Next, the group continued to discuss their ideas about the Sea God's Light, eventually agreeing to gather at eight o'clock the following morning to officially begin their cultivation in the core forbidden zone.
After they had eaten their fill and were satisfied, everyone retired to their rooms to rest.
Despite the advice to conserve their energy and get a good night's sleep, Tang San tossed and turned for a long time without falling asleep.
Too many events had transpired today, leaving him deeply impacted.
Thinking of his sister's bold question, Tang San sighed, sat up on his bed, and gazed at the bare wall, his eyes unfocused as if lost in thought.
"Knock, knock."
A soft rap echoed twice on the door. Tang San turned his head, the purple-gold light in his eyes barely flickering to life when he heard a familiar voice from outside: "Brother, it's me."
Suisui?
Tang San was slightly taken aback, then got up to open the door.
Seeing that it was indeed Tang Sui, he pursed his lips, said nothing, but merely stepped aside to let her in. After closing the door, he immediately activated his Blue Silver Domain and even the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, establishing a double layer of security to block external surveillance.
"Brother, are you, still angry?" Tang Sui, with her hands behind her back, fidgeted with her fingertips, her pale, pink nails touching and interlocking where Tang San couldn't see.
Tang San looked at the somewhat apprehensive Tang Sui, exhaled, and a shadow of gloom settled on his brow. "A little angry. But upon further reflection, I realized I have no standing to blame you for taking such risks, because it was my negligence that led you to this predicament."
Tang Sui froze, "Brother..."
Hearing her address him, Tang San gave a wry smile, dropping his pretense in front of his sister. He sat on the edge of the bed, his elbows propped on his knees, cradling his head, and whispered, "When I was young... I thought I possessed the strength to protect you all. But as my martial soul awakened, I realized my understanding was still limited. The power I possessed, in the eyes of others, was but a drop in the ocean, not even worth mentioning. Consequently, you imagined another powerful self to protect yourself..."
Tang San's final words were spoken vaguely. Tang Sui's lips parted slightly but then closed again.
"Although I never considered myself in an absolutely superior position, I still felt I had the means for self-preservation and a modest ability to protect you all." Tang San lowered his hands, his gaze dimming. "But as your brother, whether you were still recovering or now, every time you faced danger, I couldn't be your reliance or protection. Instead, I was always being protected by you."
"It's not wrong for you to pursue greater strength to protect yourself. It's just that being protected by you every time leaves me unqualified to interfere. Because it truly was the better choice, I..."
"Brother, it's not like that."
Seeing Tang San's words becoming increasingly off-track, Tang Sui couldn't help but reach out. Her cool, tender palms cupped Tang San's face on either side, forcing him to raise his head and meet her gaze.
"Brother, your goal and mine are the same. My continuous pursuit of strength is also to possess the power to protect my family. And if my family becomes stronger, I will also feel happy, not just for your achievements, but also happy..." She paused, her voice lowering slightly, "That there are some things I can do freely, without worries, and even have a place to return to for support."
At this point, Tang Sui's eyes sparkled with light. "I never thought you, my brother, would feel unqualified to interfere in anything of mine. Because we are blood relatives, we are family, a family whose stance will unite even when separated by great distances. Family members, after all, must support each other!"
"Growing up, all the way here, even when we encountered danger, we never doubted each other! Just like when we encountered a wild boar in heat during its cub-raising period, I was weaker than you and more of a burden, yet you didn't neglect me. You discussed it with me, and together we devised a strategy to kill that boar, which was a behemoth to us, wasn't it?"
"So, brother, what are you doubting? It's not that because your sister is stronger than you, you therefore have the right to interfere or advise on my matters. On the contrary, many times, I need your advice more to better refine my own strategies."
Tang San's heart trembled slightly. Under his sister's sincere and clear gaze, he suddenly felt that his doubts were self-inflicted and baseless.
Yes.
So what if his sister was stronger?
They were still a loving family.
Just as Sui Sui had said, if they encountered a formidable enemy and one couldn't win, they could always come back to complain, and at worst, their whole family would gang up on them.
The redundant and muddled thoughts were swept away, his mind becoming clear.
He exhaled, and his eyes regained their light.
Sensing the shift in Tang San's emotions, Tang Sui released her hands. She looked at the red finger marks on her brother's face, which resembled two symmetrical slap marks, and felt a little guilty.
She had forgotten to moderate her strength.
Tang San, who didn't feel anything unusual on his own face, curved his lips into a smile and said with relief, "I understand now, Sui Sui. I apologize. I was overthinking earlier. Was my attitude during the day too cold and did it hurt you?"
"It's okay, brother. I didn't take it to heart. Since you're feeling better, I'll head back to my room to sleep now." Tang Sui averted her gaze and naturally moved towards the door.
The edges of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and the Blue Silver Domain were instantly retracted by Tang San just as Tang Sui was about to touch them.
As the door clicked shut, the room fell silent once more.
However, Tang San, who had readjusted his mindset, no longer found it difficult to endure, for his heart was now at peace.
...
The next morning, everyone gradually gathered in the VIP room on the third floor.
As Tang Sui and the others were almost all present, Ning Rongrong burst through the door with a worried expression. She scanned her companions, her delicate eyebrows furrowed. "Have you seen Xiangxiang? When I woke up, I knocked on Xiangxiang's room, but no one answered for a long time. I thought she might have come here ahead of us!"
But now, it seemed she wasn't here either!
Where could she have gone?
Everyone's expression changed.
Ma Hongjun, who was most concerned about Bai Chenxiang, was startled at first, then seemed to recall something. The usually jovial man simply pursed his lips and said, "No need to look. I know where she went."
"She must have gone to the Sea Illusion Beast on her own," Tang Sui said with a sigh, picking up the conversation.
Ma Hongjun did not deny it. Ning Rongrong asked worriedly, "Will Xiangxiang be in danger if she goes alone?"
"There will definitely be danger. But if she stagnates because of this, she won't grow," Xiao Wu, who, as a girl, had some understanding of Bai Chenxiang's current state of mind, sighed. She then patted Ning Rongrong's shoulder. "Rongrong, trust Xiangxiang. She's our companion too."
Ning Rongrong hesitated for a moment before nodding.
As the girls finished speaking, a purple-robed Sea Soul Master whom Tang San had invited arrived.