Chapter 4: No Wonder You're Still a Child After All

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Xue Yuan had been sleeping in the shabby little hut of Saint Soul Village for several days. At first, her dark purple lips and pale complexion made Tang San, who was responsible for her care, constantly fear that this frail girl might pass away at any moment.

But starting from the third day, a silver glow began to emanate from her body, slowly yet visibly healing her wounds. Tang San didn’t know who she really was, nor was he certain whether someone with such self-healing abilities could still be considered human. Tang Hao had no intention of explaining; he simply said, “If nothing goes wrong, she’ll be your sister from now on,” thus deciding the girl’s identity.

Honestly, if his father really had the bad habit of picking up everything he saw on the road, he would soon have a house full of grandchildren—and due to poverty, the whole family might end up begging on the streets, with Tang San leading the way.

Resigned, Tang San filled a basin with water and carefully wiped the girl’s cracked lips with a damp towel.

Suddenly, the dilapidated wooden gate was pushed open, and the noisy voice of Li Dan from the village came through: “Village chief, it’s right here! I saw Tang Hao bring back a silver-haired girl with my own eyes! He must be harboring a wanted criminal!”

Tang San paused in his cleaning, quietly creeping to the window to look outside.

He saw Li Dan, accompanied by village chief Jack and several burly men from a neighboring village, barging into their small courtyard, all surrounding Tang Hao, who was sunbathing in the yard.

Sensing the sunlight at his side being blocked, Tang Hao lazily opened his eyes.

Jack, clearly uneasy, spoke: “Tang Hao, let’s clear up any misunderstandings. Although Xue Yuan is just a little girl, she’s a criminal from the Heavenly斗 Empire. Don’t let pity cloud your judgment.”

Li Dan anxiously shouted beside him, “What pity? He just wants to claim the million reward himself!”

Tang San was about to lean further out to see clearly when he suddenly felt a chill at his neck. The girl, who had been unconscious on the bed, now stood behind him, holding a silver dagger of unknown origin pressed against his throat.

“Don’t make a sound,” Xue Yuan warned softly, her gaze icy as she pressed Tang San toward the window.

Outside, Tang Hao yawned leisurely and retorted:

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“What? Is she the only silver-haired girl in the entire continent of Heavenly斗?”

Li Dan grew more agitated, stepping forward to argue: “Silver hair is rare, and the age matches perfectly. That girl you brought back is definitely Xue Yuan! If you don’t admit it, I’ll have to call the Martial Soul Hall officials to confirm!”

Old Jack wanted to side with Tang Hao but was uncertain, so he advised, “Tang Hao, you’ve got your son with you. Don’t bring trouble upon yourself.”

Tang Hao, holding a wine bottle, slowly stood up. His tall, strong frame scared Li Dan into taking several steps back, nearly falling over.

Looking at the cowardly man, Tang Hao’s eyes flashed with mockery and contempt as he decisively issued the eviction order: “I say she’s not, so she’s not. I just took in a homeless child out of kindness. She’s still sleeping now. Without evidence, you all can leave.”

This was a strong-bodied but mentally unstable drunkard. Li Dan arrogantly pointed at Tang Hao while retreating, shouting loudly:

“Tang Hao, just you wait!”

Old Jack hurried after him a few steps, but as Li Dan and his cohorts ran farther away, he could only shake his head in frustration and turn back, looking at Tang Hao in anger as he kept urging:

“Tang Hao, what am I supposed to say to you? Li Dan must have already informed the Martial Soul Hall. If they find out you’re harboring a criminal…”

Tang Hao took a swig of wine, still unyielding: “The one I picked up isn’t Xue Yuan. It’s useless no matter who comes.”

“You really are something...” Old Jack shook his head, but Tang Hao ignored his nagging, entering the small hut and closing the door behind him.

Turning around, Tang Hao saw his son standing by the window, while the silver-haired girl who had been lying on the bed now held a dagger he had never seen before. Though the blade’s tip pressed against Tang San’s neck, her eyes were fixated longingly on the white porridge on the table, nearly glowing with hunger.

“Not bad, at least you know not to touch a girl,” Tang Hao said without urgency, casting a sidelong glance at them. He found a broken chair to sit on, waved his hand, and ordered, “Xiao San, go fetch some water.”

“Okay.” Tang San responded without hesitation and walked out.

So calm—either a deeply scheming, precocious child or truly an idiot.

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Xue Yuan watched the boy’s retreating figure with some surprise, then shifted her gaze to scrutinize the man who had saved her from the brink of disaster.

She had struggled with all her might, crawling out of the stream in the Starry Forest, and under the guidance of the soul of Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince, traversed nearly half of the Heavenly斗 Empire. Only upon arriving at Saint Soul Village did she realize whom Xue Qinghe’s soul had directed her to find.

Tang Hao, once the youngest titled Douluo who killed the Martial Soul Hall’s Pope and stirred the entire continent into upheaval, now retired alongside the Hao Tian Sect. He had been an idol to Xue Yuan and many soul masters, bearing the title Hao Tian.

But the once tall and proud man in Xue Yuan’s heart now sat across from her, scruffy-bearded, legs crossed, wearing patched-up clothes, looking utterly defeated. Were it not for Xue Qinghe’s soul’s repeated assurances, Xue Yuan would never have believed this vagrant could be the benefactor to rescue her from peril.

Yet, even a vagrant is the youngest titled Douluo on Douluo Continent!

Summoning all her strength, Xue Yuan steadied herself against the wall, her expression resolute as she stepped forward. Clenching her right fist over her chest, she saluted like a warrior and pleaded:

“Please, Your Eminence Hao Tian, save Heavenly斗!”

Tang Hao gave her a lazy glance, still unhurried: “Why are you raising the price now? At first, you only asked me to save you.”

Xue Yuan grew anxious, stepping forward again, stumbling slightly but speaking urgently:

“I was framed by a poison from Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. Though I cannot explain fully, I am certain the one currently ruling the Heavenly斗 palace is not the real Xue Qinghe. Enemy spies have infiltrated deeply. Only Your Eminence Hao Tian can return with me to capture the traitors and save Heavenly斗 from crisis!”

“Do not worry, Your Eminence,” she continued, “I promise as the Heavenly斗 princess, upon returning to the palace, you will be a great benefactor to Heavenly斗, gaining promotion and rank. Even the Martial Soul Hall will have to show some leniency and will not persecute you. Your son will receive the same treatment!”

Having just awakened, her throat felt as if cut by a knife after speaking so much.

Tang Hao merely rested his hands behind his head, sighed faintly in defeat, and leisurely remarked:

“Told you, you’re still just a kid…”