Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

"What are you three up to?" Dugu Bo paused, startled by Flender's sudden shout. Glancing down at the whip in his hand, he seemed to wonder if something was off—was he being too lenient with them?

"Dugu Bo, if you're tough enough, then hit me! Don't you dare touch my Erlong!"

"Flender, I have to protect Xiaogang! Dugu Bo, if you've got the guts, then hit me. I can take it!"

"Erlong, Flender, you two…" Watching the two of them stand up for him, Grandmaster's eyes filled with tears of gratitude. If it weren't for the blood trickling from his eyes, he'd probably shed a few tears.

Dugu Bo fell silent at the scene unfolding before him. He was beginning to regret his approach—perhaps it would have been better if Nash had just slapped them all to death. The noisy clamor was starting to get on his nerves.

Irritated, he looked up, and his gaze landed on Tang San, who, unlike the loud-mouthed Golden Iron Triangle, was hanging from a tree in complete silence. There was something different about him.

Noticing this, a sly smile crept across Dugu Bo's face. He seemed to have found something interesting. Quickly stepping over to the supposedly unconscious Tang San, he spoke in a cold tone, "Tang San, I know you're awake. Since your teachers are so united, I'll give you a choice."

"If I beat you, I'll let them go. Or, if you let me beat them, I'll let you go. The choice is yours."

Dugu Bo chuckled wickedly.

Hearing this, Tang San knew he couldn't keep pretending. Opening his eyes, he looked straight at Dugu Bo. He understood all too well that Dugu Bo's offer was nothing more than an attempt to pit them against each other. If he actually made the choice, he'd be the one to suffer next.

But if he didn't make a choice, things would be difficult. Among the Golden Iron Triangle, Grandmaster meant the most to him, as he was Tang San's teacher. As for the other two, they didn't hold the same weight in his heart.

However, it wasn't simply about choosing between the three. They were all his teachers, and, more importantly, Grandmaster shared a close bond with the other two. No matter who he chose, it wouldn't be a perfect answer.

If he chose the three of them, he'd have to endure Dugu Bo's beating himself. But if he didn't choose, he'd gain a reputation as someone who was afraid to die. For Tang San, that was as bad as death—how could his pure and noble reputation be sullied like that?

Seeing that Tang San hadn't made a decision, Dugu Bo let out a sinister laugh and lashed out with his whip, striking Tang San across his backside with at least a third of his strength.

"Not choosing, are you? Then I'll just keep hitting you until you make a choice!"

With that, Dugu Bo's whip cracked down on Tang San, causing a blood-curdling scream to escape his throat. But he didn't stop; several more lashes landed across Tang San's body, drawing out screams that echoed like a pig being slaughtered.

For Dugu Bo, kindness was irrelevant. As long as the whip caused enough pain, he didn't care where it landed or whether it left lasting injuries. He kept lashing Tang San for ten minutes straight, until his skin was torn, and blood streamed down his body. Only then did he stop, flexing his sore wrist with a menacing grin.

"Well? Have you made your choice? All you have to do is choose them, and you won't have to suffer anymore."

"Hiss…" Tang San gasped, his body convulsing with pain. Without clothing to shield him, each strike from Dugu Bo's whip felt like it was searing into his skin. "I… I…" Just as Tang San was about to make a decision, Flender spoke up calmly.

"Dugu Bo, I'm not afraid to tell you this now—Tang San's father is someone you can't afford to provoke. I advise you to leave him alone, or else you'll meet a miserable end."

"Oh?" Hearing Flender's threat, Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You say I'll meet a miserable end? Tell me, what kind of background does this kid have? Who's his father? Even if he's the Pope of the Spirit Hall, I wouldn't fear him."

"Heh, someone with the surname Tang who you don't dare cross—how many people on this continent could that be?" Flender sneered.

"Tang?" Dugu Bo paused, then a light bulb seemed to go off in his mind as he thought of a certain man. His expression changed slightly as he turned to Tang San with suspicion. "Tang San, that man does have the surname Tang. But how can you prove that he's your father?"

"Don't tell me that your spirit mutated into Blue Silver Grass. If that's true, then that man's reputation must be just as 'green' as this useless plant!"

Since witnessing the power of the dragon Nash and settling his score with Chrysanthemum Douluo from the Spirit Hall, Dugu Bo feared nothing. So, Tang Hao might be formidable? Dugu Bo wouldn't just back down; he'd reveal Tang Hao's information to the Spirit Hall and let them settle the score. When that happened, who would truly be the stronger?

After all, if something happened to his granddaughter Dugu Yan, there was nothing Dugu Bo wouldn't dare do. Lest anyone forget, he was a titled Douluo known for his poison. In a one-on-one fight, he might be outmatched, but when it came to poison, did the Tang family really think they'd be safe?

Seeing that Dugu Bo wasn't backing down, Flender grew anxious. However, this was the only solution he could think of, so he pressed on.

"You're right; his spirit is Blue Silver Grass. But what if he has two spirits? If we don't make it back today, my people will go straight to Tang San's father. If we die here in the Sunset Forest, who do you think his father will blame?"

"Twin spirits? Him?" Dugu Bo glanced at the blood-streaked Tang San, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

He fully understood the significance of twin spirits. If he killed Tang San, that man might indeed go mad with vengeance.

"My father?" Overhearing the conversation between Flender and Dugu Bo, Tang San was momentarily stunned, and a thought sparked in his mind.

With his intelligence, it didn't take long to figure out that his father might not be as ordinary as he'd assumed.

"Heh, Flender, thanks for reminding me," Dugu Bo sneered, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Since there's already bad blood between us, I can't let any of you go. I'll kill you all, dispose of the bodies, and leave. Once I'm gone, no one will easily find me."