Chapter 107: Bloodlines and Betrayal
"Where did you get this thing?"
Everyone stared in disbelief, bodies trembling uncontrollably.
"This…"
Tang San was confused by their reactions but still answered truthfully,
"The City of Slaughter…"
"What?!"
Tang Xiao staggered, his face turning pale.
"No wonder… No wonder…" he muttered under his breath. His expression darkened as he stared at the hammer.
Then, with a grave tone, he demanded,
"Xiao San, where is the person you took this from?"
Tang San didn't hesitate. He said proudly,
"I killed him. I used the Clear Sky Hammer and blew his head off. That hammer fell from his corpse."
In his heart, he believed the King of Slaughter was a mortal enemy of the Clear Sky Sect. The City of Slaughter had always had ties to Spirit Hall, and Tang San thought there could be no possible friendly connection.
"Evil beast!"
The Second Elder roared and suddenly slapped Tang San across the face.
Caught off guard, Tang San fell to the ground, blood dripping from his swollen cheek.
He looked up angrily,
"Why did you hit me?!"
"You ungrateful wretch!" the Second Elder shouted.
"Do you even know what you've done?! Do you know what you hold in your hand?!"
Tang San turned to Tang Xiao in confusion.
But Tang Xiao's face was deathly grim. He didn't even look at Tang San.
"Uncle!"
"Don't call me that!" Tang Xiao snapped.
"I have no nephew who betrays his bloodline and desecrates his ancestors!"
Tang San was stunned.
Moments ago, Tang Xiao had shown him warmth and support. Now, he was colder than ice, as though he had become a different man entirely.
The words echoed in Tang San's ears.
Betraying his teacher… desecrating his ancestors?
The watching disciples grew agitated.
"Evil beast! That was your great-grandfather!" the Sixth Elder shouted, trembling with rage.
The entire hall erupted.
"Kill him!"
"Vile traitor!"
"He deserves to die!"
The hall was filled with roars of fury. Everyone looked at Tang San as though he were the most despicable criminal in the world.
Tang San stared blankly at the golden hammer in his hands.
The King of Slaughter… was my great-grandfather?
I… killed my great-grandfather with my own hands?!
His face drained of color. Regret and guilt swelled within him like a tidal wave.
The grotesque image of the King of Slaughter's exploding head burned itself into his mind.
Suddenly, the cold, mocking voice of the Asura God whispered in his mind.
"They never truly accepted you. They want you dead. You didn't know. You didn't mean to. They don't care. But I care… I can make it all go away. Accept me. Kill them all. Take the power. Don't wait a year. Do it in a month…"
"No… no…!" Tang San clutched his head and shook it violently, trying to rid himself of the voice.
"I killed my great-grandfather… I… I…"
He stared at his hands, now trembling, as if they were drenched in the blood of family.
More and more eyes turned toward him—cold, merciless, hateful.
"Tang Xiao! Why are you just standing there?!"
"Take this disgrace down!"
The elders all shouted at once.
Tang San slowly lifted his head, his eyes hollow, and looked straight at Tang Xiao.
"Uncle… are you… really going to kill me?"
Tang Xiao stared back, his gaze colder than ever.
In those eyes, Tang San saw no warmth—only ice, and killing intent.
"I… I understand…" Tang San muttered.
He staggered to his feet. Blood and tears mixed as they streaked down his battered face.
"Evil beast! What are you doing?!" The elders jumped back, wary of a sudden attack.
But Tang San made no move.
"Go," Tang Xiao said at last, turning his back.
"Leave. From this moment on, you are no longer of the Clear Sky Sect."
"I am no longer your uncle."
The Second Elder erupted again,
"You're just letting him go? This bastard killed our ancestor! He must pay with his life!"
"Yes! Kill him! Show the world the price of treachery!"
But before the outcries could swell further, Tang Xiao roared,
"Enough!"
His voice thundered through the hall.
"Tang Xiao, what is the meaning of this? Are you protecting him?!" the Second Elder challenged.
But before Tang Xiao could answer, the Seventh Elder acted.
"If you won't do it, I will!"
A Clear Sky Hammer appeared in the Seventh Elder's hand, radiating terrifying pressure.
He leapt forward, hammer raised—and slammed it into Tang San's back.
Boom!
Tang San was sent flying, crashing hard into the square's center.
Pffft!
He coughed violently, blood splattering the ground.
Then—
Spit!
A disciple spat at him.
Soon, hammers flew from the crowd—wooden, metal, spirit-forged. All smashed into Tang San's crumpled form. Roars of hatred accompanied the barrage.
"You traitor!"
"Ancestor killer!"
"You deserve death!"
One after another, the hammers flew. Tang San didn't resist.
He didn't raise his hand, didn't block, didn't beg.
He just lay there, bloodied and broken, as if accepting his punishment.
As if hoping the pain could cleanse his sins.
"Enough!"
Tang Xiao's voice finally silenced the crowd.
Everyone stepped back.
Tang San lay in a pool of his own blood, broken, beaten, and gasping.
His eyes were hollow.
His heart—shattered.