Tang San’s Twin Sister

Chapter 243

Energy swirled around the seventh elder; the depth was unphathomable to Tang San as Tang Yin gritted her teeth. She recognised it.

Douluo. Nine rings. Well, it had been expected of an elder of the Tang Sect, whose anger had faded into eerie calm. Tang San took a deep breath. The fight with Tang Hu had been draining, not easily won, and this was not an opponent he could defeat.

Not alone.

He glanced at his sister, who gave him a small nod. Whatever happened, she had his back.

The seventh elder, no longer arrogant, said. "I will not take advantage of you. Regardless of what spirit abilities are used, I will never use more than thirty per cent of my spirit power."

Tang San tilted his head, for a moment musing, but then he had nothing to lose. They would not kill him, not here, not now. "Use forty per cent, my spirit power consumption might be less than you imagine, and I will use spirit bone abilities. I cannot take advantage of you."

He still had spirit bones. The Clear Sky Disciples asked themselves, Was he still human?

The seventh elder's eyebrows twitched slightly. "No need."

Tang San shook his head. "In exchange, let me choose the location."

The seventh elder hesitated a moment, then nodded. "Alright. You choose." Being two generations Tang San's senior, he still wanted to fight

him.

Tang San took a deep breath and glanced at his sister. If this were not a mountain, they would have chosen a forest, but that was not possible. "On the iron cable bridge." He said.

Up there, one's own safety was more vital than fighting. Fighting there, one needed to be very, very confident in one's own ability. "If this is my loss." Tang San said as they walked there. "We will leave. I will not ask to be able to my ancestors again. If the honoured elder loses, please take back what you said about my mother and grant us the boon to be able to pray to our ancestors."

The seventh elder snorted. "If you lose, I will not only prevent you from ever returning. You both will also need to return the spirit you have inherited from the sect."

Tang San's expression went dark. At that moment, Tang Xiao intervened. "Seventh elder. He is only a third-generation disciple, withdrawing his spirit isn't something he can decide on and if I am right, completely impossible for his sister to begin with."

The seventh elder glared at Tang Xiao. "I believe that when I see it, that little girl may play a civilian, but she is not; she is more like a rat hiding her strength, and what else do you propose we do about it, sect master?"

Tang Xiaos' voice was deep. "If it is won by Tang San, let the two be. Let them recognise their ancestors, I think we all have seen his talent, and it is undoubtedly enough for two in case of doubt. He has not even turned twenty yet, but his talent will bring great honour to the clan with no risk to us. If he loses, he may never use Clear Sky Hammer ever again. Also, I am correct in the thought that neither of the two actually intends to join Clear Sky Hammer as Sect Members; there is nothing to approve or deny there." He looked at Tang Yin, stopping their small trek as she nodded in confirmation. "That the blood of ouf our people flows through them is undeniable, and considering the animosity they face for wishing to honour the ancestors of that blood, I see why at least one of them has chosen not to fully show her powers."

Tang Xiao had not spoken before, but his words, the talent Tang San had shown combined with the thought of what it could have brought ot bring to the Clan should he have been a member alone was a thought that remained in their heads like a nagging regret. Equally so did the quite logical conclusion that should they have been in a similar situation, they too would have made an effort to at least conceal some of their cards in the face of the situation at hand.

It was a quiet agreement to the sect master's words when the long-eyebrowed elder stepped forward. "We will heed your words. I merely wish for three extra requirements, requirements I will raise after he has had a chance to recognise his ancestors, requirements that, should he fulfil them, will also gain him and his sister a chance to be sect masters, even if they may not want so for now."

"Fine." Tang Xiao nodded, and Tang Yin almost felt the urge to scream. Why was it that everyone thought entering the Clear Sky Hammer Haotien sect was the ultimate goal, the highest boon one could get? Damn it, she could be  in Seven Treasures or in Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon any day she wanted; just had to ask politely. Heck, she was a member at Poseidon Court, and unlike Clear Sky, none of those was currently in some self-chosen seclusion. It took serious effort not to roll her eyes.

Next to her, Yuehua chuckled. "Yin, I do not believe anyone here can imagine anything greater than being a member of Clear Sky, it is their home and their pride, or could you imagine leaving Tang?"

She stilled. "I guess not." She admitted. She could not leave Tang; would not do so. It was her home, her and Tang San's Sect they had built with their own two hands, so far with Ning Feng, Jiang, Xiao Wu, Yu Hua, the others of Shrek's Devils, Damian and Gale, no matter how small and insignificant.  

Tang Xiao tilted his head. "Fine. Then so it will be. But before those two fight, I have something I wish to declare." As he spoke, he took out the long box Tang San had given him. "Tang Hao separated himself from the sect while he was carrying the sect's two great spirit bones. He asked his children when they embarked on the endeavour of gaining the right to pray to their ancestors to return them, in a silent request to fulfil their wish and to atone for his sins." He opened the box, and the two spirit rings lay inside it, a wild, overbearing aura coming from them.

The elders were stunned a second time into silence that day, the fury in their eyes fading.

The long-eyebrowed elder sighed. "Even if he separated himself from the sect. He is still the son of the old sect master; it seems he has not forgotten where he came from." His gaze was almost melancholic. "Returning those spirit bones could prove many things. Under ordinary circumstances, it would mean death."

Even with Tang Hao's cultivation, all the elders knew what the two spirit bones meant. It meant Tang Hao had chosen to be a cripple, with his strength greatly reduced.

They had all been angry about his actions and the trouble he caused, but it had also always shown their strength. He is an idol for the younger generation, the school's twin sect Douluo, a figure imposing. No matter his sins.

Tang Xiao closed the box. "These two bones are the greatest assets of the sect. I will leave them to the elders' care. Maybe one day, when the new successor has been chosen, or someone has achieved something worthy of them, they can give them as rewards."

The elders nodded. This was Tang Xiao giving them face; they understood that. Otherwise, he could have just taken them, he had that power, or fused them with himself, which none could have protested.

It was clever. Tang Yin thought, a twinge of hurt inside her for she knew the same as everyone else what it had cost her father to give those away. Gulping as her hand turned into a fist. Her head was already making plans to commission two more pieces from Gale, for an older man, a taller man, more rugged than her brother.

She closed her eyes, no, no, he was not...she bit her lips. Well, it would cost an arm and a leg, maybe bankrupt her. She should first talk to Gale about whether she could even afford it, even if only one piece. With a second arm, her father could be working in the smithy again, so at least he did not have to be hungry, or broke, or damn it.

The Sect master had twisted it well. See, super talented young man, good for us. See, his dad wants to make up, so he brought something shiny. The son has courage and skill, you elders go do what you want with it, but in exchange let us keep shiny new talent and sister, who knows maybe we get a two-in-one deal.

Elders, yeah, you bribed us, but we can't say no to that awesome bribe. Got you, we will keep the shiny new boy. If the girl is an add-on, fine; if she is good, better.