The masked figure swept a gaze over the nervous Tang San and his companions, and the elders of the Clear Sky School, who were bewildered but alert. He raised his chin slightly. "She cannot wake up now. But do not worry, I will burn two sticks of high incense when we make the offerings."
With a flick of his wrist, the masked figure revealed a slender wrist.
Compared to the lifeless pallor when he first appeared, his skin tone now resembled that of a living person's paleness.
Tang San, who also noticed the subtle change in skin color, his gaze sharpened. He watched as the masked figure lowered his head, examining his hands with an appreciative air. "After all, I am her, and she is me."
Upon hearing this, Ah Yin could no longer restrain herself. She broke free from Tang Hao's hand and stepped forward. "Wait, will Sui Sui return?"
The masked figure looked up, meeting those azure eyes brimming with worry. For a fleeting moment, he seemed to see another pair of similar eyes.
Snapping back from his reverie, the masked figure avoided Ah Yin's gaze and turned his head to look at the disheveled old men, stating indifferently, "This is her first time unfolding her complete domain, and she needs time to adapt. Until she fully adapts, she will not wake, and I will handle everything on her behalf."
Tang San frowned, his gaze scrutinizing the familiar yet strange face of the masked figure, not missing a single subtle expression.
Tang Hao also regarded the masked figure with a scrutinizing look. As his lips parted, about to speak, the masked figure, sensing something, looked towards him.
"There is no need to worry. If I truly intended to seize her body, I would not have let you go just now." The black pupils of the masked figure reflected Tang San's suddenly pale face. "Everything I do is for her wishes."
This ambiguous statement caused Tang San's pupils to constrict. Xiao Wu, standing beside him, did the same. Then, realizing something, she cast a subtle glance at Tang Xiao, who was still somewhat clueless, her eyes flickering.
Ah Yin's tightly held heart finally relaxed a little. She looked at the masked figure's profile, so similar to her daughter's, and opened her mouth. In a tone that would not offend him, she asked cautiously, "Then... do you have a name?"
The masked figure looked at her gentle blue eyes, remained silent for a few seconds, and then uttered a new name: "Tang Mo."
"Tang Mo..." Ah Yin repeated the name, looking at the masked figure who was willing to communicate, her gaze softening considerably. "That's a good name."
"...Since your family has won, then according to our agreement, I retract all my previous statements. Tomorrow, you will go and pay respects to the Old Sect Master."
The Second Elder's deep voice interrupted the gradually warming atmosphere.
They turned to look at the Second Elder, who had broken free from another elder's support and stubbornly taken two steps forward.
The masked figure watched him impassively, while Tang San slightly bowed his head towards the Second Elder. "Thank you, Second Elder, for your magnanimity."
Magnanimity...
The Second Elder's eyebrows twitched violently. Under the calm gazes of the masked figure and Tang San, a surge of anger and powerlessness rose within him.
Even though the gazes of the siblings were calm, to them, it was a silent mockery.
In a situation of five against two, five Titled Douluo facing a young generation who had just entered the Titled Douluo ranks, and Tang San, whose spirit power was still at the Soul Douluo level.
Their defeat, in the face of such a stark contrast, felt like countless slaps to their faces, leaving them with no dignity. The Second Elder's heart sank into despair.
Taking advantage of Tang Xiao turning to speak with Tang Hao and his family about tomorrow's offerings, the Second Elder's eyes sharpened. He spread his fingers, and his Clear Sky Hammer martial soul suddenly materialized. Amidst the gasps of the other disciples watching, he fiercely swung his Clear Sky Hammer towards his own head. However, in the next second, before a terrifying pressure could radiate from another blue-gold light, it had already frozen the Second Elder's body, leaving him motionless in the act of swinging his hammer.
Already greatly depleted and even suffering internal injuries, the Second Elder immediately coughed out a mouthful of blood in anger. He glared at the masked figure with grief and exhaustion, shouting hoarsely, "What are you doing! Do I not even have the right to die!?"
The masked figure wore an expression of "What nonsense are you talking about?" His eyebrows slightly raised. "I thought you understood the principle of the winner being king and the loser being a bandit."
The Second Elder's eyebrows twitched violently. He then heard the masked figure's tone suddenly deepen, "It seems you still don't quite understand."
"You!"
"Tang Mo." Tang San stepped forward, speaking before his uncle Tang Xiao and father Tang Hao could react.
The masked figure glanced in their direction and snorted, retracting the pressure he was exerting on the Second Elder.
Tang San sighed inwardly and began to tidy up this mess.
This time, the stubborn Second Elder, as in the original course of fate, was determined to die. It was Tang San who produced the Clear Sky Token given to him by Tang Chen to quell the situation.
As for the attempt to force Tang San into the position of Supreme Elder by kneeling, the masked figure scoffed and directly deployed his domain, making them feel like marionettes for a while, forcing them to stand up.
Tang San regretfully told Tang Xiao that he already had the Tang Sect, and Tang Sui had a major force left by an elder to manage, so they had no interest in the position of Clear Sky Sect Master or an important Supreme Elder.
The situation remained at a stalemate. It was Tang Hao who, unable to bear it any longer, suggested a nominal elder position, which was then accepted.
In the stiff atmosphere, Tang San's family stayed at the Clear Sky School. Early the next morning, they, along with Tang Xiao, Tang Yuehua, and the five elders, ascended the back mountain of the Clear Sky School where the deceased were honored.
Tombs built of stone, with gravestones bearing their names, were all that remained.
On this vast snow-covered mountain, they appeared inexplicably desolate.
Tang Hao looked at the Old Sect Master's grave and remained silent for a long time. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he pursed his lips tightly, supported himself on the ground with one hand, and kowtowed nine times.
When he looked up again and rose from his kneeling position, even with his robust physique, Tang Hao's forehead was already bleeding slightly from the repeated blows.
Tang San knelt to the right of Tang Hao and paid his respects.
Ah Yin and Xiao Wu knelt behind them and kowtowed three times, then rose and stood silently behind.
As for the masked figure, he watched the scene impassively. He did not kneel. As he had said before, he burned three sticks of incense before the Old Sect Master's grave, then cupped his hands and bowed towards the gravestone before retreating to Ah Yin and the others, watching the father and son kneeling on the ground.
Their kneeling lasted for three days and three nights.
Three days of sleeplessness, without eating or drinking, and without a word spoken.
The masked figure closed his eyes, maintaining a hovering posture, and fell into meditation.
During this time, Tang Sui's consciousness showed signs of awakening, but it was all subtly suppressed by the masked figure. Su Dan Novel Network
As for Ah Yin and Xiao Wu, they stood quietly behind and to the side of the father and son, accompanying them.
It wasn't until the dawn of the fourth day that Tang Hao, who had not spoken a word for three full days, kowtowed nine more times to the Old Sect Master's gravestone and bid farewell to the Old Sect Master in a hoarse voice.
— Author's Notes —
Sui Sui: Clear Sky School... Annoying.
Little Hei: Deploy domain, smash.
Sui Sui: Paying respects to Grandpa... Just want to burn incense, not kneel.
Little Hei: You log off, I'll take over.