Chapter 247: 266. Father and Son Part Ways
Tang Hao and Tang San emerged from the Sunset Forest with dark expressions, neither willing to think about what had happened the night before.
After an entire day and night of madness, both of them—drained and hollow—awoke the next morning lying atop the massive belly of a Lust Ape. They exchanged glances, and at once, both men's minds conjured the unbearable image of Xiao Wu and Ah Yin replaced by the grinning beast beneath them. A wave of nausea rolled through their stomachs.
Worse yet, they had shared the same Lust Ape.
For Tang San, this wasn't his first humiliating ordeal—after all, he'd already unlocked that "lizard incident." Disgusting, yes, but at least an ape was a mammal. For Tang Hao, however, the blow was unprecedented. Even after killing the creature and discovering it dropped a spirit bone, he tossed it aside like garbage, face twisted with shame.
Buried in his hands, Tang Hao groaned, "Ah Yin… I've defiled myself. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry…"
"Father," Tang San said solemnly, "if nothing else, this proves how deeply we love the ones we lost."
Tang Hao rubbed his temples wearily. "Enough. Don't mention it again. It never happened. We'll forget it."
"Yes, Father." Tang San nodded grimly.
With that, his gaze turned toward the distant valley of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, his eyes glinting with venom. Now it's clear, he thought. The chaos at the Well wasn't caused by Spirit Hall's reborn agent—it was the work of those two dragon souls.
"Ice Dragon King, Fire Dragon King," he hissed under his breath, "you forced me to suffer beasts and illusions, and now you dare occupy the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—the sacred treasure that belongs to the people of Douluo. You wretched monsters… when I ascend to godhood, I will bring divine judgment upon you and return the Well to its rightful owners!"
(Rightful owners, of course, being the Tang family—temporary custodians on behalf of all Douluo citizens, twenty-four hours a day.)
He then turned to check his father's injuries. The sight made his heart sink—after exploding his rings, Tang Hao's condition was abysmal.
"Father…" Tang San said quietly.
Tang Hao sighed. He knew his own body well; the truth was unavoidable. Their expedition to the Well had brought nothing but pain and wounds.
He now faced an undeniable fact—he was in no shape to confront Bibi Dong or Spirit Hall during the upcoming Soul Master Tournament.
Waving off his son's concern, he said, "I know someone who can heal me. That person has no fixed home. I'll go find them—but I must go alone. As for you, I'll leave the rest in your hands. No matter what happens, when the Tournament ends, I'll be there. And by then, I expect to see you standing on the champion's podium yourself."
"Yes, Father," Tang San said, bowing his head solemnly.
After escorting Tang San back to Shrek Academy, Tang Hao departed once again. Because of his sudden disappearance, he would miss discovering just how much humiliation his son had endured at the academy.
Meanwhile, Shrek Academy was in chaos over Tang San's recent absence. No one was more distraught than Yu Xiaogang. To him, his "dear disciple" wasn't merely a student—he was the key to reclaiming his ruined reputation. Over the years, he had declared to anyone who would listen that, though he had no biological children, Tang San was his "son." When the boy went missing, Yu Xiaogang nearly lost his mind. The entire academy was mobilized to search for him.
Tang San returned at last. Standing before the academy gates, he smiled to himself. I've been gone so long; Xiao Wu must have missed me terribly. Surely, she's been waiting for me anxiously at the entrance…
At that very moment, a frantic figure burst out from within the gates and rushed toward him. Tang San's heart leapt—only to realize that the blur was none other than a short-haired man barreling straight at him.
Yu Xiaogang seized him like a worried mother hen, eyes brimming with relief. "Xiao San! Why did you leave for so long without a word? If anything had happened to you, how would I live with myself?"
He grabbed Tang San's torn clothing and exclaimed, "Look at you—your clothes are all ruined! Take them off, let me fix them for you."
Before he could tug further, Tang San had already lost his patience. Meeting his teacher's concern with icy indifference, he shoved his arm away. "Gangzi," he said coldly, "my father took me to train. You're not family—I'm not obliged to report everything to you."
From the shadow of a nearby wall, Xiao Wu's rabbit ears twitched.
Yu Xiaogang's expression turned wounded. "How can you say that! Xiao San, I'm your teacher! A teacher is a second father—don't you understand that? Everything I do is for you!"
The two argued and wrestled at the gate, drawing an awkward crowd. Just as Tang San was about to explode, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the other teachers arrived. Under their watchful eyes, Tang San's demeanor softened back into that of a respectful "model student."
When the teachers learned that Tang San had been traveling with his father, they dared not question further. Who would? Tang Hao's reputation as the most infamous man on the continent preceded him; no one wanted his ire.
Once everyone dispersed, the four reborn Shrek members gathered in private.
Oscar spoke first. "Ah San, your father took you somewhere, didn't he? Don't tell me—it was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?"
Tang San nodded gravely.
Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up. "Then you must've seen the immortal herbs! Tell me, my Scarlet Phoenix Chrysanthemum—is it still there?"
Tang San took a deep breath and said, "I have both good news and bad news. Which do you want first?"
"The good news," said Dai Mubai.
Tang San replied, "My father took me into the valley. The immortal herbs are still there—and even more abundant than before. That confirms it wasn't Spirit Hall occupying the Well. Their team's strength this time should be the same as in our last lifetime."
Dai Mubai grinned. "That means we'll crush this year's tournament with ease! So, you entered the Well—what about the herbs? Did you find them?"
Tang San shook his head. "That's the bad news." His voice grew solemn. "The Well isn't in Spirit Hall's hands. It's guarded by two accursed dragon souls. To reclaim the sacred Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in the name of the people, my father fought those beasts for three hundred rounds. In the end… even he couldn't prevail. But rest assured—his sacrifice was not in vain."
By the time he finished, Tang San's tone was radiant with righteous conviction.
(END CHAPTER)
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