N-A-A Chapter 20 Tang 3's Scheme
Chapter 20 Tang 3's Scheme
Zi Lingtian slowly straightened up, his fingertips lightly brushing away the grass clippings from his robes, smoothing out the wrinkles little by little. He casually raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the edge of the grove, pretending to check the tracks left by the shadow leopard, but the next moment, his deep purple pupils suddenly narrowed.
At the edge of the woods, a tall figure stood with his hands behind his back, surrounded by swirling light and shadow, blending seamlessly with the surrounding scenery. Yet, the oppressive aura that seemed to transcend all things was unmistakable. His azure robe, like surging waves in the deep sea, billowed in the wind, the silver ripples embroidered on the hem gleaming with a cold light, making him appear even more unapproachable. His long, azure hair cascaded down like a waterfall, the wind brushing against his shoulders. A warm, gentle smile graced his perfectly handsome face, as warm as the rising sun. But his azure eyes were fixed on them, his gaze darting back and forth between him and Tang Wutong, his smile deepening slowly, concealing a knowing, playful scrutiny.
The newcomer was none other than Tang San, the Sea God.
Zi Lingtian's heart sank to the bottom in an instant. A chill spread wildly through his limbs and bones, as if he were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and even his breath hitched.
How long had he been standing there? Had he been observing from the shadowy leopard since it appeared, or had he simply stumbled upon that extremely embarrassing accident? What alarmed him even more was whether the sudden appearance of the shadowy leopard was something deliberately arranged by the person before him. A thousand thoughts swirled in his mind, but with a composure far beyond his years, Zi Lingtian instantly concealed all the turmoil in his eyes. His face quickly adopted the expression of a six-year-old child, showing a hint of timidity yet impeccable manners. He bowed slightly, his voice clear and soft, full of the respect of a junior to an elder: "Uncle Sea God."
Tang Wutong was startled by the address and froze, turning around abruptly. The moment she saw her father's figure, her cheeks instantly burned bright red, the heat spreading from her cheekbones to her ears, even more intense than when Zi Lingtian had accidentally touched her lips earlier. She wished she could find a crack in the ground to disappear into.
"Father! How...how could you be here!" Her voice trembled, filled with shame and anxiety. She twisted the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands until her fingertips turned white, and her eyes were filled with unconcealed panic.
Tang San stepped forward slowly, his pace unhurried and gentle, each step so light as to make no sound, as if he were simply taking a leisurely stroll and that this chance encounter was perfectly natural. His gaze fell on Zi Lingtian, his blue eyes filled with a gentle smile, the loving expression of an elder looking at a junior. But that smile never reached the depths of his eyes, leaving only a cold scrutiny.
"I just happened to be passing by and sensed the aura of a soul beast, so I came to take a look." Tang San spoke, his voice gentle and warm, seemingly friendly, yet carrying an undeniable pressure. "I didn't expect to run into you, Ling Tian, making a move. That Destruction Divine Lightning was swift and decisive. You truly deserve to be the son of the God of Destruction."
Zi Lingtian lowered his eyes slightly, showing a bit of shyness after being praised. He lightly twirled his sleeve with his fingertips and said humbly, "Uncle Sea God, you flatter me. The situation was urgent. I just subconsciously protected Wu Tong and didn't have time to think about anything else."
"A subconscious reaction reveals one's true nature." Tang San nodded lightly, his tone of praise seemingly genuine, yet carrying a condescending judgment. "I am very gratified that you were able to protect Wu Tong without hesitation in a moment of crisis."
The word "gratified" triggered alarm bells in Zi Lingtian's heart, making her feel even colder.
This wasn't praise from an elder to a junior; it was clearly the approval of a superior to a subordinate, a master to a loyal servant! It was the undisguised condescension and manipulation of a young son of the God King by the God King himself, a certainty that came after scrutinizing every single one of his actions. Equal interaction? For Tang San, that was simply not the case.
Zi Lingtian suppressed the surging anger in her heart and maintained her obedient appearance, her voice clear and bright: "Wu Tong is my best friend, it is only right that I protect her."
Tang San raised the corners of his eyes slightly, his smile deepening. He extended his large hand and gently patted Zi Lingtian's shoulder. His palm seemed warm, yet it carried an invisible power, as if marking something as his own. His tone was light, yet every word pierced the heart: "Good child, Wu Tong is fortunate to have a friend like you."
Listening to their conversation, Tang Wutong's blush faded slightly, but upon hearing the word "friends," her heart tightened inexplicably, a subtle sense of loss welling up inside her. That unexpected touch, that breath so close together—it was far beyond the distance between ordinary friends. Yet, her father's words had dismissed everything as mere friendship. She felt a bitter taste in her mouth, unable to refute it, and could only lower her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her dress tighter.
"Father, this isn't a place you usually come to. Why would you come here specifically to inspect it?" Tang Wutong couldn't help but ask, her voice tinged with girlish coquettishness, trying to break the awkward atmosphere. She felt that her father's appearance today was too strange.
Tang San raised his hand and gently ruffled his daughter's long hair. The gesture seemed affectionate, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He spoke casually, "While patrolling the nearby divine array, I happened to detect unusual activity from a soul beast. The appearance of this Shadow Leopard here is abnormal. I will have someone thoroughly investigate to see where the oversight occurred."
He spoke casually, but Zi Lingtian could see clearly that beneath that sharp edge lay a confident and strategic mind—all of this was his arrangement, and the so-called thorough investigation was merely a pretext to deceive others.
Zi Lingtian lowered his eyelids, his long eyelashes concealing all emotions within. His deep purple pupils remained calm and still, yet his heart was in turmoil. From the Shadow Leopard's sudden attack to his intervention to protect Tang Wutong, and then to Tang San's timely appearance, this was clearly a meticulously planned test! A test of his strength, a test of his character, and even more so, a test of his attitude towards the Tang family and Tang Wutong!
There has never been such a coincidence in the world. All the "happy coincidences" are actually carefully planned schemes by Tang San.
"Ling Tian." Tang San's voice suddenly rang out, pulling him back from his thoughts.
Zi Lingtian raised her eyes and met those seemingly gentle but unfathomable blue eyes that could see through everything. In those eyes, there was not a trace of a father’s sincerity toward his daughter’s friend, only calculation, only weighing, only considering a potential pawn for the future.
"Thank you for protecting Wu Tong today." Tang San's tone was solemn, sounding like gratitude, but also carrying a sense of acknowledgment.
Zi Lingtian bowed respectfully, his attitude impeccable: "Uncle Sea God, you flatter me. This is my duty."
Tang San nodded, then turned to Tang Wutong, his tone softening: "Go back, your mother is waiting for you."
Tang Wutong replied softly, "I know," and obediently walked to her father's side. But as she took a step, she couldn't help but turn back and glance quickly at Zi Lingtian. In her pinkish-blue eyes, shyness, panic, concern, and a few indescribable emotions were intertwined, like shattered starlight, flickering uncertainly.
"Zi Lingtian, I'll come find you again tomorrow." Her voice was barely audible. As soon as she finished speaking, she hurriedly turned around, followed closely behind Tang San, and quickly disappeared into the depths of the forest.
Zi Lingtian stood there, watching the two figures, one large and one small, disappear into the distance until they were completely out of sight.
The next second, all the obedience, shyness, and respect on his face vanished, as if a layer of disguise had been removed, leaving only a cold face and terrifyingly deep eyes, completely different from the six-year-old child just now.
Tang San, what an impeccable sea god!
He didn't say much, but every word was precise, expressing gratitude, praise, and satisfaction. He perfectly portrayed the image of a loving father who doted on his daughter and was grateful to his benefactor. He was so perfect that there wasn't a single flaw to be found. But this perfection was precisely his biggest flaw.