"Leave, we do not welcome outsiders here."
The middle-aged man carrying the burden stopped in his tracks and spoke coldly to them.
Tang Hao stepped forward, softening his voice. "Please report to the sect. Tang Hao, Tang San, and Tang Sui return with their family."
As soon as "Tang Hao" was uttered, the coldness on the middle-aged man's face turned to disgust, and his eyes filled with hatred, causing both Tang San and Tang Sui to frown simultaneously.
"Your entire family is not welcome here!"
This time, there were no polite words.
Several villagers walking nearby looked over with hostility as soon as Tang Hao spoke.
Despite wearing coarse linen clothes, the powerfully built villagers approached aggressively, wielding sickles for harvesting wheat or carrying buckets of water.
Tang San stepped forward to shield his father, about to speak, when another voice echoed from afar—
"Wait!"
A black-haired young man, wearing familiar gray attire, leaped steadily and landed between the two groups. He shook his head at the villagers, who wore expressions of disgust, then stepped forward and cupped his hands towards Tang Hao, "Junior Tang Yu greets Second Uncle."
Tang Yu was one of the two third-generation disciples who, along with Tang Long, had come to escort Tang San and Tang Sui to the sect years ago when the siblings first visited the Clear Sky Sect. He was a few years older than them.
"Big Brother Tang Yu, why are you here?" Seeing Tang Yu, Tang San was clearly surprised.
They hadn't notified their eldest uncle this time.
Tang Yu, when asked, showed a troubled expression and paused before saying, "The elders have instructed me to deliver a message. They naturally welcome Sister Tang Sui and you returning with your family, but..."
"But what?" Tang San's heart was already filled with suspicion as he looked at Tang Yu's expression.
Tang Sui narrowed her azure eyes, her peripheral vision taking in the expressions of the villagers peeking out, some curious, some disgusted, gaining a new understanding of the Clear Sky Sect.
Yuan Mian, who shared her vision, even a 360-degree view of the surroundings, let out a sneer, 'It seems you are definitely in for trouble this time. The Clear Sky Sect's resentment towards Tang Hao runs very deep, even after your words revealed that he was used and manipulated.'
Tang Yu glanced at Tang Hao, who appeared calm, his expression unreadable as to whether it held sadness or joy, and at Yin, who looked worried. He lowered his head awkwardly, "But... but Tang Hao, the sect's sinner, absolutely cannot enter..."
Tang Yu dared not meet Tang San's or Tang Sui's eyes.
Tang San's heart sank, and Tang Hao's gaze dimmed.
"Xiao San, you're back?"
A deep voice approached from a distance.
Upon hearing the voice, Tang Hao and Yin looked up sharply, their faces etched with surprise.
Tang Xiao, who landed gracefully, raised his eyes. After his imposing gaze swept over Tang Yu, whose expression was unnatural, his sight fell upon Tang San's group. However, upon seeing Yin and Tang Hao behind Tang San, his composure and authority shattered, his pupils trembling.
"Brother Hao, Yin?! You guys?!"
Tang Xiao strode forward excitedly. Tang Hao, suppressing his own excitement, called out, "Big Brother," released Yin's hand, and shared a brief embrace with Tang Xiao.
Yin looked at Tang Xiao, whom she hadn't seen in over twenty years, her gaze filled with nostalgia. She said gently, "I never expected to see my brother again in this life."
"Uncle."
Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Tang Sui stood in a line and called out to Tang Xiao in unison.
Tang Xiao took a deep breath, calming his emotions. He raised his hands, patting both of their shoulders, one on each. His gaze fell on Tang Hao's missing leg and arm, and he said with great pain, "You've suffered all these years. Come back to the sect with me quickly!"
Hearing this, Tang Yu was the first to breathe a sigh of relief.
With their Sect Master, his eldest uncle, personally inviting Tang San's family to the sect, perhaps the other elders wouldn't have anything to say?
This time, Tang Xiao led the way. Following closely were Tang Hao and Yin, Tang San and Xiao Wu, and Tang Sui and Tang Long at the rear. They walked through the village and arrived before the long-unseen steep mountain cliff, then set off in succession, beginning their ascent.
Tang Yu, who intentionally walked behind with Tang Sui and the others, watched as Tang San merely swayed slightly, then, with a few nimble leaps, disappeared to the mountaintop in a flicker of light. Tang Yu, who climbed up a step later, couldn't help but look at Tang Sui, who was directly hovering in the air in a showy manner, with surprise. He asked softly, "Sister Tang Sui, it's been almost five years. Has your brother's cultivation advanced significantly again?"
Tang Sui hummed in response. Watching the receding figures of Tang San and Xiao Wu, the corner of her lips curved into a smile. "Yes. Over these past four years, Brother has been very diligent in his cultivation."
She didn't have a bad impression of Tang Yu.
She knew clearly who harbored hostility and malice towards them and who treated them well, so her tone was naturally gentle.
Tang Yu only knew that Tang Sui and Tang San's cultivation had previously surpassed theirs. When Tang Sui and Tang San had returned before, Tang Sui's spirit power was level 74, and Tang San's was level 67. Now, with nearly five years having passed, their strength had likely advanced considerably, with Tang Sui possibly already becoming a Soul Douluo and Tang San entering the ranks of a Soul Sage.
As for a Titled Douluo, Tang Yu hadn't even considered it.
Tang Yu nodded in affirmation, quietly praising, "It's good that you've become stronger again. You know, the elders in the sect are all... you know, they're super difficult to deal with."
Tang Sui heartily agreed.
Those few old stubborn people, relying on their slight strength to act haughty – were there not many such individuals?
The fortress-like stone buildings appeared before Tang Sui and Tang San once again.
Compared to when they were younger and considered less mature by the sect elders, they now possessed the strength and capital to confront them openly.
The siblings exchanged glances and stood silently behind their parents and uncle, who were chatting at the front, listening in.
Having not seen each other for over twenty years, Tang Hao's talkativeness somewhat opened up in front of his blood brother. He had been feeling ashamed all along, unable to pay respects to the Old Sect Master, who was also their father, for over twenty years.
Tang Xiao patted Tang Hao's shoulder, feeling regret himself.
"Brother Hao, this matter is not entirely your fault. If I had had the courage to question Father's decision back then, you wouldn't have had to suffer so much. It's all in the past now."
Tang Sui and Tang San, this time joined by Xiao Wu, exchanged glances from behind.
Tang Sui: I don't think so. I think if we had really grown up in the sect, that would have been a nightmare.
Xiao Wu: Exactly. Given the deep-seated resentment, it's actually better that Father brought you to live in the small village of Holy Soul Village. Although it was a small, dilapidated village, at least there wasn't much bullying there, and there weren't any spirit masters in Holy Soul Village either.
Tang San silently nodded: +1.
Tang Hao's heart was moved, but he knew his actions were difficult to be forgiven by the sect. He sighed and said, "Big Brother, our family has come today wanting to pay respects to Father..."
Before he could finish speaking, the huge mechanical stone gate suddenly pushed open from within. Over twenty direct disciples of the Clear Sky Sect ran out in two columns, one on each side. In the center, five sect elders, led by the white-haired Second Elder, stood with ice-cold expressions, fixing their gaze on Tang Hao, who stood beside Tang Xiao.
"Pay respects to the Old Sect Master? Tang Hao, you have dragged the sect to this point, and you even angered the Old Sect Master to his death. Do you think you are worthy?"