Chapter 1159: Xiao Wu |
In her eyes, that sense of closeness toward him only grew stronger, so intense it felt as though she might completely melt into his very being.
Tang San released his grip on the Sea God's Trident, lowering his right hand in a pressing gesture. At once, within the Blue Gold Palace, a burst of multicolored radiance erupted. The rainbow light surged skyward, crossing ten thousand meters in an instant and enveloping both him and Mei Gongzi.
Immediately, Mei Gongzi felt her body lighten. The oppressive weight that had nearly pushed her to the point of collapse vanished. Bathed in this multicolored brilliance, her entire being grew incomparably light and comfortable, an indescribable bliss suffusing her.
Immortal energy! And it was far stronger than the immortal energy she had cultivated within the Blue Gold Palace; ten times purer and richer. Tang San was directly channeling immortal energy from the Heart of Nature itself.
As this energy infused their bodies, the surrounding Great Thunderstorm began to show signs of stopping. The mad, unrelenting assault slowed, its ferocity lessened.
Through this action, Tang San declared to the planar ruler that he now completely controlled the Heart of Nature. If the plane continued to oppress him, he would counter by draining the Heart of Nature until this Divine Realm Cornerstone shattered entirely. In that process, the plane would be permanently weakened and lose all chances of becoming a divine realm, while Tang San would grow orders of magnitude stronger.
And that was not all.
Tang San's divine consciousness had returned to the level of a true deity. Holding the embodied Sea God's Trident, he could already faintly sense the actual location of his transcendent artifact.
Tang San had once told Su Qin that there was a fixed day for his and Mei Gongzi's tribulation, a moment it had to be completed. Not because the tribulation would be easier then, but because only by crossing it at that exact time could Planet Falan itself be protected from destruction.
Both the Sea God's Trident and the Asura Sword were supreme transcendent artifacts they had once wielded in their past lives. Drawn by the bond they had with their masters, they had been drifting through the cosmos, ever searching, ever approaching. When these two transcendent artifacts finally reached this plane, they would not hesitate, nor restrain themselves for the sake of the world. What did they care about the world? Their only concern was to rush back to their masters immediately. And their arrival would unleash unimaginable devastation, perhaps even shattering the plane entirely.
In the Douluo Divine Realm, the Asura Sword was revered as the first among all divine artifacts, the mightiest of the transcendent artifacts. The Sea God's Trident was not much weaker. If both descended upon a mortal place at once, what would become of that plane?
Thus, Tang San and Mei Gongzi had no choice. This was not only about becoming Emperors; it was about becoming gods once more. Only by truly restoring their divine level could Tang San restrain the two transcendent artifacts, commanding them to linger in outer space until he called them, rather than barging onto Planet Falan and ravaging the plane. This was the real reason he chose this exact day to transcend: It was a narrow window of opportunity between him completing his seclusion and the arrival of the two weapons.
Now, as the plane's will pressed down with annihilating force, determined to erase them, Tang San made his stance clear—through his command of the Heart of Nature, through his connection to the two transcendent artifacts. He showed the plane why this was the moment he had chosen. He could keep the artifacts waiting beyond the sky… or he could let them descend, unleashing ruin.
In that instant, the great tribulation seemed to freeze. The planar ruler understood. The oppressive wrath eased. Lightning bolts that had moments before sought to obliterate now caressed them like gentle lovers.
If before they had been a small boat tossed in a raging storm, now, they were two lovers on a holiday, bathing in the warmth of a hot spring.
Even the dark-violet color of the lightning softened, turning into a noble, gentle purple. It no longer struck to kill; instead it poured the plane's purest energies into their bodies.
Mei Gongzi felt as if the very thunder was flattering them, fearful of offending the supreme beings in the slightest.
Behind Tang San, the Sea God's manifestation and trident slowly faded away. He turned to Mei Gongzi, taking both her hands into his own.
Their gazes met, and she shivered.
Because what she saw now was not Tang San's usual carefree smile, but his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Moisture shimmered within them, and he bit his lip to hold the flood back. He simply looked at her, his gaze filled with indescribable depth.
"My love… We can finally prepare to go home. My love, I have finally found you again. Come back to me… Xiao Wu."
Mei Gongzi's pupils dilated. The next instant, her mind roared as if struck by lightning. Countless shattered fragments of memory surged wildly through her consciousness. Then, one by one, they reformed, flooding her mind.
***
The girl blinked her large eyes and smiled. "I'm called Xiao Wu, Wu as in 'dance.' My martial soul is a rabbit. A very cute little white rabbit. What about you?"
Tang San said, "Then you're the perfect counter to me. My soul is your soul's food, the Blue Silver Grass."
***
"Your blanket looks big enough for two. Why don't we push the beds together? Then we'll both have enough."
Tang San protested, "Men and women should keep their distance. This isn't proper."
Xiao Wu placed her bundle on the gap between the two beds. "Put your things there too. That's the border. If you cross it, don't blame me for not showing mercy."
***
When the other working students returned, Tang San pointed at the line between the beds. "You crossed the boundary."
Xiao Wu giggled. "So what if I did? I'm a girl, I can do what I want. But you absolutely can't cross it."
***
Tang San turned to her solemnly. "Would you be willing to be my sister? I really hope to have another family member."
Xiao Wu's eyes grew red as she asked softly, "If one day many people want to kill me, people you can't defeat… what will you do?"
Tang San's lips curved in a faint smile. "They will have to step over my dead body first."
***
Tang San thought for a moment. "We'll call ourselves the San Wu Duo."
"Alright. Three-Five Duo, officially registered."
"Hey! That's the wrong word. It's the word for 'dance,' not the number five."
Tang San patted her shoulder. "Forget it. Three-Five is fine. It's just a name anyway."
***
"Don't cry. As long as you're back, it's all fine." Tang San gently patted Xiao Wu's back, his eyes blurred with tears.
"Brother San, it's all my fault for making you worry." Xiao Wu choked out.
Tang San shook his head. "Silly girl. It's my fault. I wasn't strong enough to protect you."
Pouting, Xiao Wu complained, "We've been on the road all day, my legs are sore. Brother San, rub them for me?"
"Of course. Here?" Tang San ruffled her hair dotingly, then started massaging her calves. He added, "If we rush again tomorrow, I'll just carry you with my Eight Spider Lances. That should be fast enough."
Xiao Wu giggled. "No need. I can handle it. Being a little tired gives me an excuse to have you rub my legs. Your hands are so warm…"
Looking at him, her eyes grew soft. "Brother San, if life could always be like this… If you find a wife in the future, will you still want me?"
Tang San smiled gently. "Silly girl. You'll always be my sister."
Xiao Wu laughed softly. "Then… When we grow up, let me marry you. That way I'll always be your little sister, and you'll always take care of me."
Tang San chuckled. "Alright. But with how beautiful you are, marrying me would be a waste."
She huffed, "I'm serious! What waste? To me, you're the best. Brother San, do you know Rong Rong always teases me, saying we're just like brother and sister?"
Tang San blinked. "Isn't that true? You are my sister."
Her cheeks flushed. "Not the same! Ugh, forget it. You're such a blockhead."
***
Xiao Wu's tears spilled as she hugged his neck. "Brother San, do you know how much I missed you? Swear it… Swear you'll never leave me."
Without hesitation, Tang San vowed, "I swear, unless I die, I will never leave my Xiao Wu."
She smiled through her tears and leaned against him. "Then Xiao Wu swears too—never to leave her Brother San, not even in death."
***
With blood on her lips, Xiao Wu smiled faintly as she gazed at the flower in her hand. "I didn't expect… I was the one fated to have it."
Her eyes were pure, untainted, and she only had him in her gaze. Perhaps even they themselves could not define whether their bond was the love between siblings or the love between man and woman. But their feelings were true, unblemished, and unwavering.
It was the Yearning Heartbroken Grass.
***
Xiao Wu always picked out the meat and put it in Tang San's bowl, leaving herself only vegetables and scraps.
"Xiao Wu, you eat too."
She smiled. "I don't eat much anyway. And you're still growing. Grandmaster said men need more meat, or you won't have strength."
That simple line struck Tang San's heart like a hammer. All his confusion of the past days shattered. He stared blankly at Xiao Wu, and strange light flickered in his eyes.
Putting down his bun, he seized her hand. Now, he knew for certain. Looking at her caring face, his heart surged with heat. "Xiao Wu, no matter what happens, I'll always guard you. You'll always be my most cherished."
***
"Brother San, will you help me comb my hair? It's messy."
He hesitated. "But won't it just tangle again when you sleep?"
She stuck her tongue out. "Dummy. I'll just cultivate until morning."
Taking a comb from her breast pocket, she handed it over.
"This wood is wonderful."
"This comb was made by my mother, from fine purple sandalwood. It's the last thing she left me. It might not look like much, but it's precious."
"Xiao Wu, you're so beautiful."
"Brother San, comb my hair."
Her mother's words echoed in her mind, "When you find the man you truly love, let him comb your hair. In your life, only one man should ever do so. This is my blessing for you."
"I found him," Xiao Wu whispered through tears. As his hand smoothed her hair, she looked at the moon, seeing her mother's smile within its glow.
***
Cupping his face, Xiao Wu stared at him solemnly. "Brother San, look at me."
"What for?"
"This is my first kiss. Yours too, right? Hehe. I'm taking it first, before anyone else can."