Chapter 77: The Men of the Tang Family Never Marry Humans!
At five in the morning, the sun rose over the horizon, its light spilling across the earth.
A boy and a girl were running on the training field, their sweat glistening under the early sun. The girl was graceful and slender, standing half a head taller than the boy.
They ran over a hundred laps, one after the other.
Finally, they stopped at the same time. Tang Wulin stood tall, breathing steadily as if nothing had happened, while Ouyang Zixin supported herself by her knees, panting heavily as sweat streamed down her face.
"Wulin, you're amazing!"
Ouyang Zixin looked at him in admiration. She remembered their first meeting—back then he had been able to keep pace with her, and now he had far surpassed her.
She was four grades older than him!
To think that this little boy could already be this capable.
"It's nothing, Senior Sister."
"Senior Sister, here, this is for you."
Tang Wulin, cheeks flushed, reached into his pocket and shyly pulled out a pink handkerchief, offering it to her.
"No~ no~" Ouyang Zixin laughed as she waved it off. "If Xier finds out, you'll be doomed~"
At the mention of Mu Xi, Tang Wulin instantly felt uneasy. His senior sister had warned him more than once—running together was fine, being friends was fine—but if he dared to harbor any improper thoughts, he should stop them immediately.
She had told him Ouyang Zixin already had someone she liked.
Apparently, it was Xu Xiaoyu—Xu Xiaoyan's older brother.
He had seen the man before. Not bad-looking, a polite young master of the Xu family. But still—was Tang Wulin any worse?
He was the disciple of a Seven-Star Saint Craftsman! Even if he didn't reach the level of a Divine Craftsman in the future, he would at least be a Saint Craftsman.
And as far as he knew, Xu Xiaoyan was the Xu family's actual heir.
Sure, that guy was stronger than him now, but Tang Wulin believed he would catch up—and surpass him—one day.
He felt a spark of defiance. As Xie Xie always said—if you like someone, just go for it!
He wasn't inferior to anyone!
Gathering his courage, he boldly took out the handkerchief again and gently wiped Ouyang Zixin's face with it. She froze instantly.
"You—you—you—"
"S-senior Sister, I'm just... wiping off the sweat..."
But still... wasn't this what they called that faint flutter in the heart?
In the end, Ouyang Zixin said nothing. After all, he was Mu Xi's junior, and his talent was pretty good—just too young.
She didn't want to be accused of being an "older woman chasing fresh meat," after all.
And honestly, she knew her best friend was rather guarded when it came to this little junior, treating her like a rival in love.
She had invited Mu Xi to join her morning runs just so she could spend time with her junior, yet Mu Xi never got up early enough.
The thought alone made Ouyang Zixin chuckle.
"Thank you, Wulin."
That smile completely dazed Tang Wulin.
"So beautiful..." he murmured dumbly.
Tang Shen Wang's voice boomed in his head: "Wake up, Tang Wulin! Mu Xi is unworthy of being part of our Tang family, and this girl is even worse!"
He was tired already of these trivial mortal affairs. If worst came to worst, he'd just pick a daughter-in-law himself and throw her and his son into the Valley of Eternal Emotions for "reconditioning."
(The men of the Tang family must marry non-human women.)
"Junior~ you..."
"Senior Sister~ I..."
...
These days, everyone was spending nearly all their time inside the Ascension Tower, training to increase their soul power. They had to keep their combat power in sync—otherwise, they'd just be stepping stones for others climbing the ranks.
Finding sparring partners their own age was tough, and fighting Jiang Chen's trio always killed their confidence.
They could challenge senior students—but who would risk their reputation by losing to juniors?
So they just stayed in the Spirit Pagoda, grinding day and night, preparing for the upcoming Tianhai Grand Tournament.
Tang Wulin's progress shocked everyone. Jiang Chen's group were monsters—no one even questioned that—but Tang Wulin?
A mere rank-three innate soul power student outpacing them all? How was that even possible?
Xie Xie swore Tang Wulin must've been cheating somehow.
But Tang Wulin had never "cheated."
He was now completely familiar with the skills and battle techniques of the Sea God Tang San himself.
No matter how clever or venomous those Tang Sect arts were, Wulin's fortified bloodline—like an unbreakable city wall—smashed Tang San's projections into dust every single time.
Tang Shen Wang sighed helplessly: "Son, that man you're pummeling... is literally your father! Can't you at least show him some respect?"
He had a terrible premonition that one day Tang Wulin would go too far inside the Ascension Tower.
"No, impossible! That's my own son! Tang Wulin would never attack his father! Absolutely not!"
"Damn that Spirit Pagoda! What have they done? They've brought this upon themselves!"
...
"The Tianhai Tournament is one week away," Wu Zhangkong announced. "You have five days off. Relax, but don't slack off, understood?"
"Teacher Wu, long live Teacher Wu!!"
Xie Xie cheered wildly. Finally—a break!
Ever since joining Class Zero, weekends had been abolished. They got only one day off per month. It was exhausting beyond belief.
Even Tang Wulin barely had time to return to the Blacksmith's Association for practice.
Mu Chen didn't force him to, since he knew blacksmithing required soul power too.
Though Tang Wulin had great forging talent, his low innate soul power was a fatal weakness. If his level fell too far behind, it would affect his progress as a craftsman later on.
That's why Mu Chen supported his training with Wu Zhangkong. He even supplied him with extra cultivation materials so he wouldn't fall behind the monstrous pace of Class Zero.
"Teacher Wu, are you heading home?" Xie Xie asked curiously.
Expressionless, Wu Zhangkong replied, "No. I'll be preparing lesson materials. Of course, if you'd like to stay and help me organize them, you're welcome."
"No, no, no!" Xie Xie waved his hands frantically and dashed away.
"Tang Wulin, Jiang Chen, everyone—see you later!"
"Goodbye, Teacher Wu!"
Gu Yue watched as everyone scattered, heading home for their short vacation. But her home... where was that?
Not that it mattered to her.
Instead, she went to find Tang Wulin and asked, "Wulin, are you going home too?"
Tang Wulin frowned slightly. Though Gu Yue was strong and no longer seemed like she was fawning over him for his master's sake, Xie Xie kept teasing him, saying she was chasing after him.
Yes, she was talented, maybe even more gifted than him—but she wasn't as gentle or beautiful as his Senior Sister.
He'd seen her temper around Jiang Chen. A total violent girl, the opposite of the kind Senior Sister type he liked.
"Sorry, Gu Yue. I already have someone I like."
"So please, don't waste your feelings on me."
He didn't give her a chance to respond. Books said the cleanest rejection left no room for false hope.
Gu Yue: "???"
"Me? Like him?"
What nonsense was this!
Originally, she still had some interest in Tang Wulin—but only because of the Golden Dragon King's bloodline.
Now she was stunned.
He thought... she was trying to court him?!
Ridiculous! She just wanted to get close enough to siphon his bloodline and kill him afterward!
Pursue him? He and Jiang Chen were two of a kind—equally insufferable!
Unforgivable!
Just like Jiang Chen... hateful!
If he had played nice, she might've spared him when she took his bloodline.
But now?
He was doomed.
No one could save him.
"Pfft—"
And there it was again—the annoying sound of laughter nearby.
Gu Yue's anger flared instantly.
"Jiang Chen! Try laughing again, I dare you!"
"I—I didn't laugh!" Jiang Chen covered his mouth, barely holding it in.
"You're still laughing! You're dead! I'll tear your mouth to pieces! Stop laughing! Stop laughing!!"
(END CHAPTER)
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