Wu Huan and Yang Tang were killed on the spot by Xia Ci, but none of the people present paid much attention to this. Their focus was concentrated on the Tang family's Second Master, Tang Tianyuan.
Xia Ci remained vigilant, not moving rashly,
Because he sensed something was very wrong.
Under normal circumstances, Tang Tianyuan had just directly taken his palm strike "Shock for Hundred Miles." Though somewhat hasty, it was still the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms—a top-tier forceful palm technique. Moreover, Xia Ci had executed it with the full power of his Nine Yang Divine Skill. Given Tang Tianyuan's martial prowess, this palm strike should have, if not killed him, at least severely wounded him.
Yet Xia Ci could sense that Tang Tianyuan's energy was completely stable, showing no signs of injury whatsoever.
"Second Brother, why did you do this?" Tang Tianhao asked breathlessly.
This was the question on everyone's mind.
The situation had clearly revealed that Tang Tianyuan was in league with Flying Dragon and his unorthodox companions.
Tang Tianyuan threw away his sword and laughed toward the sky, his face contorted with viciousness. "You ask me why? Hahaha, how dare you ask me why? Tang Tianhao, how can you have the nerve to ask me why?
From childhood, I've outperformed you in everything. Regarding martial talent, by age ten I could consistently overpower you. Regarding scholarly ability, I studied literature at three, composed poetry at five, passed the provincial examination at fifteen, and took over the Tang family business at eighteen, running it with great success. But what about you? What do you have that surpasses me?
Yet, why? Why is it that despite being superior to you in every way, you became the family head? People only know of you, Tang Tianhao—how many know of me, Tang Tianyuan? I did so much—the Tang family rose to prominence under my guidance. Yet why, in the end, did you become the head? Just because I'm a concubine's son while you're the legitimate heir? Just because your mother was the principal wife while mine was a concubine? I don't accept it! The old man favored you from the beginning, giving you preferential treatment in everything. I was clearly more suited to learning the Celestial Star Sword Technique, yet he refused to teach me. I was clearly more suited to being the family head, yet he still wouldn't give it to me!"
Tang Tianhao took a deep breath and said, "I know the Tang family has been unfair to you. I know all this, but I couldn't change it, nor could I have changed it. I know you're more suited to being the family head. That's why, for all these years, I've delegated almost all the family's authority to you. Whatever you wanted to do, I supported you!"
"That was rightfully mine!" Tang Tianyuan said. "Be honest with yourself—in what way are you better than me? In martial arts, in talent, in appearance—in what aspect do you surpass me? Why was the old man so biased? Why? Just because of birth status? Everything I do only ends up being attributed to you. I cannot accept this. Why was he so partial? Couldn't he see I was more talented than you?"
Tang Tianhao sighed and said, "It wasn't that Father was biased. Actually, he also knew you were superior to me in every way. But since ancient times, succession has followed legitimate birth, not merit. Second Brother, try to see it from Father's perspective. If we set a precedent of determining the family head by merit, our Tang family would be torn by internal strife for generations to come.
Take me, for example. Besides Buyi, my legitimate eldest son, I have seven or eight sons from concubines. If they all had the opportunity to become family head based on ability, none would submit to the others. They would all struggle and compete. Other family members would also take sides. What chaos would result? It would inevitably lead to internal bloodshed. The precedent of succession by merit cannot be established—even imperial succession doesn't dare operate this way. Second Brother, don't you understand this? I know it's unfair to you. Since childhood, haven't I yielded to you in every way? Haven't I taken care of you in everything? What more could I have done?"
"Hahaha..."
Tang Tianyuan laughed hysterically, pointing at Tang Tianhao with contempt, roaring, "What you say makes sense. Succession follows the legitimate heir, not talent. Though I disagree, I've accepted it. I accepted that the Celestial Star Sword Technique wasn't passed to me. I accepted the old man's order to assist you wholeheartedly. I accepted that all recognition went to you. But what about Sister-in-law? Why did I have to give up the woman I loved to you as well!
Tang Tianhao, the strategy to marry Sister-in-law was devised by me. It was I who went to propose. It was I who fought against those young talents. It was I who successfully figured out how to form a marriage alliance with the Li family. Yet why was it you who married Sister-in-law in the end? Thirty years, Tang Tianhao. For thirty full years, I've watched you two live in harmony as husband and wife. Do you know how much I've hated it? I've given you everything, so why did you have to take away the person I loved as well?"
Tang Tianhao glanced at Lady Tang, still unconscious in Tang Buyi's arms, somewhat unable to look at Tang Tianyuan. He said softly, "I... I didn't know..."
"You're lying!"
Tang Tianyuan roared, "How could you not have known? For Li Wanying, how many young masters seeking her hand did I defeat? Didn't you know? When we planned at home for the old man to trick Old Master Li into signing the marriage contract, didn't you know? Yet though I did everything, in the end, the person who formed the marriage alliance became you. Wasn't it you who secretly asked the old man to change the groom to yourself?"
Tang Tianhao leaned on his sword, barely able to stand. Facing the vicious and crazed Tang Tianyuan, he was speechless. After a long silence, he said, "I'm sorry, Second Brother. Back then... I wronged you. But didn't you later marry your wife? Weren't you two very much in love? I thought you had let it go!"
"Bullshit! That was all for show in front of the old man," Tang Tianyuan said gravely. "The old man was both biased and ruthless. If he knew I harbored hatred toward you, he would have killed me. He wouldn't have hesitated. Tang Tianhao, do you know how biased the old man was? In his eyes, only you were his son. We concubine-born sons were merely tools. If I dared harbor any resentment toward you, he would have killed me without hesitation!"
"I..." Tang Tianhao didn't know what to say, only managing, "I'm sorry, Second Brother. I've wronged you..."
"It doesn't matter now!" Tang Tianyuan said coldly. "You're all going to die today anyway. It's fine. Once you're dead, Sister-in-law will be mine." As he spoke, Tang Tianyuan looked toward Xia Ci, full of rage, "Damned blind man, it's all your fault! If not for you, my plan would have been perfect. No one would have known what I did. Tang Tianhao and Tang Buyi would both be dead, the Tang family would have fallen into my hands, and Sister-in-law would have willingly remarried me. It's all because of you, you blind bastard, ruining my plan!"
"Second Brother," Tang Tianhao said gravely, "Even if you resent me, even if you want to kill me, you shouldn't have conspired with those unorthodox practitioners. Don't you know you're making a pact with a tiger? Do you really think they would sincerely help you? If it weren't for Young Hero Xia stopping you, had you succeeded, you would have led the Tang family into an endless abyss!"
"A pact with a tiger?"
Tang Tianyuan sneered, "Those unorthodox practitioners? Tang Tianhao, how do you know they're not the ones making a pact with a tiger? Who exactly is the tiger here—them or me?"
In that instant, blood-colored energy swirled around Tang Tianyuan, as if a demonic god from the nine hells had descended. His clothes billowed violently, his long hair flew wildly, each movement seeming to tear the air itself. From his eyes shot beams of blood-colored light, his once-deep pupils now transformed.
The air suddenly chilled,
A terrifying cold energy permeated outward.