Tang Hao stared at Li Si, his expression filled with confusion.
What had happened during these past few months to make his son act like this?
Calling him by name—was this the proper way for a son to address his father?
A few months earlier, as Li Si was nearing graduation, Tang Hao had gone off to spend time with Ah Yin.
He'd been away for months and had only returned to Nuoding City the previous day, narrowly avoiding Bibi Dong's arrival.
Li Si had only been testing the waters when he called Tang Hao's name, never expecting him to actually show up.
When Bibi Dong appeared days ago, Tang Hao hadn't intervened, confirming that he truly hadn't been around.
After all, Tang San—his son, Li Si—was his hope for revenge. If Tang Hao had been present when Bibi Dong appeared, he would have acted immediately to protect his son.
"Xiao San, calling me by name—how dare you…"
Tang Hao's eyes burned with rage, his posture exuding the intensity of a father about to unleash punishment on his rebellious son.
Li Si, however, remained unimpressed, curling his lips in disdain.
Was Tang Hao trying to intimidate him?
Did he look like someone who could be easily cowed?
"Father?" Li Si sneered.
"You dare call yourself my father? In all these years, when have you ever fulfilled your duties as one?"
"If I hadn't been born with twin Martial Souls, would you have even glanced at me? Would you have protected me from the shadows?"
"No, of course not!"
"To you, I'm nothing but a tool for revenge, a pawn to help the Clear Sky Sect reclaim its position as the number one clan!"
"With just a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, I'm a waste.
With Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer, I'm suddenly your 'good son.'"
Tang Hao's face darkened further as he saw Li Si's defiant grin. His anger surged.
"Tang Hao! In all these years, have you really acted as a father?"
"Tell me, where is my mother's grave? I'll go and tell her all about what you've done over the years!"
"I'll see for myself whether she thinks you're worthy of being called my father!"
Li Si's smirk carried a dangerous charm as he delivered his biting words.
Tang Hao froze, his mind reeling. He felt disoriented by Li Si's sharp accusations.
But he quickly recovered, his voice turning icy as he replied,
"Whether I've been a proper father or not, you are my blood! You will call me 'Father!'"
"Sigh~"
Tang Hao: "???"
Li Si felt triumphant, reveling in his ability to provoke Tang Hao.
Totally worth it!
The next moment, a murderous aura erupted from Tang Hao, so oppressive it seemed to take physical form. The overwhelming force pinned Li Si to the ground with a loud "thud!"
Trembling under the weight of Tang Hao's killing intent, Li Si clenched his teeth and refused to show weakness.
"Tang Hao! Go ahead, kill me!"
"Kill me, and your bloodline ends here! Come on, do it!"
Tang Hao's veins bulged on his forehead as his fists tightened. He glared at Li Si with eyes full of fury.
But after a few deep breaths, Tang Hao reined in his killing intent, his expression returning to its earlier calm.
Even a beast wouldn't eat its own cubs. No matter how enraged he was, he couldn't bring himself to harm Li Si.
"Why did you call for me?" Tang Hao asked coolly, choosing to brush past the heated argument.
Perhaps out of guilt, he decided not to address Li Si's earlier accusations.
Li Si straightened himself, dusted off his clothes, and declared,
"I know a place where we can bring Mother back to life."
Tang Hao's expression froze.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice trembling slightly.
"You… know?"
He tried to sound calm, but his words betrayed a hint of unease.
No wonder his son had acted like this. He must have learned about Ah Yin's fate and blamed Tang Hao for failing to protect her.
But how had Li Si discovered this secret?
"Of course, I know! Tang Hao, the youngest Title Douluo in history—how impressive!"
Tang Hao's silence deepened as he listened to Li Si's taunts.
He knew his son was mocking him, yet he was powerless to respond.
This stubborn child didn't even fear death—what could he do?
"Tell me where this place is!" Tang Hao demanded.
"I'll tell you, but only if you follow my instructions. If you mess up and die, I'll bring Mother back myself," Li Si said nonchalantly, shrugging.
"My twin Martial Souls guarantee that I'll surpass you in both power and lifespan.
Even if it means waiting, I can outlast you, Tang Hao!"
Tang Hao inhaled sharply. Would it be too late to beat this rebellious son of his into submission?
What a 'filial' child!
With no better options, Tang Hao nodded reluctantly.
"Fine."
"Swear on your Clear Sky Sect and your Martial Soul!"
Tang Hao's frustration boiled over.
"Good grief! Can't a father and son have even the slightest trust in each other?"
"Fine! I, Tang Hao, swear on my Martial Soul and the honor of the Clear Sky Sect!"
"Honor? What honor? Didn't your Clear Sky Sect lose all that when it sealed itself away?"
Li Si muttered under his breath.
Tang Hao: "…"
"Fine! I swear on the future of the Clear Sky Sect and my Martial Soul!"
After Tang Hao solemnly made his vow, Li Si finally nodded in satisfaction.
He knew that in a world like Douluo, strong Soul Masters took oaths very seriously. Breaking one could invite divine retribution.
This was also one of the reasons Qian Daoliu hadn't destroyed the Clear Sky Sect after Tang Hao fled—his promise to Tang Chen had kept the Spirit Hall in check.
Glancing at the visibly frustrated Tang Hao, Li Si smirked.
"Let's go. I'll take you there now. But the place already has an owner. If reason doesn't work, you'll have to 'talk physics' with him."
"Where? Who?"
"Sunset Forest. A Rank-91 Title Douluo—Dugu Bo."
Tang Hao snorted in disdain.
"Just a Rank-91 Title Douluo, and the weakest in single combat at that. Even with my old injuries, I'm not worried."
"Sunset Forest, huh? Perfect."
Tang Hao murmured before grabbing Li Si and disappearing from the spot.
The Sunset Forest was near Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.
For ordinary Soul Masters, traveling from Nuoding City to Heaven Dou City would take two to three months.
But the speed of a Title Douluo was incomparable, and Tang Hao's power made the journey swift.
This time, Li Si truly experienced what it felt like to fly.
Time passed…
(End of Chapter)