Yue Xuan, Fifth Floor.
In the serene and elegantly decorated hall, Tang San was cultivating the Xuantian Technique.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Breaking his meditation, Tang San turned his head—and froze.
There, walking up the stairs, were his aunt and Chu Chengzhou.
After a year apart, Tang San could hardly believe his eyes: his aunt looked noticeably younger, as if she had shed several years, appearing no older than a radiant woman in her early twenties.
As for Chu Chengzhou—well, he still looked exactly as irritating as ever.
"Aunt, you're back…"
Tang San rose to greet them, but his hand halted mid-air.
His aunt's hands were clasped around Chu Chengzhou's arm—intimate, tender, unmistakably affectionate—and her face glowed with pure, unguarded happiness.
BOOM—
It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck him dead center.
"You—"
He pointed at them both, speechless with disbelief.
He had always suspected Chu Chengzhou harbored feelings for his aunt—but in his mind, she would never reciprocate. After all, the generational gap was undeniable.
Yet he never imagined that merely by leaving for Slaughter City, he'd return to find his aunt already won over?
If he'd stayed away another year, would he now have a cousin—or even a cousin sister?
"Xiao San, welcome home!"
Chu Chengzhou smiled warmly, addressing him with the tone of an uncle-in-law.
Though the original timeline's Tang San had been cruel and heartless, this Tang San had done him no harm—and now, he was his own flesh-and-blood nephew. Chu Chengzhou had no intention of scheming against him.
The Sea God's divine position was already claimed by Xiao Wu; without the Immortal Herbs—Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot—to enhance his innate talents, and without Snow Swan Kiss's destruction of Slaughter City, Tang San might never catch the attention of the Asura God.
If Tang San never ascended to godhood, if Douluo Continent never became the Tang family's domain, and if the Douluo Divine Realm never turned into the Tang family's heavenly realm—then this nephew, Chu Chengzhou would accept without hesitation.
As for Tang San's feud with the Spirit Hall?
His second sister-in-law wasn't truly gone—there was still hope for resurrection.
And once Qian Renxue ascended to the Angel God's throne, Tang San, limited to below Level 100, would be powerless against the Spirit Hall. With his mother's potential revival, the root of his hatred would vanish, and time would naturally erode the grudge.
"Aunt!"
Ignoring Chu Chengzhou entirely, Tang San turned sharply to face Tang Yuehua.
"Xiao San, I'm so glad you're safe!"
Tang Yuehua gently released Chu Chengzhou's arm and stepped forward to take her nephew's hands.
"Aunt… are you really…?"
Tang San's face flushed with outrage as he pointed alternately between her and Chu Chengzhou.
Her cheeks reddened, but she nodded softly. "Xiao San, I've chosen to be with Chengzhou. From now on, you may call him 'Gu Fu.'" (T/N: Specific way to address someone as 'Uncle-in-law')
"No—!"
Tang San staggered backward three steps, his face twisting into a mask of utter anguish.
The man he despised most had become his uncle-in-law. The sheer horror was beyond words.
"Xiao San, don't worry—I will treat Yuehua with all my heart. From now on, anything concerning you is my concern too!"
Chu Chengzhou placed a hand firmly over his chest, making a solemn vow.
"You—hmph!"
With a cold, venomous glare, Tang San turned on his heel and stormed back to his room.
THUD!
The door slammed shut with finality.
He was terrified he'd lose control and punch Chu Chengzhou square in the eye.
This man was insufferable. Had his aunt not been present, he would have challenged him to a duel to the death.
"This child~!" Tang Yuehua frowned slightly, glancing apologetically at Chu Chengzhou. "Chengzhou, don't take it personally. Xiao San just needs time—he'll come around."
She was nearly thirty, and finding a true companion wasn't easy—was he really that opposed to it?
Only because she'd raised him from childhood did she refrain from scolding him severely.
"It's fine, Yuehua. I won't be upset. After all, Xiao San isn't just your nephew—he's my nephew too."
Chu Chengzhou wrapped his arms gently around her and patted her back soothingly.
Giving your uncle-in-law the cold shoulder? Hmph—just wait and see how I'll handle you later.
"Mmm… you're so good."
Tang Yuehua beamed, her eyes shimmering with happiness.
"Yuehua~"
"Hmm?"
Chu Chengzhou lowered his head and pressed his lips tenderly against her soft, rosy ones.
Night fell, and dinner time arrived.
In the dining hall, after the servants had placed all the dishes on the table, Tang Yuehua called out toward the bedroom: "Xiao San, dinner's ready!"
Click.
A moment later, the door opened. Tang San emerged, his expression utterly blank.
He had regained his composure.
His aunt was his aunt—not his mother. She was no longer young, and choosing a partner didn't require his permission.
Even if his own mother were to remarry, he couldn't stop her—how much less could he object to his aunt?
If he let his personal feelings cause conflict, wouldn't that only hurt her?
She had raised him for years. He owed her gratitude, not resentment.
Besides—he had to admit it: Chu Chengzhou was the most outstanding soul master of his generation on the entire continent.
Had their ages been closer, and had he not had multiple girlfriends, Chu Chengzhou would have been an ideal match for his aunt.
Even harshly speaking, his aunt—whose martial soul had mutated, preventing her from becoming a full-fledged soul master, and who was already past her prime—might even be considered beneath such a genius.
Now that she had found happiness, as her nephew, he should be rejoicing.
But that didn't mean he could bring himself to call Chu Chengzhou "Gu Fu"—not anytime soon.
They had once been peers, fellow soul masters of equal standing. To suddenly address him as "uncle-in-law"? The words simply wouldn't pass his lips.
"Aunt."
He glanced briefly at Chu Chengzhou's smug, smiling face, then turned to Tang Yuehua and offered a quiet greeting.
"Ah, Xiao San, sit down—tonight's dishes are all your favorites."
Tang Yuehua guided him to his seat at the table.
"Xiao San, I heard from Yuehua that you love chicken legs."
Chu Chengzhou smiled warmly and picked up a plump chicken leg with his chopsticks, placing it directly into Tang San's bowl.
He was fully embodying the role of the perfect uncle-in-law.
Tang San: "…"
"Eat up, Xiao San!"
Tang Yuehua gently ruffled his hair and smiled.
She could sense it—his resistance toward Chu Chengzhou had already softened.
After all, had he truly hated him, he wouldn't have come down to dinner at all.
Tang San stared at Chu Chengzhou for three long seconds—then lowered his head and silently began eating.
The chicken leg was delicious.
But to him, it tasted like ash.
Over and over in his mind, he chanted the same mantra:
For my aunt, I won't get angry. I'm absolutely not f*cking angry.
Watching him, Chu Chengzhou and Tang Yuehua exchanged satisfied nods.
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