Chapter 38: Anger Must Be Released on the Spot

“Quan, Hao…”
“Quan.”
Hao Guangming and Song Xiaoqing, who had lagged behind, now shuffled forward sheepishly. Both were full of regret. If they’d known how formidable Tang Yan’s group was, why would they have hidden? Wouldn’t it have been better to follow Zhang Quan closely, like Lu Hao, and ride on his coattails?
Hao Guangming glanced at the howling boar at Zhang Quan’s feet, his heart sinking—he knew there’d be no share of boar meat for him this time!
He felt such pain it was hard to breathe.
Song Xiaoqing, meanwhile, was vexed at the thought of how badly she must now appear in Tang Yan’s eyes. She no longer cared about the howling boar meat; even from a distance, she had witnessed Tang Yan’s effortless, almost elegant, slaughter of the beasts—so much more impressive, so much more manly than that coward Zhang Quan.
It was true—she found herself drawn to Tang Yan now.
In fact, her heart had been stirred days ago, when Tang Yan had barged into the room and kicked Zhang Quan out of bed and down the stairs. Zhang Quan was ugly and timid, incapable of coaxing a woman, and always brash and clumsy in everything he did.
Other than his ability to teleport, he had none of a man’s true charm.
If survival hadn’t demanded it, Song Xiaoqing would never have stayed with Zhang Quan.
Now, with a better choice present, Tang Yan wasn’t just stronger than Zhang Quan—he was imposing and masculine. Most importantly, he certainly wouldn’t be as rough as Zhang Quan; you could tell just by the way, even when angry at his daughter Tang Siqi, he carefully brushed the ashes from the meat before handing it to her.
Song Xiaoqing’s gaze lingered on Tang Yan, becoming more and more infatuated the longer she looked.
“Daddy, I don’t like that woman,” Tang Siqi said, glaring at Song Xiaoqing.
“Mm, Daddy doesn’t like her either.”
The two, who had been sulking at each other, now found common ground in their dislike of Song Xiaoqing. Tang Siqi immediately beamed at Tang Yan. “Daddy, I was wrong, please don’t be angry anymore, all right? I promise I won’t act on my own again or ask Aunt Yu Yan for things.”
“I just… I don’t want to be your burden, just as Cloud doesn’t want to be a burden to her mother.”
As she spoke, she lowered her head in dejection.
She knew her father’s greatest weakness was seeing her like this. As long as she looked sufficiently sad and sensible, he’d be sure to surrender. “Daddy, I know it wasn’t right to ask Aunt Yu Yan for things.”
“But I don’t want you to always be the one protecting me.”
“And all I can do is hide behind you, unable to do anything.”
Tang Yan sighed, his stern expression softening even though he knew his daughter was likely putting on an act. “It’s enough that you know you were wrong. Aunt Yu Yan’s abilities are her own; she saved us, and I haven’t even repaid her yet. How could I ask for even more?”
Tang Siqi, inwardly unimpressed, thought: Didn’t you just take Aunt Yu Yan’s blood crystal for yourself?
Why are there two sets of standards—one for you, one for me?
But sensibly, she didn’t contradict him. “I understand, Daddy.”
“Good girl. Everything I do is for your sake.”
Tang Yan hugged his daughter, letting out a deep sigh.
He knew she couldn’t truly understand his motives—there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
And if there is, it’s probably poisoned.
But what’s done is done. His daughter had eaten the fire-rhino meat from Yu Yan and become a second-rank ability user. If she was to have a little more freedom in the future, he, as her father, would have to sell himself even more dearly. Yu Yan didn’t know she’d already assumed this role in his mind.
When Tang Siqi had asked Yu Yan for a spirit item, the woman had indeed felt a little uncomfortable. She had plenty of spiritual treasures in her Lotus Dream space, but giving them away was her choice; being asked outright was another matter.
In Yu Yan’s eyes, Tang Siqi was Tang Yan’s daughter—it was Tang Yan’s job to strive for her. She had already repaid the small debt she owed for Tang Siqi’s earlier help by saving Tang Yan and his daughter and giving Tang Yan a chance to advance his powers.
As for anything more—it would depend on Tang Siqi’s future conduct.
Still, since the girl had asked out of her father’s earshot, and Tang Yan had made it clear he was willing to work for her, Yu Yan decided to give him that much face—otherwise, wouldn’t she hurt her loyal follower’s feelings?
So Yu Yan chose the biggest piece of sixth-grade fire-rhino meat and gave it to her.
If you’re angry, let it out on the spot!
And do it in a way that leaves everyone satisfied and without complaint.
Tang Siqi had always been sheltered by Tang Yan, unlike Cloud, who had endured many hardships with Yu Yan recently, especially in terms of mental growth—she was no longer just a twelve-year-old child.
The violent, terrifying power of the sixth-grade fire-rhino meat would be a real trial for Tang Siqi.
Yu Yan had actually wanted to give her a piece of seventh-grade meat, just as she’d asked, but—well, she feared the girl wouldn’t survive it. Then Tang Yan would surely hate her, and besides, such a precious celestial treasure would be wasted on Tang Siqi, which would be a real shame.
That night, Tang Siqi was indeed tormented by the power of the sixth-grade fire-rhino meat for most of the night!
Listening to Tang Siqi grit her teeth, unable to suppress the pained groans, Yu Yan’s resentment melted away, replaced by a trace of admiration.
Tang Yan had raised his daughter well. Before the arrival of the replica world, she had known to protect the weak. Afterward, perhaps due to all she’d been through, her thinking had gone a little astray—but what was instilled in her bones had not changed.
Any other child, suddenly faced with such agony, would have lost all control, wailing and screaming, “I quit! I quit! I’m not cultivating anymore!”
But Tang Siqi endured the torment and successfully refined the entire piece of sixth-grade fire-rhino meat.
For this alone, Yu Yan saw her in a new light.
As for her own daughter, Cloud—if she hadn’t been intentionally trained and toughened, she would never have performed as well as Tang Siqi. Yu Yan knew this perfectly well. So the whole business of Tang Siqi asking for meat was already in the past for her.
Having such a determined and self-aware “good friend” at Cloud’s side could only be a benefit, unless the girl lost her mind and dared to harm Cloud at the risk of being struck down by Yu Yan herself. But from what Yu Yan had observed, Tang Siqi was quite shrewd.
And besides, Cloud was no longer the same as before. If Tang Siqi wanted to harm her, she’d have to see if she had the strength to do it!
“Mom, that deer is so beautiful.”
Within the thicket, Yu Yan and her daughter had walked for some time, trailed by a herd of grumbling howling boars.
The boars’ attitude was clear: “We can’t beat you, but you can’t stop us from complaining!”
Yu Yan turned and gave the herd a cool glance; at once, their grumbling ceased, and they became a silent wall of pigs, all stopping in unison. Over a hundred pairs of eyes flashed with wariness, and their hooves pawed the ground with anxiety—
As pigs, their sense for danger was razor-sharp.
This woman before them was far more terrifying than the man who had recently slaughtered dozens of their brothers.
But just leaving wasn’t an option.
This woman had intruded into the holiest place of the howling boar herd—Fu Zhu Forest!