svetikya Chapter 31 Tang 3's Confession
Chapter 31 Tang 3's Confession
In the past two years, Tang San's gaze has almost never left Xiao Wu.
He watched Xiao Wu follow Yan Zu around every day, calling him "Brother Zu" incessantly. He watched Yan Zu patiently comb Xiao Wu's wind-blown hair. He watched the two of them sit side by side on the stone steps at the entrance of Dormitory Seven, sharing snacks. He watched them cultivate in perfect harmony.
—Although he knew it was just childhood intimacy, every little detail pierced Tang San's heart like a poisoned needle. What began as initial envy gradually blossomed into a fanatical obsession.
In the past two years, Tang San's soul power has soared from level 10 when he first entered school to level 22. His control over the Blue Silver Grass has become more and more exquisite, and he has even secretly honed the prototype of hidden weapons such as the Sand-Suppressing Shadow.
He believed that as long as he became strong enough and could provide Xiaowu with enough protection, he could replace Yan Zu in her heart.
He had clumsily tried to be kind to Xiao Wu, but she always subconsciously resisted him, politely but firmly refusing him.
He knew better than anyone that his feelings for Xiao Wu had long surpassed simple "curiosity" or "admiration." It was a complex emotion mixed with possessiveness, a desire to conquer, and a distorted desire for "redemption."
In Tang San's eyes, Xiao Wu was like a peerless celestial plant growing in the shadow of Yan Zu, and only he could give her true "sunshine".
That evening, Tang San finally couldn't contain himself any longer. He finished his cultivation half an hour early and waited on the only path leading to the canteen from the back mountain. This path was secluded and quiet, with ancient trees towering on both sides, a place rarely traveled by the students.
When that pink figure appeared, Tang San's heart skipped a beat.
Xiao Wu was alone, carrying dinner for Yan Zu—two steaming hot meat buns, which she had specially queued up at the cafeteria to buy. She walked briskly, her pink scorpion braid swinging behind her, humming the little tune about Blue Star that Yan Zu had taught her.
"Xiao Wu." Tang San stepped out from behind the tree, blocking her way. He had taken special care of himself today; his school uniform was neat, and his hair was tied up meticulously.
Xiao Wu was startled. After recognizing Tang San, she frowned almost imperceptibly: "Tang San? Why are you blocking my way? My ancestor is still waiting for me."
Not far away, on the thick trunk of an old locust tree that required several people to encircle, a figure wearing a tattered raincoat leaned against the trunk. The wide brim of the hat covered most of his face, revealing only a thick beard on his chin and a gourd of wine that he never let go of.
It was Tang Hao, who had been secretly protecting Tang San all along. He had just finished a sip of wine when he saw Tang San clenching his fists and walking towards Xiao Wu with a stubborn look on his face. The obsession in his eyes that did not belong to a child made him subconsciously stop drinking.
Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, took a deep breath, and as if using up all his courage, finally said what he had been holding back for two years: "Xiao Wu, for the past two years, I have been watching over you."
Xiao Wu blinked, still somewhat confused: "Follow me? Why?"
"Because I like you." Tang San's voice suddenly rose, carrying a resolute determination. "From the day you and Yan Zu first entered school, I noticed you. Your liveliness, your purity, deeply attract me. I know you and Yan Zu are close, but I don't think I'm inferior to him!"
He spoke urgently, his words flowing almost without pause, as if he wanted to pour out his two years' worth of obsession all at once: "These past two years, I've cultivated relentlessly, and now I'm at level twenty-two. My Blue Silver Grass can control enemies, my hidden weapons can protect you, I can give you everything you want! What Yan Zu can do, I can do too, and even better!"
Tang Hao, who was holding a gourd of wine behind the bushes, paused in mid-air. His lips twitched, and his face showed a speechless expression.
He had lived this long and had seen many competitive and stubborn people, but he had never seen such a young child who, instead of focusing on cultivating and perfecting his soul skills, was preoccupied with figuring out "likes" and "confessions," and did so in such a serious and authoritative manner.
What's worse, the girl was also carrying meat buns for another boy. The time, the place, and the atmosphere didn't seem like a good time to confess her feelings.
Xiao Wu was completely stunned. She never expected Tang San to suddenly confess his feelings to her. After recovering, the confusion on her face instantly turned into clear aloofness, and her tone was firm and direct: "Tang San, you've misunderstood. I don't have those feelings for you. The person I like is A-Zu, and it's been that way since we were very young."
"Why?" Tang San's voice instantly filled with pain and resentment. He took a step forward, trying to grab Xiao Wu's arm, but Xiao Wu nimbly dodged him.
"How am I inferior to Yan Zu? He merely possesses a special Qilin Martial Soul, while I have innate full soul power and a grandmaster as my teacher; my future is limitless. Yan Zu, on the other hand, is just a mere work-study student. My strength surpasses his!"
Instead of being moved by these words, Xiao Wu felt a chill run down her spine.
She looked into Tang San's eyes, which were glowing with a purple light. They no longer held the usual gloom, but rather a kind of almost insane fervor.
She had seen that look in the Star Dou Great Forest before—it was the look that greedy Soul Masters gave when they looked at Soul Beasts.
"Tang San, are you crazy?" Xiao Wu clutched the food box in her arms, her voice turning cold. "What do you mean by 'mere work-study student'? A-Zu isn't a work-study student; he's my family, the most important person to me! What makes you think you're stronger than him? Just because of your Blue Silver Grass spirit?"
"I..." Tang San stammered, then hurriedly explained, "That's not what I meant! Xiao Wu, don't you understand? This world is cruel; only power is eternal! Yan Zu may be very good to you now, but can he protect you forever?"
"Enough!" Xiao Wu interrupted sharply, her pink soul power overflowing uncontrollably, her first soul ring faintly shimmering beneath her feet. "Tang San, I'll say it one last time, my affairs are none of your business! Do you think I don't know whether my ancestor can protect me or not? But you, you're always watching us with a sinister gaze, secretly following me. Do you think I don't know?"
Tang San's expression changed drastically: "You...you know?"
"Of course I know!" Xiao Wu sneered. "A-Zu found out a long time ago. He said you had ulterior motives and told me to stay away from you. I originally thought he was just overthinking it, after all, we're classmates. But it seems today that A-Zu was right, you really are... you really are..."
After thinking for a long time, she used a word that Yan Zu had taught her: "Pervert!"
"Impossible..." Tang San shook his head, an expression of disbelief on his face. Pain surged in his eyes like a tidal wave, quickly replaced by icy rage. He stared intently at Xiao Wu, as if trying to etch her image into his very bones. "Did Yan Zu force you?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Xiao Wu stomped her foot angrily, her little tiger teeth unconsciously showing. "A-Zu would never force me to do anything. My liking him is my own choice! Tang San, I hope you won't say such things to me again, and please don't bother A-Zu and me anymore!"
After saying that, Xiao Wu turned around and ran hurriedly out of the grove.
"...that little brat."
Tang Hao muttered something under his breath, his voice hoarse like sandpaper scraping. He tilted his head back and took a swig of strong liquor; the spicy liquid went down his throat, but he couldn't suppress the throbbing veins on his forehead.
He had long known that his son had been paying attention to the girl named Xiao Wu—after all, Tang San would always "inadvertently" glance at Xiao Wu during his daily cultivation breaks, and Tang Hao was all too familiar with that look. He just never expected his son to be so… simplistic and crude.
"idiot."
Seeing Tang San's excited expression, even reaching out to grab the girl's wrist, Tang Hao couldn't help but close his eyes. He recalled how cautious and patient he had been when pursuing Ah Yin in his youth. But this kid, the girl clearly had someone else in her heart, and he just rushed up to her and said, "I can give you a better future"?
But he didn't move.
Firstly, this is just a childish dispute, not a life-or-death crisis, so there's no need for a Title Douluo like him to intervene.
Secondly, he has always advocated that Tang San experience and grow on his own, even if he takes detours and hits a wall, it is a necessary process for him.
As for the resentment towards Yan Zu, Tang Hao didn't take it too seriously—it's only natural for young people to be competitive and jealous out of love. As long as he doesn't cross the line, let him do what he wants.
Moreover, if this can motivate Tang San to cultivate even harder, it would be a good thing.
Tang Hao flashed and disappeared into the shadows again, leaving only a faint smell of alcohol in the air.
Tang San stood frozen in place, the autumn wind whipping up fallen leaves that lashed against him, but it did nothing to quell the turmoil in his heart.
Xiao Wu's every word was like a heavy hammer, slamming down on his two-year-long obsession and shattering all his expectations and fantasies.
He didn't believe that Xiao Wu had truly rejected him. He stubbornly believed that the root of all this lay with Yan Zu—if it weren't for Yan Zu, Xiao Wu would have seen his good qualities; if it weren't for Yan Zu, he could have walked alongside Xiao Wu; if it weren't for Yan Zu, he wouldn't be in such a sorry state now.
"Yan Zu..." Tang San gritted his teeth, uttering the name slowly and deliberately, his voice icy and chilling, filled with intense jealousy and madness. His fists clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, blood dripping from between his fingers and falling onto the withered yellow leaves, spreading a small patch of dark red.
The attention, obsession, and resentment of the past two years were completely twisted at this moment, transforming into an overwhelming hatred for Yan Zu. He felt that Yan Zu had taken away the things he craved most in his life—Xiao Wu's favor, the recognition of others, and even the "genius" halo that should have belonged to him.
"You just wait!" A sinister glint flashed in Tang San's eyes, a glint devoid of its usual calm, replaced by a desperate, relentless obsession. "I will surpass you! I will make Xiao Wu regret it, I will make everyone regret it! Everything you possess, I will personally take away!"