... couldn't just stand by.
Tang Xiao looked at the sincere Tang San and was silent for a moment. He said to the two of them, "You may rise now."
After speaking, he looked at Tang Long and Tang Tian and said, "You two, leave first."
"Yes, Sect Master."
The two did not question and respectfully exited the room.
"Is he alright?" Tang Xiao asked with a sigh.
Tang San nodded silently. With a flash of light, a long black box appeared in Tang San's hand, and he held it up with both hands. "Sect Master, this is what Father asked us to bring. He said this is the only thing he could do for the sect."
Tang Xiao raised his hand and waved, performing an action of telekinesis.
The heavy black box seemed weightless as it landed in his palm.
Tang Xiao flicked his finger, and the black box opened. As the immense energy filled the room, brilliant light instantly illuminated the dim interior. When the two complete spirit bones within the box appeared in Tang Xiao's vision, his expression drastically changed, and his shoulders trembled.
"This, this is!"
Tang San felt a blur before his eyes as Tang Xiao arrived in front of him, grabbed Tang San's collar, and pulled him close, saying in an almost trembling voice, "Tang Hao, Brother Hao, he..."
Tang Sui, instantly shoved aside: "..."
"What is it?" Tang Yuehua also walked forward, curious. But when she saw the two dazzling spirit bones in the black box, she felt as if struck by lightning. Her mind went blank, and tears of sorrow instantly welled up and overflowed.
Tang San took a deep breath and said, "Father said that if he didn't do this, he wouldn't be able to accompany Mother in peace for the rest of his life. Father's old injuries have also been resolved through the amputation of his limbs. When he sent me to Aunt's place, he had already done all this. Sect Master, you..."
"Call me Grand Uncle!"
Tang Xiao roared, his voice making Tang San's ears buzz. Even Tang Sui was momentarily stunned by this outburst mixed with spirit energy, as if venting.
"...Grand Uncle."
Tang San instinctively followed Tang Xiao's words and called out.
"Big Brother, Second Brother he..."
Tang Yuehua, having recovered, was now in tears. Looking at the two spirit bones, her whole body trembled violently, her heart aching with pain.
"Clack,"
Tang Xiao closed the black box and simultaneously released his grip on Tang San's collar. "Xiao San, Sui Sui, your father calls you that, doesn't he?"
The siblings nodded.
Tang Xiao's trembling gaze gradually calmed. He looked at Tang San's blue hair, as if looking through him at someone else.
"Do you know, actually, I never thought he did anything wrong. If Ah Yin had chosen me, perhaps I would have done the same thing he did, or even more intensely. So, from now on, no matter what others say, I don't want Tang Hao's affairs to become your burden."
"Doing your best for the sect is something you must do, but not because of your father's actions, but because you are a part of the sect."
An unfamiliar yet warm emotion brewed in Tang San's chest. His lips moved, and his voice was somewhat hoarse, "Thank you, Grand Uncle."
Tang Sui silently added a few more points to her internal score.
Well, still negative, though.
———Aside———
How can someone still have to work overtime on a Friday?orz