Chapter 77: The Second Elder's Decision to Capture Tang Hao. _1

"We've been cornered to such a desolate place," he mused, "can we still take such pride in ourselves?"

Faced with Tang Hao's attitude, Tang San felt quite speechless.

He didn't even know what to say about Tang Hao...

Blind optimism?

Overconfidence?

He truly didn't understand. The Hao Tian Clan had been beaten down like a dog that had lost its home, what was there to feel proud about?

But then again, the Hao Tian Clan wasn't completely devoid of merit.

"Xiaosan, why aren't you speaking anymore? What are you thinking about?"

Suddenly, Tang Hao noticed Tang San's furrowed brows.

"Dad, I was thinking, can't we rely on the strength of the Hao Tian Clan anymore to confront Qin Xiao?"

Tang San looked up at Tang Hao as he asked.

Truth be told, he didn't feel as much of a sense of belonging to the Hao Tian Clan as Tang Hao did.

However, he did covet the power of the Hao Tian Clan.

He had heard Tang Hao say that his deceased uncle had mentioned that there were no less than five Titled Douluo-level Elders in the Hao Tian Clan now.

If they could mobilize that power, defeating Qin Xiao shouldn't be too difficult, right?

At least, that's what Tang San thought.

After hearing what Tang San said, Tang Hao fell into a brief silence.

"Dad, is it really that difficult?" Tang San asked again.

"Difficult? For me, it's simply impossible," Tang Hao said with a sigh.

"But you are a disciple of the Hao Tian Clan. Shouldn't the sect's disciples unite against their common enemy in times of trouble?"

"But I am also the sinner of the Hao Tian Clan," Tang Hao said bitterly, "The hatred those Elders hold for me is probably no less than that of Martial Soul Hall's people, if not more so... "

"If they truly had the mindset to share our enemy, why would I be hunted down by Martial Soul Hall?"

"You might not know this, but they'd probably prefer me dead to ease the hate festering in their hearts. How could they willingly help us deal with Qin Xiao?"

This...

Tang San hadn't expected that the animosity towards Tang Hao within the Hao Tian Clan was even greater.

"What a pity, if we could have that support..."

Tang San left his sentence hanging, heaving a deep sigh.

"You feel regret, and so do I. Xiaosan, do you know what I regret right now?"

"What?"

"If I had known your uncle would meet such a fate, I should have convinced him to take several Elders with him to deal with Qin Xiao. The orders of the Haotian Sect Master should have been enough, despite the many thousand objections in the hearts of the Elders, they would have had to follow through..."

The more Tang Hao spoke, the deeper the regret on his face became, "If that had happened, the outcome would have been different. Your uncle would not have died, and we would not be reduced to running like dogs without a home..."

Regret of the past.

"So now, can't we reveal the death of my great-uncle to everyone?" Tang San asked, puzzled.

"Announcing it now..." Tang Hao laughed, "Xiaosan, do you believe that if those old guys from the Hao Tian Clan knew your uncle was gone, the first thing they would do would not be to avenge your uncle, but to start discussing who would become the new Sect Master of the Hao Tian Clan?

Moreover, I, Tang Hao, would have another crime added to my name: that I caused the death of the previous Sect Master..."

Ah this...

Hearing this, Tang San was stunned, "The mighty Hao Tian Clan, the Number One Sect in the world, with an enemy at the door, is actually... just busy infighting?"

"To outsiders they are submissive, but against their own, they strike hard. That's how they are."

Tang Hao nodded solemnly, "That's also why I refuse to pass the news of Big Brother's death to the sect.

Xiaosan, remember this, the position of Sect Master has belonged to our lineage since Elder Tang Chen's time. It must not fall into the hands of those Elders, no matter what."

Upon hearing this, Tang San nodded earnestly, "Dad, I'll remember this."

In truth, however, he found the idea preposterous.

What's the use of remembering?

In the sect now, we have no place at all.

Haha, the direct heir of the Sect Master lineage wanders about like a lost soul.

Isn't it pitiful?

...

Elsewhere.

Hao Tian Clan.

Inside the Sect Main Hall.

"Fourth Brother, can't you stop pacing? It's making me dizzy."

The Fifth Elder, sitting in his seat, said helplessly as he watched the Fourth Elder pace back and forth in the hall.

"I don't know why, but I just feel uneasy," said the Fourth Elder, his voice filled with worry.

"Judging by the time, Third Brother and Seventh Brother should have returned by now, right?"

As the Fourth Elder spoke, his concern was evident.

"Fourth Brother, I have an inappropriate comment," the Fifth Elder began, attempting to offer some consolation, but he was interrupted by the Fourth Elder.

"If it shouldn't be said, then don't say it. Speak of what must be said instead."

Fifth Elder: "|( T﹏T )."

I was just trying to be courteous, and you took it seriously.

"Fourth Brother, I think your worries are unwarranted. The reason why we sent Third Brother and Seventh Brother together was after careful consideration by Second Brother. That was a foolproof plan of his, there shouldn't be any problems," said the Fifth Elder, and then glanced at the Second Elder with a grin, "Right, Second Brother?"

It had to be said that a bit of flattery could be quite effective.

The Second Elder's lips twitched slightly into a grimace that was barely better than crying.

"Fifth Brother is correct. Seventh Brother is impulsive, but Third Brother is stable. With Third Brother there to keep him in check, nothing unexpected should happen."

"As for the strength of the opposition..."

"I don't think there is anything to worry about there. As I've said before, even if the opponent is a Titled Douluo-level expert of the Ninety-Fifth Rank, Third Brother and Seventh Brother, if they want to flee, it won't be difficult."

The Second Elder spoke confidently, stroking his beard as if holding all wisdom in his palm.

"Second Brother, I understand all of that, but I still can't shake off this feeling..."

Before the Fourth Elder could finish, the Fifth Elder spoke up again: